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江門站 is a flat and beautiful course, it is along the river side, very suitable for running.
Due to the unstable weather, start time changed from 9 to 7:40. The good news is that the weather is better than expected. It was cloudy and there was slight raining for few minutes only at the late of the race, this should have no impact to most of the runners.
Once start, 海濤兄, ET兄 and one Ching from 廣州 are in the leading group with 4:00/K pacing. My target is 1hr30 (4:15/K), they have no room for me. I keep in the second group with 3-4 runners. After warming up for the first 3K (12:40), I'm alone. At this point, I feel that it is possible to run slightly faster (4:10/K), I'm more than happy if I could maintain it to the end.
Taking water at the first water station (6K 25:11), the leading group is over 100m ahead. For the next 4K, their pace is still faster than mine, at the second water station (10K 41:51), we're 150m apart but 超班的海濤兄 is already far away.
Jacky has the course briefing before starting, there is road construction between 10-15K, that segment is sandy and full of small rocks,he reminds us to pay attention to it. That uneven surface is different to the previous 10K 混凝土 road, we have to run carefully to avoid stepping in some pools and the small rocks. However, training on this muddy texture is comfort and is less chance to injury.
At the turning point (11K 46:02), the distance between 廣州Ching,ET兄 and me has shorten to 100m again, it gives me hope to follow them. I turn to below 4:05min/K, this shift is the most difficult at the whole because I has never done before. ET兄 is not in good shape this time, in fact he can do much better than me. I pass him and try to challenge the first runner up.
I follow 廣州Ching from 12-13K, he realizes and lets me lead. Hearing his respiration by the side, it is quite soft and smooth in rhythm. I estimate that I can only maintain this for 3-4K. Take a gamble, vary pace from (3:45/K) between (4:15/K) to see whether I can destroy his rhythm if he follows. It has payoff to me later. After few variations, this strategy seem works when I hear his respiration become heavier than before. I succeed, Ching drops around 16K. I give up water at the 16K water station (1:06:25) to prevent time loss. After that, his steps is no longer heard. But if I slow down, Ching should recover and come back, so I still keep around 4:10.
At 19K(1:18:43) and 20K(1:23:16), the slowest split (4:32/K). At 11K turning point, my stomach is already complaining. The variable pace makes it worst. I urge to do "big business". I do once in that morning but it is not total clearance. There is no toilet around. I walk to see if I can run further. Luckily, the pain relief after half minute walk and I can still able to run to the finish point with (PB 1:28:09). 海濤兄 already be there long ago, then ET兄 and 廣州Ching are back in order. We handshake, take photos and congratulate each other.
I enjoy this nice and well organized race! Look forward to hearing the next station news.
P.S. Thanks 皇上 driving me to the hotel for my "big business" |
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發表於 2010-5-26 13:07:59
發表於 2010-5-26 10:46:43
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