Taking It Easy Can Still Be Tough

I was ready in plenty of time for Joe, who had told me he'd be OK for 6:30, but I still got caught out as he turned up at 6:20! Joe is suffering again, this time with some unidentifiable muscle in his foot/shin, so he wanted to go easy on it, which was fine by me as I was still stiff from Tuesday's hilly 9-miler and planning a longish run for today, Thursday.

Joe has mentioned a few times lately how he's seen an increasing number of runners around, not just since the winter but compared to last year too. I think he may be right, and he certainly is if Wednesday's evidence is representative.

We bimbled around (usual course, anticlockwise) having a chat and doing our best to avoid traffic. Joe was clearly struggling after the first mile or so, and suggested that if I wanted to go on ahead he'd take a short cut and meet me back home. Of course I wouldn't leave a wounded comrade (well not unless it were a race or something!) so I stayed with him, and at the 'drop-out' point he decided he'd manage to soldier on and do the full 4.3... what a hero! (Does anyone else have Rolf Harris singing 'Two Little Boys' in their head?)

While we did our stretches at the end I certainly didn't feel any less worn out than I usually would after one of these sessions, so was quite happy to have taken the foot off the gas, and still felt we'd earned our beers.

Today I was quite looking forward to ten miles or so, but when I checked my schedule realised I'd put myself down for 13.1. Ah well, shouldn't be a problem...

I'm sure I used to have two or three local half-marathon-distance routes mapped out, but could find no evidence of this, and rather than spend half the day trying to work something out I just repeated Thursday's route. (That's 'route' - pronounced 'root', because I'm English and therefore speak English, not American 'English'. Sorry - I started watching a video clip earlier, of some American lady talking about running technique, but I had to turn it off because her accent combined with her murdering of the language drove me to distraction!)

Back to today's run. I headed off on what would have been a beautiful day but for the very strong wind. I very soon had to take my cap off to save it from being blown off, so was glad I'd also chosen to wear shades, in a 'belt and braces' approach. The wind was against me for pretty much all of the outward leg, and at times I felt it would literally stop me in my tracks, particularly where it was funneled through bridges or between the factories and warehouses in the Digbeth area.

Again there were lots of runners out and I think I managed to elicit a wave or some sort of greeting from all of them. As one group of three emerged from under a bridge I started to say 'Hi' when I recognised the third, so 'Hi' became 'Hi Rob!'. Rob (a Sparkhill Harrier) replied in kind, and I was past them and under the bridge before I thought 'was that Helen with him? And if it was, perhaps I knew the other one too!' Ah well, I hope if I do know them they didn't think me rude.

I'm not sure exactly at which bridge this took place, there being so many in quick succession here, but I think it must have been the Ludgate Hill road bridge, at about 6.1 miles. I turned around using the Farmers Bridge/Saturday Bridge loop, and wondered if I might catch them up. For once, when I'd turned, the wind hadn't turned at the same time, so it was behind me now. I realised I didn't really have much chance of catching them unless they were going incredibly slowly, as even at full sail I was already struggling. My pace was dropping from low 8-minute miles to mid-9's over the next five or six miles, though picked up a little toward the end.

All in all about five minutes slower than on Sunday, which isn't too bad. I notice that my Garmin measured it about five hundredths of a mile shorter than last time - illustrating how they really aren't as reliable as some think. In this case it's largely because of the tunnels and high buildings along the route. Check out 'Measuring Running Routes' on GRG for a pretty good article on the accuracy of various methods, including GPS devices.

I'm still undecided on whether to go to Leeds or Hull parkrun on Saturday, but am leaning slightly towards Hull, as although it's further to travel it is their birthday run (free cake!) and that seems like a good excuse to make my first visit there.

I discovered Malvern and Allerthorpe half marathons recently, both of which look like they might be nice additions to my race calendar, were they not a week apart. Hmmm. They're also about mid-way between Hinckley and Humber Bridge half marathons! Oh, and there's the small matter of a birthday in there too. Oh, there just aren't enough weekends in the year!

