Malcolm's running diary by malcolms

Four weeks into VLM training mode, I thought I’d end the week by easing back and just running a 13.1 mile route.

…

I can’t believe that I’ve just written that in my blog.

Easing back with a 13.1 miler!!!

True though, four weeks and four runs a week, each with a purpose and a target, I set out at lunchtime today with a 13 mile run on the agenda. It wasn’t the usual stupid o clock on Saturday as I was working Saturday, and we were late to bed Saturday night so when the alarm went off at 6 this morning, I wasn’t best pleased. And ignored it!! So it wasn’t till much later that the wife said, "Aren’t you running today?” I thought I’d better get my skates on.

The first mile out of the village was uphill and stupidly the garmin beeped at 9:10. In fact mile 2 and 3 were more up hill than down, and  but the pace was still sub 9:30. Normally at this stage I would panic, thinking that not only is the pace unsustainable over the distance, but I had no phone and if I collapsed in a ditch somewhere it might be days before my wasted body was found. So mile 4 – downhill mostly – 9:12. I wasn’t bothered by this as clearly the only reason to go down hill is to go up the next one. So mile 5 I knew would slow me down and bring me to my senses – 9:38. Mile 6 was mostly through a village and you don't slow down when you might pass people, so the mother with the double buggy and the couple walking their dog were treated to a runner keeping the pace up  - 9:15. Heading out of the village, mile 7 is one long slow hill. I’ve run it with Kate before and usually by the top we are on our hands and knees – but no – mile passed in 10:00. It was at this point that I thought I might sneak a PB out of this run, I had use one gel as I entered the village, (early in mile 6) and had one left on me and 250 mls left in my water bottle. Mile 8 is fairly flat and marks the turn for home, starting by Danebury Hill Fort. It was at this point that I passed some horse riders.  Again let that just sink in, a sad fat old bloke ran past some people on horseback. Mile 8 – 9:30. Mile 9 I felt was time to take the last gel. Normally the top rips of these in one easy pull, but I think the blood wasn’t going to my fingers this afternoon – and I couldn’t get the top off. Eventually had to stop to walk to focus enough  to pull the top off, and then kept walking while I slurped it back with some water. Mile 9 slightly slower at 10:28. The last serious uphill stretch was in mile 10, and by now it was starting to hurt, so I broke it up into 2 min run, walk for 10 breaths, 2 minute run etc . Mile 10 climbs over 200 ft so I wasn’t surprised when Mr Garmin peeps out 10:46. Mile 11 on the other hand is more down than up – though does have a fair share of either and whether it was the thought of a possible PB or the energy gel kicking in but mile 11 beeped at 9:41. I think, (no,I know) that was too fast and mile twelve felt as though the tanks were gone, run/ walk combinations, counting breaths, targeting trees or gates to get to, nothing worked and dying on my feet, mile 12 beeped in at 11:18. Now I was about 100 yds short of the crossroads where I turn left and head back to the village and home. Where the surge in energy came from I have no  idea but suddenly the legs started moving and moving well, mile 13: 9:43. Not far from home now ( the actual distance to home for the whole route is 13.2 miles) I somehow knew that I had to have a Pb in the bag so I stopped the timer at 13.11 miles. (1:09 for the last bit).

My best recorded half marathon was at Reading last year – 2:15:56 or something like that – and I sensed I was under that pace. So 4 weeks of proper training, the last two both being 30 mile weeks, I ran a half marathon (unofficial) in 2:08:46.

7 minute PB

Not only that but the Toon beat Man U and we’re in the next round of the cup. A good week all round.

Hope your running is going well.