Oi Hazel

[Hazel at the Hill]

Thanks, Nicos.

speedwork classes- never heard of them before- what sort of thing do you do there ( apart from running )

The drills vary each week, but a typical session would be a 'pyramid' session where you run 300m, 600m, 800m, 1000m, 800m, 600m, 300m with a 90sec recovery between each.

Or 3 x 600m (90secs recovery between each); 3 x 400m (90secs recovery between each); 3 x 600m (90secs recovery between each).

Or 'tag 200m' where you belt half way round the track, tag your partner who is waiting on the other side, who then sprints round the rest of the lap whilst you waste no time in cutting across the middle to be waiting at the other side ready to be tagged back. At which point, you belt half way around the track and tag your partner who has crossed the middle ready to be tagged back and repeat for ever and ever and ever. Sorry - just feels like it.

The whole idea is consistency, so you pace yourself and don't go mad at the start and have nothing left later. Apparently, these fast repetitions teach you body that it's normal to go that bit faster, and it remembers that for when you are racing.

Certainly my lap times are improving, and this 5k time was good - the real test will be a fastest 1km attempt on the track next week, and then see what I can do with my 10k on the next race in March.

[Greenleaves]

I am out of breath just reading that!

But well done Hazel, from my limited knowledge of athletic pursuits, a second is a significant reduction

[bearded bloke]

The drills vary each week, but a typical session would be a 'pyramid' session where you run 300m, 600m, 800m, 1000m, 800m, 600m, 300m with a 90sec recovery between each.

Or 3 x 600m (90secs recovery between each); 3 x 400m (90secs recovery between each); 3 x 600m (90secs recovery between each).

Or 'tag 200m' where you belt half way round the track, tag your partner who is waiting on the other side, who then sprints round the rest of the lap whilst you waste no time in cutting across the middle to be waiting at the other side ready to be tagged back. At which point, you belt half way around the track and tag your partner who has crossed the middle ready to be tagged back and repeat for ever and ever and ever. Sorry - just feels like it.

The whole idea is consistency, so you pace yourself and don't go mad at the start and have nothing left later. Apparently, these fast repetitions teach you body that it's normal to go that bit faster, and it remembers that for when you are racing.

Certainly my lap times are improving, and this 5k time was good - the real test will be a fastest 1km attempt on the track next week, and then see what I can do with my 10k on the next race in March.

You've got too much energy gal, I need to rehydrate just from reading that

[Hazel at the Hill]

But well done Hazel, from my limited knowledge of athletic pursuits, a second is a significant reduction

Thank you GL - in some ways this was the perfect run. Because I only broke my time by 1 sec today, I can claim a new PB, but because it was so small, I'm set up to break it again as I improve even slightly. Ha!

You've got too much energy gal, I need to rehydrate just from reading that

Can I offer you a glass of parsnip wine?

[jackarmy]

Sadly what started off as a really pleasurable jog , in which I was getting faster every week, has now been cut short as I've been told I need a knee replacement! No more running I've been told. Apparently running is great for the cardio vascular system on a big fella, but destroys the leg joints
I'm gutted, as it was really enjoyable and I'm not into cycling or swimming!

Glad to see you're still enjoying your running Hazel and sorry to be tangential!

Snadge try cycling, my backs in a heck of a mess but its suprising how little cycling hurts ( unless of course you overdo it )