12th October 2006

Heanor Running Club

4 Mile Training Run

Date: 12th October 2006

Conditions: Mild, Dry

I decided that if I am going to take my running serious that it would make sense to join a running club. Being born and raised in Heanor made it an easy decision to join Heanor Running Club. They also have a very successful team who win many of the events they enter.
We met at Heanor Leisure Centre at 7pm but were informed that they were running up towards Smalley. Sods law that I come down Heanor to run a different route and the team is running up to where I live. To stop me being stuck up Smalley with my car in Heanor I decided to join the team at the top of my road and finish the run into Horsley Woodhouse.
Whilst waiting I did a vigorous warm up and once the team arrived in Smalley I joined them, at a pace which I was more than happy with. I run a little quicker on my own but it was a comfortable pace. From my house we ran the route I have done so many times (Home - Woodhouse - Smalley Cross – Home). However for the first time since my running began I did the route in reverse and maybe it was the team that helped me on but I found this run far easier than any before.
For the first mile through Smalley and down towards Smalley Cross I was talking to a guy the whole way and never tired. I was running at what they call conversational pace. I could not run at any pace whilst talking a month ago which shows how far I have come.
As the path narrowed just into the second mile we started running in single file and still I felt amazing. I was having fun with this run and the whole team feel to it made the experience even more enjoyable. It was at this point that I realized that I had made it through the hard part of my training. Those first few runs are so hard. You get aches and pains and lose you breath at every hill. I was now running with ease but did not let this cloud the fact that I had a long way to go to reach my goal.
At the sharp bend just into mile three and the approach to the steep climb up Wood Lane there were no street lights and this was amusing to say the least. Nobody could really see where they were going but we made it through it and the hill was upon us. I kept at the pace I was happy with but it felt like I was running faster as the people in front of me slowed off. Now I was not going for any “look at me” first time heroics but I also refused to slow off from a pace I was happy with. As we climbed the hill I got talking to another really nice guy who was asking about my past and giving me some good advice on running and cross training. Now I made it to the top of Wood Lane without stopping or slowing and more importantly I was in conversation the whole time and to my amazement when we reached the summit I was not even out of breath. I simply carried on running at a fast pace the short distance to the pub where everyone was going for a post run drink.
I never intended to stay for a drink but I hung around a while and got talking to another guy who really welcomed me and it was then I realized that this was my new team. I had given up the Football team to pursue bigger goals. It was the best decision I had ever made.
I said goodbye to the guys I had met and started the one and a half mile run home. Just before the half mile marker I decided to attempt to break my PR for a mile and hopefully run a sub seven minute. I set my watch and was off. I was running at a pace which I was sure would get me that time. At around the half way point I eased off as I was well ahead of my target time. This was a fatal error as I crossed the finish line in seven minutes and six seconds. I set a new PB but due to lack of conviction and a little complacency I missed out on my sub seven minute mile.
In closing I made a decision to start running and run the New York marathon. I now have that fitness base so I actually now enjoy my runs and I also have team mates to help me through the more difficult times ahead.


Positive: Running with a team made things so much more enjoyable (and easier!!).
Negative: I didn’t get to time the run as I set out purely to get a feel for running in a team.


Fast Mile: 7.06 (PB)

Slow Mile: N/A



"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”