When You Gotta Go…

• Posted: July 13, 2008
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• Author: Shéamus
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• Filed under: Time Trials, Workouts
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• Tags: No tags set for this entry.

Everything clicked today. For the first time in as long as I can remember I got several hours of good sleep (post-work). The weather was perfect. I felt rested after yesterday’s recovery run. My Garmin appears to be functioning perfectly. The day was tailor-made for me to set a new personal best in the 5K.

And so it went. Mile #1 was a scorching and genuine 7:19 - a new best on the single mile. A 7:30 followed, and things were looking very good indeed. I was running fast, and I was very aware that I was running fast, but I had a lot left in the tank. I wondered if a sub-22 minute 5K might be on the cards.

Alas, it was not to be. Around the 2.25 mile mark my body suddenly needed to use the toilet real, real bad. I kept things going for another half-mile before I had no other choice but to stop and head back home. The public toilets on the beach are the worst, and once you’ve stopped, you’ve stopped - might as well be in a place you feel comfortable.

For what it’s worth, I managed 2.80 miles at an average pace of 7:24. Fantastic, and it was slightly gutting that I didn’t finish the 5K. Still, when you’re outside in skimpy athletic shorts and not much more, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Splits and chart:

Once done, I headed back out to do another mile. This time, I ran a slightly hilly loop near my house and finished that in just over 7:34.

Split:

Overall, I feel like I’ve taken a big step forward this weekend. Just last Thursday I struggled but since then things have really picked up. The good weather definitely helps - that wind during the week was a real killer.

I’m going to throw in recovery runs on a more regular basis now, and keep my ‘speed’ workouts down to 1-2 sessions every seven days. I also plan to up my overall mileage this week, and may have a crack at the ‘Sunday run’ next weekend.

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