Wet weather meant that my usual route was likely to be muddy and slippery so off to pastures new this morning. Instead of plodding around the local playing fields, today saw me bothering the fishermen along the canal (careful with your casting Dave).
A mixture of tarmac, paving with a few tracks through a wooded area saw me, very much to my surprise, clocking up a sub 10 minute mile. Ok-when I was at school and doing this stuff regularly I could (just) manage sub 5 mins, but that was on a track,in spikes and against competition over a mile course. This is going very well.
Or so I thought...
Because I'd only gone and messed up my pacing. All fine to the 20 minute mark, but after that I felt like I was dying. Ok-that's a bit dramatic, but Dave the fisherman had time to cast, land and recast in the time I shuffled past, red faced and sweaty before Mr Johnson put me out of my misery.
Lesson learnt. Do not get cocky. Better running surface is undoubtedly a game changer(for one thing you can trust your path rather than keeping an eye out for mud, hidden divots and dog eggs), but it comes with a warning to those ageing legs that you may be a "runner", but there's still an awful lot to learn before you become a runner. Think that makes sense.
One other lesson that I had learnt and then promptly ignored. Fluid. Take it on board before you run if you don't take it with you. You will not need to "expel" it in the half hour you're out. You'll regret it if you don't put that fuel in before you go.
Little mantra-kit, shoes, phone, drink.
Onto Week 8
Week 6 run 3.....
Week 9 Run 3
Week 7 Run 3
I did my Week 5 Run 3! 
Week 7. Run 3
