Return to old haunt - surprisingly tough run

[iain-strachan]

So having missed out on Parkrun yesterday due to appalling weather, I went back to Albert Park, Abingdon, where I'd done some of the C25K runs. This was to do my 5k run in JuJu's magic plan, week 4.

This was I think one of those days where you get a bad run - I struggled to complete the 5k at the same pace as I'd done 8k round the streets last Monday!

In fact I felt like giving up - breathless after 1km and then at 2km, but at about 2.5km everything seemed to settle down, so I'm glad I continued and didn't give up! The heart rate tells the same story - in the initial km it went up to 160-170, but then settled down to 150-155 for the rest of the run and the going was much easier. Same happened on the 8k though it didn't go up so much to start with. I think I have a naturally high max hr, and 150-155 is quite a comfortable pace.

At the end it was one of my slowest 5k efforts, just over 40 mins (I have done 35:52 round the streets).

Possible explanations?

(1) Just one of those days when you have a bad run for no reason.

(2) The course - I do a figure of 8 starting by going straight across on the grass then turn left and return then across the right and do the right hand loop. This is about 1.07 km. The path across is about 4m gain in elevation, and you have to do this 10 times to do 5 figure of 8s so about 42 m elevation gain in total. By contrast the Abingdon Parkrun is only 2m elevation gain.

(3) I found running on grass noticeably harder work than running on pavement - felt it working my calves in particular.

(4) A bit of stiffness above my hip that came on a few days ago.

So maybe this course is good training for the Parkrun (when it's not a quagmire). There is a lot of tow path running, but not much grass - there is a path worn through the only field bid - just grass on the final 200m.

The photo is of the statue of Prince Albert at one of the ends of the park.

I think I may have a "rest week" next week to give the hip muscle a chance to recover a bit. So I'm going to spend the week feeling insanely jealous every time I see someone out running on the road.

The other puzzle is that despite the slow pace, my Garmin Connect app told me I'd got my best VO2max so far. Since I've had the watch, it has gone from 28 (which it says is "poor') to 39 today (which it says is "good") . (previous best was 34 - "fair". I have no idea how it works out VO2max when it doesn't know your respiration rate or lung capacity, but hey! If it says it's gone up then I'm not complaining!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

1 & 3 for sure come into play... Friday I was really struggling to get to 2 miles... today I ran 13! 4 also is gonna have you running differently or thinking about that niggle too much, either can throw you off. 2 is always gonna feel different, and that’s multiplied by the fact the other 3 are in play.

A week of R&R sounds very reasonable right now... have a good rest.

Watches must guesstimate from what they do know, so with no breathing data it’s going off heartrate, speed, elevation and BMI... it’s probably close, but by no measure would it be accurate. It does estimate the same way every time though, and a constant upward trend is what you’re looking for... you’re up over 10, which is great, today could be a blip or part of the general trend of course. Either way you’re heading in the right direction.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

I love seeing your stats and comparing them with mine. I too am comfortable running long time at 150-155 but body takes much higher without trouble. Having done 2 weeks maintaining this range today I just ran 3.5 with HR alerts off. Luckily nobody was around as I literally talked to myself to check I could talk at what was a faster pace and higher HR. Encouraging. Will drop back the pace again for a fortnight then another fast run. My VO2 max is 37 - I reckon its because we can maintain a reasonable speed at the higher HR so get a good figure but that may be wrong. Happy running