Week 2 - Hills, canals and colds

It's been a while since my last post, as the more important task of proposal writing has taken over.

I'm going to run you through the week's events from back to front (more to aid my memory than anything else) - so here we go.

Sunday was a long run. This was tough but I managed 10.10miles in 90mins which was an acheivement because the wine had been flowing the night before at Jo's Mum and Dad's (Happy Birthday Sue). Running next to the canal for the first four miles felt easy but the hill into Headingley which stretches over about a mile was a killer.

Saturday was meant to be cross training but this ended up being a walk to the market which doesn't really qualify. I did wake up with the biggest crick in my neck though which still aches now (excuses, excuses).

Friday was a rest day so I watched the Wales v France game which was enough to get the heart rate going towards maximum levels but not really exercise. What a try by Shane but you can't give the French a 20 point lead.

I trained intervals in York on Thursday. This was pretty tough as I had to run at 10k pace (7mins/mile) for 6mins then jog for 5mins and repeat four times. This meant I ran 5.77miles in 46mins which averages out at about 8min/mile. Although it was tough, it was the first run since I started my training where I noticed my legs feeling stronger and better able to cope with the distance.

Wed involved a short but quick hill running session. Finding hills in Leeds City Centre is pretty tough but between North Street and the road which goes to Chapeltown there is a good zig zag route of hilly streets. I worked the legs hard on the uphill sections and completed 2.76m in 21mins (7'49''/mile).

Tuesday was an easy 30min recovery run.

Monday was 5-a-side football.

That was last week.

I now have a stinker of a cold but the show must go on. Easy recovery 30min run today, but not looking forward to the threshold running tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

Gareth