Archives for 5k category
Posted on Jun 01, 2011 under 5k, Hill Work, Regular Runs |
This was supposed to be a gentle easy run to ease back into it, but ended up feeling good after 2.5k despite sluggish start and decided to tackle the massive Mill Lane Hill – UPWARDS. This is almost suicidal and is hard enough to walk up. Managed to jog all the way and crested the top, but legs and lungs were protesting all the way after that!
Hurt by the end but was good to be out running again. 
Time was 31:17 but a bit irrelevant.
Posted on May 22, 2011 under 5-10k, 5k, Races, Season's Best, Trail Running |
Races are like buses, none for a year then suddenly two come at once!
The Legacy Events East Manchester 5k at Debdale Park was a different affair altogether from the Great Manchester Run last week – 5k, so shorter, and about 38,000 less people, but these kinds of races are just as important, if less well known, and see runners of all abilities.
It had been an exhausting week for me, with some bouts of insomnia, things have been very hectic, so an early start on Sunday morning was one of the last things I needed, and as usual on race mornings I woke up groggy, disoriented, and wondering “why on earth am I doing this?” (or words to that effect). I has some toast wth bean pate on it, then went to get the bus (really should get better sorted these buses, the online timetable never seems to match the one at the stand, which can be very confusing). Anyway, got to Debdale Park in plenty of time and saw the Marshals dotted around. Was pretty cold and very windy. Found the grotty debdale park toilets which were thankfully empty, though am glad I only needed to pee as there was no toilet paper in sight! Lol. Could probably have held on for a 5k anyway…
Did a little jogging around for a warm up, then went to join the organised warmup, had to improvise when they started doing side steps, as that is the surest way to buggering up my dodgy knee! Massaged my legs, right hamstring felt really tight and muscles felt brittle, like cold plasticine, which wasn’t good. A bloke in a red top chatted to me on the way to the start line and said he used to do marathons in 3 hours in his army days, but wasn’t sure what he would do today.
Felt excited as the horn went off, and off we went. I usually struggle pacing 5ks and this was no different, and haven’t done one for quite a long time! And this was actually my first real 5k race, with a number – as opposed to a park run. Felt like I was going a bit fast, went down the first little hill, went round a corner, and my right lower leg almost collapsed underneath me and developed weird spasming shooting pains all of a sudden. Had visions of pulling out, but just slowed down and it went away, but was a bit scary to say the least 
Overtook a few people early on and was overtaken by one or two, but the field seemed to spread out very quickly and I started to find my own pace. On the little incline past the reservoirs just before the water station, a young lady came past me, and I responded by sticking with her; she went through onto the long straight path which was very windy, and I tucked in behind her to shield me from the wind. We were destined to to share the work for the rest of the race, she would pull in front of me, then I pulled in front of her, and it was really handy to have someone to work with like that and kept me motivated. I was really hurting by 4k, but then again, only 1k to go, and somehow I found something extra and pulled away from my companion, then sped past a woman who had overtaken me early on, but who I had kept in my sights. I was wincing and hurting as I entered the finishing straight, had no idea what the time would be, but sprinted with whatever I had left for the line, and cross, according to Garmin, in 26:03, which is 2 minutes off my 5k best this season so far, so all in all the race day adrenaline and my temporary running companion really helped pull me on to an improved time.
I stayed behind for a bit to clap more runners in, including a parrot, some nuns, and a fairy. The bloke in the red top finished in about 31 mins and came and found me for a chat. I was getting a bit cold by then so wandered off to get the bus home, buzzing and a little more lively, although by the time I got home I was looking forward to a very lazy day!
Posted on May 11, 2011 under 5k, Season's Best, Tempo Runs |
Went out for what was a planned easy run, but I got carried away. Set off quite quickly and decided I could keep up that pace, so went round a few random streets and paths round the local estate and ended up coming out half way up the Stockport Road Hill, legged it up that without losing pace and then I realised I might be on for a sub 28. Did the first k in 6:07 then the next ones were under 6 minutes, as I got to the last few hundred metres it was touch and go and really had to sprint (for want of a better word, it was was determination to make my legs keep going somehow!) for the sub 28 – I was at 4.98k with seconds to go, didn’t manage to stop the Garmin as I nearly went flying over a speed bump instead, but was prettty sure I’d done the 5k just before the minute ticked over… Was a tough run, and I would need to run that fast twice to do 56 minutes in the Great Manchester Run. If I set off at that pace I will be dead though, and end up getting the tram back from Pomona at Salford Quays… So I need to start off slowly and then see how I get on in the second half, but it’s looking like 57 minutes could be a challenging target…
Posted on Apr 27, 2011 under 5k, Easy Runs, Trail Running |
Had an appointment in the morning, so was running later than usual, but quite enjoyed the idea of running late afternoon – maybe long runs would be better early evening to avoid glare of the sun overhead!
