A PB, though I would have liked faster

17M incl Reading Half Marathon in 68.13 (5.10min/M; 12th)

I think I should be happy with this, though I would have liked to get something starting with 67 if I'm honest.

On one hand, it comes at the end of another hard week - 110 miles. But I also know that I felt pretty good this morning, the conditions were near perfect and I'm full of good weeks of training at altitude. I know I've got a 67 in me and this might have been the chance.

I ran without my watch so that I could just relax and find a natural pace. I raced it pretty hard from early on.

I ended up at the head of the 3rd group after a mile or two, but struggled up a short hill and lost contact with the group, which was disappointing (and worrying at the time).

From that point on, I'm pretty pleased with how it went. By 10K (which I went through in a PB of about 31.50!) I was about 20 seconds down on the group and I didn't lose too much on them after that despite running on my own.

I pushed really hard from 8 or 9 miles and was spent by the end. Good training, not to mention a bit of a confidence boost.

I came 12th thanks to most of the lead group going the wrong way early on.

Now I need to concentrate on finding a bit more sharpness/speed over the last three weeks before the big day.