good morning hoddlers!
It’s the offseason, which means it’s running season. But does running season ever take time off? No!
You might remember that your hoddler-in-chief ran his latest marathon on 4 April in 3:02. Three minutes north of the sub-three barrier. I’m not giving up hopes in my chase for a sub-3 and I think it’s doable. It’s just going to require some more work.
I’m currently in-between training blocks (assuming I’m running another marathon in the autumn, which I haven’t decided on yet).
There are a couple stages to this, but I’ve finished the first one which is the recovery phase.
The recovery phase lasted a couple weeks longer than I anticipated due to a weeklong holiday and an illness. But I set a goal: To run another half marathon before June. I didn’t want to race it, I just wanted to run the distance and keep my racing edge.
So I woke up at 4.30am on Sunday and ran a half marathon two hours later.
Distance: 13.1 miles
Time: 1:27.42
Average pace: 6:41/mi
While I ran 14 miles the other week, this race was the most intense run I’ve done since marathon day. Thirteen sustained miles at a sub-7 pace, with the first 10 around a 6.35/mile pace. It was only in the final three miles where I learnt that my legs still aren’t fully there.
This was actually a pretty frustrating morning, all things considered. Here’s a list:
- A mass start of runners on a narrow trail as opposed to a staggered start time. A
- A group of 10K and 5K runners further up ahead who I had to dodge both coming and going (and several of whom wouldn’t move after I called on them to pass).
- I was in a leading pack with two different runners. They made me lead for the first eight miles of the race so I had to all the heavy lifting. This includes dodging the 5K and 10K runners, navigating rocks and puddles and large cracks, finding the easiest path and spotting two deer crossing the trail. They eventually sped ahead after Mile 8 which, fine, I had no interest in chasing after then. But if they could run that fast they should’ve helped out.
- A flock of territorial geese.
Even though my legs didn’t have it that day, and despite some of the troubles on the trail, I’m really pleased with the day. My time was only 45 seconds slower than my personal best which, considering I wasn’t running at a half marathon effort, I’m very excited about.
So what’s next? I’m going to take it easy the next week or so and possibly switch back to running four days a week and lifting twice a week. And then I’m thinking about a short training session to get that half marathon personal best, which might transition to the next full marathon training block. Still lots to be decided.
Fitzie’s track of the day: ideations on rain, by Duval Timothy
And now for your links:
The Telegraph: “England land in US as Harry Kane admits: We are expected to win World Cup”
BBC: “Southampton owner will not sack head coach Eckert”
The Guardian: “Michail Antonio: ‘In football, no one really cares about you as long as you perform’”
PA via ESPN: “Kevin Keegan reveals stage four cancer diagnosis”
