I can tell I've been busy, as I've had neither the time nor inclination to blog. But that's ok my life isn't exciting enough to warrant that many blogs anyway!
I think I've done 3 or 4 races lately. The day after my last blog was xc. I raced ok, not brilliant but BRR won the match again, so that's all good. One more left next Sunday then I can put my xc trainers away again. And then later in the year wonder why I didn't clean them first. It's all fun isn't it.
Then the week after that I was encouraged by friends to do the Dunton test track 10.
It's held on the Ford test track at Dunton. Would you believe. A two lap course all on private property the most memorable feature of which is the two 'banks' which are obviously designed to put the cars through their paces, but put runners through their paces too as you need to keep to quite a narrow bit of the track so your are not on a horrible camber. One of them climbs for a while too.
There were two wheelchair racers who were due to start 2 minutes before the masses, but we all lined up behind them ready as the announcer did all the stuff. It was quite clearly announced that they would go on the first gun, but absolutely predictably all the front row shot off at the same time.
They were called back, we started again :-D
I started fairly well forward so as not to get caught up. Two girls started about the same as me but immediately pulled ahead. That's ok I thought, 10 miles yet don't lose it. We got to the first bank, where I had to call on a Marshall to help one of the wheelchair racers who had got stuck! He was trying to go up the bank rather than round it, I'm guessing he was not that experienced, ( he finished though I was pleased to see)
Just after that another lady overtook me running with a guy. Still ok we are not a mile in yet.
Got to one mile in 6.57. Bit quick but I felt ok. Settled in looking really for 7.30 minute miles which would beat my PB. One of the nice things about the course was that the nature of it was that you were able to see everyone loads of times. Thi meant you could see where everyone was. The first 2 ladies were too quick for me, I could see that, but the third one, well I thought that was a possible.
Just after 4 miles I wasn't far behind her at all, but I had a bit of a fit of indecision about whether I could overtake and maintain....so managed my slowest mile 7.38 whilst I arsed about thinking about it. Eventually I thought fuck it and overtook. I could hear her male friend urging her on, I think he was a PT, and all this did was urge me on. By the next time I saw her I had built a decent lead so concentrated on me and pacing. Pleasingly I was very consistent mainly 7.22s and 7.26s and was delighted to finish in a chip time of 1.14.16. A decent PB and third lady :)))))
The Friday after that I did last Friday of the month 5k, had a decent run in 21.30 but could feel the 10 in my legs still. So just to be sure I did a 10mile xc race the next day. Hardly anyone turned out for it which was a bit sad, but I can understand why it was bloody hard and sections were just bog. Got 2nd lady there but I think there were 5 in total :-D
This Saturday I went to Grovelands parkrun in Enfield. The houses there WOW! A lovely park too, but quite challenging as you do the hill 3 times. Got 22.07 which I wasn't unhappy with.
Today I didn't race even though lots of my club mates and friends are and I feel that is just as well. I didn't sleep well (t 1.30 am I decided to have a drink of water and chucked a whole pint over myself, I'm not sure why but it proper woke me up) and my run today was well off pace. Still, you cannot run at your best all the time. I should try to remember that.
Oh I forgot I did a tri swim training session at Becontree on Thursday, a new thing and free for the next few weeks. I thought it was really good and am going back on Tuesday. I mean free stuff!!! Normally you have to be unemployed to get free things :)
Oh I forgot something else, I took part in a running debate about charity fundraising for women's running magazine, was really interesting and I will be interested in seeing the article, though I do hope they don't print EVERYTHING I said :-D
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