Diary Of A Road Runner

5k Recovery run, very easy pace – 31:36

Just a very easy paced recovery run after Sunday’s torment in the Birchwood 10k!!!

Nice slow easy 5k Run

Nice very easy paced run. Lower legs were aching and twingeing a little bit from recent high mileage, so decided to make this last run before Birchwood 10k on Sunday. Race Report will follow

8.5k Jog/Easy Run

Ran reverse woods route on way to drop off form to finance adviser about increasing pension contributions… Was a flying visit, pleasant enough evening but a threat of rain in the air.

Nice easy paced run mainly on trails in the woods, averaged 6:17/k so nice and slow but that included a stop and a walk up lots of steps near the waterfall. Feet (toes) are a bit sore but otherwise legs and lungs responding fine.

Rounded off a high mileage week (20m) – upped a little from last week, so piling them up now – will have a quieter week with the Birchwood 10k next Sunday.

5k Easy Run – death by humidity!

This was supposed to be an easy 5k I went off at an easy pace and by the end I was dying! It hadn’t felt warm when I went out, but pretty overcast, and seemed to be extremely humid which made an easy run feel a bit of a struggle. Legs felt heavy, think I’m still recovering from last week’s increased mileage – and will soon need to taper a bit for the Birchwood 10k in 2 weeks.

I checked the weather and humidity was at 95%. Explains it – my body is a useful humidity detector!!!

5K Easy Run – 30:13

Nice easy run around the Mill Lane circuit so uphill going into Hyde then some downs then another big up! Actually felt comfortable, got into a way of running slowly that didn’t feel like trotting or half walking, which felt good, noticed I sped up unconsciously at times and was forefoot striking again, so slowed it down, and am pleased I can now resist the temptation to go fast as running at this pace seems to be doing my basic aerobic fitness a lot of good, rather than possible junk miles at a slightly quicker pace.

5k Easy Run – getting back into the swing!

Looking back, I ran my recovery run the other day far too fast, so no wonder it hurt especially after a mini break. Did not have the best few days leading up to my second run back. Have had a 24 hour stomach bug thing and not much sleep for a couple of days, and felt like I pulled my hamstring in bed as well, so decided on a 3 mile easy run, easy being 10 minute miles, and managed to stick to the plan and enjoyed running in the rain. Felt I could have gone on, but don’t need to rush back, thankfully legs were fine for running with no twinges. Just need to build it up slowly and peak at optimal fitness for the Moonraker 10k

4k Easy Run – 22m 48s

Yet another pre-race easy run where I felt utterly awful, couldn’t get any pace up, and just wanted to stop and was damn relieved, albeit breathing hard and hot and sweaty when I did stop.

Not sure how well this bodes for the race tomorrow – it could be psychological, as I know a race is coming, and feel there is not much to be gained by just trotting round, who knows?!

5 Mile Easy Run In The Evening Sun – 51m 15s

Am not really sure what’s up with me at the moment – have not slept well for over a week now – even when I do drop off, something wakes me within minutes, or I wake at 5 am, a few hours after nodding off, and can’t even catch up by lying in. Last night I was up at 2.15 am eating toast and ice cream (not at the same time!)

So I am a bit concerned about my back to back race week if I still haven’t slept by Weds Will just have to take it as it comes with the insomnia – I have periods like this and then it goes OK again.

As I was feeling very tired, decided to just do a nice slow run through the woods in the evening sunshine and take in some of the sights and sounds of the area.

Managed to keep a nice slow (over 6:00/k) pace all the way, and only got puffed coming up the Stockport Road hill, but felt good apart from groin chafing badly with new shorts, slowed right down at end and resisted temptation throughout to throw in some speed, making it a proper slow run although it was quick enough to end up with flies splattered all over my face, as I discovered when I looked in the mirror!!

5k Easy Run – 29:54

Upping the pace last week and Sunday’s long 10 miler seem to have hit me!

Felt tired all day yesterday so planned an easy 3 miler – was very hard work and shin/lower legs on left leg was complaining a bit, so a few days rest are in order – no major problems but I was glad to come to a stop and just need to take it easy before next week’s races so plan not to do anything too hard in the meantime as it will not do any good now, just need to keep things ticking over!

Easy 5k – 28:00

Easy Run just to keep legs turning over before tomorrow’s race.