Still running... not blogging much though...

Yes, I am still running, although I don't appear to get the time to update my blog these days.

My fitness did suffer somewhat following a four-week virus and it took me weeks to get back to a respectable fitness level once again!

However, because I've been pushing myself that little bit more in an attempt to regain that fitness level, having looked at my historic stats, I've noticed that I have not been recording better times against individual circuits for almost two years. I can say that I'm definitely enjoying running once again.

For instance, I have recently recorded a 4.45km Park Loop of 19:26 and then another of 19:25, my best times since 17th June 2006.

I also recorded a referees' 12 minute Coopers fitness test, completing a distance of 2,980 metres, in that time - again my best time since 2 years ago, when I only ran an extra 20 metres.

Today, I ran the 11.58km Dingle Loop at a deliberate steady pace (not once entering the high workrate band throughout the run) and completed it in 55:43. This course is very hilly, involves going through six kissing gates, over two stiles, and through two other gates. It includes some quality paths, narrow farm tracks, and a very uneven woodland trail track for about 1.5kms.

I have only run this circuit twice before back in September 2007 and my times then were 56:33 and 59:16. Additionally, my HRavg and HRmax for these individual runs would suggest that I found the going much tougher than today.


Spilts

Start run time: 1:29pm

01.00km - 04:20
02.00km - 09:03
05.00Km - 23:03
07:00km - 32:34
10:00km - 48:12 (This is through the slower woodland trail)
11:58km - 55:43

Average pace: 4:49 per km or 7:45 per mile
Average speed: 12.47km/h or 7.75 mph.

HRmax 160, HRavg 153, 774kcals.

Exercise Light: 02:26, Moderate: 53:06, Hard: 00:00.