Week Commencing 15th April - Hill sprint's

I'm going to group this week as the mid-week runs are pretty boring. Feel free to skip down to the 21st April.

17th April 2013

Distance (miles): 2.06
Time (mm:ss): 19:19
Pace (min/mile): 09:22

This was just a loosener after the marathon up at Newland's corner. I just followed the main path down the middle of the valley, when you've been lost before as the sun starts to set and you're sore before you start you don't risk getting lost again. At the time a lot of people seemed surprised I was running again so soon after the marathon, but I feel if you're ready to do an endurance race it shouldn't cripple you for the following week.

18th April 2013

Distance (miles): 4.83
Time (mm:ss): 37:03
Pace (min/mile): 07:39

Once again I went up to Newland's corner, but this time I ran over the top, past the golf course and along the road. I had to stop at the far end and stretch my knee, which was very stiff. On the way home I focussed on cadence, the number of steps per minute, and the pace improved significantly. This initially dropped to 6:40 for a minute or two, but it's something I continue to work on.

21st April 2013

Distance (miles): 2.58
Time (mm:ss): 32:24
Pace (min/mile): 12:32

The numbers above are mostly meaningless as this was interval training, and specifically hill sprints. Not 5 minutes run from my front door is a consistent upward slope of about 400m length. This makes it perfect for running up when interval training, especially as single trees mark approximately half way and three quarters up. I did six sets, and by the fourth my lungs were burning good and proper. I don't know how useful runs like this actually are, but I do enjoy them and they seem to work the lungs well.