Having decided yesterday that today would be sprints, I felt like I a cheat by deciding to do a long run instead. The weather was so great, so how could I resist? As I haven’t got a long run target till next year, I’m being more relaxed about my routes and enjoying the freedom of running where I fancy till I’ve covered the distance I’d had in mind.
Usually, I’m not so spontaneous about a long run, and always carry my bus pass so I don’t end up doing 24 when I’d only meant to do 12. Today though, no pass, still, I headed for a run I’d not done since Feb 9th. Boy was it nicer today! Ok, the clear blue sky and the sun shining do help to forgive the broken buildings and the piles of dumped stuff, but there were also banks of wild flowers in full bloom, and I’m a sucker for a wild poppy!
Only saw about six other runners today too, which is a lot fewer than in recent weeks. Don’t know whether the good weather has put people off or if there is a post-marathon (I’m thinking London and Brighton really) lull. Still, I like the solitude of running, so I’m not complaining.
I’ll admit to being a bit anxious before setting out, I’ve been focusing on my speed lately in an attempt to finish a 10k in under 50mins. I’ve been doing some sprint work and then focusing on the 10k distance. My pace has really improved, I know I need to be aiming at 8:02 mins per mile and I’m getting pretty close, but maintaining it over 10k is one thing, I couldn’t do it on the long run.
Thank goodness for my garmin, I definitely started out too quickly, and needed to get used to taking it a little slower, aiming for a comfortable 8:40 – 8:45 mins per mile. I ended up with an average of 8:31 min per mile which was about right.
All in all, a totally uplifting morning run. I just hope the weather holds so that I can keep exploring.