I started this week feeling really excited and looking forward to being able to ramp up the distance due to my research paper now being completed and all submitted for review. I tell you, this has been a massive burden off my shoulders and I am feeling so good about that point!
Monday started with a really good 12km run, the run felt good and I was making really good time – I knew it was going to be a PB time. With 3km to go I had a feeling it would be possible to come close to breaking the 1 hour mark for 12km. This is something that I have wanted to do, but thought it would be a while before I’d get there. I tried to keep the pace up, but fell short by 24 seconds of achieving the goal. To say that I was extremely disappointed is an understatement, to come so close but then not achieve it is always hard. I reviewing my splits, it seems that the first three km is where I need to give attention to improve my overall time.
I didn’t think it was possible, but Tuesday’s run proved to be fruitful straight away. The run felt good from the first km and I found myself in another strong position. By the 6km mark I realised that again I could potentially in a position to break the 1 hour mark and tried to maintain my pace to keep on track. By 10km I managed to set a new PB for that distance, coming in at just over 49 minutes. Keeping the pace I managed to achieve the goal coming in at just over 59 minutes for the 12km distance.
The rest of the week proved frustrating though. As a result of the first two days I have managed to cause a strain in my abdominal muscles, when a move faster than walk or rotate slightly I am experiencing discomfort in my right side just above my hip. It has meant that for the first time in the 90 day challenge I haven’t been able to run every week day (missing running on Wednesday – Friday). Frustratingly, it also puts on hold my aim at incorporating at least one 19km run a week.
The weekend has seen me feel a lot better, meaning I am hoping to be able to get back on in the running at the beginning of next week. I think that I will reduce the distance and intensity for the next week and, if it all goes to plan, gradually increase the distance again to get back up to my 12km distances.
