Full club sessions resumed last night, and great to be back training in a large group.
The session was 6 x 800m reps on roads/paths, with 2mins rest.
Whilst I've been very sharp in races, i expect due to a busy schedule over xmas, it has left me feeling a little tired during training. That was evidenced tonight, as i barely got under 6:00/mile pace. Even my last rep, with a supreme effort, could only get down to 5:50 pace.
But as a club-mate said to me last night... you don't get anything for finishing ahead of someone in training...
There's another clubmate of mine who I've had three fantastic battles with in the XC races this season. In training he's ahead of me (a good 10-15secs/mile ahead of me last night). I would say he's a better 'pure' runner than me, although we have vaguely similar 5km times. But when it comes to races i seem to get the upper hand (just). Perhaps i need the competition element of racing to bring my best performance out. Every close race we've had, I've been behind but just won't let it go, and pulled it back in the 2nd half.
Looking forward to another great battle at the XC on Saturday, followed by the Trigger sunday, a tough weekend by anybody's standards.
We also have a new recruit who just happens to have represented his country at the world mountain running champs last year, an experienced mountaineer, and a very good runner on he flat as well. Looks like he's going to throw his hand in at the first English Champs race (possible top 50 i reckon, if not better), and the Long Mynd Valleys race next month.... watch out Keswick/DPFR/Borrowdale... Coventry Godiva Harriers are coming...!!