We hear from Helen Fines who has been braving the tarmac…
I did my annual attempt at a road race today in the Tewkesbury Half Marathon. I wanted to break 1.20 but I haven’t run on tarmac for 10 months.. and I can’t take time off from fell to train for road, so it was perhaps too optimistic.. I was running at the right pace for the first 5 miles with the lead female, but she pulled ahead as I had a bad patch. In fact I nearly dropped out, as I am not used to running at the same intensity for this long and I was having an internal temper tantrum about it (very childish)! [Believe me Helen I have every sympathy – Ed]
However, wearing the VRUK I wanted to be a good example so I picked up and eventually came second in 1.22.10 which is a pb for me. So it just shows you shouldn’t give up. The running wasn’t over as I’ve just started working with a new coach and I was told to go home and do a hilly 5-miler ‘to make my legs strong’.. I had my reservations but actually it was good advice- in long fell races you have to be able to climb efficiently when your legs are shot!
Anyway next stop Inter-Counties Fell race, and no more road running for me til 2011 🙂 
 Cheers
 Helen
2nd and a new PB, really not bad when it’s not your favoured surface is it eh?