2010 Progress Entrant - Jayne Hall

Contents:- -Intro- Report -1- -2- -3- -4- -5- -6- -7- -8- -9- -10- -11- -12- -13- -14-

Report 6 - Week beginning 08/02/10

This week started out on a positive note. With a decent long run under my belt I felt I could now focus on the coming Kilomathon. However, there is a bit of a difference between the 11 miles I did on Sunday and the 16.3 miles which is the distance of the Kilomathon. When ever I've trained for a long distance event before I always find the first long run the hardest. Unfortunately I don't really count 11 miles as a 'long' run - my first real long run will be next weekend when I've got 14 miles planned. After the first one the subsequent ones are generally not too bad. If you can run 14 miles, you can run 16 or 18 or even 20 and you won't feel too much different if you take it easy.

So, with this in mind I rested on Monday and just did an easy 5 mile recovery run on Tuesday with Portia. Then on Wednesday I ran with the club. It was cold again on Wednesday, we had had some snow. I had intended to do about 6 miles at 8 minute mile pace but had to slow it down as the pavements were slippery with black ice again. I made arrangements to meet up with several of the other runners who are doing the Kilomathon for our long run on Saturday morning and decided to rest on Thursday and Friday so I'd be fresh for Saturday.

On Saturday I made sure I ate a good breakfast and headed out to meet the other runners. The weather was good for running, cold with no wind and we ran from Darley park in Derby out along the river path to Elvaston Castle. It was a good route, it's totally flat and the river path is traffic free but busy with cycling clubs, runners and walkers. Elvaston Castle is lovely. It is a Country Park - I think it was the first official 'country park' in the country, it opened as such in the 1950's. The castle itself dates from the 1600's and the view to it across the lake is stunning. We ran in the park for about 2 miles before heading back to Derby along the river path. I felt fine until the last mile which was pretty painful! There is a bit at Darley Park where you leave the river path to head up back into the city. It is only a small hill but I had to walk it! It was then hard to get going again for the final mile! I was glad when we finished. The route was 14.1 miles plus I'd run a mile to meet up with the runners so I was quite pleased with the distance but a bit stiff and sore. My feet hurt as my toes had bashed against the front of my trainers and I now have my long distance runners 'badge of honour' again... black toenails...nice!

I felt OK on Sunday morning and just went out and ran 3 miles to ease out my legs then spent the rest of the day eating and watching the rugby on telly.

I know that the next long run won't feel too bad - as long as my toes don't drop off!