Getting Back To My Best

Weds 22nd June, 5.75 mls easy down to Regents and lap of the outside grass in 48'12 (8'24). Felt good throughout. Took me all day to leave the house, i was glued to the tennis, the Laura Robson game was a cracker

4 x 100m strides on the track in the heath after, took it handy. 6 mls total.

Awful moment while doing my stretches in the heath after the strides. A couple come running up to me and ask "have you seen a little girl, about 5, with a white cap". Unfortunately i hadnt. The police had arrived and a search had begun 5 mins later when i left the park as darkness was falling. Kind of felt bad for leaving but what use would i be in my running gear. Hope it all turns out ok, the look on the faces of the couple said it all though.

Thurs 23rd June, 4 mls in 31'46 (7'56) at lunchtime in the heath. Gorgeous day and felt pretty good and this was fairly easy. That's me done now until Saturday evening in Dunshaughlin.

Mr Slow wrote: »

What time are you chasing in Dunshaughlin?

37'59 (3'48 per km) is the plan. Haven't raced a 10k in about 7-8 years so i won't be too disappointed if i don't make it.

Flew over Friday evening to Dublin after a Kings of Leon concert Thursday night and getting up at 5:50am to buy olympic tickets friday, not ideal prep. Got a lift down off Chinguetti and we were there in plenty time. Did about half a mile w/u to get up to the start and i was sweating already in the humidity. A few strides followed and i lined up close to the start.

Headed out at what i thought was a conservative pace but the garmin said otherwise, first km in 3'31 but felt way too easy. I was passing other runner hand over fist. Some runners should be forced to read a pacing manual when they sign up for these races cause they clearly don't have a clue. First mile in around 5'40, saucy i said, won't be able to maintain this. As we headed out of town i settled into about 3'40km pace, faster than my 3'48 per km target but felt sustainable. Mile 2 reached in 11'40, only 23 seconds slower than my 2 mile pb from 3 weeks ago. 3 mls in 17'42 and 5k then in 18'28.

The bad stretch of road didnt help and i began to flatten out for a few hundered yards. Kicked on again though as we headed back towards town. 4 mls in 23'48, at this stage i said run the next mile in 6'11 and i will be under 30 for 5mls, which has been a goal of mine for 6 years now and is almost as important as sub 3 in Berlin. It wasnt to be as the uphill took its toll and i hit 5 mls in 30'09, an unofficial pb by 9 seconds. Next mile i was hanging and i just maintained the 3'50 per km pace telling myself it would be all over soon. The 400m to go sign was a blessing and i pictured myself on a track running a lap. Rounding the last bend a guy on my tail has a go, it wasnt happening as i turned it on the last 100m to cross the line in 37'30 (37'33 gun time for 70th place) delighted with myself. Mainly because this was the moment where i finally "got back to my best" and a little ahead of it. i may have to change the log title now

No w/d after, just 6 pints with the boardsies in Dunshaughlin and Ryans. Very good race, best i've done in Ireland bar the DCM. Just gotta work on my stamina now for Berlin. I clearly have sub 3 ability over the short races.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/94954432

Sun 26th June, Met up with Meno and Chingford (and Drico ) for 10 mls easy/recovery out in Clontarf. I led them around Annes Park and down the blustery Bull island pier. 10 mls in 1'29'19 (8'56). Brian O Driscoll was being filmed for a new ad in Annes Pk, we did our best to ruin the camera shot.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/94954401

Weekly Review, 36 mls. 3ml, 4ml, 5ml and 10k pb Running in front of millions of tv viewers on Monday was nice too.

Yearly Mileage, 891 mls

Macanri wrote: »

Nice running. Well done. Welcome back to your best!

BTW, that was me who said 'Alright Brian' this morning, just after 12 as you were making your way to meet the lads.

Cheers. I suspected that it was you alright.

Tues 28th June, Headed over to Finsbury park for the club session. 16 x 400m starting every 2:05. I decided on taking ths handy enough and ran them all bar the last one and the middle one in 87-88 secs, which gave me about 37 secs recovery for each rep. Went for it a bit on the last one to clock a 70. 1 ml w/d no w/u bar a cycle. 5 mls total.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/95526513

Felt wrecked after, running in the heat hit me for six yesterday. Might take a rest day tomorrow.