by So, in last week’s column, I mentioned how “ Pace is doing the perfect race ” as far as the race for the longest distances while saying that my 36 -year -old race record will be broken in the 20 -mile road race by Wymondham – three breed in the series of Grand Prix Sportlink 2025.
Well, I was right on the two accounts and a great good done for the male winner and the new holder of the race record Dean Williamson by Colchester Harriers after having crossed the finish line in 1 hour 47 minutes and 37 seconds and is now looking for an employer of less than 2:20 in the Manchester marathon next month.
I also mentioned that Callum Bowen Jones was making his debut during the distance, which I expected what he runs faster than my former Wymondham 20 race record of 1:49:35.
Callum, who mounted at a distance this year while looking at the Frankfurt marathon in the fall, certainly learned last Sunday how important it is to make the pace. He finished in the place of finalists in 1:52:05, which is always a first decent step on 20 miles and especially a lesson not only in rhythm, but how vital it is to ensure that your training is oriented towards unique slots during the market in terms of marathon.
In advance, we had spoken to run at 5:30 am at a rate with each five -thousand section finished in 27:30, although we have of course said that the first mile is more than probably in place.
To be fair, Cal was roughly to the point, although 5:26 for the split of five miles for which he had the impression that it was just a great regular race on Sunday morning. His second split of five miles was practically confronted too, just like the following four miles, then things started to become erratic, that is to say suddenly not so easy! It went from 5:30 am to 5:30 am with the last two miles being a shade within six minutes.
Cal felt of course disappointed, but there was no need and as I told him, it was a great first effort on the distance and a brilliant learning curve before running in his first marathon later in the year.
“Now you know what it is and why you have to respect the distance,” I told him. Callum is a brilliant athlete and is undoubtedly a competition runner, which of course means that sometimes you just have to go with and be courageous. But there is nothing like learning from experience too.
Bravo to all those who ran in Wymondham 20 last Sunday and also a special mention to two other athletes that I recommend – Jack Cheung and Bhaskar Kumar who also made their 20 miles in Wymondham while operating perfection after starting at a cautious pace. Jack and Bhaskar will also have learned a lot before their next marathons in London and Stockholm.
Have a good race weekend and little time to go now for those who show up in an April marathon.
