Rob's Running Blog

12k Regular Run – Hot & Sunny – 1h 08m 28s

This was a bit of a strange run really – in the sense that I was intending to run 12k, which I did in the end, but I was indecisive at times whether to turn it into a 10k time trial. Set off and was feeling a bit heavy legged, even though not going for a crazy pace. Found some rhythm by time I got to woods and tried to keep up a fastish pace I was comfortable with. Because this was my usual 10k time trial route up to a point, I couldn’t help keep checking the Garmin, and think I went over 5k in just about 26 mins, not bad considering I was pacing myself for a 12k (or was at least supposed to be!). I carried on, and psychologically I was looking at my Garmin and thinking, if I carry on the regular time trial route, I could get a training PB easily, and was tempted to do it. I felt good, and that I could add more pace if necessary. But I thought I would carry on up to the canal, and just see what time roughly I got past 10k in, and then carry on for a few more k at that pace if I could.

Then disaster struck, I kind of got lost on my way up to the canal (this is where a bit of formal planning might have helped instead of just ad hoc’ing it!), and had thought there was a small hilly bit with not too much of an incline, but ended up going substantially uphill and this slowed me down. Then I reached a huge almost vertical wooden staircase going up and up, and had to walk up this, there was no way in hell I could have run up it by that point – getting to the top more or less destroyed my rhythm and set my heart fit to bursting – I started running again on the canal path, but my legs felt gone, and I could never get better than 7mins per k after that, my legs were heavy and I was tiring. I thought i might finish at 11k, but carried on, back onto the last bit of road leading to my house, and ran up a susbtantially steep bit of road, which nearly finished me off again, but I carried on until I staggered to a stop at 12k.

If I could have continued on the flat I could have kept up 52m 10k pace for the 12k, but the inclines and huge staircase killed me. Will not do a time trial now before the Moonraker 10k race next week, as it might be a nice surprise if I do better, instead of expecting it because I’ve just done a good training time.

It was interesting that I ran the first 8k at what would have been a PB 10k pace by about 2 minutes, and then was at least able to carry on beyond 10k, even surviving hills and staircase – so hopefully it will add to my fitness and take me up a few more rungs on the ladder. Am tentatively hoping for 52 mins now at the race next week!

This week, I think a little speedwork, tempo run and easy run, and a couple days rest before the race, and we’ll see! (Although I believe the first 2k of my race is uphill, so I may have nightmares both before and after!)