COVID-19 CLASSIC, A 50KM PERSONAL TIME TRIAL

Contributed by Andy Heyden, AURA member

Having trained hard for the London Marathon for the first three months of the year, I was in great form back in March when we entered the ‘new normal’ world of social distancing and all events cancelled or postponed. I was so looking forward to a family trip to London and another go at the London Marathon, 14 years after my last and 25 years after my first.

After the initial disappointment I was determined to use my running to keep up my focus and mental health. I wasn’t going to let the training peak go to waste either so I ran a solo marathon around my local suburb of St Ives in Sydney and still broke my PB by 90 seconds, lowering my best to just over 2hrs 35mins. 

It was one of those race days when I just clicked into rhythm and felt awesome. I held back for 30km, still felt great at 35km and after averaging a 3:41 pace consistently, ran the last 2kms in 3.30 and 3.26.

Huge thanks to mate and coach Gary Mullins for the training plan and support on the day.

In the days after the marathon my legs felt great and I had to hold back to rest and not get back running too far, too soon. I started planning my next goal, thinking I could better my 50km and 100km PBs in this shape. Based on my performance, the Australian 50km record (male over 45) was within reach so I focused on that. But with no races any time soon, how could I make it happen?

A few phone calls later and I knew what was needed. Thanks to Jodie Oborne for her positive support. An official course measurer, a fair amount of paperwork to get my local street loop certified and a few time keepers and witnesses to be available on the day. Game on. The plan was to run the same 1.25km I had used for my marathon, walking distance from my house. I had to hold a 3:43 pace having held 3:41 for the marathon and felt fresh at the end.

I settled on trying the record attempt eight weeks later, having read a few articles on how soon you can be back up after a marathon. It was ambitious but I wanted something to keep me focused while we awaited ‘normality’ to resume.

Once again I turned to Gary Mullins for his thoughts and feedback and he set out a plan of what I should do over the next 6 to 8 weeks. I’d need a few easy weeks to recover then build the kilometres back up for four weeks before a two-week taper. 

The signs were good, soon I felt fresher again and ready to have a go.

The challenge was fairly clear, using the 1.25km looped local street course as for my marathon. I’d run a similar pace and coach Gary would accompany me on a bike. We had an official lap counter and witnesses. The record would be official if I could make the target time. 

Pre-race day and I was all set. The only problem was that I just wasn’t feeling perfect, I’d had a stressful week of work and felt a bit drained. I hoped it was just nerves but had a headache the previous day and felt flat.

I was up at 6am and felt okay, not sick, so was going to give it a crack as planned. Given it was my own ‘race’ I checked the street course. I needed to clear a fresh dump of autumn leaves from a huge Liquid Amber tree on one of the corners and then I set up my drinks table on a friend’s front lawn.
Off we went, and I built into race pace on the first few laps and started clicking into gear at 3:42 per km pace. It felt okay but not as easy as it did on marathon day.

Eight weeks earlier I went through the first few kms at 3.37 pace and was holding back. This time I was having to push to hold 3.42.
I took a gel every 25mins and the time passed reasonably fast but it just wasn’t as smooth and my head felt a bit foggy. I pushed through and maintained race pace up to the halfway point at 25km. Gary gave me some company on the bike and a few mates joined too.

My legs were okay but just not as fresh as I would have liked – I hoped for a second wind and pushed on. My pace was slipping and I was losing momentum. I tried to win the mental battle and tick off the laps still hoping I could summon some extra strength. Thirty kilometres down, but my pace was slipping to 3:44 and then to 3:50.

My family and a few friends had gathered to cheer me on but it was starting to hurt. My hamstring was tightening and the record was slipping out of reach. Back in April I was chatting to dog walkers and smiling at the kids. This time I had nothing to give.

It was time to re-assess, my mind was saying ‘pull out and stop’ but there was still a PB to be claimed and I don’t like giving up. 

I pushed on and focused on getting through 40km, then 42km. I had another gel at 45km and finally could start counting down the laps. My pace had continued slipping, now it was hard to hold 4min kilometres. The short hill on the course had been of no concern during my marathon but this time it was sapping my energy and killing my pace on each lap.

It was getting ugly and I wanted stop and at this point it came down to mental toughness. I pushed through and finally had just one lap to go. I gritted it out and crossed the toilet paper finish line held up by my two daughters.

It wasn’t the result I wanted, I didn’t even get close to the Australian age group record but it was a new 90 second PB at 3hrs 15mins to add to my marathon PB. 

In hindsight it was clearly greedy trying to back up eight weeks after the marathon and expect to nail another effort without peaking perfectly. National records don’t come easy and don’t deserved to be claimed in an ‘after-thought’ race.

At least the run brought me back to earth and reminded me I am 46 years old and human. I wish I could have ‘bottled’ how well I had felt on my April marathon day but those perfect days don’t come around often and that’s what makes them even more special.

I’m glad I had a go, I enjoyed the experience and inspired a few of the locals who watched on. You don’t know until you try.

Huge thanks again to the guys that helped me make it happen. Thanks to AURA president Ewan Horsburgh for coming down to watch given he lives close by and thanks to Paul Hannell for the course measurement and ‘race’ directing. It was great sharing the journey with good mate and coach Gary Mullins too and hey another PB at 46 years young.

Pictured: Andy Heyden (left) running in his 50km personal time trial. Photograph – Supplied.