This was a much better running week as I ended up running 4 times in total after a lay off of almost two weeks with a cold.
The first run was just a short ‘test’ run prior to the regular, Thursday night, Plymouth Musketeers group run ,to see whether I was sufficiently recovered from my cold. I didn’t want to find out I was not fit enough part way through a long run with a group of people. I just ran a loop down to Thorn Park and back and then a smaller loop around the estate (3 miles in total) and felt fine at the end.
My second run was the Musketeers group run, this time on the Central Park route which I did with the 10 minute/mile pace group. It seemed sensible to drop down from my usual 9s group as I continued my comeback and I think this was definitely a good decision. The run was quite a long one (6.6 miles) at just under 10 minute/mile pace.
The third run was the Plym Valley Parkrun on Saturday morning – my 15th time on this 5k route but my first since mid January. Compared to my last few runs on this route the ground was quite a bit drier although there was still plenty of mud and water to run through and the meadow parts of the circuit were decidedly sticky. I was pleased with my time (25 minutes 51 seconds) as this was quicker than my previous few attempts (better conditions) and it was good to see my performance returning towards the level I was producing at the end of last year.
Finally, on Sunday morning, I joined a group of Musketeers for a long run around Plymouth. We did a 12 mile circuit taking us from the Life Centre, down through Milehouse, Stoke Village, Devonport Park, Mount Wise, Stonehouse Creek, Devil’s Point, the Royal William Yard, Cremyll, West Hoe, the Hoe waterfront, the Barbican and Sutton Harbour and back up through Mutley and Central Park. My overall pace was 9m51s which was encouraging given that I hadn’t run this far for a while and there were a fair few hills in the route.
Tim O'Hare 