11th December 2006

3 Mile Run = Home - Woodhouse - Smalley Cross

Date: 11th December 2006

Conditions: Cold, Dry

Notes: Having not run over two miles since the Heanor 10k and my subsequent injury I had my reservations as the whether running three or four miles would be a good idea. I decided after a long warm up that I would wait until I reach the mile marker and then asses how both my fitness and hamstring felt.
I set out at a really slow pace and as I reached the mile marker I felt fantastic so I decided to make the run the four mile course I have ran so many times previously. I looked at my watch and to my amazement I ran a sub eight minute mile when I was aiming for a eight to nine minute mile.
As I ran down Dobholes Lane at mile two I remembered how I had struggled so many times with the approaching hill, and having not run through injury I was really worried that the hill will take it out of me, to the point that the rest of my run suffers. Again to my amazement I made it up the hill with ease and the following descend down towards mile three was one of the most enjoyable parts of any run to date. Reason being is every time I have been at this part of the run I have been suffering and wanted to pull out of the run. This time I was running down the hill with a huge smile on my face and I even spread my arms out as to mimic flying, because that’s how I felt!
As reached the mile two marker I still felt fantastic and the next mile which was undulating normally takes everything out of me. Not this time. I felt amazing and the Rocky tunes in my ears gave me that extra burst of energy ready for the long climb up towards Smalley at the mile three marker.
As I approached the hill my hamstring started to tighten up which worried me. Without even trying I was on for a personal best for the course but I did not care. As soon as I passed the mile three marker I stopped and stretched, deciding that I would finish timing my run here. I set a personal best for three miles in a training run without even trying. I was actually trying to do the opposite.
In closing I felt and feel good, my fitness levels are almost back to when I was peaking and I’m running faster in training than ever before. I will rest my hamstring tomorrow before returning to the streets on Wednesday for what will hopefully be another enjoyable run.



Positive: My fitness levels were far higher than I thought they would be.
Negative: I felt a slight pull in my hamstring at mile three.

Fast Mile: 7.55

Slow Mile: 8.16

Run Time: 0h23m08s



"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved."