8th October The one after the Fartlek

 


One of the advantages of running in a group, apart from the company, the new routes and the discipline to actually turn up to run when I don't actually feel like it, it that it pushes me to run faster and longer than I would do on my own. Disclaimer here; the terms fastera nd longer are relative to me and not to what others might call fats and long.

After the fabulous fartlek session on Monday, tonight we had a pretty low turn out due to fully fledged injuries, niggles, holidays and other committments which resulted in just four of us plus one canine companion in a wonderful purple illuminated harness htting the pavements and trails to do the Newstaead Abby loop, one of our regular runs.

Starting at 6.10pm on the dot, (running mistress Laura is nothing if not punctual), it meant that we got almost half of the run done in reasonable light without having to resort to an array of head and body torches. at what felt like a quick ( by my standards) pace. But the second half of this particular loop is a long slow uphill drag with a sting in the tail so the worst was still to come.

Now I didn't feel amazing as I ran but kept up reasonably well to the other three. I could have taken less breaks to admire the sunset. I could have done better on that final hill that I still haven't managed to run up without stopping. But at the end of it all I was pleasantly surprised that took nearly a minute off my previous quickest time.

It's not going to get me any medals I know but with the Benidorn half just over 6 weeks away it's an encouraging sign. 

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