As time was limited yesterday morning I decided to do a 5km run, but thought I would try increasing my running pace as I seem to have plateaud.
Well that was the plan.
The weather was cooler but not wet and I felt that if it was only for 5km I could surely break the the average of 5.40 per km.
The first 1km after my warm up took me into the park and down past the duck pond. No time to admire the ducks and ducklings as I was really getting into my stride, and by the end of the km map my run informed me that I my pace was 5.10. Yessss I thought, I can keep this up no trouble.
Well they do say pride comes before a fall, but I’d already had my fall last week, so I wasn’t going to do that again, and I carried on at roughly the same pace. This part of the path was pretty flat and although there were some threatening nettles, I kept going, avoiding their evil stings, and at the end of km 2 I was running at 5.05. The third km continued at pretty much the same speed, the hedgerow rushing past me in a blur ( ha ha, ok maybe not quite but compared to my normal pace it felt like it).
I was now really chuffed, at this rate I’d be on track to get a PB, and a self satisfied grin spread across my face...
That was before I remembered there was a hill! Just lurking around the corner. Only a small incline when I’m jogging gently, but having pushed myself I seemed to be low on reserves and the hill loomed up in front of me like an awesome peak. I changed down a gear or two, but that wasn’t enough. I was out of breath far too quickly and my legs were requesting a pit stop. Somehow I bullied them into continuing, but if they’d gone any slower they would have stopped. Even after reaching the top they were still on a work to rule, and remained at a pretty paltry pace.
I resisted the urge to stop at 4km and somehow managed to keep going until mapmyrun informed me I’d reached the 5km point. And despite usually running a lot further my legs just stopped. Just like that. They weren’t interested I. A cool down walk. And I just stood there gasping for air and aghast at my time.
I did manage to get my legs going again, fortunately, or I’d still be there now. But it was a disappointing 27.50min for the full 5km, so no PB at all. I think my best has been 27.30, so I felt all my efforts were wasted.
On the plus side, I did manage to get out in the sunshine with Mr Raz for a 12km walk in the afternoon around Aldenham Country Park, which was lovely, and in the evening we decided to cycle to a local pub for dinner and back again which gave me another 11 km, and a very nice pudding as a reward.
I know I should try to do shorter faster runs from time to time, but I think I’d rather stick to running further and forget about pace.
Very well done you for a great run... 
Achy legs but getting faster 
W3R3 - 15 runs to 10km!
Jeffing faster than non stop running?!
