Resurrection

My Garmin returned from the dead this morning with the screen coming back to life as if nothing had happened. So 2 days without stats isn't all that bad. Sunday's long run was followed up by an easy five miler in the park at lunchtime on Monday. This evenings track session was a repeat of last weeks with 5 x 1248m (lane 3) in 4:30 on the cards. I thought about adding a half lap to each rep so as to make it a bit more challenging but instead settled for reducing the recovery from last weeks 3 minutes to 2:30. By the 3rd interval I was feeling the pressure and briefly though about cutting the session short to save my legs for the third 5 miler in the Ballycotton summer series on Thursday. However I persevered and actually felt a bit more comfortable on the 4th and 5th intervals. 4:30/29/30/28/29.

After a few laps warmdown and a few stretches I joined the rest of the club members for the last of their fast 400's (4 x 400m with full recoveries of 7 mins approx). They seemed to be having such fun I thought I'd have some too. They were split in three groups with each group going off at 5 second intervals. I joined the middle group having the double incentive of a few hares out front and a few hounds behind. I ran a steady fast pace with the group for the first 200m before testing whether or not I had anything left in the cupboard and found myself going off the front around the bend. Before I caught the hare in front I was passed by the fastest hound. I gave chase down the home straight passing the hare and not losing any ground to the hound in front while keeping ahead of the second hound behind me. I neglected to time the lap but the hound behind me said that I was about 2 seconds ahead of his 65 seconds - but as I started 5 seconds ahead of him that gave me 65-2+5 = 68 seconds and since we were running in lane 3 that equates to a 65 second 400m, which is faster than I thought i'd do.

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The coach was putting them through these 400's over the last few weeks in preparation for a few track races over the coming weeks - Cork Graded Track and Field at the Mardyke Track on July 27th, Munster Masters on August 1st at the Mardkye Track (100, 200, 400, 800, 1500 & 3000m) and Rising Sun Sports Day on August 2nd @ CIT Track (100, 200, 400 & Mile).

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Next race for me is the Churchtown South 5 miler on Thursday - the 3rd of the 4 Ballycotton Summer series. My number for the race is 63 - which means 13 runners will have to drop out or lose enough time to me over the final 2 races for me to win that all important T-shirt. The real battle will be between fellow club runners John and Pat (currently 51 & 52), with John leading by a second going into the race on Thursday - a bit like the Tour De France.

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The toe on my right foot, that I stubbed while barefoot running last saturday week, continues to cause some discomfort - perhaps I should ease up and give it time to mend.

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