2 – 8 April 2018

A low mileage week as my kids were on half term and my wife was away. If you remember nothing else from this week’s blog, a father in such a situation is parenting, not babysitting!

Tuesday – 5k

Rushing out for a light run, it occurred to me seconds later that I hadn’t checked the weather or even looked out the window first! Fortunately it was only drizzling, but to be honest I don’t think even torrential rain would have bothered me!

Throwing in a couple of strides, it was pretty relaxed and enjoyable.

Strava data here.

Friday – 5 miles

With my wife returning from her trip and taking the kids for the day, I could finally rest and relax, enjoying time to myself. Translation: I went running!

I kept a steady pace despite not looking at my watch, and felt pretty comfortable with it regardless of the strong breeze in my face for the first half.

Strava data here.

Sunday – long run

With a Facebook reminder displaying that I have a mere two weeks until the London Marathon, I figured a decent long run was a necessity. Despite fantasies of me defying all odds and logic to run it sub-2:45, the reality is that my PB ambitions will have to be postponed for now. Quite honestly, if I could get away with cancelling my hotel booking I’d have deferred my place until next year. I’m locked in though, so I’ll be running it nonetheless. However, it is a great atmosphere there – moreso than possibly any other in the UK – so I’ll enjoy myself while just aiming for a sub-3 time.

Heading out first thing this morning, I wasn’t 100% of the route I’d take. I figured getting to Edgbaston Reservoir would be about 8.5 miles, then add in a few laps of that and around Winson Green before heading to church. Though I’m not a morning person, I kept my pace reasonably close to 7:00 min/mile from the start and enjoyed the quiet atmosphere, reaching the Reservoir exactly when I planned to.

*we interrupt this blog post for a Great Run Local interlude*

In the midst of my pseudo-planning for the run, I figured it would coincide with when GRL would hold their 5k run. Perfect!

Arriving just as the group finished their warm-up, I was able to start the run without much cooldown. I swear that guy looks familiar…

Go!

I found myself in 5th place from the start. I wasn’t fussed; I wasn’t racing this one, even if a high position would have been nice. Before long though, I worked my way up to 3rd, within spitting distance of the first two runners. As tempting as it was to keep pace with them, I forced myself to hold back and just maintain a steady pace, remembering that I still had another 8 miles to run afterwards!

The first two runners started to drift off, clearly embroiled in a battle of their own. Oh, to have started this race fresh without a run afterwards. I would have loved to have joined in!

The run went pretty quietly and I only glanced back once to see where 4th place was, more out of curiosity than concern of being passed. I was probably a good thirty seconds ahead nonetheless.

Finishing the race comfortably in about 21 minutes (didn’t check, didn’t care), I chatted with the second place runner who had was blitzed in the last quarter and looked familiar for a reason; I follow him on Strava! We had a leisurely chat about races past and to come, with him targeting a similar time to the one I’ll pace at the Birmingham 10k next month.

*we now return to the long run*

Ow!

Rookie mistake, I stood still and chatted for too long after the run; my legs had seized up! Struggling to get around the remainder of the Reservoir, I decided to just run more lap before heading off to church, barely managing 8:00 min/mile. 14 miles total; not what I had in mind, but better than nothing.

To be honest, it felt worse sitting in church all sweaty in t-shirt and shorts while I waited for my wife to arrive with my clothes!

Strava data here.