Mileage: 15 miles
AM: 3.75 miles; PM: 11.25 miles (Including Thursday session)
Tonight’s Meadows session was tough, really tough! By the end of it I was close to broken.
After our usual pre-session chat and exchange of running related gossip and one lap warm-up Alex informed us of the session: 3 minutes faster than 10k pace, followed by 1 minute recovery and then a 30 second all out sprint and then just 30 second recovery before repeating the set. We had to do this five times.
I groaned out loud on hearing this, a little too loud, as Alex heard me to which he responded with: “For those groaning at the thought of the session, you obviously know how tough this will be.” I did, as I have done this session a few times. The fast pace combined with the very short recovery makes it an extremely tough 25minutes. In fact, Alex later told me that it was basically a track session.
For me, still struggling to find the pace I had before holiday it was hard work. We set off in our groups. In mine was Colin, James Ruskin, myself and new boy Brian. Alex had told us to take it in turns to lead the group on the three minute efforts. I was up first. Whenever you are asked to lead/pace a group in a session you always try and up your game. Everyone does it, as no one wants to let the rest of the group down or, as I suspect, everyone wants to impress the rest of the group. I set off today and pushed a hard at a steady pace. I could feel the rest of the group behind me and so continued to push. Even after a minute I could feel my legs tightening and my lungs burning, this was going to be a very tough session! I finished my three minutes and the pace was 5minutes29seconds minutes per mile pace. Not quite my 10k pace, but considering everything recently I was happy with that. The one minute recovery went all too quickly and I was trailing behind the group as I desperately tried to find some pace during the 30 second blast. I managed a 4.36 mpm pace and was pleased enough with that.
For the next three reps I slowed a little, but not too much. I did struggle to hang on to the group a little, as they finished about 25-50 meters ahead of me each time over the 3 minute reps. In some ways it was good motivation, as I told myself repeatedly that I had to chase them down, couldn’t let them get away and that I am as good as them. It helped and I am sure I ran further and faster as a result. I do like those mental battles, where my body tells me one thing and my mind refuses to accept it. I like to defy my body’s desire to slow down or to wait for the next group. It means that when I finish the session, even though I am a fair bit slower than I would normally be, I am still satisfied.
It was agreed that I would take the last 3minute rep and again I knew I had to up my game. I set off and really pushed hard to set a strong pace from the start and then I just tried to hold it and push as I felt the group close on me. I actually felt fitter, looser and stronger on the last set then I did on any of the others. Perhaps this is a sign that I am getting used to training again and that I am slowly regaining my fitness. We finished the session with one final sprint and all four of us were shattered, but pretty pleased with ourselves. Sessions like that need training partners as there is no way you can do them that quickly on your own. I know I couldn’t. Thanks guys!
My session
Set 1: 3 minutes – 5.29 mpm pace; 30 secs – 4.36 mpm pace
Set 2: 3 minutes – 5.37 mpm; 30 secs – 5.05 mpm pace
Set 3: 3 minutes – 5.51 mpm; 30 secs – 5.11 mpm pace
Set 4: 3 minutes – 5.52 mpm; 30 secs – 5.26 mpm pace
Set 5: 3 minutes – 5.42 mpm; 30 secs – 4.48 mpm pace
Now we are at the height of summer the Meadows is glorious, however, I have noticed a very unwelcome visitor in the couple of weeks that I have been back – midgies!! There are loads of them circulating the Meadows and last week a fair few of them latched on to me for some blood sucking fun! I was not impressed. I don’t remember there being too many midgies in Edinburgh a few years ago, but just this last couple of summers they seem to have cropped up more and more and particularly in the Meadows. I hate the little buggers, as much as they seem to love me. They also not content with leaving just a small puncture wound, but rather a big itchy swollen welt that bothers for me days on end!! They are truly evil. Last week was so bad that I have now taken drastic measures to prevent me becoming the all you can eat buffet for the Meadow’s Midgies. Avon’s Skin So Soft is the ultimate midgie repellent. It really works and I have taken a bottle to work and now every evening before running home I lather myself head to toe in it. I smell lovely, but better than that I can keep the midgies away, as I lie here typing this I feel no itchy marks at all! This buffet has closed!
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