My run 3 in the rain on Friday was an ignominious washout; after 5 minutes I had to remove my glasses, I ended dragging my feet the last 5 minutes, and crawled up the last gradient at a walk. I couldn't deceive Laura by pretending I'd completed it when I'd only managed 23 minutes; after all you can't pull the wool over your personal trainer's eyes when she's in your pocket.
I set out this morning to repeat W6R3 with a few advantages: piqued determination, sharp focus on keeping the pace down, better weather so no waterproof jacket and being able to see. When Laura announced the final five minutes I felt I had plenty in reserve, managed the last minute at a higher speed since it was downhill at that stage and was almost reluctant to slow to a walk at the end. With a little further than usual for the cool down walk, I couldn't resist the urge to run an extra couple of minutes in the middle, which leaves me feeling far more confident about starting week 7 on Tuesday.
I think I have learned two useful lessons. One is that it is the rhythm that needs to be relentless, not the speed.
Speed = cadence x stride
If I want to move a bit faster onn downhill slopes, and I allow my stride to lengthen a little rather than allow the cadence (step rate) to speed up, it is easier not to tackle the next uphill section at too fast a rate. The alternative might be to move from Yorkshire to Lincolnshire.
It was that 25% progress in duration from 20 to 25 minutes between W5R3 and W6R3 that defeated me last time. As I work through week 7, I shall try to add a little extra each time after the end to build up a reserve towards the 12% increase needed in week 8.
Week 6 completed
Week 6 Run 3 - Completed with bells on!
Week 6.....I'm officially a runner!!!
Week 6 Run 2
Week 6 Run 2 done. Hurrah!
