Open Chamber

 27th July 2021 - 20:30 - 8k - 34:49

Had planned for this to be a 10k. Decided not to as I was to have my Covid Vaccine the following day.

Went out really slowly & sped up - the key thing with this run is that I did not feel tired, at all.

I was able to keep up the intensity throughout the second part of the run which was marvellous.

The key here was I went out with little expectations. I had a few cycles behind me which helped with the breathing. It just felt so easy... 

As I was playing catch up Re the time, I was able to consciously focus on getting faster throughout. This is obviously a better strategy then going out like I usually do, hell for leather & trying to hold on & fading badly as such, then getting my second wind & try to keep it together somewhat.

This strategy works alot better, though I still feel like I am cheating. I have always loved going out hard & keeping that pace relentless all the way i.e. the only way is all the way etc. Certainly I can see myself get alot faster through taking it easier, but somehow it leaves me less satisfied in a way, it's funny...

Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the run & it's  great to be able to head out on the open road & run 5 miles all sub 7 min mile pace & finish up at the end, tired but not at all drained as it were - it honestly felt like a jog. In particular, my chest was just fully open & I could really breath - it's runs like this that have me coming back to this sport year on year. I hope that never stops! 

Tear it up

21st July 2021 - 5k - 21:04, 6.4k all up - @ 22:00

Weather is phenomenally good so I decided to leave the run late - I should of course do it in the morning but alas.

Note, I had ran 3-4 times when I was in the UK (for the last 12 days) - they were just small runs, easy 4k loops round the estates.

Despite staying active, this was a tough session I found, I was 3:30 through TC1 which is ridiculous as I normally fly through this in the 2:40's, so I decided I needed to keep the pace honest so I lifted it in lap 2.

6:25 through TC2, but to be fair I was 11:30 through lap 1 so not an absolute disaster. A little disappointed with the overall time (still technically sub 7 min/mile running so I havn't entirely lost the plot) but not great overall.

As ever it's all about the seconds & if you ease up a little you'll throw away 20-25 seconds in an instant (& in a competitive race 40 lads will pass you).

Felt good on the run as since I returned from the UK on sunday I caught a bit of a headcold that raced through me in 3-5 days, it exited my chest the day before yesterday therefore on the run breathing wasn't a major issue. Today as I write this (22nd July) I am 98% myself now. This was my first head cold I have got since the lockdown started in March 2020 - see isolating does work!!! haha...

I'm there or there abouts Re the fitness but I need to increase everything to get better (as ever)

More mileage

More targeted sessions

Better diet

More general cardio (i.e. cycling)

Sleeping at slightly more healthier hours - though I'm not too bad now, in bed for 00:00 - 01:00 & up between 08:00 - 09:30 since I returned home.

Etc, etc, etc,

Cycle now scheduled for today 

Addendum

 03.07.2021 - 8 mins run on Grass + 26 min cycle 

Travelling on Monday to UK, so decided to cut the run short - it started bucketing down & was very windy so I called it a day.

If I present myself to the airport with a raised temperature then I may not be allowed to travel so rather than risk continuing the run & getting a cold out of it, I stopped.

Not my style but deferral of gratification is the name of the game here.

I've been getting on the bike every other day or so & feeling good on it - as mentioned here before I don't record these sessions - perhaps I should.... I just want this to be a record of all my runs - nothing more.

That's it.