I'd Forget My Head If It Were Loose

I nearly forgot to go running today! I happened to look at the clock at about 6:30 and it suddenly dawned on me! Having the day off, plus the later daylight, may have thrown me.

Anyway I quickly cobbled together a route - basically my now habitual Tuesday hilly route with a few miles tacked on, looping round the mill pool, totalling about 9 miles. I'm feeling a need to add a few miles where I can not only because I've been running a little short of late but because I'm going up to Yorkshire this weekend for my Mum's birthday so won't get many miles in, if any.

Anyway, it was nice to be out at that time and it still be daylight, and a few extra miles was certainly no chore.
Have I mentioned my old club lately? I don't think I've been missing them too badly, though it's always nice to bump into them as I have at several races.

At one point this evening I turned out of a side road to find myself behind the Sparkhill Harriers 'peloton' but too far away to shout. I recognised Gavin at the back and when he turned round I waved but he didn't see me - I was on the other side of the road by this point ready to turn off. I figured that now the clocks have gone forward they would be on one of their 'running round and round a field' sessions in one of the many fields across the river from my route and kept looking out for them but didn't see them again. Checking their website later I found that they were doing what they call a 'fartlek' session which probably meant that we were never far apart, them on river bank paths and me on the road with a row of houses between us.

For me, a fartlek means making it up as you go along, in terms of the pace changes, so a session where the changes are prescribed isn't really a fartlek... but I'm just being picky.

Despite leaving it until the evening, when I could have gone out at any time of the day, I was still home in time for the England game.

I must remember to be ready when Joe comes round tomorrow...

Ten, No Twelve... Oh, Why Not 13.1!

I felt I needed to get into double figures on Sunday just to raise my weekly average. I did set a target of 1500 miles for the year, and I'm already well behind on that schedule, although the many shorter races I've been doing has contributed to that, and I was still suffering from the injury, so I expected to be a little behind and start to pick up, well, about now I suppose.

So I decided on ten miles, but rather than do the same 10-mile route I've used quite often recently, I thought I'd make the most of the decent weather and hit the canal towpath.

Keeping a pretty steady pace of around 8-minute miles everything was going well, not too stiff after Saturday's race, so before long I was thinking that, as the route was out-and-back I might extend it a little and go for 12 miles.

The sun was shining and it felt good to be alive!

Coming into the city centre and still maintaining the pace quite easily I decided to carry on to Farmers Bridge, just by the National Indoor Arena. I've run this route several times in the past and knew that by doing a little loop over Farmers Bridge and back over Saturday Bridge the route was near as damn it a half marathon distance.

My pace slowed to around 8:25 per mile as the locks got more densely packed and the path got more hilly (yes, I know it's a canal but it does go up and down hills - that's what the locks are for).

Leaving the city behind my pace began to increase again on the flatter, straighter sections and was averaging around 8:20 before I left the canal with less than a mile to go. From there I pushed on through the back streets and alleys and finished at 7:37 pace over the last half mile, and more importantly still feeling good.
Overall, 13.1 miles in 1:46:48 - averaging 8:09 per mile. The day after a sub-20 minute 5km and just a week after a competitive half marathon, that felt like a result!

I'm now looking forward to getting some more longer races in. Eight weeks to Hinckley!

Race Report – Cannon Hill parkrun Event 31 - Pain and Pleasure

The sun refused to make an appearance this morning, but 115 runners gathered in Cannon Hill Park, 19 of which were welcome first timers. No fewer than 42 achieved PBs, and despite 2nd to 5th all setting new bests none could come close to Warren, who returned from South Africa I believe, to romp away with the win and though he missed his PB by three seconds still got round in just 15:18. The course record, however, remains with one Daniel Clorley who has only ever done one parkrun and finished in a gob-smacking 14:59 in January.

As has happened all too frequently for me lately, my race started badly, quite apart from not managing to start my watch because I'd left it too late to find satellites (too busy gassing). For the first ½km (coincidentally all up-hill) I felt terrible in my legs and watched people I usually compete with running away.

I'd met up with Derek, who I've chatted to on the Good Run Guide forum and knew to have similar pace to me, and he was quickly a couple of hundred meters ahead.

