Training Log Archive: devil

Was going to do the one reservoir run, but decided it was a bit long so invented the emmerdale farm circuit - this went past the farm where this yorkshire soap was filmed. for the uninitiated the plots used to revolve around a sheep lame in t'top ten acres, a few pints in t'Woolpack and hands up cows backsides. Quite a good morning to run, but the route used too many roads wthout footpaths so picked up a few nettle stings from diving into the hedges to avoid trucks.

ACT vets half marathon. This was a chance to have a crack at my half pb which was over 90 mins, so was a pretty safe bet that I'd beat it. Haven't done much endurance work or speed work recently so probably wasn't in peak form. The course was similar to the canberra half, starting near stage 88 and doing a loop out to the carillion, back under commonwealth avenue bridge then round west basin on the bike path. My vague aim was to do 4 min ks and see how it felt without going too hard for the first half of the race. Quite a few quick vets were on the start line including bazorak and gramps. Settled into a comfortable pace for the first loop in a bit of a group, quite a few runners who I'd normally keep up with were getting away, but I didn't think I could take the pace any higher without paying later on. After 10k the hills tended to break my consistency a bit, but had a section from black mountain peninsula where I found a bit of rhythm and overtook the old bloke who'd gone past near scrivener dam, sadly he went past me again a bit later. Had to dig in on hospital hill, but after that was gaining on a young guy in front and had a bit left in the tank to pass him and pick up the pace slightly into the finish. As it was a vets event, there wern't many youngsters there so I got 2nd in M35s and a chunk of wood trophy. Bazorak was on fire with a win in about 75 and gramps won the handicap at 86% of world record pace.
Was happy with the time, but noted that I did 84.16 for the half in the canberra marathon. I think 80 might be a realistic aim*


spilts (km)
3.39, 3.42, 3.53, 3.53, 3.53
3.52, 4.07 (long k), 3.41 (short k), 3.54, 4.02
4.01, 3.58, 4.09, 4.18, 3.58
4.12, 4.02, 4.05, 4.10, 4.17
4.23 (1.1km)

*with more training