Comeback 5,000...

PC: Tom Hook

​There was only one post I could write this week, and that is because for the first time in a long while, something exciting and out of the ordinary actually happened... I got to race!

My last race prior to this week was the PB5k in Ardingly back at the beginning of December 2020. Training was going well leading into it, but the good old British winter weather came out in full force. Regardless, I felt strong and determined to hit the rest of the winter with full force. Fast forward through a LONG January and the arrival of some nice and not so nice weather, and we’re in April, and with that, racing has returned!!

On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to be able to pull on my spikes and get on the track to race in the Comeback 5,000m in Battersea Park. Whilst I was nervous, I was also very excited. Excited to see what I could do, and just buzzed to be back racing in a field of very strong girls. As my coach said, the focus was on racing first, then the time second, so I just wanted to give my all. 

The upsides of the track are, there’s no hills and you can’t get lost, but that means, there’s nothing to hide behind... it’s just you, your competitors and 12.5 laps. Whilst I love a hill in cross country, I love the purity of track racing and the ability to simply run as fast as you can on the day. For my bizarre mind, laps are great. I’ve never been phased by doing a lot of laps. I once did a 90 minute long run around 2 rugby pitches and aqua jogging certainly teaches you to get used to monotony (you learn to switch off!).

PC: Callum Gillett

After a pretty delayed start, I went out with intention. The race was being paced for 75 second laps and 79 laps, but I was aiming for 76/77. For that reason, I made the bold decision to go out hard with the 75 second pacer and just hang on for as long as I could. After a couple of laps,  I dropped back slightly, so the majority of the race was ran on my own, but I managed to hold on to what I was aiming for and just focused on ticking one lap off after another. Also, at least I didn’t have to worry about social distancing!

Coming down the final home straight, I could see the clock flicking by. I gave it everything my little legs had, but couldn’t quite get over the line quickly enough to dip under the 16-minute barrier. However, I am more than chuffed to have knocked 23 seconds off my previous 5,000m PB! I know I have more to come and that’s a goal for another day at another race, which I’m excited for. The first race was about getting out there, racing and enjoying the process, and I can confidently say that’s what I did. Now it’s back to work 💪🏼💪🏼

PC: James Rhodes