Focus on the positive

Tonight I had hoped that I would have been writing about my attempt at breaking the 32 minute barrier for the first time at Salford 10k. However circumstances dictated that this target must wait for another day once more.

Ahh 'Good' Friday? For some maybe, but for me? Crap Friday sounds about right!

You see, my van decided to blow a gasket - or more specifically, a drive shaft - half way down the motorway on route to the race venue, and so my race was scuppered before I even got there.

Luckily for me, my Wesham team mate Karl Lee, who I had offered a lift to, still managed to make the start line as some fellow running friends were able to pick him up on their way past.

I stayed with my vehicle, and probably more by luck of the draw by getting a fantastically helpful member of the AA repair team, by mid afternoon the van was fixed and I was back home. This was beyond anything I could have expected, especially during the hectic Easter period!

Once back home, rather than stew over a missed opportunity and the race that never was, I decided to re-jig my plans for the weekend. I had intended to perform my last long run prior to the marathon tomorrow morning, on tired legs. However, since I hadn't exhausted myself by racing, I thought I might aswell bring it forward half a day. This allows me extra time for my body to recover before the first interclub race of this years series on Wednesday night, and hopefully will see me able to go quicker there now.

The long run itself was tougher than I had hoped it would be. I don't like carrying bottles, so ran the first 15 mile loop without water, which normally would not be a problem. But due to the events of the day I don't think I had taken enough liquid onboard. Also, due to the weather conditions I set off in hat, gloves, jumper and jacket, and thermal leggings. By 10 miles I was far too warm! So at the 15 mile mark (outside my house) I grabbed my bottle of water and gel that I had stashed, and stripped off down to my shorts - I had also stored a change of t-shirt in the shed! From here I felt a bit more comfortable and was able to continue and run the final 8 miles at a steady pace.

I finished up with 23 miles done in 2 hours and 38 minutes - or 6:51 pace.

Now that my long run is out of the way, it means tomorrow's run can be a shorter recovery run, and Sunday might now be changed to a tempo run, to replace the quick miles I had intended to get in today.

So all in all, not the day I had hoped for, but far from a disaster in the end. If you think positive, and banish the negative thoughts, then anything is possible!

London is another step closer, and then beyond that I can look to final crack that sub 32 minute 10k, I know it is in there.

I will leave you all with this question - a little test to see who has stuck with it and read all the way! Lol ;)

...any tips on very fast, very flat, very high standard fields over 10k between late July - August time?

Thanks for reading, Rob.