Sunday, January 24, 2016

Ballinderreen 10km

Getting back into the swing of things:

Mon - Claregalway 9.5km recovery run 36:05 (3:48's)

Tue am - 2km up, 12km Claregalway threshold run 40:46 (3:24's), 2.1km down. All up 16.1km

Tue pm - Tuam AC easy run 7.2km

Wed - Claregalway 9.5km recovery run 36:20 (3:49's)

Thu am - 2km up, 8km treadmill threshold run 25:29 (3:11's), 2km down. All up 10.0km

Thu pm - Mayo AC easy run 2.0km

Fri - Claregalway 14.8km recovery run 56:53 (3:51's)

Sat - Athlone 5.8km easy run 26:06 (4:30's)

Sun - Ballinderreen 10km 32:27 (3:15;s). All up 17.0km

Total for week 93.9km

A couple of threshold runs in the build-up to the 10km (one outside/one inside). Feeling pretty good. An easy couple of days before the race and Saturday was spent at a run coaching network day in Athlone which was very enjoyable,

The weather on race day was quite breezy but I was looking forward to a good hit-out. Kenny Rogers was there so it would be a tough race to win.....we lined up at the start and no sign of Kenny. After a false start (probably my doing!) we were soon underway. I took it out hard and was running by myself. I couldn't really work out what had happened to Kenny but I kept the effort level high going through the first km in 3:00.

It was soon apparent that he had missed the start as I turned to see him about 150m behind me. That certainly kept me focused but was a bit of a head-wrecker at the same time - I expected him to come flying by any moment! Chalking up the kms but the pace had slowed as the wind took hold. But I still felt strong and by the time I hit the 5km marker I knew I had a good chance of the win.

The next km through to 6km was tough - maybe some hills but I knew the run home would be good with the wind on the back. At 7km I turned again but it didn't look like Kenny was getting any closer so I kept pushing on. I crossed the line in 32:27 for the win which wasn't a bad time given the conditions. Though a bit off my PB time from this course back in December 2014.

Kenny finished about 30 seconds behind me so it would have been a good race if we had started together. I guess I was lucky and these things happen when racing. Johnny G took 3rd spot so a good day for the Harriers.

A warm-up and warm-down with Martin who ran another PB. Happy to be back racing with no pain in the foot so time now to get a good few weeks of training in before the next race.

Other than running - a 51 break to report on Wednesday playing snooker! That is all/

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