I feel that I am beginning to come through the other side of the rough patch and on my last few runs and sessions have gradually began to feel some of the old rhythm starting to creep back in to my running at last.
After a solid showing at Preston Park Run last weekend, I attempted to follow up that performance with a turn out at the Blackpool Park Run this time out. This was because I knew there was going to be a big Wesham turnout in order to look after and help out one of our own that are going through difficult times. It also meant there would be an opportunity to see some friendly faces for the first time in a while, whilst also having a crack at a new course, as this was only the second outing of the Blackpool version of the Park Run.
Unfortunately, having a head like a sieve, I forgot to take my barcode and so my performance was null and voided. Nethertheless it was still a useful runout and provided me with some more much needed shorter distance speed work. I didn't produce a particularly fast time, but I couldn't have been much more consistent with my pacing, and as I say I am striving for that consistent rhythm more than anything right now. I paced myself around the miles in 5:18, 5:17, 5:17 for a finishing time of 16:08 on what was a comfortable solo run.
My week started with another mini wobble, as I had a recurrence of a recent niggle which I haven't mentioned on here previously, as I was aware I was beginning to sound like a stuck record and a sick note on the injury front! I have had a slight problem with my Achilles on and off for about 2-3 weeks, and it flared up again on Monday and Tuesday which affected my training plans somewhat. I still managed to get 8 miles in the bank on Monday and attempted a speed session of sorts on Tuesday - although I decided it best to keep away from the track once again.
Tuesday's session was something of a disaster to be honest, but at least I managed to get some sort of session done. I did 4 x 1 mile, but they were all over the show pace wise, ranging from 5:24 to 5:00.
Wednesday was a short and easy recovery run, mostly because I knew I had to be home early for Molly's birthday meal, but also so as to rest up the Achilles as much as possible ahead of Thursday's run.
On Thurday with Rob Affleck, we again did the 5 mile tempo, and having clocked 5:23 average last week, this time our target was to beat that and try to get down to 5:20s. Early on in the run we kept it fairly chilled and relaxed, with the intention to crank it up as the run progressed. We did just that, starting off with a 5:18, before a slightly slower than anticipated second mile of 5:27. Feeling strong I decided to push the pace on a little bit, whilst still striving for that consistent rhythm and action, and I was delighted with how strongly I grew into the second half of the run clocking 5:11, 5:07 and 5:07 to finish the 5 miles in 26:24.
Friday saw me do 10 miles running home from work in Penwortham at 6:26 pace in my new replacement trainers. I have attributed the recent Achilles problem to switching to a different brand of trainers at around the same time as the flare up occurred. I have had physio and kept a close eye on it and there is nothing untoward so far as we can tell, which suggests that this may be the case.
On Sunday I did my long run early morning with the company of Rob Affleck, and it was my strongest one in quite some time, as we went through 8 miles at 6:31 pace, before I got down to an average pace of 5:49 for the second half of the run to end up with 6:09 pace average for the full 16, we topped it up with a cool down jog to fetch a total return of 17.5 miles at 6:18s.
Total mileage for the week: 71
Average pace for the week (m/pm): 6:25
Total mileage so far this month (February): 127
Total mileage for 2017: 401.5
Average miles per day 2017: 9.34
