Mutterings for the Minority

Well after several weeks preparation that’s it, all done and dusted and in a time of 51 minutes 26 seconds. It’s been a good day and unlike other years I actually enjoyed it and managed to sprint over the last 100 metres or so, rather than amble along it!

The weather was great – sunny but not too warm – and there was hardly a breeze, perfect running conditions really. So with a sub 52 minute time in my mind and the 1k target time splits on my inner arm (thanks for that tip coach!) I was well up for the challenge and raring to go come the 1pm start.

Being a closet statto I thought I’d share my 10k time breakdown with you below…

As you can see I got off to a slow start – which then meant I wasted valuable enrgy trying to get back on track. This was mainly due starting off too far down the field (i.e. standing around the 55 minute marker) and then subsequently getting boxed on on several occassions. I finished strongly so I was pleased with that but kind of felt that I had more gas in the tank. Next time I’ll be sure to push the pace harder from the off and not stand so far back! Still my time was the quickest 10k I’ve done since 2002 so I’m very pleased with myself and am now on the lookout for another 10k to do. Any suggestions?

It was also great to see some familiar faces (and voices) along the route and the words of encouragement and support were a great help – so thank you all, you know who you are.

So all in all an excellent day and I even got to have my picture taken with Bertie the Bear, the winner of the Mascots race!

A big shout must also go out to Swansea Council for organising the event and for the scrumpious Warburtons Fruit Loaf with Orange that was part of the post-race freebies.

I can thoroughly recommend putting some strawberry jam on a few slices of the loaf and swilling them down with a cup of Kenco coffee…..mmmmmmmm.

Even the most imaginative scriptwriter would have had difficulty dreaming this game up such was the number of twists and turns during the 97 minutes.

Before the game I had high expectations and a Swans victory – based on what I don’t know given our rather cumbersome start to the season. And so here I am merrily typing away having seen 2 Swans goals and 3 points in the bag, all against a Sheffield United team whom were in 5th place – hoorah!

I’m still baffled by Paulo Sousa’s team selections though as each week we see a different starting eleven with (to me) a distinct lack of rhyme or reason to the selection. A good example today was no central midfielder on the bench and no Leon Britton or Joe Allen on the park! We then saw Ashley Williams playing in front of the back four – in Jordi Lopez’s usual spot – and him playing in central midfield.

Ferrie Bodde did make a welcome return though which was a positive – but even that went pear shaped as he hobbled off with a knee injury. He was replaced by Lee Trundle – whom I felt did very little apart from make and take his penalty – but I suppose you could say that was enough!

I do wish he stop that bloody badge kissing routine though it really makes me sick, it’s so cringeworthy.

Just a couple of other points really…. we still the ball away too often with sloppy passes, Mark Gower was frustrating last year – he’s flipping well annoyingly useless this year and Nathan Dyer was deservedly man of the match!

Well enough of my team analysis, onto the game! Let’s see, a Lee Trundle penalty, a disallowed goal for the Blades, 2 sendings off for the Swans (for 2nd bookable offences), 7 minutes of injury time and some rather dire football in-between really.

Little wonder then that only 540 odd Blades fans made the long trip south – watching that lot play that way each week it’s hardly surprising. Mind you at least it gets them results I suppose….well usually it does!

So on the whole not bad value for money really I guess? Personally I was just glad we scored and got 3 points as boy did we need them.

As I lay here on my living room floor – the reason why I’ll explain in a minute – it’s occurred to me that in just 5 days time I’ll be doing the Swansea Bay 10K. It only seems like the other week that I sent off my entry form.

Yes and why am I in my underpants on the living room floor, well it’s because I have a slight hamstring pull in my left leg and I’ve got an ice pack on it. My timing is impeccable isn’t it!

Today’s easy run of 30 minutes 16 seconds was meant to be part of my pre-10k build up, taking it easy during the last few days and just keeping things ticking over really. Aggravating an old injury really wasn’t in the grand plan.

Fingers crossed the ice pack will do the trick and after a good night’s rest – i.e. no kiddie inspired 5am wake up call – I’ll feel right as rein and ready to go about my business as normal.