Week commencing 22nd April 2013 - 5k challenge, 5 mile challenge

I have never run short distance hard, but with the Horsham 10k entered it seemed like a good time to try. In particular a conversation regarding a target time for the 10k, and whether we (being Harry and I) were able to run a 5k in 20 minutes.

24th April 2013

Distance (miles): 3.21
Time (mm:ss): 21:28
Pace (min/mile): 06:42

This was run out by Itchingfield church, I jogged over there as a warm-up and then it was time to go aiming for the 20 minute 5k, one of those big goals I have as a runner. The first mile was done in 06:07, under target. But as I approached the turn the pace rose as high as 07:40. I have issues with keeping the pace where it should be around the half way mark, that seems to occur no matter what distance I'm running. After the turn it came back down, and wasn't far off target pace except for going over the bridge and up the hill to Itchingfield school both of which I don't mind.

The actual 5k was run in 20:43, so not under 20 minutes although on a flat course I might have squeaked under (or at least close enough I can tell myself I might). This didn't stop me aiming for a 40 minute 10k at Horsham though.

27th April 2013

Distance (miles): 5.01
Time (mm:ss): 34:20
Pace (min/mile): 06:50

This was 5 miles along the edge of the cam, with a target of averaging under 7 minutes per mile (my target pace for the Barns green half marathon in September). As such I was pleased with this result, as it was the beginning of my speed work after focussing on distance up to Brighton.

28th April 2013

Distance (miles): 4.99
Time (mm:ss): 43:04
Pace (min/mile): 08:37

This was 5 miles to Girton, and was just there to help keep the clock ticking over. It was slower than I was expecting, but looking back at it I suppose the day before had simply taken more out of me than I expected. This was before I had read anything about recovery runs, or really started planning out what I wanted to do each week. As such I was still hitting my body harder than I should and inconsistently, but this is the point where I started to wise up and begin thinking about what I was running rather than just going hard all run every run.