After taking longer to recover from Stirling Marathon due to
shin splints, I finally achieved a sub 22 5k. With June being a low key month
for mileage and concentrating on strength and conditioning and nursing along my
poor left shin getting a sub 22 5k seemed way off. Feeling the recovery was
progressing in the right way by the end of June I was able to put back to back club
sessions and a few Grand Prix races. However by the start of July I could fully
commit to full training with consistent back to back club sessions and long
easy runs. This all paid off on Thursday night when I unexpectedly ran my second
fastest time at the club Auldhouse Time Trial achieving 22:32. So this spurred
me on to tackle Strathclyde 5k Parkrun to go for sub 22.
Being the first Saturday of the month I forgot they had
pacers which turned to my advantage initially and at the end. Stuart Waugh was
there as well so I felt if I could stay close to Stuart I was in with a shout.
The starter shouted go and we were off.
I ran out hard to get a clear start with plenty of room and
running the long straight route to the top of the loch I could see Stuart and
the 21min pacer so I thought I am doing alright. At this point the 22 min pacer
ran by me bursting my bubble but I just dug in thinking its still early doors
and not even got to the turning point. As I got this point and ran round to the
3k mark I was feeling the intensity of the pace but kept a level head pushing
keeping close as I could to the 22 min pacer.
I got round the top of the loch heading in towards the final stage of
the run. This point I felt I was running eye balls out and was thinking I need
to stop but I could see the 22 min pacer was slowing so does this mean I was
getting faster, it didn’t feel like. Approaching the 4k mark at the bridge I
thought 7 mins are so to go you can do this. I remember doing 8 min efforts in
Auldhouse recently and thought I have done those I can hang in there. The 22 min pacer was still ahead and I
thought just keep pushing and even if I get a low 22 it will be an achievement.
The 22 min pacer finished his 5k with me about 10 seconds behind. A very tired runner
was delighted and amazed when I looked at my Garmin with 21:47 recorded which
gave me a nice boost.
Strathclyde Parkrun
#367 - 05/08/17
My official time was 21:50 finishing 46th place
and was the 46th male out of a field of 336 runners. 5th
in my age category, VM 40-44.
Results: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/strathclyde/results/latestresults/
Richard
3 comments:
A well deserved PB Richard. Just keep the training going consistently now, not too much too soon to keep the injuries at bay, and your improvements will continue.
Alan
Thanks Alan means alot to me
Richard, welldone, sounds like you are converting your training into great times.
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