Runner who loves the off road

Following on from the east kilbride half i have ran really well this week.On tuesday i done some mile efforts averaging 5.11 per mile.Then on thursday i done some kilometre efforts averaging 3.06.I then rounded off my week doing the Albert Park Time trial coming 1st in 17.06 just 2 seconds outside my pb.I feel if i continue training hard i can improve a lot.

Today i travelled to a windy Glasgow for the Diet Coke East Kilbide half Marathon.There was a big field but i guessed most of the runner were fun runners.I started well and ran very even paced which pleased me a lot.Although i faded a little towards the end especially the 1.5 mile incline into a headwind i was pleased to finish 7th in 1.18.34 inside my 1.19 target and my Gps half time was 1.18.12.

Did last nights Elswick harriers newburn river run around flat trails on the banks of the Tyne.The race was 10.5k or 6.5 miles and it was a blustery outward 3 miles.I once again fell into the trap of setting out too quick doing mile 1 in 5.15 but settled in the next 2 passing 3 in 16.43 but as we turned back on ourselves i had a bad 1.5 mile stretch and was past by 5 lads and was really fighting all the way to the end and although i beat my target of 38.30 by 30 seconds exactly i felt as i reviewed the results i was beating quite a few of these lads ahead last year but pehaps as i have done mostly fell races this year im very strong but lack the cutting edge needed for these fast races.After Sundays East Kilbride Half Marathon where i have set a modest sub 1.19 target i intend to really work hard on my speed building up to the Sunderland 5k (23/07) then the Graet Wales 10k (27/07).

My recent training has been going very well.Having kind of figured out how to train properly through amongst others the advice on a london club called Serpentine.My quarter mile intervals have come down to 67-68 secs and ive knocked 10-15 secs off my half mile times 2.22.This for some people is proberly easy but for me it represents a big breakthrough and cant wait for a spell of road races ive got lined up starting tonight at Newburn(6.7 mile).

Since my last post ive really developed my crap climbing skills through hill reps and the long cycles.Ive done 2 races since as well with 2 riggs fell race in Keswick which was a very runnable but i felt crap on my race.Then on 31st may i made my lakeland classic debut in the 1st of 6 Classics of 2008 the Duddon Valley Fell Race and i really exceeded what id hoped for finishing 10 minutes inside my 3hr 30 target in 21st position.