Training Log Archive: AC

Easy Sunday morning run. Wet and very windy. Just took it easy for the most part. Not many people out as it is the day of the Boulogne-Billancourt half marathon. Ran along part of the course and saw all the preparations in full swing at aid stations. Lots of security along the course with volunteers stationed every 200m or so. This is a good race, which I did a few years ago in a time of 1.32, which was very pleasing at the time and qualified me for the NY marathon! Couldn't do that pace now. Oh well ...

Another lovely crisp and clear morning and felt okay for the first part of the run. Decided to do a bit of tempo work and figured that 3km at a solid pace would be a good target. Started out okay with the first km in 4.18 but then started getting quite tired and struggled through the next two km in 4.33 and 4.42 (uphill for last part). Felt pretty crappy but cross for wimping out. So finished up with 5 x 1 min on / 1 min off, trying to run as fast as possible for each interval. Worked out okay with pace around 3.55-3.58 for all except one (4.07). Good session in the end, glad to get it out of the way for Saturday.

Busy day at the office so headed out into the Bois for a morning run. Crisp and cold and, enjoyed the sensation of running into the light of day. As per usual on these morning runs, took a while to get going, but then really had a nice run. Very autumnal feel to the Bois with lots of yellow leaves on the ground. Forgot that I had a 9am meeting and was still lazing around at home at 8.45 when the iPod alarm reminded me of the meeting. Here is the big advantage of living within a few minutes of the office as I was showered, changed and at the meeting by 9.01!

Back in Paris and back at work after a lovely long weekend in Milan :-(. Headed out to the Bois for an interval session even though I really didn't feel like it. The aim was to do 4 x 1km at a slightly faster pace than I have been doing them recently - going for somewhere between 4.05 - 4.10/km - with 2 min rest. Almost achieved that, but it was a real struggle. The first two were at 4.06 and 4.07, but they were hard work. The third was a bit disappointing although it was interrupted a bit by traffic and soggy ground, coming in at 4.13. Put in a good effort for the last one at 4.06 and held it together okay. Couldn't have done another one though. Good session in the end. Would like to get down to under 4min for one of these one day ...