I spoke a few days ago about using my experience of decent results coming from bad starts to change my mind set when it happens and to convince myself to push through the pain.

I tried it today, but it was hard! Not having my watch telling my how I was doing I could only go by how I felt, which wasn't good. About a kilometre in I managed to reset my watch to clock time. Assuming we started on time (we're usually pretty close) I figured I wasn't going too badly, nevertheless I wasn't confident that I could keep it up. It wasn't until I started catching a few runners, around half way, that I realised that I was actually feeling a bit better.

Rounding the fish pond for the second time and starting the last hill, on the slowest part of the route for me, I thought about previous performances here and how my best times came from pushing up the hill. I also thought about Fergal up ahead who I knew would be yelling for me! So, I focused on the runner in front and went after him. Then the next, and the next...

I flew past one guy coming up to Fergal's Corner and heard Fergal telling me I was going faster than on the first lap, which I already knew but it was good to hear confirmation! I caught and passed a few more, including Derek, with whom I managed to exchange a breathless word or two, and one chap who I just pipped at the line (we were given the same finish time).

I just about got my breath back in time to see Jim come in, clocking another PB - his fifth in a row at parkrun, I think. Joe came in a minute and a half later, about a minute down on his best at Cannon Hill.

Derek told me he'd stopped his watch at 20:05 and that I was several seconds ahead of him, so I realised I might just have scraped in under 20 minutes for the third time.

When the results came out they confirmed my time as 19:55 - my third best 5k result.

I think I need to look at why I feel so bad early on in races. I might try doing something different with my pre-race preparation. I understand some runners have some sort of 'warm up' routine. Maybe I should try that!

Back on the Towpath

7.9 miles home from work this evening, a lovely warm evening which brought out all the nutters and weirdos.

Not least the crowd by the canal gathered around two of their ilk scrapping on the ground. I just trotted through their midst, minding my own business and trying not to trip over anything or anyone and avoiding eye contact.

Despite these and others I quite enjoyed the run, taken at a reasonable pace of an average 8:12 per mile.

It's a day off running tomorrow. I may take in the Moseley vs Esher rugby match (hopefully Moseley will do better than on Saturday against Bees). Saturday will be my first parkrun for a few weeks - I've volunteered at the last four in Cannon Hill Park due to other races each weekend and haven't run there since 26th February. If the weather holds I foresee a record attendance. I'm hoping my leg muscles will have recovered sufficiently to break 20 minutes again... who knows, maybe even another PB!

I put my entry in for the Hinckley half marathon yesterday. Joe and I were going to enter Lichfield on May Day, but it was already full, so Hinckley, a week later, was our second choice. We're also thinking about Massey Running Club's Easter 5-miler at Warwick University. It's on a Thursday evening, which will make a change and it should be nice and cool. I have a feeling it's the same course as I did on 2nd January in the Godiva New Year 5.

Another Gentle One

We were both tired tonight, so just had a slow tootle round and then went to the pub.

My legs are still stiff, though improving. The only actual pain remaining is in the right Achilles tendon.

On the random playlist right now: 'Please Don't Ask Me to Dance", Eddi Reader. No, dancing's definitely out. So's sprinting, playing football...

I'm thinking I might run home from the office tomorrow, just for a change, to increase mileage and to take advantage of the daylight and good weather (assuming it holds).

All Aches and Pains

I opted for the usual Tuesday hilly route, of about 5¼ miles, but treated it as a recovery run and took it at a very steady, very gentle pace! Just about everything south of the midriff was in some level of pain, mainly the left hamstring, right knee, both Achilles tendons, and particularly the right ankle. I put all of this down to Sundays half marathon of course, together with the few days prior. The shooting pain in my right ankle and the general tightness of the Achilles I specifically attribute to a couple of turns in the Stafford course, both of which had fairly steep downhill approaches to sharp right corners. Both potential tendon snappers for tired runners!

