Week 5 highlights:
- 47 miles this week.
- Sizzling in Sale.
- Longest run so far.
It's been a busy week with only my second long run of the training plan, no more pesky 10k's getting in the way. I did, however, compete in my first 5k race. Note parkrun is NOT a race it's a timed run.
The Sale Sizzler series of four 5k races over July/August are well known for being fast and flat with a good chance of a pb. Orgainsed by Sale Harriers and held in Wythenshawe Park they bring all the big names of the local running scene out. Pb's were the plan when Mike, Mark, Becki & Emma decided to enter. Unfortunately due to injuries only the lads were able to race.
Tactics were discussed strategies planned all ready to get that elusive sub 19 5k pb. Mother nature had other ideas. The weather in Manchester and over most of the country has been sizzling (pun intended) over the past couple of weeks . In the car on the way to the race the thermometer topped out at 31 degrees. The race didn't start until 7:30 so there was some hope it would cool down before we started. It did. By about 2/3 degrees. Great.
I did a warm up with Mike and a couple of the East Cheshire lads (RRR were represented by yours truly) Mark decided to warm up by dozing in the evening sun shine. The warm up was a gentle mile or so round the course but even at that easy pace my mouth was dry as a bone and I was glad to get back to Janet who was holding my water (and phone, wallet etc etc) for me.
Could we pb in such conditions? The plan was 6:10m/m for the first three then drop the hammer and try and nip under 19. Going any faster just wouldn't be possible.
The race sets off with just over a lap of the running track but without any of the commotion of last Sunday at the We Love Mcr 10k. As I was passing 200 meters the leaders were already leaving the track, some serious speed.
So that plan of 6:10m/m, remember that? Yea that didn't really work out. Managed and average pace of 6:18m/m which isn't shabby, but after just a mile or so the pace started to dip the heat was just far too much. Kept pushing as hard as I could because I wasn't giving this up. If it wasn't a pb, then it wouldn't be for the want of trying!
Coming back in to the running track for the finish I was just behind Mike, he kicked his sprint finish and I went just after but wasn't quite able to catch him up and finished 2 seconds behind. With the race not being chip times (it was £5 to enter, why would it be?) you have to walk through the finishing funnel while your bib number is checked off. That is the last thing I wanted to do. All I wanted was to collapse on the grass and die quietly.
The final time of 19:25 wasn't the pb or sub 19 min time I'd come for, but given the conditions it's safe to say I believe that time is in there. The great thing about the Sizzlers is there are four and that was only race two. I'll be back in a couple of weeks to have another crack, and looking out the window it looks like the blistering heat might be breaking. Not good for the sun worshipers but good for pb hunters...
While on the subject of the Sale Sizzlers I'd like to say how well organised and what great value for money the races are. For £5 i don't expect a goody bag (neither did Mark as he never looked for one!) but there was one. Granted it was a Sainsbury's bag with an orange, a flapjack and some flyers but it was still better than other more expensive races I've done. I take my hat off to you Sale Harriers!
Today was only the second long run of the training plan I've been able to do with all these 10k races going on. There was a club championship race today, the Moonraker 10k, but I'm looking long term to Chester so long run was the order of the day.
So that plan of 6:10m/m, remember that? Yea that didn't really work out. Managed and average pace of 6:18m/m which isn't shabby, but after just a mile or so the pace started to dip the heat was just far too much. Kept pushing as hard as I could because I wasn't giving this up. If it wasn't a pb, then it wouldn't be for the want of trying!
Coming back in to the running track for the finish I was just behind Mike, he kicked his sprint finish and I went just after but wasn't quite able to catch him up and finished 2 seconds behind. With the race not being chip times (it was £5 to enter, why would it be?) you have to walk through the finishing funnel while your bib number is checked off. That is the last thing I wanted to do. All I wanted was to collapse on the grass and die quietly.
The final time of 19:25 wasn't the pb or sub 19 min time I'd come for, but given the conditions it's safe to say I believe that time is in there. The great thing about the Sizzlers is there are four and that was only race two. I'll be back in a couple of weeks to have another crack, and looking out the window it looks like the blistering heat might be breaking. Not good for the sun worshipers but good for pb hunters...
While on the subject of the Sale Sizzlers I'd like to say how well organised and what great value for money the races are. For £5 i don't expect a goody bag (neither did Mark as he never looked for one!) but there was one. Granted it was a Sainsbury's bag with an orange, a flapjack and some flyers but it was still better than other more expensive races I've done. I take my hat off to you Sale Harriers!
Today was only the second long run of the training plan I've been able to do with all these 10k races going on. There was a club championship race today, the Moonraker 10k, but I'm looking long term to Chester so long run was the order of the day.
The training plan said 18 miles and while I didn't quite hit that figure I wasn't going to start looping the house to make the distance. I'd changed the route this week to avoid going up Hartshead Pike as on longer runs that hill is a real leg sapper. Problem though I still had to contend with Luzley Road which while not as steep still made for tough running, especially just coming towards the 10 mile mark.
Couple of times today I was running along thinking can I really run 26.2 miles? Here I am at 15 miles and I'd still have another 11.2 to knock off. I had to remind myself that it is still early days in the training, plenty of time to be building up and getting used to being at 18+ miles and feeling comfortable. Once I'd finished today I felt knackered and had a nice sit down before breakfast part two but felt like I could have carried on at the same pace for a couple of miles more to the big two-oh. Good job really as that's where I'm heading next Sunday. Getting to twenty miles will be a big psychological boost. Even if there is still another 10k to go before a marathon is over. But then if it was easy why would I be doing it? I want to race Chester and not just finish but get a good time. I'm putting the work in so fingers crossed it will pay dividends come 6th October.
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