Adam Holland
Exeter Riverside parkrun and Yeovil Marathon by Adam Holland
Saturday saw me take on a new parkrun making that my 21st different one. I know I'm not 100% after doing the Gordon Whelbourn all week but I had a target time to go for which was 16:30sec. We got going and if there had not been a person in front of me I would have gone the wrong way. It was nice to follow someone around the course but if I had raced him I don't know if I would have beat him. On the way to the finish I could see the next person behind me and was hoping he wasn't going to push me to run fast as I was on target for my time which I'm happy to say I did 16:30sec and 2nd.
Sunday I went back to do the Yeovil Marathon and in my mind I couldn't remember why I found last year hard work. Well not until I got to about 2/3miles into today's event I remembered, as I did the exactly the same thing last year. Marathon, Gordon Whelbourn Week and Parkrun. Wanted to run fastest but my legs were not having it. Happy to get to half way in about 1hr 18min which is about 5min slower than what I normally do. After half way it was also a mental battle against the weather and myself. Was so grateful to see Katherine and Eva on the course cheering me on which helps and seeing them again at about 24 miles. Got some flat coke which was super at this point. Just needed something different that water. Also at this point I come see the next runner behind me. Managed to keep my distance ahead of him and get around the athletics track and joined by Eva, to win the Yeovil Marathon. Time of 2:46:09sec which was 1min 29sec faster than last year. Well done everyone and again thanks to all the helpers and supporters on the course. Great to see so many familiar people, some of whom did last week's Dartmoor Discovery as well.
