Training

Originally planned to run the flat part of this run at around 8:20 min/miles and see how I got on once I got to the hills in the final two miles, but after a quick sub-8 first mile I decided to go for it and see how I got on. Kept the first four miles under 8 min/miles and managed not to slow down too much on the hills to end up with an average 8:10 min/mile pace, way faster than I’ve ever run this route before. Pretty pleased with the result, another confidence booster that my target HM pace will be doable!

Feeling a bit tired after a late night watching Murray win his first Grand Slam title, so took it nice and steady back home today. Pace felt nice and easy even heading up the hilly bits which reassures me my fitness is definitely getting better.

Did the first four miles of this at what I hope will be my HM pace (8:20), and I’m pleased to say I found it fairly comfortable. Even with all the hills in the last few miles I managed to keep up a relatively decent pace to end up with my fastest run home ever.

In my original plan this was to be a 12 mile run, but while measuring out a course I found that running down through Hampstead to Regents Park, looping the park, then heading back home via the south end of Parliament Hill and Highgate made for almost exactly 13 miles, so I figured I’d go for it. I made sure I kept to a nice slow pace and found the entire run comfortable, and while I could feel my legs tiring towards the end they felt fresher than at the end of the 11 mile long run last week. I’m pleased to have completed the half-marathon course with more than a month until my actual HM race, as it gives me plenty of time to fit in a few more decent long runs before tapering. Just need to work on my speed now, as ideally I’d like to run the HM at 8:20 pace, not 9:39!