Ticking the boxes

• Weekly mileage steady at around 45
• Completing long-runs consistently and at a good pace
• Training sessions going well
• Back to 11st 7lbs
• Feeling energised

The only thing missing - some races to put it all to the test.  I will tell all right here!

Trying to be a lean, mean, running-machine (again)

With the Midweek League fast-approaching, I am trying to get in my best shape since 2010.  Given most of my form over the last 3 years, that won't be too difficult, but if I can get around 6 min/mile pace for 10k in the MWL I'll be delighted at this point.  I am doing my best; upping the mileage, dropping a few lbs, working hard in training and eating more healthily.  Hopefully it will pay off.

In a few weeks, and just in time for the MWL, I will turn 50 and so enter the Vet 50-54 category.  I welcome this noteable anniversary as it opens up a new set of challenges.  I am hoping the rest of 2013 will see me recover at least some of my former running glory - and of course attain inner peace, joy and harmony.  Stay tuned to learn how I do!

Wootton XC Sun 3/2/13

The pain of Cross-country!

I'd had high hopes of this race based on good training sessions, but some interruptions due to illness and the weather put a dent in my fitness and my hoped for top-30 finish did not materialise.   I was 35th - broadly no change from the previous race.  Having a large meal and too much wine the night before didn't help either!

I felt lousy in the warm-up and likewise throughout most of the race.  The picure says it all...feel that pain ;o)

Signs of Recovery?

Managed a 13.2 mile run yesterday at 6:50-pace with an average effort of 137 bpm/75% of max. Conditions were excellent, but even so, it's been a long time since I managed a run of this distance at that pace with only a moderate effort.  Still barely hitting 30 miles/week, so very encouraging.

Goodbye 2012

My first race since May...

... and a cross-country at that!

So, that's out of the way.  It's not easy summoning up the will to put your body through a race again, becoming accustomed to the kind of discomfort that only running as hard as you can for a given distance  will bring.  I'd done my first few hard training sessions for many months, but it's not the same as putting it all out there!

I was pleased to finish a respectable 31st and 7th NHRR scorer on a day that also saw NHRR win a cross-country event overall for the first time this season.  My performance, along with some recent sessions, suggests I could do a low 38min-something 10k at the moment.  Given I've only been doing injury-interrupted,  low-mileage tick-over running for most of the last 6 months, I'm pretty happy with that as a base to build from.

My right hamstring was feeling pretty tight yesterday, so I'll have to watch that to avoid another recurrence of this Summer's on/off injury saga.