I was reading a thread on the Good Run Guide forum earlier about the tricks our minds play on us and the tricks we can use to combat them. In particular mention was made of those insidious thoughts of giving up during a race. I often find myself thinking, usually early in a race, that I'm not in good shape somehow - there's some unexpected pain, my guts don't feel right, my legs are stiff or I just don't feel in the right frame of mind. Strangely on some of these occasions I've turned in some of my best or surprisingly good results - even a couple of PBs. I now find that I can use these experiences to snap myself out of the doldrums and push through. After all, if it's worked out alright before it will again, right? Pack the pain in a little box and post it to someone who doesn't mind being a loser, and concentrate on reeling in the guy in front!

Purely coincidentally, while writing that paragraph I was listening to a song by Juliet called 'Ride the Pain'. Regular readers would know that I'm not a fan of running 'wired for sound', but if I were, I'd be adding that number to my running playlist!

Race Report - Stafford Half Marathon

How Not to Prepare for a Half Marathon:

Start with a Cross Country race and two mid/longish distance training runs over three days, then with no rest days head for the hills and go fell-walking for three days, 'wild camping' (i.e. in the wild - up on the tops with no facilities, so you need to collect water on the way, carrying that and food, cooking gear, all your clothing for the trip and, of course, your 'accommodation').

Something like 45 miles and, I'm guessing, around a mile total climb.

One day of rest, but remaining on your feet all day, helping out at a race in the morning, then a bit of shopping before going to watch a local rugby match (Moseley v Bees) followed by the Ireland England match on the big screen at the ground, knocking back a few beers of course. Finally a birthday party, spending almost all the evening either standing or dancing.

That's how it shouldn't be done, and that's how I did it. No surprise really, then, that this morning my thighs were more than a little stiff.

We got to Stafford nice and early and chanced upon a car park really close to the finish, so we took a wander around checking out the start and finish areas and picked up our T-shirts. Our parkrun friends turned up shortly, in their space blankets saved from the Birmingham half marathon.

The race got going on time, and I'd already decided that I'd be happy to get round, never mind how long it might take, so Joe and I ran together until the first drinks station, which I ignored but Joe slowed to get water. That's where we parted company, and I was averaging about 7:30 to 7:40 miles, thinking I was going too fast and wouldn't be able to keep it up. There was a short two-way section with a U-turn where I missed Joe but saw Marion and Helen (Birchfield Harriers & Cannon Hill parkrun).

By about three miles I was struggling and thinking I really might not get round, and there were a few hills and bridges which had my leg muscles screaming and slowed my pace, but before too long I was beginning to find it a little easier, and around half way I'd decided that I was actually quite enjoying the race, as much as one can, and was beginning to take note of those around me and how we were each going through good an bad spells, overtaking and being overtaken but several faces (or backs) kept returning.

Aside from the effects of a couple more hills, my pace gradually picked up over the whole of the second half of the race, from about 8:20 at six miles to 7:25 at eleven and on the disused railway track I found I was overtaking more and more, and having to wait for gaps to squeeze through. Over the last two and a half miles I increased my pace further, almost an extended finish sprint, and was beginning to feel quite good despite the pain in my legs. About half a mile out I was watching for Fergal, who had said he be there and was - and gave me a huge lift and my pace increased again. the route snaked around the city centre streets and without my Garmin I'd have had no idea how far out I was, but turning into the short final straight I saw Hilary shouting for me, and the clock above the finish line. I threw everything I had into a sprint, though I was virtually spent by then. Apparently I managed to get up to 6:38 pace at the end. I knew though that I'd exceeded my own expectations and stopped my watch on 99 minutes dead.

Within three minutes of a PB!

After swapping congratulations with those around me (most of whom I'd just passed!) and getting my chip removed I made my way slowly along the funnel-cum-escape channel back round to Market Square, and once I'd gathered some breath wandered back up the course to see if I could see Joe come in. I first saw Barry and Paul from Sparkhill who had both finished before me, though Barry was disappointed with his time of around 1:31. Paul said little about his time, about a minute behind Barry, but I suspect he was fairly happy. His girlfriend Vicki was to come in about half an hour later.

Just as Barry and Paul headed off I saw Joe come past so gave him a good shout, which he later said he did hear, though it was quite noisy so he wasn't sure it was me. I headed back towards where we'd agreed to meet and then saw Mary coming in so gave her a shout too.

