Kraftykat is still in the running.... by kraftykat

It's been a funny couple of weeks since I did the Pennine Lancashire 10k. To be honest, I lost a bit of momentum that week. I took a rest day after the race and then the following couple of days I was either busy concert-going or working late so I only managed a short 3 miler on the Thursday.

So, after doing the race the week before I'd got a bit mixed up with my training plan and was a bit unsure what mileage to go for on the LSR last Saturday. In the end I decided to go for 7/8 miles and then if I felt OK go for another 1. Decided on a route round the Ribble Valley. I had the usual dilemna whether to wear my waterproof or not, but as it was threatening rain when I set off I decided to put it on. I'd only been running about 10 mins and it started absolutely pouring down. Just thought to myself - I must be mad! And I guess that's what everyone else must have been thinking when they were driving past! The first 2/3 miles is a slight incline - nothing major but it always gives me that 'why am I doing this when I could still be in bed?' feeling. But this time it really didn't seem to bother me as much. I think the little bit of hill training that I have managed to do recently has helped. The weather picked up, the sun came out and by the time I'd got back to the car I'd kinda dried off and felt really glad that I'd done it.

Sticking to my 11 min LSR training pace again, with the option of a bit faster on the last couple of miles if poss! Finish time - 1:35:54.

Splits - 1) 11:11 2) 10:50 3) 10:22 4) 10:28 5) 10:44 6) 11:00 7) 10:53 8) 10:25 9) 9:58.

Tuesday it was a 3 miler and then on Wednesday I did what is now becoming my regular 'run home from work' job. As it's holidays at College I had to arrange for a different 'chauffeur' to take me into work which went OK. I'd planned on doing a 7 mile run home, after getting someone else to drop me off at the start point about a mile out from work. The first couple of miles went OK and then at about 3 miles I suddenly had a real, massive hunger pang and knew I'd have to have something to eat/drink - quick, as I'd got a bit of the shakes.I slowed my pace right down and then walked for a short time. Although I was on a main road, I was about 2 miles from the nearest shop. Thankfully I was carrying some lucozade drink which I finished off and I'd also got a small fruit bar and a few  jelly babies. It really seemed to do the trick and meant I could carry on. I had some money on me so at about 4 miles when I came to the nearest shop I dived into the co-op and grabbed a banana and another lucozade drink and managed to carry on back home. By this time it was pouring down and I wasn't in the best of moods! Then it was sunny..... then it was raining.....It really wasn't one of my best runs. On reflection I only had myself to blame and I was pretty annoyed at myself over this as I'd done a similar thing a couple of weeks ago running home from work. I had promised myself that if running home from work I really need to eat extra in the afternoon. But this week I had been so busy at work I must have just forgotten and not had the food on my desk to remind me. ERROR! Note to self for next midweek work run - desk feast mid-afternoon! Anyway, I made it back to my car in one piece but was pretty fed up with myself.

Did a short run the following day which should have been a bit of hill training and although I did go through the motions, I really wasn't in the mood. So, all in all, not a great week. But.... start again next week!

So, I was at RHS Tatton show yesterday and had a brill day but pushing a wheelchair round all day wasn't ideal preparation for my long run today so I've pushed it back and may go out tomorrow or Monday.

I'm now on holiday for four weeks - woo hoo! So, I'm hoping to get really stuck into my training now, starting with preparation for the Jane Tomlinson York 10k next Sunday.

Really hope to catch up with all your blogs now that I'm holiday - guess I've no excuse!

Have a good weekend everyone!