Steady 5 miler in 51:32 on a colder day…
Posted on Apr 02, 2012 under 5 miles, Milestones, Regular Runs | No CommentWent walking yesterday and my feet had felt a little tired, but wanted to get a run in today, and take advantage of having Monday off Uni for the first time in a while!
Felt pretty cold out there, so was glad to get going to warm up, the first km ticked over in 6:31 which was pretty good considering I felt I was just tip toeing to warm up. At about 2.5km I was glad I had a Harvest chewy bar in my pocket, as I had felt I might need a sugar boost along the way, eating this will breathing hard was interesting, but it seemed to do the trick as I eventually felt my hunger pangs disappear and felt pretty good all through the run after a few minutes of feeling a bit hungry.
The 4th km ticked over in 6:12 and there were times when I noticed my pace go to 5:50 per km, whereupon I slowed deliberately, not wanting to push too much too soon and not wishing to experience any sudden twangs in my calf – as it was maintaining a pace of just under 6:25 and doing 5 miles would be enough at this stage, no need for heroics.
I felt I could run at that pace all day, and in the last km increased the foot turnover a little bit, midful not to stretch my legs too much, and I managed an uphill segment and a last km of 6:03 without any calf niggles. I did feel one minor something or other about half way, but it could almost have been a ghost in my mind, and there was nothing running the last km, and no pain on stretching afterwards.
All in all good to get past the 5 mile milestone, as the last 5 mile run was when my calf went, and incredible I am running it now when 5 weeks ago I couldn’t walk. Time wasn’t all that far off my season’s best for 5 miles either, only a couple of minutes out, which bodes well, so if I can just keep upping the distance and pace very gradually I should be OK fingers crossed!