Target Achieved!

In my last post I set myself a few goals for the end of the year. One was a sub 30 minute 5k, the other was to run 6 miles comfortably.

The last few weeks have been mixed. I was on holiday for a few weeks in which time I tried to keep to running 3 times a week and push the distance up to 4.5 miles which I attempted a week last Thursday.  I managed 3 miles before I was done in and had to walk.  This was a predominately up hill route for these 3 miles so I wasn't too discouraged.  This run however did take a while to recover from and I decided not to do the parkrun that Saturday instead opting for more of a rest.

Fast forward to this week and I still hadn't run. After 2 weeks off, adjusting to being off work had left me very tired and found it hard to get out the door.  This morning there really was no excuse and I headed down to Strathclyde Park for my 25th parkrun. I felt fresh and ready to go. I started off at the back of the pack as usual and set in to a steady pace.  I found early on that I was overtaking more people than usual. It was only in the last kilometer that I slowed and few folk overtook me.  While the rain stayed off, it was a battle into the wind on the way back so I thought a course best was off the cards today. However when I got home I was delighted to get the email through saying not only did I get a course best but I had also cracked the 30 minute barrier! Finishing in a time of 29.44.

Now the plan is to break the 30 minute barrier at Pollock parkrun and get that 4.5 miler in the bag without walking which I realise may take a while longer.

Pollock Parkrun 294

Today was a bit of a strange one as I really thought I'd run better than I thought.  It was almost half the usual crowd of runners today at Pollock park run due to the great Scottish run tomorrow but it still felt like it took a bit of time to get going at the start. Due to this, the field spread out a lot during the run though and on the second lap I was pretty much on my own with no targets to pick off. I felt good today while still feeling I was giving a good effort and had the added bonus that I didn't walk a step today unlike 2 weeks ago. So when I got home and saw my time, I was surprised to see 32.29 which is nearly a minute slower than 2 weeks ago which involved walking. Maybe I could have pushed it more in the second lap but you always need to have something left for that final incline.

Ian left a good comment on my last blog about setting goals which I have been thinking about a lot.  My main aims for this year are to finish a park run in under 30 minutes and run 6 miles comfortably. If I can do that I'll consider a spring half marathon and rejoining my old club Giffnock North.