TDS

20 miles in 2h 55min.
This route always has a tough bit somewhere and today it was the 3rd quarter.
It was a warm day with a haze rather than sun for most of the time. I started in Taylor Park
I was keen not to push to hard but I always run as I an able to and probably ran a bit fast for the 1st half from Crieff to Comrie.
I found the section from Comrie to Turrett dam really hard and was v pleased to have some gels. However on the plus side I finished well and ended up with a good time.
Colin and Judith were there at the end so I was able to have a chat to them before heading off to lunch at the lounge.
A slight L calf twinge which hopefully won't develop into anything

Newtyle hill race

I popped into Ninewells on the 7th of April for a wee op which was more cosmetic than anything and remarkably straightforward. However I was banned from running for at least a week. Six days post op the 3rd championship race loomed into view and I decided to take a chance. Unlike previous years when this race attracted 20 runners there were 50 this year. 7 Harriers took part and the ladies did really well. I enjoyed the race although the hill was pretty dull, it was very runnable. I felt I did OK but no more which taking everything into account was a good result. I came 13/50 in a time of 34.56 which is pretty meaningless. On the following Saturday we had a great training session with 11 turning up. Again I felt slow but a calf scare had cleared up after resting Friday (sensible or what!) Yesterday we had a club Easter orienteering event in glorious sunshine. I was utterly useless but enjoyed the running. This evening I entered 2 marathons, the Cape Wrath in May and the Mersey in October

TDS

After a decidedly average week we had a 5 mile time trial Sat am. I was 32.32 which is about 20secs off a pb so not bad. Felt pretty knackered the whole way round though.

Yesterday Phil, Rhian and I did a slightly modified TDS. Exactly 20m in 3.18.

I am so pleased to get that one under my belt. Felt reasonable all way round tho happy to finish.

I'd forgotten that seized up feeling in the hips!!

Slow recovery

Only managed 20m last week. I had a bit of a hamstring niggle in the race but it wasn't until later in the week that it showed itself again. I just did a couple of short runs over the weekend but at the end of the Sunday run whilst running down a steep hill it suddenly gave me a sharp pain. "Thats torn it" I thought but i fact it didn't seem too bad and I ran yesterday with minimal discomfort. I think if I nurse it then it should be OK.

I have an enforced rest coming up in a week for about 10 days so that might be a good thing

Alloa 1/2 M

Yesterday, I ran the Alloa half for the 3rd time. It was a great day for running and a field of maybe a 1000. After a month of training I was pretty relaxed about how it might go and had sub 1.30 in mind. I didnt have my GPS watch so was quite surprised when the 1st mile went by at 6.15. I felt good, really good. I had had cereal and then toast and honey for brekkers and a finger of fudge and a go gel just before the race. I also took a gel with me for halfway.

After the 1st mile I settled into the race and decided to run as I felt (always a good policy in my view). Between 4 and 5 miles a woman runner collapsed just in front of me. I was surprised to see a decent runner go down so early in the race and stopped to help. She recovered quickly and sent me on my way. As a true runner I had stopped my watch before stopping and restarted it as I set off.

5 miles came up in 31.45. At this point I was expecting to start struggling and soon after I did have a dip. I took my gel a bit earlier than planned and hey presto I was soon feeling good again.

10 miles came up in 64 min. At this point I started to get excited at the prospect of a really good time. I had picked up a mars bar off some spectators which I had at 9 miles just before the hill and think that I would have struggled in the last 5k without it.

The last 3miles is fairly flat with a long easy hill at 11 miles. The last mile was tough but then its supposed to be. I overtook a couple of runners in the last 5k so felt my form held up pretty well.

I was astonished to finish in 84.32 and 77th.

This was my fastest half since 2003 when I set my PB.

I have pondered why it went so well yesterday.

I think the speed training helped and low expectations as well. Also it was just one of those days when I felt good. They dont come along that often so I'm not going to overanalyse. I also ate during the race and I think that was a factor.

I felt my right hamstring tighten over the 2nd half of the race but it didnt develop in to much. However I do have a minor calf strain on the left which only made itself apparent after finishing which is strange.

Something else that I have been working on is my running style. I am purposefully landing on the forefoot and extending through the stride so I have quite a high backlift. I am also working on taking short strides which means a higher cadence. This is all supposed to reduce injuries-hmmm.

What I did notice towards the end yesterday was a confidence in my technique and that felt good.

An easy week now to hopefully allow any niggles to sort themselves out. I don't think I will be racing for over a month now, it looks like Kinross 10k is the next race.

Another good week

36 miles and feeling OK. Ran 5 times
It snowed alot yesterday but we managed a good 8x3min session with 5 harriers.
I was feeling under the weather on Friday and it was a real slog to do 10miles but I struggled round OK in the end.
Its a bit of a taper now to the Alloa half in a week which I am looking forward to.

A good week

V happy with a total of 43 miles this week.

Had another go with 5 fingers on Monday and did 4 miles which went OK. However 5 miles on Friday with some rubbly paths to contend with left me with v sore heels. I will have to stick to tarmac or grass for the foreseeable future.

Yesterday was a 1-4-1 pyramid which went OK and today I went to help with the junior harriers which I enjoyed. We did another pyramid 1-3-1 which was quite full on. After that Phil and I ran the south section of the TDS and back via strowan and lady mary's for a total of 14m. I was v v tired at the end but delighted to be ale to do that.