Training Log Archive: Psuba

Budapest Night Run half marathon.

Ran this as a very tentative, experimental race.

Only entered a day before - wasn't sure if I was gonna be in Hungary at all before, so wasn't looking for anything - this was just suggested and the start/finish being 2 minutes from my flat I figured at least it isn't a lot of logistical effort.

However, I knew I was not in shape, haven't ran anything even close to this distance since the Marathon in May, but the knee started to get better so I figured I'll treat this as an exploration to see how far I can go. Duly didn't prepare properly either on the day (eating etc).

It went OK at first going uphill to the castle, but then then downhill the other side, although faster as expected, it wasn't as free flowing as it would have been with proper training. Then came the banks of the Danube, first southm then turning back all the way to the "Island" entry, then all the way back to the finish. A rather boring long section but that wasn't the issue from the races perspective. What was an issue were two additional factors on top of my lack of shape:
1. temperature. With about 32 degrees C at night, my body wasn't handling this well. Kept checking the HR and had to keep slowing to keep it in check - so whilst the tempo was OK up until about 6-7km, from there on I gradually slowed to manage it. Frustrating as otherwise, I seemed to have been surprisingly OK - lungs and legs were not complaining much. So I stopped at each refreshment point just a little to drink+pour water on myself and stretch a little. That is, until about 15km point where I had to stop a bit longer to properly stretch my legs as the hamstring came tighter as it usually does. This was the point where the 5 min/km pacers passed me to my great annoyance because there wasn't much I aimed for but I wanted to finish ahead of that pacer. Ah well.
2. energy intake. I messed it up - so far in the half-M's I've ran I took my own gel and measured it exactly when, so at about 10km points I took it. On this day, I didn't take any with me so relied on race refreshment. This meant two things: the gels they provided was unknown to me, and it was also not at the point I usually take the gel. They offered it at 8.5km, which I used, and then at around 17km where I figured I won't need it any more as there isn't much difference between 10km and 8.5km, plus I took on a bit of ISO drink and a piece of banana at other refreshment points. But I did not factor in the additional effects of the heat and clearly the timing I usually had was very finely balanced, so... I ended up hitting the wall at around 19km. Something I usually don't do any more, but this time proved different. I guess it may also be due to the fact that I was somewhat slower than usual - in all of my previous half-M races I have finished by this time. So I had to in fact stop again just under the chain bridge (with the finish practically in sight), use that stop to stretch a little and then pick myself up and limp in.

The good news was that my knee held up which was to be honest, slightly more than I expected. I have fully expected to potentially having to abandon the race, so positive is that I have completed it.

On the other side - what idiot thought that a good finisher present is a bottle of wine which they give you without any carrying equipment??? With all the sweat and tiredness I have struggled to carry it home...