Training Log Archive: Craney

Happy with that - knocked a minute off my time from 2yrs ago in the Sheffield Half. Felt like I ran pretty well - faded a bit at the end so maybe could've paced it a bit better, but I don't think that would have made all that much difference (maybe would've got me under 72 though and not beaten by any women).

It was quite a damp, grey day - probably good conditions. Felt great over the first few miles (5.15 for mile 1) and ran alongside Liz Yelling til about 4miles. She dropped off though and I went through halfway in 34.55ish. That rung a few alarmbells though as I knew I wasn't (close to being) in sub-70 shape. Hung on through to 10miles in 54.30 and became aware of mutterings in the crowd of "ooh here comes the first woman". Claire Hallisey gradually reeled me in and we ran together for miles 11-12.5 which was quite cool as the crowd were going mental for her being from Bristol. Thought it would be rude not to let her outsprint me.

Will have to do another of these - maybe the Bath Half in March? We'll see - not sure I'll ever get sub-70, but can defo get a fair bit closer yet. That Matt Ellis that beat me on Tuesday ran 70.40 so I'm happier about that race now too.

Gracie ran really well to shave some seconds off her pb and my sis comfortably got round her first running race. Good crowds out today and 11000 runners so it was pretty cool.

C • Bath Half... 3

Gracie and I showed Mikey the sights of Blaise, Stoke the Bishop, the downs and W-o-T. Felt fine.

Not very exciting run out to Spaniorium Hill and back through Hallen. Felt pretty poo.

Cracking run with Timmy out around Leigh Woods and Ashton Court - really appreciated having the company. I wasn't up for the full 25km so cut off after a short while, but we'd already had a good natter by then. Good times, good company.

Ok, it wasn't really with Timmy - I actually went exploring some ginnels in Westbury-on-Quim

Lovely evening - headed out round Blaise for a nice cruise - felt pretty good so went faster than a recovery run but not fast enough to be tempo.

Set off pretty fast trying to drop everyone, only to find out 3 other people running were quite good (well, better than me anyway) and they passed me after about a mile. I got my revenge on them being rubbish at downhills, albeit temporarily, as they then passed me again and never looked back, so I finished in 4th. Legs got very heavy and I just 'got round' the last couple of miles, including about a mile of continuous uphill. Could feel yesterday's race in my legs. Reckon my time was ok, but nothing great - probably similar to what I could've done at any point over the last few years. Going to try and run the half marathon on Sunday a little more calmly. Great to see Timmy run so well - training clearly paying off.

C • Winner 7

Pretty flat out urban o-race round the suburbs of Didcot - quite a depressing place to live I imagine, but good for this sort of thing. Some route choices were quite sneaky and involved going chuffing miles round, but I think I picked most of them ok. Came a bit unstuck around #9 and #10 and dropped a bit of time but not too much. Legs felt alright.

C • good time... 4

With Tim, Laura and Gracie.