Sunday, April 04, 2010

10KM TIME TRIAL TAKE TWO

Friday's disastrous attempt at a 10km time trial had me spitting the dummy in fits of "woe is me, I'm a crap runner". It was a bad day. However once I pulled myself together I was determined to prove to myself that I had it in me to make the 10kms in coach's  time goal of sub 65. I had the 10km route measured out around my local streets and was going to use today's training session to see how I went.

I began the run falling quite easily and comfortably into my "run pace". This is faster than my jog but still not a fast pace by any stretch of a runner's imagination. Its a pace I like as it is a little challenging but I can maintain it for a reasonable distance. Fairly soon into my run I hit a long slightly uphill stretch but this didnt tax me as its still relatively flat (by Friday's standards). I felt good and was happy with my pace.

At the 5km mark I checked my time at 33:45. Hmmm not bad and I knew the sub 65 was highly possible. I pressed on knowing that at about 6 or 6.5kms I'd hit C Road and it would be downhill for a decent stretch (in fact almost all the way home). As I hit C Road I picked up my pace a little and started to feel REALLY GOOD. The endorphins kicked in and I could feel tears of joy wanting to form in my eyes. "This is what I love about running" I thought to myself. My stars and planets had aligned.

I maintained a strong pace the rest of the way. Coming close to home I hit a stretch of cafes and people meandering along. I ducked onto the road so as not to be slowed down. A considerate couple quickly got out of my way. They must have seen that I was serious about my pace and I wouldnt appreciate dancing around idlers on the footpath LOL.

At the 10km mark (close to home but not quite that far) I checked my time at 64:32. I had done it. I had run the 10kms in under 65 as my coach had wanted. I am not a crap runner. I walked home with a smile from ear to ear and gushed my result to Peter like a kid having scored the best ever Christmas present.

I'm not sure what the Greenbelt Half will bring. It may be undulating. It may well be a lot tougher than today's run. But I now know that I have a decent pace within me and if I find it on the day then I'll be ok. I have my confidence and positive attitude back and thats really the most important thing.

:-) Magda

5 comments:

Kerry W said...

Nice one Magda. :)

SeLiNa said...

Congrats!!!!! Now keep that positive attitude girl!

Magda said...

Thanks guys :-)

M

Pip said...

Great work Magda!!!

Firstly you went out doing a run on GOOD FRIDAY, - only what fit people would think of :-) Then cause you are dedicated and didn't feel it was a good run you re-attempted it soon after!

Sure signs of a runner me thinks :-) Well done on achieving target!

Magda said...

Thanks Pip. You'd be surprised how many runners showed up for the Good Friday run. There are lots of crazy people in this world LOL!! Yep I had to prove to myself that I could do it and do it well. The Half may still be a shit run for me but by golly I ran the 10 well yesterday :-)

Magda