h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've just checked my total running distance for the year, it's 226km. I'm aiming to do 500km this year, so need to get another 24 done by the end of next month to stay on track, I think that's about doable

Congrats, both of you - great times, especially in the heat.

I've decided after getting so close, but yet so far at the weekend, that I'm going to try and have a faster target for next year, then if I fail again at least I should hopefully come in under an hour.

To that end, I'm restarting my training schedule, but with my current level of fitness, which is the best it's been for years.

So, the intention is to restart the shorter runs, but with a faster pace. Previously I was aiming for under 6 minutes a kilometre, but preferably 5:30. This time I'm aiming for under 5 minutes, preferably 4:45. Which is a hell of a drop. But I've managed that sort of time in shorter runs before, so it's just a case of building up the distance.

In theory.

I'll still be doing the longer runs, and to start with at least will be doing them at my 5:30 pace, but I'll be trying to do the shorter runs faster.

So, today's run was a bit of an experiment: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/342825357

1.5km uphill to start with, then pretty flat. There was a couple of road crossings in there mind you, but only one really slowed me down.

It was a nice short run, just to see what the pace was like, and would I have been able to keep it up. And yes, I would. I don't know for how long, at least another half kilometre, maybe another kilometre, but when I'd finished I could probably have gone on for a few more kilometres at my slower pace.

Overall though, 1.5km in 7:16 with an average pace of 4:50min/km which isn't really far off my target. And realistically I think is a more likely speed for the next run.

In this week's Park Run I came 38th out of 92 (I suspect that the thundery showers put people off) at a slow time of 26:59. But I did not fall over, despite the incredibly slippery mud, so all in all I'm pleased with that. Does anyone have any advice on how to run in mud (ideally a solution which doesn't cost more than £10?)

This week they've announced that there's to be a Southampton Half Marathon and a Southampton 10k in April next year. So in addition to friends suggesting I do the Great South Run (10miles) they're suggesting a Half Marathon! I'm happy doing 5ks for now (I've decided to do the Great South Mini Run) and will try to work up to a 10k for next year, but a Half Marathon is a bit ambitious at the moment...

<BB<

Normally I try to avoid running in mud, when I come across it I tend to go around it or try and jump over it

I've not been logging my runs here the last couple of weeks, I think mostly because they're all over the place at the moment because there's some festival thing in the park and my routes are all disturbed I have been out running though

I forgot to add my latest time for last Saturday - 25:37 and 42nd out of 157 in dry conditions. The forecast for this week looks like mud

<BB<

That's a really good 5k time you're getting there BB!

First time running in a thunderstorm (I did wonder why I was running through trees while thunder crashed and lightning flashed) and the course was very wet. So wet I slipped over on the 2nd lap. Still, I came 49th out of 122 at a time of 26:21.

Definitely need to get some mud shoes...

<BB<

Got my second timed 10k on Saturday... similar course to the last one, in a park, undulating, mixture of path, trail, and grass. My training times have been several minutes over what I managed last time, but it's been very hot and humid, even in the early evenings. The race is in the morning so hopefully it'll be a bit cooler. Another time under 50 mins would be great, but probably a bit much to hope for in current conditions...

Good luck with it!

I've not been out for a run for a few days, some sort of internet weirdo get-together got in the way

Finally got out for a run today, it wasn't good but it wasn't bad: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/355502870

The first kilometre was taking it moderately easy, then trying to up the speed back to my old pace a bit. It was a bit tricky with the breathing though, but I managed to keep it steady. Was only the last stretch where I felt it out of sorts enough to have to really focus on it, but that also included a downhill stretch, which helped.

10k race yesterday was interesting.... new PB of 47:18 (87 of 477) compared to 48:40 last time. And almost got knocked over by a bolting deer that appeared out of nowhere... just brushed against me as I tried to slow down to stay out of its path. Best guess was that the runners further up the field startled it and it bolted through the undergrowth.

I wasn't expecting that... could have been quite nasty if (a) it had been a stag rather than a doe; and/or (b) I hadn't managed to slow in time.

Can't say as I've come across a bolting deer! Great time though

Our run yesterday was slow, we were both suffering from hayfeaver a bit, I was noticeable with it, t'other half was really bad: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/356995348

We made it to 3.5km before we needed to stop and walk for a bit, and then to just after 5km before we needed to walk again. It's much harder running when you're having trouble breathing.

Over all though it was a pretty steady pace around the 5:30m/km mark.

Park Run on Saturday was interesting. I woke up at 8:38am, had one of those 'Aaagh!' moments, rushed to get dressed, cycled like mad and made it to Fleming Park just before 9am, when I looked down and noticed that in my rush I'd automatically put on my work shoes and not my trainers. Too late to do anything about it, and I ended up with a slow 26:55, 64th out of 152.

I think I've knackered my work shoes too...

<BB<

I've come across bolting deer a couple of times when cycling to work - they're much bigger than you think

<BB<

This week's Parkrun had no rain, no mud - just a warm, sunny day. I did the 5k in 24:56, which was 47th out of 157.

<BB<

That's great!

I only did a 2k this weekend, ran to the supermarket

The park was *full* of people, but we did a couple of nice times, 5 minutes dead and 4:51. I think it helped that we knew it was only a short run

5k run today, same route as last Wednesday, which is the one the Park Run uses: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/362223309

The first kilometre was easy, it starts off flat on a wide path, and then goes downhill for quite a way, hence the 5:04.
The second kilometre is mostly flat, past the boating lake and cafe, and then uphill a little, which surprised me at coming in at 4:54. I think I must have got into my stride about here.
The third kilometre undulated a bit, and then ended on an uphill slope, but 5:29 was pretty good as I was trying to slow the pace down anyway.
The fourth kilometre was around the back of the boating lake, rough ground, but wide, and ended going up hill a bit, so the 5:32 was about on target.
The fifth kilometre starts with a long, steep, uphill slope. I'm still not very good with hills, but managed to keep going all the way up, and then finished going around the undulating bit through the trees at the back of the hall, and came in at 5:46.

Overall, 5.07km in 27:15, with an average pace of 5:23min/km and one bleeding big hill!

That time would have put me at 183 out of 440 if I did the organised run.

Nice!

I'm building up the time/distance on my Long Slow Run in preparation for a half marathon at the end of September. I'm measuring by time rather than distance, and increased from 1hr 10 to 1hr 20, which was almost exactly 15k. Half marathon is 21k, but my next target is a 10 mile cycling/running/walking track that's mainly canal and river paths, so nice and flat. A few more weeks of building up my Low Slow Run and I'll give it a go...