So all in all a good day, a pleasant enough course and very happy with my time, confirmed as officially 1:39:01. Enjoyed a couple of beers when we got back. Tomorrow I shall concentrate on staying awake at my desk. It may require a coffee or two.

Another Day On on a Day Off

OK, so yesterday being a Monday would normally have been a day off running, but as I had the day off work and am falling behind my running schedule I slipped in a 10-miler. Today, Tuesday, I would typically do some hill work (recently, anyway), but as it's another day off work and as I'm hill-walking Wednesday to Friday, I slipped in another run - this time the 7.27 mile route I haven't done for a few weeks.

It's the first time I've done this precise route in daylight, although it was chilly and foggy. Like yesterday I noticed a difference running during a weekday morning - the village was full of shoppers, which meant a lot of weaving, a bit of dodging and even a little waiting. Never mind, it was nice to get out.

I'm now just about set for the Peak District, I think. All the new lightweight gear's packed. I'll try not to do any running, though if I come across any scree slopes it might be hard to resist!

Running on a Day Off

Feeling better this morning, I went out for a ten mile run and, aside from the first mile and a half and the last mile, I maintained a very steady pace close to 8 minutes per mile. Overall I averaged 7:58. It was a pleasant morning, and quite a pleasant run. I did notice a slight pain in my right achilles later on, and the shoe felt to be rubbing against it. No problem really, but something to keep an eye on.

I noticed running mid Monday morning on a route I normally run on weekends or evenings that you have to be alert to different traffic patterns. Cars were in and out of places which are normally closed when I pass. On the other hand there is less traffic overall, and drivers seem to be in less of a hurry.

I'm going walking and camping in the Peak District from Wednesday afternoon to Friday lunchtime, so plan to get another run in tomorrow, and then that will be it until Stafford on Sunday. I'm volunteering at Cannon Hill parkrun again, but when I bumped into the Race Director this afternoon she told me I'm on timing again, rather than registration, as I'd thought, and the roster came out a short while ago confirming that. I think I prefer timing anyway, as it keeps me busy longer and more involved with the action.

Race Report - BMAF National XC Champs

I started the day with a trip to Cannon Hill parkrun, where I was put in charge of operating the timer. We use a small USB device which makes weird noises when you prime it to clear the memory and when closing it down, and makes a small 'bleep' with each record, including the start. I stood next to the starter, and unfortunately I couldn't hear my timer bleep over her whistle, and as there's no display on the timer we couldn't be absolutely sure that it was actually running! I usually start my stopwatch as well to use as a cross check for the results, but one of the runners had asked me to look after his bag and jacket so I didn't have my watch hand free! Gill started counting elephants, but that wasn't going to work even if she managed to keep it going up to 2471 (41 mins, 11 secs) - that's a lot of elephants! We could only assume that it was working and carry on.

We'd been warned that the path beside the lake will be closed for four to six weeks, but there was no evidence of this happening yet.

It was good to see a large turnout again - 117 runners including six Sparkhill Harriers, Mark making his first appearance and managing 9th male, while Meg was 4th female.

I didn't hang around at the cafe afterwards as I had to get home and prepare for the cross country, so didn't witness the attempt to upload the timer data...

So, on to Perry Park, in the shadow of Alexander Stadium where work is progressing, including construction of a new stand, all in preparation for the Diamond League meeting and of course the visit of Team USA and Team Jamaica who will be using the facilities to train before and during the London Olympics.


The first face I recognised on arriving was Sparkhill veteran Gavin, who had intended to race but had to pull out due to injury. We chatted and had a walk around part of the course, cheering on anyone we knew in the first race - Women and over-65 Men. That included Sian, David and Margaret from Sparkhill.

Leaving Gavin to go and get myself ready I found the rest of the Sparkhill contingent gathered around a telegraph pole (they usually use a tree, but in this instance the pole was more convenient!)

I left them to it and went for a warm-up jog around that part of the course I hadn't already seen -nothing very interesting, unfortunately, and the ground was very firm thanks to the good weather. I even considered changing from my spikes into road shoes.

