Sydney Marathon Training: Week 3

This has been my favourite training week so far - there have been some hard, challenging runs, but the weekend has been a timely reminder of the happiness running truly gives me...

MONDAY: Strength and Conditioning for Runners session

TUESDAY: early morning intervals, followed by a Body Pump class later in the evening. The intervals were a massive struggle I won't lie; I had 6 miles with 5 x 1000m on my plan, however by the end I am not sure my interval and rest periods had too much difference in pace! My legs faded badly and I stopped a few times after some intervals just to compose myself. I think the one positive was I did not give up!

WEDNESDAY: another early morning run, but at an easier 8.17 min/mile average pace it felt much more manageable, even though at 6.30am it was already 18 degrees in temperature! 

THURSDAY: I could not bring myself to set another early alarm today so put my run off until the evening after I had been to a Body Pump class. Obviously I regretted the decision once the evening arrived, especially as I had 7 miles on my plan, but I gathered some motivation to give it a go. I actually ran fairly well, aiming for alternating miles, one faster and one at an easier pace, and finished with splits of 8.08, 7.00, 7.46, 7.36, 8.23, 7.42 and 8.20 min/mile pace. 

FRIDAY: Rest Day

SATURDAY: without any work commitments on a Saturday for the first in a long while I was able to venture for some parkrun tourism today. A friend who lives in North Lincolnshire had been asking me for a while to come and try the relatively new Normanby Hall parkrun, so I pulled on my home Lincoln parkrun vest and took the opportunity to become a tourist. It was a beautiful setting for a parkrun and a very interesting course with a mix of path, woodland and gravel running surfaces. As I ran I had a few wobbles in terms of confidence with my breathing (which is still not back to being perfect yet!) but I was helped by the fact I had a couple of females running around me which spurred me on. My friend and his wife were also running and as the course route looped round a few times they shouted across enthusiastic encouragement. I finished in 20:39 - my quickest 5k time for a few months - and then went and cheered my friend and his wife onto new PBs too; a good morning.  

SUNDAY: today I took on the wonderful running event that is Round Sheffield Run. This was my third year at the event, which I always run as a Female Pair with my friend and running buddy, and we both just love it. It is hard to describe the concept of Round Sheffield Run or how wonderful it is unless you have experienced it! I will however try and explain it better in a full race review soon... In short, although we did not go into the race with any real time expectations, and we never time ourselves whilst running - which is maybe where some of the joy comes from? - on our final time print out we were delighted to see we finished with an overall time of 1:41:32 - which was 5 minutes faster than our time last year, and had placed 13th female pair overall. Sitting in the gorgeous sunshine, relaxing on deckchairs in the race village with a medal around my neck, slightly aching legs and my friend at my side I was simply very happy - what more could I ask for?