7 Days to 10K

Here we are with Part 5 – the final part – of 7 days to 10K. A hastily drawn up plan for successfully completing the local 10K race, my first. Not, as one of the people that reads my blog mistakenly thought, a 7-day plan to 10-grand. Sorry. That would be great though, wouldn’t it?

The weather was glorious, sunny and 7 degrees, that’s the mid-40’s for you Fahrenheit folk. The high winds of the previous day had blown themselves out, to leave a gentle breeze. At the start I found myself with a couple of neighbours who were hoping to dip under the hour-mark. We positioned ourselves in front of the 60 minute pacer, and within sight of the 55-minute pacer.

Within the first kilometre or 2, it was clear to me that I was running noticeably faster than I had 2 days previously. I was relatively comfortable, but it was also clear to me that the 55-minute pacer was a bridge – or runner – too far. We were all very boxed in for the first few k’s too, since there were a lot of people in the race and the roads were country roads.

As we turned at about 4 K we went onto a real country track for 2K, before the turn back into town at 6K. It was a gradual incline, and I prefer to take those a bit quicker to get them over with, if I have sufficient gas in the tank. I felt good, and conscious too that I was pushing myself quite hard. I stuck in there, up through another gradual incline from 7 to 8K, until we passed the local soccer club and then I knew I was going to make it, since I’ve jogged back from there many times.

The 9K mark passed the estate where we live, and with the kids to give me a yell of support it was downhill for the last K, a very welcome run home. 50 metres from the end Her Ladyship, who had finished a good way ahead of me, was there to yell to me to sprint for the finish. The legs felt great, the best they’ve felt in years, and I passed over the finish line, at speed, in a time of 57:09.

We then headed up to the hall for teas and buns, to join the huge throng of post-race euphoria. Job done.

As I was enjoying my first beer of the evening with friends, I had an automated text from the race organisers to say that my actual time, since I passed the start mark a little while after the starting gun as the crowds passed through, was 56:17.

The event was superbly organised, as it always is for this event which draws in runners from all over, and very social afterwards. It made the food and drink consumed in celebration that evening all the sweeter. It was also interesting to be a participant rather than a vocal supporter for the last 9 years. I’m sure I cheered louder last year than anyone did for me this year…

2 parting thoughts: first, a little planning gets you a long way towards successfully executing your goals. Second, I may be a better supporter than a runner, though I might also have taken the first few thousands paces towards an annual tradition…

In Part 3 of 7 days to 10K, I outlined my plan to run a practise 10K on the roads and take 2 full days off before the big day, day 7. So you’re probably wondering how I got on? Whether things went according to my somewhat flimsy plan? Did I do the run? Did I finish it? Did the legs give way?

Well, yes and no, as is always the way with planning.

I didn’t run the 10K on day 4, for 2 reasons. Firstly, the weather was utterly foul. