4.5 miles this morning at a touch under 8 min/mile. Happy with that as it was my first run since Sunday when I ran 15 miles - my longest ever and my 4th half-marathon (or longer) run of the year. Should total nearly 90 miles for October. In spite of niggles and set-backs along the way I'm really happy with how this year has gone. Several factors that have made it easier:
* running regularly, and lots of "easy" miles, rather than pushing pace or distance too hard. It's helped me minimise injury down-time and the long sessions have helped me get a feeding strategy in place and understand my body better.
* getting the OS maps app and using lockdown to explore more local trails. Indeed, trails account for 50%+ of my mileage which keeps it way more interesting than pounding the roads.
* refusing the drive anywhere more interesting to go for a run on environmental grounds has forced me to run longer from home.
* getting a Garmin watch has allowed me to monitor longer runs without my phone battery dying and the geek in me has found the available data a brilliant motivator to go out and learn a bit more about the science behind fitness and performance.
* engaging with a friendly running community on Twitter keeps me motivated
Targets for the year slowly getting ticked off, and some might roll into 2021, but I've so far hit:
* sub 24 min 5k (23:39 PB)
* sub 2 hour half m (around 1:58 PB)
Still working on:
* sub 49 min 10k (PB is currently 49:59)
* completing a marathon (as a single run)
Happy running and cycling everyone