I lined up over to the right of the start line as I'd noticed that the first bend, though slight, was a right-hander. I noticed some of the red and black Sparkhill vests over on the other side, however I soon lost sight of them when the race started - concentrating on the heels and elbows of those in front and around me! As usual in Cross Countries it was a mad dash from the off, in this case downhill slightly to the bottom of the field and the lowest point of the course.

I seemed to be being overtaken rather more than overtaking, in many cases by older, M55 and M60, runners! I started to make a better impression as the race progressed, though I was finding it very hard work despite the relatively flat course and easy going. Too long since my last cross country and not enough off-road or hill training.

Approaching the highest point, a U-turn behind the stadium, I saw Paul well ahead of me but no sign of the others. I figured I must just have missed Darren, but there was a chance Rob might be behind me. On the second lap I saw Paul again, making ground on me as I'd expect, no sign of Darren again, but Rob was on his way up while I was heading back down, probably about 30 places behind.

This section of two-way traffic made it easy to judge progress relative to the Sparkhill guys, and mine was negative. Darren was indeed ahead of me, by some way, and all three were going faster. On the last lap I saw that Rob was about 20 places back, but with about 600m to go there was no way he was catching me.

The field had strung out now and there weren't many around me but I did manage to pass one more on the up-hill run in, albeit an older fella!

I was surprised to see so little local club representation, though Tipton Harriers and Birchfield Harriers were both present in numbers.

The results were posted today on the BMAF blog, but strangely not yet on their website. Surprisingly, BMAF have yet to cash my cheque.

Not a hugely successful run for me, but I admit it was nice to beat Rob for a change. One pleasing and yet puzzling thing about my performance was that, if you accept that the course was 8.22km (or 5.11 miles) as per my Garmin then my pace was actually 3 seconds per mile faster than the 5 mile PB I set six days earlier! Of course if you accept the nominal 8km distance, then I was 6 seconds per mile slower, but even so I would expect a larger differential between a cross country race and what was essentially flat tarmac and hard trail last Sunday.

The parkrun results were also posted, with no sign of any problems, so thankfully the timer must have started OK!

Having been out for one or two shandies last night after a tiring day, I'm afraid I slept in this morning (despite having left music playing all night) and when I did get up I was in no mood to go running as my head was pounding! It's about 6:30 as I write this, and I'm still feeling rather brittle.

Falling Behind on the Training Plan

Yesterday evening, unlike last Tuesday, I had no problem getting myself out for a run, and repeated my five-and-a-bit-mile hilly route last run three weeks ago. I risked bumping into my ex club mates as I knew their session would share some of my route, but I think they must have been late setting off again as I never saw them.

I took a little longer than previously on this particular route, but that was mainly down to taking it very easy on the way to and from the hills, and the main workout section compared fairly favourably. The only negative was running into a garden gate in the dark! It was painted black and left opened across the path. Fortunately I spotted it in time to slow down sufficiently not to hurt myself.

Tonight Joe and I did the usual (clockwise) four-and-a-bit, and took it very steady as Joe was recovering from a running fall, although looking at the stats in Good Run Guide I see that we actually started off faster than usual, which surprises me. Did we earn our beers? Who cares!

It's been a rather lightweight week since the race on Sunday, and I won't be running again until the Cross Country on Saturday, which will be a chance to meet and run against my Sparkhill pals. Next week I'm planning to interrupt my running with a bit of hill walking in the Peak District - I'll put it down as cross-training.

Race Report - Centurion Grand Prix 5-Miler Series - Race 5 - PB!

Fewer familiar faces were in evidence this month, in fact fewer faces. Just 101 runners, rather than the usual 130 or so. Some may have been at St Andrews to see Birmingham City parade the League Cup, but I suspect it was more to do with conflicting races - the Shakespeare Raceway 10km, Droitwich, Bath and Llanelli half marathons, Gloucester 20M and of course the UK Cross Challenge Final and World Cross Trials at Cofton Park, all on the same weekend.

It certainly couldn't be down to the weather, as conditions though a little chilly were better than in previous months.

