Sneaking one in before the Beast arrives .....

[UpTheStanley]

Coach Stanley reporting .....

Waking up to hear of snow in Kent, and looking at the weather over the next few days, Dexy5 felt we needed to get a run in today. Our last trip had been on Thursday, cut short after 4k of misery in wind and cold rain, so something had to be done before we went into hibernation .......

Well that was the argument, so I reluctantly rolled out of bed and went through the pre-run faffage in time to get to our start point on the prom before 11.00 (early start then ). The wind was a keen north-easterly bearing strong hints of what is to come, and we set off into it with Dexy's only stated objective being to do 10k, perhaps, maybe. If achieved it would be the first 10k since the Poppy Run on Nov 11 - over the last few weeks she's been steadily working her way back up from 7k, usually averaging around 7'30"/k pace, but with an 8k PB in 57'04" (7'08"/k) a fortnight ago.

So off we went and after a gentle start did enough to get to our first turning point, the Hayling Ferry at 4k, in just about 30 minutes, despite the wind being dead against and absolutely perishing for the last k. Putting the wind to our backs produced an immediate increase in pace to something under 7'20"/k and the accompanying risk of me being shouted at for forcing the pace if we didn't make the distance ........ but all went well and we were back to the start with 8k behind us in just over 59 minutes.

At this point serendipity cut in and caused my darling to tell off a group of three girls for cycling on the prom (we were back at the busiest bit near South Parade Pier at this point). And the anger went to her legs and propelled the pace up to around 7'00"/k, which was maintained for the final 2k despite having to turn back into the wind for the last k (and perhaps aided by a second encounter with the same girls). So 10k was delivered in a total time of ....... well, 73'18" by my watch and 73'28" by Dexy's (?).

The girl done good! 11k at that pace next month then ....... given this is Great South Run training now

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Well done guys! You were brave running in that bitter wind today. 🥶 Sounds like a great run! 👏👏👏

Good for Dexy5 having words with the girls on bicycles. I felt like telling the girls off who were galloping their ponies up and down the common this morning, churning the ground up. 🙄

Stay warm this week. Winter can take a running jump now. 🥶🥶🥶🥶

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks Cheeky, it sounds like your common is churned up enough without galloping horses .

It is so dangerous having bikes on the prom as it is busy and little children are running around or on scooters. They weren’t going fast but they aren’t allowed on there or the pavement.

A few days of yoga indoors now.

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Phew 😅 those first 4km straight into the cold wind were hard work but I was pleased that i kept a fairly even pace. Good hill training they say.

I really enjoyed that and was really pleased that I had the energy for a final km in 7.07 and my 2nd fastest 10k ever.

You can rest and watch the rugby now. I🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇮🇪 🏉

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Well done on the 10k Dexy5 (and UTS!). I don't envy you down by the Hayling ferry - that can be breezy at the best of times. Only 8 months and 10 days till the GSR!😜

[Coddfish Graduate10]

We must have just missed you on the prom (walking not running, we ran yesterday). Just a short walk through Craneswater and down to the Coffee Cup so we could walk home with the wind behind us. Well done on the 10ks, looking a little unpleasant for running over the next couple of days. Kettlebells for us.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

Yes I think I’ll be doing yoga until the beast goes elsewhere.

[Katnap Graduate10]

Yeah! Hard work today. TailChaser and I struggled to recover from our cool down walk as it turned out to be more of a freeze up walk!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

Yes we decided to run straight back home today for that reason Katnap. Brrr 🥶