10 mile run - just for fun...

Distance: 10.02 miles
Time: 1h31m08s
Mile 1 - 9m33s
Mile 2 - 9m36s
Mile 3 - 9m26s
Mile 4 - 9m13s
Mile 5 - 9m11s
Mile 6 - 9m04s
Mile 7 - 8m49s
Mile 8 - 8m57s
Mile 9 - 8m38s
Mile 10 - 8m23s
0.02mile - 12s

After another successful gym visit on Friday where I did 1.85k hill running on the treadmill in 15 minutes, core & strength work and finally 0.62k on the elliptical trainer, yesterday was a day off. That's the first time I've done 6 days exercise in a row for a while, and it feels good. Even the V-sits are coming along!

Today I was back out on the road for a "long" run. I've kind of decided where possible that I'll run at least 8 miles on a Sunday. However today I was feeling a bit more keen and thought I'd go for 10 miles. It had begin to rain before I set off, but not heavily and had stopped by the time I headed out the door. I managed to set a steady pace, so I could make it round the ten miles quite comfortably.

A few miles in the heavy grey clouds that littered the sky gave up some of their rain in the form of a light drizzle. It was neither cold nor uncomfortable. In fact it was almost refreshing. But that too came to nothing and soon it was dry again. At the next junction I have to choose. Left to Charney Bassett. 5 miles back home. The 8 mile circuit. Or right towards Lyford. The 10 mile circuit. 7 miles back home. Without a pause I turn right. Running another 5 miles seems just too easy.

I'm feeling good, and this gives me extra confidence and as well as speed. And better still, the other side of Lyford I know I'm on the way home, I know I can run a negative split today. I ran the first five miles in a fraction under 47 minutes, and the last five miles in just under 44 minutes.

Partly I want to get home before I get drenched (though in the end it stays mostly dry all the way). Partly I want to get home to eat. I have a carbo gel at 5 miles, which gives me a boost, but doesn't make me any less hungry. I'm looking forward to a big dinner this evening. I think I'll have earned it.

I weave across the roads, keeping to the side that gives me the most visibility at all times. Now that the verges are high with grasses and the hedges are full, I daren't run on the right of the road into a blind corner and risk meeting a car speeding the other way if they can't see me clearly. This isn't such a problem in the winter and spring. I'm glad I don't wear an iPod when running - as I need to be fully aware of the traffic on the road, just in case I need to jump out of the way.

Two miles to go and I'm running faster still, trying not to overdo it, but knowing I've got enough left in me to run this mile faster than any of the previous 8, and then faster again on the last mile to get me home in just 91 minutes - the fastest I've run 10 miles.

Time for a huge plate of brown rice (with tomatoes, peas & pork mince) and a long hot bath to relax.