Chris was not racing today, and as I'll miss the April race we'll have to resume our little head-to-head in the postponed race in May.

My pal Joe was also absent, recovering from a wedding yesterday, though Jim was there looking for a good performance, and a couple of ex club mates and a few Cannon Hill parkrunners were also present.

After my performances last Sunday and in training I was feeling quietly confident - I even held a slip of paper with planned half-mile splits written down culminating in a planned finishing time of 33:50 - a PB by 3 seconds!

I positioned myself a little nearer to the front this time which meant less overtaking in the narrow first few hundred yards.

I set off too fast of course, my Garmin telling me I'd completed the first half mile in just 6:08. I found myself behind a chap I remembered passing me later on in last months race, so I tracked him for a while (a Centurion called Ian, judging from the shouts from the sidelines). My thinking was that he might help me set a sensible pace early on, even if he left me behind later. I think that worked to an extent, but he accelerated away rather sooner than I'd hoped, or perhaps it was me slowing down, as I did the second half mile in 6:24 and the third in 6:40!

Checking my Garmin regularly I found I was managing to keep my pace reasonably steady, between 6:40 and 6:55, which after the fast start was pretty much on target for the 33:50 I sought. Crossing the road bridge at the end of the park (at 3.7 miles) the marshal called 'Thirty-One'. I knew I'd finished 41st in February, but as the field was larger then this didn't really mean much, and as there was no-one within striking distance in front or behind I wasn't likely to change position. Over the last mile and a half I pushed on from 6:54 to 6:40 and then 6:36, and stopped my watch at 33:36. I allowed myself to spend what little breath I had left on a tiny shout of joy, but as ever I didn't like to get too carried away until I saw the official results. When I worked out that that I was provisionally faster by 17 seconds I knew that the official time must be a PB.

I just had time to get a cup of water and wander back toward the finish before Jim appeared. just five places behind me. I felt sure that he was closer than last month, so figured that he must have got a PB too. As it turned out he'd improved by almost 2½ minutes.

We went to the pub to celebrate...

Checking the Centurion RC web site later confirmed my time.

Next stop Perry Park, for the Masters XC Championships. I'm looking forward to getting the spikes on and seeing, and yes, racing against, some of my old Sparkhill club mates!

A Different Route!

I had to leave work early today, so decided to make the most of the extra daylight by taking my kit to the office and running home.

Avoiding the more direct route which follows a very busy arterial road, I used a 7.9 mile route I'd run three times back in September, mainly on the canal towpaths.

Running through the city centre it's hard not to go quickly, and leaving the centre along the canal there are several short steep downhill sections beside the locks, where it's easy to let gravity take over and accelerate down, with flailing arms as air brakes! I could feel the extra strain on feet and legs though, and tried not to overdo it.

My pace varied quite markedly over the run, even compared to previous runs on the same route, but in the end this was the fastest I'd done it by a good margin. Strange considering I had no idea what those previous times were and I had intended to take it steady! Perhaps I need to revise my idea of what 'steady' means!

Bouncing Back

I let myself down yesterday by crying off at the last minute. After rushing home from work I got sat down and just lost the motivation to get moving. I blamed my aching thigh muscles, which I put down in part to Sundays race and part to the core stability exercises I did on Monday evening, but really I think it was more to do with the cold damp weather and York City on the radio.

There was no question of sofa-surfing tonight, as Joe came round as usual for our Wednesday run.

Same route again, clockwise this time, and it felt pretty good and easy going, and checking my watch about half a mile from home I realised it would be one of our better efforts. I said to Joe that we might have a PB tonight and all he said was "hopefully!", so he was clearly also aware that it was going well. When we finished we knew it was pretty good but could not remember what our best was. Having now checked my records on Good Run Guide I find it was our second fastest on this route, going clockwise, since I started recording training runs last September - the fastest coincidentally being the first, on 29th September.

All of which - including Sunday's race - seems to bode well for me in the Centurion Grand Prix this Sunday. I'll put a few good miles in tomorrow, and rest Friday and Saturday (volunteering at Cannon Hill parkrun again).