2020 was a year of irregular running, if any running at all for some periods. So come 2021, I decided I needed to try to get some routine. Having started well through January and February, I'd become lazy again in March, and so with clubs runs allowed to take place from 29 March, I wanted to use them to help with routine.
I'd completed my first run on Tueaday and wanted to take advantage of the Good Friday groups. A couple of groups which may have suited me were right on the cusp of where I see my current level, and so rather than risk holding them up, I opted for a group offering slowest runner pace. When I first started running, I thought it was all about running in the fastest group possible every time, but I subsequently found that slower groups also have their benefits - time on feet, fat burn, and more relaxed. Today's group certainly met those objectives and it was with a friendly group with a good sense of humour. I'm not usually a chatty runner but today's group lent itself to that. Today was a casual venture into High Elms. I'd never really been a fan of trail running until recently and so although I hadn't expected to be off road, I wasn't a disappointment to find that's where we were head. There were plenty of stops or walks, mainly to allow others in the park to pass, bit it didn't detract from enjoying the surroundings. After a few ups and downs, we finished with a short detour adding in a final hill up towards Farnborough before returning downhill to our start point. Overall distance was 4.63 miles at an average of 13:29 per mile. I'd considered I might add some miles by running part way home. The end point was simply whatever place I became tired. So a brief walk back to the A21 and then see where I'd reach my limit. The A21 is a mental test more than anything, a long drag which can feel like it's never ending. A few months ago, I'd have struggled with the mental element but I've started to get through that more recently. The route is also a little undulating and so although I still felt relatively fresh after my earlier group run, there was still an element of the unknown for the home run. As I approach Norman Park, I had a choice - cut through the park or take the longer route on pavement. I was beginning to feel tired and so I opted for the shorter route. A check of the watch as I entered the park and I decided the opposite corner or 6Km would be my finish, whichever occurred last. 3.8 miles (6.1Km) was the final distance at an average pace of 9:40 per mile - very happy with that. Overall miles for today was 8.43.
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ABOUT MEHaving completed 5 marathons between 1999 and 2016, I decided this year, I would try to do it properly and plan my training! Alongside, I wanted to keep a blog as it went along, partly to look back on, and partly to help anyone else who may benefit from my own experiences. Archives
November 2023
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