Happy New Years to you all, and may 2013 exceed your expectations.
The day certainly started in a most pleasant fashion. Despite my best efforts last night there was no hangover. My New Year resolution (once again) is to cut down on the intake. The sun was shining, the air was fresh. Let's go for a run.
Race: on road 5 miler. Out and back with hillyness starting after a mile and a half.
Target? Hmm, being so long out of the circuit this was a wild guess, but 35:00 would see me ecstatic. 7 minute miling is something I have barely touched in 3 years.
Bang: The leaders are off. The second pack is off. I'm Larry Loner. Run by perceived effort.
Mile 1: 6:31 with HR 144. At that pace this is going to be amusing for the crowd and his dog.
Mile 2: 6:59 with HR 154. That hill is always a bit of a bitch. I took it steadily.
halfway 16:55 - I'm working for this one, and am passed by the First Lady at the marker. No, not Michelle Obama.
MIle 3: 6:53 with HR 152. The hilly sections are now done. So am I. Some Young Turk arrives on my shoulder, and offers encouragement to the Old Git.
Mile 4: 6:37 with HR 154. Actually I kept looking and it was showing 160+ which is a bit too high. Young Turk being such a pet. I'm sounding rough, but know that I have this one bagged. I can hear that he's on the ragged edge, so all I have to do is to time my big push to perfection. I elect for the short sprint from the last corner, 150m, and at the appropriate time give it Max Welly. My short sprint is just that. I'm running 100m to the line at my previous pace, just hoping that I've done enough. I had. The Old Git stuffs the Young Turk.
Mile 5: 6:33, ave HR160 and a max of 167.
Total time 33:42 Pure Ecstacy. This is, of course, a Category PB as a V50, as it's my first proper comeback race.
