10th April 2007

Heanor Running Club

6 Mile Training Run


Date: 10th April 2007

Conditions: Mild, Dry

Notes: Having been back from Cancun for over three weeks and well on the way to regaining my fitness I decided it was time to re-joining my fellow runners at the Running Club. With the light nights now upon us we have switched the meet to Shipley Park.
This was going to be my first intense training session since back in full training so I was very apprehensive as to how much or little I would be able to do. On arrival Rob informed me that we would be doing an hour of constant running with seven, seventy second ‘effort’ runs.
We headed towards the Cricket club for our warm up and once nearly there Rob instructed me that it was time for the first effort run. I put the effort and probably too much too son as when I looked ahead I saw that after this first ‘effort’ there was a huge hill ahead of me. I used the hill as a recovery run but I never really recovered at all. Once at the top of the hill I saw the elite runners disappearing into the distance and behind me the slower runners were falling behind. This left me completely alone and unsure exactly as to where I was going.
Once over the hill the course swept down towards Ozbourne’s Pond and then a sharp turn right led us down towards the old American Adventure. By this time I was really feeling the run and doing the seventy second ‘effort’ runs was no longer the challenge. I had now stopped these and was putting all my effort into carrying on running and trying to relieve the chronic stitch that had come out of nowhere.
Once at the American Adventure I really was completely alone and I had no idea of where exactly I was supposed to be going, more just the general direction that led back to the meeting point. I followed a path round and then came to a junction in the path. One path led up a steep hill and the other swept around to the side. Surprisingly I took the hill option as it seemed a more direct route to where I was trying to get to. The hill was tough and once at the top the fatigue was really starting to kick in but I powered through and soon I was at the old ‘Nottingham Lodge’ and knew where I was again.
Once past the lodge I joined Bell Lane and was en route for the meeting point. I left Bell Lane and joined the ‘Trim Track’ for the final push and when I got back to the meeting point I was tired but glad to be back. I soon figured out that everybody had done the same as me and people started arriving back from all directions. We all had a good laugh about the route and how no two people did the same route.
In closing my first session back with the club was tough but rewarding. I know that summer training in Shipley Park will be tough but it sure beats the cold nights down the Industrial Estate.

Positive: My fitness is quickly getting back to what it was.

Negative: I got lost and ended up returning on my own, a different way.

Days to Edinburgh Marathon: 46



"Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?’”