Saturday 30 April 2011

Raring to go...

A couple of easy days running prior to the 10k race tomorrow.  Yesterday managed a five mile steady run mostly off road...sometimes you feel a bit sluggish a few days before a race and thats how I felt yesterday..possibly the few efforts I did on Thursday night still in my legs.   Today was a different story...went out for a steady 20 mins just to keep my legs ticking over and before I knew it I was effortlessly going along at around 6-20 miling.  Sometimes it just feels right - hopefully this will be the case tomorrow as I tackle the Kirby Moorside 10k.  

Kirby Moorside 10k veteran (and now club mate) Gary Dunn said to treat this as a 5 mile race as the last mile is all downhill and takes no effort at all!   That sounds good to me! I can imagine him tackling the first uphill mile with his usual gusto so that will be in my thoughts tomorrow as I stand on the start line!

So far in 2011 I have averaged 52 miles per week and only had three "non running days".   Most weeks I have had at least one day where I have only gone out for a very easy 3 or 4 miles.   Its been a long time since I have had such a good consistent patch so hopefully my race performances will reflect that...if the Mermaid 10k is anything to go by it could be a good summer racing season (my first as a Vet 40!).

Thursday 28 April 2011

Kirby Moorside 10K - Hitting the Hills

Just a couple of days and a royal wedding before my next race.   I have heard that this race will be a bit of a challenge but having had a decent (and unexpected) race at the Mermaid 10k last week and another bout of good training I feel quite confident that I will run well on Sunday.  

My 34.10 at Marske was my fastest 10k for some 15 years....I hope this means that the training I've been doing is finally paying off.   The few days before a race is always a balancing act...to run or not to run!  How much is overdoing it!   Since the Mermaid Race I have enjoyed some good sessions including a 12 miler @ 6-15 pace, an 8 miler @ 5-55 pace as well as a cracking 5 x 2000m session around Albert Park.   This was the toughest session I have done for some time and it was a relief to finish.  The aim of the session was to run at 10k pace.  Just about managed this but have to admit I was digging deep on the last 2km to keep to this pace....needless to say the compression socks were on as soon as I got home!    It's a great feeling to get one of those sessions under your belt.  

Its been steady running all the way since then apart from a few short intervals tonight just to fire the legs up.   Tomorrow it will be a case of feet up and not too much running...apparently there is a wedding on somewhere!

Welcome to my new blog! I have never been a blogger so am in new uncharted territory.

Maybe it is because I am nearly 40 years of age but I thought why not write a blog!  I am proud to be a runner so this blog is about me and my running!  If you want to follow me then fine...if you dont or are not interested in running (or me!) then dont...I wont be offended!