Hard Work but Managed it!

On the calendar for today was a 5.5 mile run at a pace between 8.25 and 8.56 minutes per mile.

I drove along to Rivington and parked up on the road up to the top barn to start my run.  I ran through Rivington Village and then along Horrobin Lane and onto The Street.  If I must road run, I'd rather do it on empty country roads.

I ran along The Street then turned left towards the Yew Tree and then right towards Healey Nab.  I carried on along this road and it was at this point I was overtaken by what can only be described as a gazelle.  He made it look so easy as he glided past me all upright and light, whilst I was in my usual scrunched down position huffing and puffing.

Finally I reached 2.75 miles, aka the turnaround point, and was so relieved to be on my way back to the van.  The only problem was that the turnaround point just so happened to be at the bottom of a hill (albeit not a very big hill) which meant having to run back up it again and, at this point, even a not very big hill was just too much!

I really started to tire on the way back towards the Yew Tree but then picked up again once I was back on The Street as it's all down hill to start with so I managed to get a second wind.

The last half mile was by far the killer though.  It was uphill but, again, only very slightly - but that was enough!  By now I was exhausted and my brain was working overtime trying to stop me from quitting and just calling it a day there.  I slapped myself (in my imagination of course) and uttered the words (in my head of course) 'how can you give up so close to the end you complete idiot' and this seemed to do the trick and I pushed on, albeit I had slowed down considerably.

Again, the pace was nothing major and was only around the pace I run along the canal at each week with Kathryn, where I'm usually able to chatter away without being short of breath but today it was just really hard work.  It's probably partially to do with STILL having a bit of a cold but also because I was only my own and there was nobody to take my mind off things.  It doesn't half make a difference having someone to pass the time with.

My pace, save for on the last half mile, was quite consistent so I'm pleased with that, although that last half mile needs a LOT of work.

Splits:

   Mile 1 - 8.40
   Mile 2 - 8.44
   Mile 3 - 8.58
   Mile 4 - 8.44
   Mile 5 - 8.38
   Last 1/2 mile - 9.33

Overall pace - 8.49 min mile


Total distance - 5.5 miles