17th September 2006

6 Mile Run = Home – Bell Lane – Ozbourne’s – Colliers - Home


Date: 17th September 2006

Conditions: Warm, Sunny

Notes: My first long run since starting my training and it was a good one. I was a little sore from a hard week and especially the circuit training on Thursday. Due to this I decided to really take my time for the first two miles. As I turned onto Bell lane I felt good so I kept at the pace I was going. With Smalley being on a hill it seems no matter where you go for your run, that you will hit at least one incline and one decline. For this run the decline came first. I decided to keep at a very steady pace as the surface was loose gravel and cracked road at best. I did not want to risk injury or burn out as the sun was out in full force.
As I reached mile three at Ozbourne’s pond my legs did feel a little tired but I still felt good. My first incline hill came at the halfway point of mile three and it was a long steady climb up towards Lockton Avenue playing fields. This was the hardest part of my run. The heat was the biggest challenge at this point, but I made it up the hill and once at the top concentrated on form and forgot all about my mile split time.
Once I reached the mile four marker I also began my penultimate hill climb, however this was a short climb up towards the Colliers. The heat again played a big factor but I reached the top in good spirit. The descent down towards Heanor Gate School was the high point of my run. I felt amazing and knew that I was closing in on the final mile. The sun was out, I had plenty of energy left and I had not suffered once with that chronic pain just below my diaphragm that had nearly caused me to stop on my last few runs. I was not going to risk my energy levels at this point so I again took it really steady up Derby Road hill and once I reached the top I felt fantastic.
At the mile five marker I knew that I was not going to have that awful and painful finish and I was actually enjoying the final mile. As I came to the last corner on Heanor road I completed the run with my fastest finish. It was almost a sprint and I crossed the line thinking “I could do that again”. Of course I did not; I simply walked home and did a rigorous warm down.

Positive: I had more to give and never suffered with the pain below my diaphragm.
Negative: I got my first taste of running in the heat.


Fast Mile: 7.43

Slow Mile: 9.46

Run time: 0h51m38s



"Success is never final, failure never fatal. It's courage that counts."