Tonight I ventured back out with Petts Wood Runners, I have been a little lax of late on club nights mostly due to being tired and wanting to eat my dinner before 9.30pm.
To play it safe and have an 'easy' run I decided to go with Group 2, that lasted about 2 seconds and as Group 3 left the rec I was running along at the front with Mark our devoted leader.... soon to be a Lirf*.
About half way through the six miles, both myself and Emma G started to struggle a little - just a bad run day I guess - so we dropped off the pace and kept the group in sight. Before long Mark was back to check on us like the good leader he is (he doesn't need a course, he could train others in leading running groups!). We assured him we were fine and let him rejoin the others as we kept a steady pace some way behind them but keeping them in our sights.
As we approached the final stretch we became merged with Group 2 - maybe a sign I should have gone with them after all?
Back at Willet rec we reconvened with other groups and had a chat with Dave Berry about his progression to Group 4, one day I'll make it but still too fast for me now because after all Tuesday night is chatting night.
* Leader in Running Fitness
Today was my last long run prior to the Nottingham Robin Hood Half Marathon in two weeks time, I wanted to do about 14 miles and decided a good plan was to run up to Badgers Mount and back. The theory behind this being that the route is easy - just one long road - and that although it is a steady incline for almost 7 miles that means the way back would be easy as it would be downhill!
After 3 miles I wanted to quit, I couldn't get into my pace and the road stretching out ahead of me seemed to go on forever. At this point I knew it couldn't be long before I got comfortable so I stopped and stretched before setting of again. Strangely on my ipod shuffle 'Walk of Life' by Dire Straits started to play and suddenly my feet seem to find their groove, before long my legs were playing the game and I was making steady progress up the hill.
I passed many dog walkers and cyclists - I wondered what was tougher, running up such a long slow incline or cycling up it - for me probably cycling, my pace would slow, and eventually I think I'd just tip off my bike into a ditch!
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| Proof I made it! |
Finally I reached the top point of my route and turned back for the 'easy part'. The pace was steady, I tired not to get carried away on the down hills and was going well until traffic lights halted my progress where I chatted momentarily to an old fella very impressed by my distance which at that pint was 11miles (he asked I didn't just announce it as I am prone to do). My legs started to feel heavy as I approached the 13 mile mark and left the flat for the last stretch up Midfield Way and home, not long after 13 they gave in and so did I. I managed to keep a good pace averaging around 9min/miles and walked the last couple of hundred yards... now time for a bath!
With my running kit and my barcode laid out last night I woke and jumped straight into action preparing the 2nd anniversary of Bromley Parkrun (weekly timed 5km event).
A little bonus before I left was that I finally located my running sunnies... sadly I later discovered they were broken and need replacing, oh well an afternoon on ebay trying to find them again!
The anniversary run was held in reverse, usually good for a pb as it seems slightly faster this way around but after last weeks 10k pb (and the excesses of a wedding this week) I wasn't ready to push it all out again for a pb. At about 2 miles in I had a little chat to PWR Rob White who while taking it easy promptly left me in his dust!
I ran well and comfortably coming in just over 25 minutes with very even splits (the metronome returns!), very acceptable to me!
Enjoyed the usual cuppa, cake and chat afterwards allowing me to have a little catch up with PWR's as I haven't made it to the club in a while, I have promised Team captain Mark though so I'll be back out in the streets of Petts Wood on Tuesday.
The plan was simple, I was too tired to run last night (sorry PWR) so I decided I would get up extra early and go for my planned swim and also hit the treadmill afterwards, a good plan I thought!
I did my 24 lengths (1/2 mile), I love the fact that the Walnuts pool is 33.3m long as it means less lengths for the same distance, something I like. Similar to running, I prefer miles as I have less to do than km's... running is indeed a pshycological game!
After my swim, a speedy change and I headed up with damp hair to the gym and leapt with renewed energy onto the treadmill, just an easy 4miles was planned and completed in about 36mins. by this time my body temp seemed to have risen to an alarming rate and sweat was pouring from me like I was in the shower already, phew!
The morning passed quickly with a few meetings and lots to do but by lunch I can honestly say I was ready for some food and a nap... I think the life of a toddler would suit me well!
Play, eat, nap, repeat.
I have recently changed jobs and my leaving gift - following a few subtle hints - was a pair of the now infamous and often mocked Vibram Fivefingers Bikila running shoes.... wooooo hoooooo!
I have it on good authority that those who contributed to the gift thought that the person in charge of buying was making it up and that no such thing existed... that's non-runners for you!
But they do indeed exist and soon I will be running free like my friend @bhundu, I hope, although for the short term at least I should probably keep my focus on the Robin Hood Half Marathon in 3 weeks for which I have been training.
My progress will no doubt be well documented in the coming days, weeks and months!
