This week has been quite productive. For a start I turned out almost 70 miles and my legs don't feel battered yet which I'm assuming is a good sign. I re-introduced the strength element into my training by incorporating my core, prehab and circuit exercises after runs or in the afternoon. No weights were lifted though, just stuff I can do in my living room conveniently in front of the TV. Steve also thought it would be a good idea to do some strides on a couple of days to get the legs moving quick again and take my stride length places it hasn't been for a long time. And as the title suggests, I even put away a session which I'll come onto in a couple of paragraphs time.

I'm starting to get a little bounce in my step again. I really enjoy that feeling because it makes running so much more enjoyable. When I did the strides for the first time I was expecting it to feel awkward and fairly difficult trying to move the legs that quick and open my stride. To my surprise I seemed ok and felt like I was moving pretty well. I had that spring in my step and the turnover felt good. Nice to know I didn't rust that bad.  

Now, onto the session. It was a standard tempo session and the details can be found in the training log. I got my warm up done and like during the week I felt good doing my strides. I wasn't quite sure what to be expect though. Had it been normal circumstances I would've been fine with the session, but with this being my first session in a couple of months the circumstances weren't as normal as usual. So I got the heart rate monitor on (after blowing some dust off it) and after the warm up headed to a grass mile loop down the road from me. I cracked on with the session and the whole time I was thinking I can't believe how good I feel. It felt like a tempo should feel, fast relaxed running and I still felt light on my feet despite wearing my big mileage trainers. With it being my first bit of fast running in a while I honestly thought it would be harder than that. I did start to feel a bit tired in the last half mile of the final rep but it wasn't anything too bad. The times I was running weren't anything special but I normally struggle to run quick on that loop (I've run flat out round there before and only managed a 5:20) so to run the times I did in my mileage trainers and on grass was pleasing for me.

Can't think of much else to say to be honest. Me and Steve have spoken about races but nothing is set in stone yet. The only race I can definitely say I'm looking to do is Liverpool but that goes without saying. I've also put myself forward to Alan Mead, the Belgrave team manager, to say I'm definitely available for the National 6 Stage. Trying to make that team is no easy task though, I have to impress him and captain Wicksy to earn my place, so I better get my butt in gear.

On a side note I watched the World Cross video from Gateshead on the homepage and what a finish! Thing's looked a lot a different back then...you could actually see daylight between the runners and it was nice to see a variety of coloured vests at the front instead of the usual array of green or red, and sometimes purple, that you get these days. How things have changed...

Much love,

Goolab xxx

PS I could've mentioned another indicator of my fitness coming back was that my legs are starting to look more shredded than Schwarzenegger's biceps but I'm not a show off. I joke!! Thanks for the read.