Shortened track session

This evening's track session was due to be 10X800m with 90 second recoveries, with a 3 minute recovery after the 5th rep. This was the same session that we had run in mid October. Just 3 of us were taking part today: Mark I, David B & myself.

For the first 5 reps, I averaged just under 2:50, a second or so behind Mark each time & just ahead of David. After the long recovery, I started to feel soreness in my temperamental achilles. I completed another three reps at just about the same pace, but as we started the 9th 800m, the soreness got significantly worse, so I decided to call it a day.

It's a bit frustrating to not be able to complete the session, but stopping was the only sensible option. I'm now applying ice to the injury & tomorrow I'll have a rest from running. Hopefully there'll be no lasting damage, I've had a dodgy achilles now for about 2 1/2 years. With a bit of look, rest ice & stretching will ease it.

A walk & a run

As A is away this week, I'm on dog walking duties, so this morning I decided to head off to Thruscross Reservoir. I've run this route once before, but have never previously walked it.

I parked at the top end of Fewston Reservoir, then headed over the A59 to then walk through the woods alongside the River Washburn towards the dam at Thruscross. After crossing the dam wall, it I followed the path that does a loop around the reservoir. It's quite mixed terrain with woodland, moorland & gravel paths.

I then returned to Fewston by the same path that I took on the outward leg. In total I was walking for 3 hours. I didn't have my Garmin with me, but I would estimate that it was about a

12k walk. Conditions were perfect: sunny, no wind & pleasant temperature for the time of year.

This evening I decided to go along to do one of the Ilkley Harriers club runs. It's the first time this year that I've done a Tuesday club run, as the timing isn't ideal with the Wednesday track sessions.

I joined a 'steady' group led by Paul S. There were 7 of us in total. We ran a route that was initially flat, but with some hills towards the end around Ilkley & Ben Rhyding. I was happy with the pace, which was comfortable for a conversation all the way round, it was interesting to catch up with the running activities of the other members of the group which included new members as well as longstanding Harriers. Including running to & from the club I ran about 12.5k

Tomorrow is the weekly Carnegie track session, so assuming the hamstring & achilles don't play up after today's steady run it will be an opportunity to run a bit more quickly.

Dewsbury 10k

The intention this morning was just to do a steady run & see how things were with the sore hamstring & achilles. Conditions seemed to be OK, the overnight rain had stopped & the temperature was a mild 10 degrees (two years ago it had been minus 6 for this race), however there was quite a strong breeze blowing.

The strange thing about the wind today was that it seemed to be a headwind both on the way out & on the way back. I know that this is unlikely on this kind of course, but it certainly felt that way. I ran just marginally faster for the 2nd downhill 5k, finishing in about 39:30 (not seen the official results yet). That's almost 2 1/2 minutes slower than last year, but probably as good as I could have expected. It's my slowest 10k for 2 years.

Talking to other runners after the race, most seemed to find it quite hard in the wind & were a bit slower than they would have expected on a fast course. Sally M & Rob C had quite a close finish for the honour of being 1st Ilkley Harrier in the race, Sally just getting it on the line. I had a good view of their battle being about 15 seconds or so behind for virtually the whole 10k.

My leg has started to stiffen up after the race, but hopefully there's no damage done. I don't have any races planned now for 3 weeks.......then it's an indoor 1500m, so I'll have to try to find some speed from somewhere.

Planning a steady run

Like many running bloggers I get a bit fed up of writing about recurring injuries. My hamstring problem that started just before the Brass Monkey half marathon is still troubling me a bit, but it's just a bit sore rather than anything major. I've also had a problem with my achilles on the same leg, whilst this is an injury that I've had before, I think that it's probably been induced this time as a result of slightly adapting my running style due to the sore hamstring.

I've taken 5 rest days in the last week & a half to give the leg a chance to recover. Lack of running seems to make my legs generally seize up, so I seem to have fewer problems when I run compared when I don't.

Tomorrow is the Dewsbury 10k that I entered several weeks ago. There is no question of running it quickly, but I'm tempted to just go and run at a very steady pace. I will need to avoid the temptation to set off at anywhere near race pace......hopefully I've learnt a lesson from the Brass Monkey. I'm sure that a sensible option would be just to give the 10k a miss, but I think that I will feel better to just go and do a steady well paced run, even if it means running a slow time.