Been a while since I posted so thought i'd give an update on where I have been at.
Went to Great Run Local in Glasgow city centre for the first time. The course is 2 laps which includes going over the Clyde 4 times. I had a really good run and ended up with a seasons best 5k time of 25.36. In saying that I probably won't be back as although its a good atmosphere I wasn't a fan of the course. Especially when there is a really narrow bit and you've got runners coming the other way and a low railing on the other side where the Clyde is. I'm really not good with drops like that.
Also I did Pollok parkrun. On the way round I wasn't sure how well I was doing as on the first lap Liz overtook me and was winding me up for being slower than her. But at the time I was thinking I was going alright. Then on the last uphill I saw myself catching her and overtook her on the last steep bit of the incline. I maintained a good pace and managed to stay ahead. That'll teach her lol. Joking of course. But I did actually have a really good run and finished in 26.15 which is my fastest Pollok time since my return to running in August 2014.
Then I did the Victoria parkrun which since it was Haloween they did it in reverse. This did mean that everyone is kinda crammed round the narrow paths before it opens up when it goes into the loops of the course. So pace is very much dictated and I clearly started too far back. 26.43 though so course best and a good time considering.
Then I did Springburn. In contrast to Victoria I started way too fast on this one. 7.30 pace. Now even though its a down hill start its still too fast for me. For the final 2 1/2 miles (ie most of the race lol) I was struggling but was very surprised to cross the line in 27.05. Showing I can still dig in when I need to.
At the start of October I went to Pollok and had a terrible middle section of the run. I just was not in the game at all. But the positive to take from it was that I still did it in 28 minutes which I was trying to do the whole of last year which would have been considered an amazing run if I did it then. So really does show progression.
Bit disappointed to only have managed 5 "races" in the last few months, some missed out due to illness, some missed out due to laziness (I refuse to run on black ice too), some cancellations etc but I have still been running a fair bit. My mate Andy from work and I have started lunch runs in work which we have been doing 2-3 times a week. They have been great as we are totally spoilt to have trails actually going round the building. On my run the other day i actually saw baby deer. Andy's 5k times are very similar to mine which helps too.
Last weekend I did my first junior parkrun with my niece at Roukenglen. She was one of the youngest there and did really well. The standard was amazing - even if I was at peak condition there would be kids beating me left, right and centre. Hopefully in future more kids her age would join in though, so she has more folk to run against. I get the feeling she likes competition!
Marcothon starts tomorrow and logistics wise tomorrow is going to be the hardest day due to a work Christmas lunch. Fitness wise though at the moment I think everyday will be a hard day lol. I'll just see how far I get with it.
