In Which I DNS Due To Looking After Santa And His Reindeer (True Story!)
After I became a multiple marathon finisher (never getting tired of saying THAT!) I gave myself some time off from running to fully recover.
The first few days, I was a bit stiff (stop giggling at the back) but before a week had passed, my legs were feeling fine. I was cycling to work and back to keep a bit of fitness and then on the 28th, just over a week after York, I decided to try run the 3.5 mile home, most of which is uphill.
I kept a steady pace and was surprised to get home in just over 35mins. My left knee felt a bit sore from slipping in the marathon, but felt quite fit.
Fit enough to try the same route again a few days later and to push myself a bit more. Same route, but did it in 32mins. Still a bit knee-sore afterwards but not as much.
Confidence boosted, I decided to run a 5k at speed on my next day off. (6th November.) I set a route down to the park and then ran laps until I’d run 3.1miles. The lap around the park was a steady uphill that turned into a steep uphill, then a bit flat, followed by a steady downhill and longer flat at the bottom. I ran seven laps in total, with a shout out halfway round of ‘ GET YOUR KNEES UP!’ (Haven’t heard that in WEEKS!)
One year ago I ran a 5k in York in 33mins. This 5k was smashed in a time of 24:19!
With all this happening, I was looking forward to the Leeds Abbey Dash 10k yesterday, November 17th. Unfortunately it was on the same day as the Bradford Reindeer Parade, and as I work in security in the kirkgate centre in Bradford, they required all guards to work, to assist with the parade (and reindeers!) Sarah had to work too, so she was gutted not to come see the reindeers and Santa. (It was the real one.)
Me (to work): I need 17th off, doing a run in Leeds.
Work: Its the reindeer parade that day, but I suppose we’ll manage.
Me (to Sarah): Work said I don’t have to work the reindeer parade, so I can Abbey Dash!
Sarah: Oh, I wanted to see the reindeer…
Me: (to work): I’ll work the 17th.
Me (to Sarah): I’m working the 17th.
Sarah (to me): I now have to work the 17th! You may as well go run.
Me (to work): Can I still have the 17th off?
Work: Suppose so. It’s the reindeer parade though.
Sarah (to me): I’m on stand by on the 17th now, so I can see the reindeer!
Me (to work): I’ll work the 17th.
Me (to Sarah): Right, working 17th.
Sarah: Ah… I’ve been changed again…
Me (to the situation) ***SIGH!***
That’s me in the beard. Oh wait, I mean that’s me on the far right in a Hi-Viz
My number didn’t go to waste though, as a friend on Twitter snapped it up and ran a very good 53mins.
Abbey Dash 2012 is the first time I got a sub hour run with 59:58 so decided to go run a 10k today to compare. With it being Autumn there were lots of slippy leaves on the floor, and then the canal route was very muddy so took it carefully.
Got my first ever sub 55mins with a time of 54:54!
On’t Canal
I think if the ground had been more runner friendly, I could’ve gone a minute or so quicker, so getting quietly confident for a sub 50 at Mad Dog 10k in April.
So there you have it, if you want to improve your times, run a marathon.
Also, I’m now using Nike+ to track my running. Feel free to search and add me ‘Marc Hemingway’
Marc Hemingway 