Sunday 4th February 2007

Race - Stourbridge Stagger Multi-Terrain
10.25 miles - 1hr 22 mins @ 8.02 p/mile


Summary of week 4: 25 miles. Behind on the recommended mileage on the RW guides but I feel like it's been a good effort this week, particularly after heavy legs mid-week. Felt very strong after the Stourbridge Stagger (unlike last year) and this is a good guide for progress to date. No more races lined up in February (I think I'll drop out of the Tamworth 10km - it's too short for the training) and now concentrate on at least 2 more long runs for ths month. Have to remember that this is now 5 weeks of 25+ mile weeks now this year, and that's something new. The blistering feels better and importantly, I still feel motivated.

What a fantastic day for a mult-terrain race. Hoar frost and strong winter sun for this gorgeous run across the North Worcestershire hills. Had a good natter with Linda on the way and met up with a few other Bournville guys for the 10.30 start at Mary Stephens Park in Pedmore. Had a strategy to use this as a pure training run, at circa 8.30 - 8.45 p/m mile but have reached the conclusion that the adreneline and natural competitive instinct make races, particularly of a relativley short nature, ill suited to replicating training runs. Went off too quickly for the strategy with Harvey, but then slowed as we went over Stourbridge Golf course, through the alluvial sandy paths and hit the first hill to get up onto the North Worcestershire footpath. This was a hilly run, going up over 600 feet in total. Awesome views on the hills for miles around and then, remembered from last year, a walk up a particularly quick incline. Passed by a lady in a Superman cape (bizarre!), perhaps to negotiate the various stiles that held us up for the middle part of the course. Ran through Iverley and Churchill and then back on to the hills before back to the playing fields of St Jo's, via Racecourse Lane and the Park to finish. Most of the BVH contingent had got back before me and this was probably a good 5 minutes slower than last year, but I'm delighted. Felt fresh at the end, the pace was decent and it felt like a good omen for longer runs ahead. Going was soft but wore normal running shoes, and no repurcussions with the ankle this year, with low impact. Got home, quick turnaround, and spent the rest of the day chatting to the guys at Daisy's birthday party in Fairfield. Hope it still feels this good after a sleep.