Goal: Easy run, 2.8k @ 7:53 pace

Goal: Intervals

Goal: Intervals

Goal: 8k @

Goal: 2.3k @ 7:53 pace

Goal: 4.3k @ 7:53 min/km pace

Goal: 8K @ 7:53 pace

Achieved: 4.84K @ 6:03 pace

Goal: 2.3K @ 7:53 min/km pace

Goal: 4.4km at 7:53 min/km pace

Achieved: 4.84km 6:18 min/km pace

Cooper Test today. To see how far I can run in 12 minutes. Answer? 2.18 km. My personal best for a Cooper Test is 2.8km, so I am about 0.7km slower. Not too bad, but it does prove my fitness has dropped since my peak fitness.

Next run on Friday (4.4km @ 7:53min/km target pace)

Goal: Long Run 8K @ 7:16 min/km pace.

Achieved 4.58k @ 6:53 min/km pace. Fell way short of my target, but it is still early in the plan. I must really up my game (and mileage)

(Day 2 missed due to weather)

Goal: Easy 2.3k run at 7:16 min/km pace.

Achieved 2.38k at 6:11min/km ave pace

Target: 4.3km run at 7:16 min/km pace. Achieved 4.69km @ 6:44 min/km pace.

Next run on Friday, 4.4km run, easy pace at 7:16 min/km. Today’s run was a toughie (haven’t run in excess of 3K for a while).

My plan has been setup and starts this week. First run is on Wednesday and is a 4.3 km run with a 7:16 min/km target pace.

I have got a place in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Now waiting for my race pack to arrive. In the meantime, I will be adjusting my training plan.

I got an email over the weekend from the organisers. The race this year takes place on Sunday 11th October. You can register your interest and be advised when the ballot opens by going to the site or going to http://www.royalparkshalf.com/Take-part-ballot/. The ballot opens tomorrow (27th January) and runs through to 4th February. You get notified on the 6th Feb if you got a place.

I tried to get into the race last year, and lost out during the ballot. Nonetheless, I’m going to try again this year. Currently trying to build up my mileage again after an extended down-period due to work pressures. Yes, as much as magazines such as Runner’s World and medical professions dispute that, work does impact your mental state and that in turn carries over into your running. Some may find it easy to ditch the work mindset and run, others (like me) don’t find it so easy…

Despite the Sheffield Half Marathon being cancelled moments before the start, thousands of runners disobeyed orders and decided to complete the race anyway.

In heart-warming and sometimes amusing scenes, the people of the Sheffield rallied behind the ‘rebel runners’ – handing out bottles of water and offering loud cheers and applause.

Organisers were ‘very reluctantly’ forced to cancel the race before its 9am start time because of ‘insufficient water’ being delivered by suppliers and a subsequent safety risk to runners.

Sheffield Half Marathon somehow still a roaring success despite chaotic cancellation | Metro News.

Related articles

• Sheffield Half Marathon - 6 April 2014 - Road Closures (northeastsheffield.wordpress.com)
• Sheffield team get dirty - all in aid of hospice funds (thestar.co.uk)
• Sheffield neuroscientist running for a disease cure (health.einnews.com)
• Drivers face Sheffield Half Marathon delays (thestar.co.uk)

Today’s target: 8.80k. Achieved 8.38k. And broke my 1K record, finally making it below the 5 minute mark at 4:56.

Tracks: Endomondo, ZR, Nike+

Today’s target: 16K. Did 16.51K in just under 2 hours. Not my fastest or best time, but I’m pleased because 8K + 16.51K = 24.51K, which means I’ve done more than a Half Marathon distance over the course of the weekend.

Tracks: Endomondo, ZR, Nike+

Run Stats:

• Cooper (12 min): 2.17 km
• One hour: 9.49 km
• 1 km: 5m:06s
• 1 mile: 8m:49s
• 3 km: 17m:03s
• 3 miles: 28m:33s
• 5 km: 29m:31s
• 10 km: 1h:03m:31s

Today’s target: 11K. Only hit 8.34K today :(

Tracks: Endomondo, ZR, Nike+

Run Stats:

• Cooper (12 min): 2.02 km
• One hour: 7.87 km
• 1 km: 5m:42s
• 1 mile: 9m:23s
• 3 km: 17m:43s
• 3 miles: 32m:23s
• 5 km: 34m:02s

Another long run weekend. Today’s target: 13K (8.1mi). Met that in 1:28:17 (Average pace: 6'47"/km), and got a new trophy.

Stats (via Endomondo):

• Cooper (12 min): 2.27 km
• One hour: 9.81 km
• 1 km: 5m:03s
• 1 mile: 8m:16s
• 3 km: 16m:05s
• 3 miles: 28m:05s
• 5 km: 29m:13s
• 10 km: 1h:01m:35s

Well, I guess I’m not running the RPHM. :(

Still, I can still train for it.

Second day of the long run weekend, and it didn’t turn out too well. I decided to run my local park instead because the weather looked ominous. One lap around the park (about 1 mile), and my hamstring was hurting again. Seemed to ease up if I changed my running posture, though. So perhaps I picked this up because my running style is poor? I ended the run early to give it a rest, and maybe work on a better posture. I probably never had this feeling because I don’t normally do 15+K runs.

Still, on the plus side, a new trophy came my way:

First day of the long run weekend. Today’s target was 14K, which I hit in about 1hr 26mins. Endomondo Track here. I was using my Nike+ SmartWatch as well, and kept it going till I got home, which was another 3K. Total distance out: 17.2K, total time out: 1hr 58min 58secs.

No Endomondo PBs were broken on this run, but I did set several on Nike+: Farthest Run (17.2K), Longest Run (1hr 58min 58secs), Most Calories Burned (1,140kcal), Fastest 5K (28'51"), Fastest 10K (1'02'12"). I also got the Afternooner trophy (1500 Nike Fuel earned between 2pm and 5pm)

This was one of the longer runs I’ve done in a while, and coming down the last 3K, my hamstring in my right leg started to hurt.

Tomorrow’s target is 16K. If I clock that, my target of a 30K weekend will be achieved. In fact, I will have done more than a Half Marathon over the weekend. Most likely, I’ll use the same route as I took today, so by the end of tomorrow, I’ll have a double 17K under my belt.

Nearing the end of week 2 of my Half Marathon training plan, and this week we start doing regular long-distance runs on both weekend days. Saturday is 14K and Sunday is 16K. I am going to really ache on Monday. ^_^