Mileage: 12 miles - 1hour 22 minutes
Today was as frustrating as Thursday was satisfying. It reminded me that running is hard work and when things don't go as well as you'd hope you need a mental fortitude to keep going. I also need to learn that every run is not going to be perfect!
Gail and I were in the countryside near Arbroath for our friend's Kev and Jenny's wedding. We had arrived fairly late at the hotel and after a quick non-alcoholic drink with a rather nervous groom we went to bed. I decided to go for my run early (8am), so that I would make it back in time for a hotel breakfast. At last weekend's wedding I had to watch Gail eat sausages and eggs while I nibbled on toast! I wasn't prepared to let that happen again.
As I am tapering for the Loch Leven Half my plan was to do just 12 miles, but in the middle of that do 2*2mile reps at half marathon pace (5minutes and 45seconds per mile) with 2 minutes recovery. I figured this would be a good way of stretching my legs and preparing myself for next week's race without doing too much. I set off out of the hotel and turned left at the gate. I followed the undulating country road and less than a mile into the run I knew I was tired and grumpy. It was also bloody cold and very, very breezy hitting me right in the face. This didn't help my mood and I swore at the wind a couple of times under my breath and cursed Scotland's rubbish spring weather. My plan was to do 2 miles warm up and then start on my 2mile reps. I ran through the first 2 miles in 14.05 (just over 7 minute mile pace) and then tried to force the pace. My body fought back a little, but the sloping upward hills were not helping either and the wind had got stronger. After a mile I glanced at my watch and it was over 6minutes for the mile, nowhere near what I was looking for. I tried to persevere, but it was tough. I also hadn't realised just how hilly it was. It wasn't until I turned to come home that I realised just how much of gradient I had been fighting against. By half through the second mile of my first rep I'd backed off and decided to just run at a reasonable tempo pace. My second two miles took 13.43. I wasn't happy!! I swore some more, thankfully only the cows could hear me. The next two miles were even worse, the hills got bigger and the wind got stronger. I'd given up on the idea of doing any more reps and decided just to run consistent tempo miles until I reached 6 miles to turn round. My third two miles was 14.30 - very slow, but the hills were big.
By the time I reached 6 miles I was thoroughly fed up and there had of been something to kick I might well have given it a good boot. I kept reminding myself that once I turned round it would be mostly downhill with the wind behind me. It was just that. As soon as I turned round the wind disappeared, I lent forward and ran back down hill instantly feeling better about everything. The run home was a lot more enjoyable than the the first half and a lot quicker. I manage to appreciate the scenery a little bit and enjoy the fresh air now that it wasn't pushing me backwards. I wasn't pushing that hard, but my last 3 sets of 2 miles were 13.09, 13.12, 13.30 making the second 6 miles 2 and a half minutes quicker than the first 6. I was quite pleased with that, but I think it showed just how hilly and windy the first half had been.
I was still a little grumpy by the time I got back to my room, but once I sat down to my scrambled eggs, sausages and toast with a good cup of coffee things felt a little better. The wedding was also great, and with 12 miles worth of calories burnt I didn't feel too bad about tucking into canapes, a dinner, 6 slices of cheesecake, 5 pork rolls and a few pints!!
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