This week didn’t begin with as much zest as previous weeks. As statistics will tell you, moving house is one of the most stressful things you can do, this is something to which I can most definitely attest. So training didn’t start on Monday (it was a rest day anyway), nor did it start on Tuesday, and on Tuesday evening I was beginning to wonder whether this week would be a running write-off.
However, instead of giving into the excuse ‘I was moving-I couldn’t fit in running’ I got up with the milkman on Wednesday morning (not literally, they’re quite an angry lot these days!) and did some interval training. I began with a 2 mile jog then completed 5x600m as fast as I could. This got harder as I progressed, but I plugged away and finished the 5 miles.
Thinking it would be best to give my legs as much rest as possible, I did my Thursday run in the evening. It was a 7 mile run with an aim completion time of 1:08, which I actually completed in 1:09. Using my new Nike+ GPS watch I discovered I actually had to run a lot further to complete the mileage I thought I was completing with my old Nike sportsband. This caused some annoyance in the first 2 miles as I would have normally completed about 4 miles already with my old watch, but after running down any road I could think of to make my run longer, I finally completed the 7 miles!
Friday was given away to more unpacking, and thinking it sensible to give my legs a rest before attempting parkrun the following day, I didn’t run.
Thinking it would be best to give my legs as much rest as possible, I did my Thursday run in the evening. It was a 7 mile run with an aim completion time of 1:08, which I actually completed in 1:09. Using my new Nike+ GPS watch I discovered I actually had to run a lot further to complete the mileage I thought I was completing with my old Nike sportsband. This caused some annoyance in the first 2 miles as I would have normally completed about 4 miles already with my old watch, but after running down any road I could think of to make my run longer, I finally completed the 7 miles!
Friday was given away to more unpacking, and thinking it sensible to give my legs a rest before attempting parkrun the following day, I didn’t run.
Saturday morning came, and as usual before any timed run, the what-ifs crept to the forefront of my mind. Trying to push any nerves aside, I concentrated on running my own race and attempting to keep the pace setting on my watch at 8:30 min miles.
I find the first lap of Gateshead parkrun always to be the hardest. Everyone rushes off fast, there’s a slight feeling of anything’s possible as you go down the incline, then you suddenly realise you’ve got a small but steep incline to climb up. However, my breathing was much better than it had been in any previous attempts and I seemed to be keeping a steady pace.
Going round the first lap of the lake was also a lot easier than it had been before, and as I came up the hill for the first time, the marshall at the top of the hill told me I was the first female. Quite glad at the news, I retained my steady speed, not really considering the position of being first female, my aim was to achieve the elusive PB.
The rest of the parkrun continued in mainly the same fashion, and spurred on by marshalls and other spectators, I made my way to the finish line to be greeted by stars on my watch telling me it was my fastest run! I’d took 1:01 off my Gateshead parkrun PB, and achieved my all time parkrun PB of 25:44! And yes, I was the first female too-something I certainly could never have expected!
The week ended, like those of most runners, with a long run. My plan suggested running 10 miles at a 10 min mile pace. Setting off, I had a huge headache behind my eye, and after acquiring an eye infection the previous day, I thought the two must be connected and really wanted to be back at home in bed. I continued to run and planned on doing a loop to return home. However, after 3 miles, my headache eased and I couldn’t resist continuing. I struggled to think of a route that would take me to my completed 10 miles, and was still a bit reluctant to run that far, so ended my run at my new front door, happy to have pushed myself to keep running for 9 miles.
It hasn’t been the most training-intensive week, having only ran 4 times, but I’m pleased with my 5km PB and could never have dreamed of being first in any kind of sporting activity (I could qualify this with the fact there weren’t many women running, but I’ll just enjoy the glory for now!)
Hope everyone has a good running week, and I’ll be back at the end of training week 6, which should include more scenic running as I’m popping over to the Lake District.
Happy running!
I find the first lap of Gateshead parkrun always to be the hardest. Everyone rushes off fast, there’s a slight feeling of anything’s possible as you go down the incline, then you suddenly realise you’ve got a small but steep incline to climb up. However, my breathing was much better than it had been in any previous attempts and I seemed to be keeping a steady pace.
Going round the first lap of the lake was also a lot easier than it had been before, and as I came up the hill for the first time, the marshall at the top of the hill told me I was the first female. Quite glad at the news, I retained my steady speed, not really considering the position of being first female, my aim was to achieve the elusive PB.
The rest of the parkrun continued in mainly the same fashion, and spurred on by marshalls and other spectators, I made my way to the finish line to be greeted by stars on my watch telling me it was my fastest run! I’d took 1:01 off my Gateshead parkrun PB, and achieved my all time parkrun PB of 25:44! And yes, I was the first female too-something I certainly could never have expected!
The week ended, like those of most runners, with a long run. My plan suggested running 10 miles at a 10 min mile pace. Setting off, I had a huge headache behind my eye, and after acquiring an eye infection the previous day, I thought the two must be connected and really wanted to be back at home in bed. I continued to run and planned on doing a loop to return home. However, after 3 miles, my headache eased and I couldn’t resist continuing. I struggled to think of a route that would take me to my completed 10 miles, and was still a bit reluctant to run that far, so ended my run at my new front door, happy to have pushed myself to keep running for 9 miles.
It hasn’t been the most training-intensive week, having only ran 4 times, but I’m pleased with my 5km PB and could never have dreamed of being first in any kind of sporting activity (I could qualify this with the fact there weren’t many women running, but I’ll just enjoy the glory for now!)
Hope everyone has a good running week, and I’ll be back at the end of training week 6, which should include more scenic running as I’m popping over to the Lake District.
Happy running!