06/04 - First parkrun of the month was off to Portobello. Prior to this I had my biggest training week of the year and including this run I was up at 22 miles. So my legs were slightly tired going into it. In my mind I just thought to take it easy today and just enjoy it. Portobello is a very nice course and attracts about 300 runners a week. Its 3 laps, which go round the lake then up the river, over a bridge then back down the other side the river then round the lake. Its pretty much flat, more lumps all the way round. Nothing too taxing or that you could call a hill. I felt comfortable all the way round and had plenty in the tank for a sprint finish. Finished in 31.20.
After this run though, the next week I got ill and had to take 3 days off work and then for the first time this year miss a parkrun. Which was due to be Pollok but that will have to wait another day.
20/04 - This was my biggest parkrun trip yet as I headed up to Alness which is north of Inverness. I headed up on the Friday and stayed in a great B & B which was about 5 minutes walk away from the park. It was a warm day and 160 folk in attendence. I was looking forward to this as it does have a bit of a reputation as being a good one. And it did not disappoint. Its an out and back course which goes along beside the river, then opens up a bit out to the sea staying on trail like surfaces. Then it goes up along a pier, right to the end and then you turn back and retrace your steps. I thought I started quite slow as for the first mile I was keeping up with the 30 minute pacer. I decided not to check my watch. Turns out I ran the first mile in 8.40! I slowed up a bit in the second mile but kept it going in the 3rd mile to finish in my second quickest time this year in 26.53. A great and fast course.
Then the next week I started to feel dodgy again but not enough to keep me off work, but enough to stop me running. That was until Friday, when I nearly got to work, felt absolutley terrible, crossed to the other platform and took the train straight home. I was wiped out and haven't felt that bad for a long time. So Saturday parkrun cancelled again where I was meant to be tailwalking at Pollok. One day I'll get back there!
Milport 10 miler training was going so well, hopefully I haven't lost too much fitness and can get a bit more training in before the race next month.
Also 11 for 11 parkrun scotland challenge has started. I did 10 for 10 last year but this year you have to volunteer at least 11 times if you want to get anything more than silver. It shouldn't be a problem getting silver if I keep volunteering at Rouken glen on Sundays. But to get gold you need to run 11 different events and volunteer 11 different events. Don't fancy travelling for junior events and missing too many at Rouken glen. So that would mean sacrificing more runs on a Saturday. I have an initial plan to do this so I'll see how it goes.
As for average time it should still be under 30 as this month I averaged under 30!
