So, how's the old running come along ?

After a couple of years of long distance training and lots of long slow runs, this year I have tried to do something different - with forward knowledge of a move toward Duathlon, I engaged a run coachj and have been following plans for the last few months. Progress is slow, but moving forward - these are this Summer's races so far...

20.05.21 Prestwold 10   1.15.36

This was a run done in the build up to the Outlaw Half Triathlon and was a 16 mile effort all in with the race done at Lactate Threshold level. It absolutely bucketed it down, and whilst the warm up was OK, and trhe race itself only mildly wet (but very windy), by the time I had finished I was soaked and beaten but still had to put on the rain jacket and go out and do some more miles whilst everyone else was leaving. Nice fast course, just very exposed.

03.07.21 Holkham Half Marathon 1.55.45

There's a pattern here - this was a run with Scrappy, and we purposely put in over 6 miles before we started as we were using it as a long run before Outlaw. Nice 9.00 minute pace throughout, definite positive split as the last ten miles slightly quicker than the first. Lovely to be back at Holkham again and will go back I'm sure. Threatened rain and thunder storms but nothing of the sort happened.

06.07.21 Watermead 5    36.17

Midweek effort with the guys from work and run at LT again, nicely paced lovely run around Leicester's Watermead Country Park, bookended with a warm up and a cool down. Nice evening's running ! 

29.08.21 Bassingham 5   34.10

The first time this Summer that I could let rip and properly race - this would tell me how the stretching, self massage and interval training that I've been doing has helped. I had a good start with a 6.39 mile, quicker than my forecast 6.50-7.00 pace, and a 6.45 second mile - I concentrated on good form and stride and the third mile was tougher at 6.50 as it turned into the wind and I started to feel like I was about to detonate by the the end of that. Mile 4 crept over the 7 minute mark for the first time at 7.02, and the last mile really hurt - a sprint finish managed to bring it in at 6.55. Am I faster ? Well, my last race here in 2014 was 35.34 and that was a fast year for me. At 48, I think I am, and I think there's certainly gains to be made over the winter. Watch this space.