Still nowhere near tempo pace (7:12), but much quicker than yesterday’s recovery run (intentionally) and just hit the low end of tempo zone for heart rate. Warmer today and no rain. Less humid than it has been, but still a little heavy and close.
It was nice to lift the feet a little more than usual and push ahead. A quick recovery to normal conversation and fully recovered breathing by 2nd flight of stairs in the office all point to progress – however modest. Still a long way to go to get to 7:11 at 166bpm, but I’ve made a start and that counts for a lot!
Tomorrow it’s a midweek long run. Will aim to get 11 miles in – child minding and dog-walking duties permitting.
4m | 32:37 | 8:11 | 166bpm | Tempo Zone
My heart rate was a little high before even leaving the house for today’s run. Nothing to do with the weather, fitness levels or anything else – just a little “misunderstanding” which stressed me out. That was probably the reason for pushing the pace a little more than I might ordinarily have done in this heat and humidity. Still, it felt great to press on and I thoroughly enjoyed the exhilaration.
6.65m | 55:48 | 8:29 | 167bpm | Tempo Zone
No sign of the heat letting up so another fairly “energy sapping” run this lunchtime. One of the problems of running with a partner is that it’s much harder to keep the pace so today’s easy pace really wasn’t (at least not for me). That could create a problem with my training unless I recover some fitness fairly swiftly. Too much too, soon could put paid to running completely so I need to be careful.
The only thing that clouded today’s run was leaving my socks on the bed when I left for work this morning. I’ve a couple of nice blisters on my instep to remind me to pack them tomorrow.
4m | 33:49 | 8:27 | 165bpm | Tempo Zone
Today was a recovery run, rather than a long run. I wanted to take it pretty easy following yesterday’s hills – not least because I’m still very early into this training block and I really don’t want to overdo things.
I checked my watch as I reached the front door and was surprised at just how “easy” I’d been taking it. At 166bpm, my heart rate would indicate a much quicker pace than the 9 minute miling I had just achieved. That’s way off the level of fitness I’m used to. Tempo pace (166-172bpm at last summer’s VDOT) was around 7:10 – almost 2 minutes per mile quicker.
I knew that my training had been intermittent (that’s being kind), but wanted to understand how I’d slowed so much. As I headed for the shower I decided to weigh myself. Bad move. I’ve gained almost a stone and a half through idle Cubasing over the past six months. That’s something I need to address immediately.
I’ve decided to add my weight to each Sunday run post, starting today with an embarrassing 84.9kg. I need to see this fall to 73kg and I’m giving myself three months to achieve that.
6.65m | 59:59 | 9:05 | 166bpm | Tempo Zone | 84.9kg
Peter's Hill
On this particular hot and humid Saturday afternoon few sounds proved more appealing than a dog barking.
You may have seen references in my tweets and elsewhere on the blog to Peter’s Hill. This is the name given to a soul-destroying climb up to the isolated house which overlooks beautiful Lyme Park. It’s not really called Peter’s Hill, but we named it after the home of Buffy’s dog trainer which you can just make out – centre horizon – on the photo (left). The shot is taken about one mile into the run and the climb is much steeper than this photo would have you believe.
The increasing clarity of cheerful dog barking as I neared the summit today was such a welcome sound. If the excited shouts of “good boy!”, “well done!” and claps of appreciation weren’t intended for me, I didn’t care. I’d take the praise anyway.
I guess it was the heat and the fact that coat clipping is overdue, but even Buffy looked a little worse for wear as we approached the fifth mile and final ascent – yet another steep one. What was I saying about Cheshire being as flat as East Anglia?
I am not in the least bit concerned about the pace or heart rate on this run. It was warm, it was hilly, it was a challenge. It was great fun!
6m | 1:03:54 | 10:46 | 166bmp | Hills
I still seem to be choosing the hottest days to run. Tempted by cloudless blue skies, I forget how much harder it is when you’re just starting out (again). True, the heat always saps some of your energy, but when you set off wishing you were twenty pounds lighter, it all seems so much more pronounced.
Nonetheless – and as I so often write – very enjoyable. So why the heck can’t I remember the “very enjoyable” bit when I’m panting up on of Cheshire’s notable inclines (a county as famous for its hills as East Anglia), or when I decide that I think I’ll give the run a miss and have another potato cake? I hate how the mind fools you around like that.
6.5m | 57:39 | 8:46 | 167bpm | Tempo Zone
