Kenny snubbed my invite/offer to join him so I was left to run all on my lonesome this morning. With nothing planned for the day there was no rush to get out so I didn’t hit the street until just after 9am.
Yesterday’s mild weather fooled me into thinking it would be warm again. Wrong. The mist and light breeze kept the temperature down and heading into the wind it felt quite chilly.
With no particular route in mind I ventured out with the intention of doing about five on-road miles, at recovery pace, while keeping away from hills. Heading up the Luton Road I was minded to turn right, through Thrales End, over the hill, down to East Hyde and back along the carpet tarmac of the Lea Valley Walk. However, I figured that wouldn’t give me five miles and I didn’t fancy the prospect of throwing in a loop over Pickford Hill and around the back of Batford.
So instead I turned left up Ridegwood Drive, I road I’ve not run up before, and as I neared the summit finally formulated a plan for the remainder of the run: Kinsbourne Green, Expensive Christmas Tree Farm Lane, Roundwood Lane and home. On the way back through Harpenden I added a trip through Lydekker Park for good measure.
Just over six miles at a bone shaking average pace of nine minutes per mile. That should have the boys & girls at Rockets quivering in their spiked cross-country running shoes.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
Friday, 5 February 2010
Mile(ish) Reps
After Wednesday's recovery run and yesterday's rest day today should have been a straight forward tempo. However, I fancied something a bit different and decided one mile reps would be a good session. That idea evolved into four reps of 7-minutes at 6:30 pace with 3-minute recoveries.
Mid morning I had an e-mail from Marting inviting me join him on an easy Limehouse loop. The idea of company was tempting but I learnt my lesson over the summer that missing out on the tempo sessions is not a good idea. So instead I tried to persuade Martin to join me - I think he was tempted but having done Rockets yesterday wasn't game. He did, however, pour scorn over my proposed "deckchair recoveries". Hmm - OK then. 8-minutes, same pace, 2-minute recovery.
So headed out to St Katherine dock and started the clock once in clear space. It was a bit of a struggle to hit the right pace at first but with the wind behind me I flew down to Canary Wharf averaging 6:26 and 6:16 over the first two reps. After the turn with tired legs and negative wind assistance it was harder going but I still managed to pump out averages of 6:25 and 6:27.
Good session. I enjoyed it.
Mid morning I had an e-mail from Marting inviting me join him on an easy Limehouse loop. The idea of company was tempting but I learnt my lesson over the summer that missing out on the tempo sessions is not a good idea. So instead I tried to persuade Martin to join me - I think he was tempted but having done Rockets yesterday wasn't game. He did, however, pour scorn over my proposed "deckchair recoveries". Hmm - OK then. 8-minutes, same pace, 2-minute recovery.
So headed out to St Katherine dock and started the clock once in clear space. It was a bit of a struggle to hit the right pace at first but with the wind behind me I flew down to Canary Wharf averaging 6:26 and 6:16 over the first two reps. After the turn with tired legs and negative wind assistance it was harder going but I still managed to pump out averages of 6:25 and 6:27.
Good session. I enjoyed it.
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Wet Rockets With The No Hope Mob
Thanks to a biting wind it was rather chilly on yesterday's unblogged recovery run. Today was a milder but wet.
Luckily there was a big turnout at Rockets so jacking was not an option. Richard has now firmly established himself as a B runner; however, there was still plenty of company at the back. Today's roll call included Chris and Josef from work, Mr "just in time" Wood and a guy wearing a blue jacket who I didn't recognise.
The session was ten 2-minute reps off a minute recovery. Yes - very similar to last Thursday's session (eight 2-minute reps off a minute recovery) but it's hardly my place to question the pronouncements from the mighty elite.
With the Christmas Mince Pie handicap still very much in place Martin and Chris proved to be poor competition (sorry guys - but I know you can both run faster than me) and so it was down to Mr Blue Jacket to fight it out to finish ahead in each rep. I think I 'won' the first two and last five with my new found foe taking the other three.
It would all have been quite satisfying if it hadn't have been for how much distance those blasted B runners put on us. Last Thursday I was within swearing distance of Richard - today I would have needed a mobile phone.
Luckily there was a big turnout at Rockets so jacking was not an option. Richard has now firmly established himself as a B runner; however, there was still plenty of company at the back. Today's roll call included Chris and Josef from work, Mr "just in time" Wood and a guy wearing a blue jacket who I didn't recognise.
The session was ten 2-minute reps off a minute recovery. Yes - very similar to last Thursday's session (eight 2-minute reps off a minute recovery) but it's hardly my place to question the pronouncements from the mighty elite.
With the Christmas Mince Pie handicap still very much in place Martin and Chris proved to be poor competition (sorry guys - but I know you can both run faster than me) and so it was down to Mr Blue Jacket to fight it out to finish ahead in each rep. I think I 'won' the first two and last five with my new found foe taking the other three.
It would all have been quite satisfying if it hadn't have been for how much distance those blasted B runners put on us. Last Thursday I was within swearing distance of Richard - today I would have needed a mobile phone.
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