Set off at a very easy pace, downhill into the woods for a little bit of scenic trail running, and walked up the steep hills for a breather. Got hot in the second half of the run with the sun and inclines, but took it very slowly as I wound back up the hill of Stockport Road to reach home, sprinted past a girl jogger at the end as I was feeling good and could have maintained a much quicker pace, but enjoyed the easiness of the easy run in the afternoon sun!
Posted on Apr 25, 2011 under 5-10k, 5k, Tempo Runs, Time Trials |
With more running in my legs I was hoping to be able to run around 28 for a 5k time trial, but it was not to be, although was my fastest run in a month. Admittedly a couple of big hills on this route stopped me going sub 29 for the first time, and so the run is not to be grumbled at – was nice to run consistently at sub 30 pace and just get the legs used to going a a bit of speed. Hopefully the longer runs, and some shorter quicker ones, will all come together and get me close to 55 minutes on race day…
I have entered a 5k race (East Manchester Legacy 5k) the weekend after the Great Manchester Run so hopefully can aim for a time at that!
Posted on Apr 20, 2011 under 5k, Hill Work, Trail Running |
After Sunday’s outing didn’t want to run too far, as knew I would still be recovering from the longest run in a year. Decided to run towards the local woods and take in a bit of scenery on this sunny day. Felt ok at first, especially on the downhill bits of trail, but would pay for the view later going up the big Stockport Road hill – where I did quite a bit of hill work in the last couple of years. This would be my first taste of that hill in quite some time, and it really sapped me, the first part being a sharp, leg-killing inclinde, followed by a gentler, but lengthy upwards slope. Combined with the sun, it really had me wilting, and as I reached the top I was aware my pace was pretty slow, but I plodded on, and felt my legs were starting to complain just a little, so eased down to a stop at the planned 5k without trying any heroics, feeling very hot, but pleased to have negotiated the big hill.
May do a little more hill work in the next two weeks, would be good to have it in my legs for the Great Manchester Run! I don’t really seem to be picking up any speed at the moment, though must try a 5k without hills maybe next week just as a time trial to see if I can closer to 28 than 30, or my 55 target for Manchester is going to remain a pipe dream…
Posted on Apr 08, 2011 under 5k, Tempo Runs |
Had a bit of trouble to start with, as Garmin would not pick up a signal – then realised batteries had run down completely so it needed to be tuned in from scratch, so waited a bit for that, was lovely and hot and sunny.
Got going, felt like I was flying most of the way, but I think the longer run was still in my legs as I was struggling near the end and only just managed to do sub 30 (have done 29:01 recently). Was good to run a little faster and feel comfortably running at what is currently a tempo pace.
I think next run out, is definitely time to lose the light tracksuit bottoms, and bring out the shorts for the first time!
Posted on Apr 03, 2011 under 5k, Regular Runs |
Just a 5k run in the rain. Garmin fouled up half way round so had to stop and restart and seemed to gain a hundred meters. Wasn’t sure if it was the rain or the loose battery casing again. In any case is good to be up to 5k – need to be up to 10k by May!!
Posted on Mar 19, 2011 under 5-10k, 5k, Milestones, Tempo Runs |
Experimented slightly with breakfast today, had a banana and pure porridge with some pure fructose thrown in (am going to try glucose as is healthier apparently).
In any case, I wanted to do a sub 30 5k, so set off feeling good, and was feeling OK by the 1k mark which I managed in under 6 minutes. Then came the long incline to the top of the Haughton hill, which slowed me down, then it was coasting for a while, with intermittent bursts of exuberant running speed. I had to reign myself in a little to make sure I got the end at some points!
Felt another burst of speed near the end and wound down and stopped the Garmin on 29:01 – sub 29 should be easy next time I try it!
First k was quick, then there were a coupld of sedate ones, and the last 2 were both well under 6 minutes, which bodes well.
Seems the strategy of the slightly slower longer runs followed by a quick session, has worked on this occasion – and of course maybe the breakfast experiment had something to do with the running too.
Posted on Mar 03, 2011 under 5k, Milestones, Regular Runs |
It seems to be the benchmark for when I am starting to achieve some kind of fitness again – or at least one of them. The 5k milestone always seems significant – I have gone from running a couple of miles, to running over 3 miles, and to me means my basic fitness level has been achieved, and that 5k can now be a platform to start increasing speed a little and gradually adding more distance. I’m not running that quick at the moment – time today was 31:31, but I wasn’t trying to run too quickly, just settling into a comfortable (relatively speaking – I was breathing very hard by the end!) pace and going with it.
To run 5k in under 30 minutes will be the next milestone, but may take a few more runs to get there, I also hope to get above 5k in terms of distance soon too, and keep fingers crossed I stay injury free and can run 10k by May 15th!
