Helsinki City Run 2010: A journey to a new Personal Best

The last long run I logged before the HCR was on the 2nd of May. A 12km beautiful route with Nicole and Javi.

I didn't feel very well during the workout but managed to finish the run at a pace I would be happy to do on the Race Day! On the week of the race, I was thinking I won't manage to do a PB (Personal Best) considering my performance the days before but I was hoping to go under 2 hours. At least, better than last year for the same race.

All these feelings changed on the race day. I was really excited @ the Starting Line with Nicole and Javi, and became really ambitious. I started the race very fast, at a pace under 5'/km leaving Javi behind after 3km and Nicole a little bit later: I had to continue alone the rest of the race. After an hour I realized that I have done 12km and, if I continue this way, I would have a new PB. But the problems came after km14 when my pace was around 5'30''/km and didn't feel strong enough to continue as fast as at the beginning. Nonetheless, I knew that if I would keep this way, I would still do a good job. The pain and headache didn't go away but I was an "experience" runner who has logged more than 2000km and won't give up: At km18 I found some more energy (I don't know where it came from) and my pace came back to around and under 5'/km arriving at the Finishing Line better than I ever expected!

the Official results as follow:

Place: 1888
Race Number: 4039
Runner Name: Jose M. Sánchez
Club: Spain
Class: Miehet yleinen (Place on my class: 1136)
Official Time: 1h49'21''
Chip Time: 1h48'58''
Out of 14 000 runners!

This was my third half marathon, and we can compare the results with the previous one:

Helsinki City Run (HCR): May, 2009:  2h 03' 13' 

Stockholm Half Marathon (SHM): September, 2009: 1h 53' 02'

Helsinki City Run (HCR): May, 2010:  1h49'21'

When I did my first Half Marathon I thought I won't be a very fast runner and my times would be around 2 hours. For some reason, I thought it was not possible to improve your time much more. After these results, I feel I can reach whichever place I want to take my body to. As I read in your blogs: No soy un hombe, soy una puta máquina.

And in 2 days, to Madrid. ¿Sigue adelante la quedada?

This picture was taken from my home. The race pictures by Tero Tikkanen. The first picture by me.

8.4.2010

¡Me cago en la lluvia, en la nieve y en to' lo que se menea!

Four days to the Helsinki City Run and this is the weather in Helsinki:

This picture was taken 30 minutes ago from my kitchen window. Who can think of a PB (personal best) next Saturday when most-probably is going to be raining?

My training have been pretty OK with a major problem: I was ill for 3 days with 38.5° fever. I am also working a lot nowadays so I am constantly tired. I will try my best, I know I can arrive to the finish line but not confident enough for a PB.

Just glad that I will be in Spain soon, where no snow or rain will prevent me from having a beer in a terrace!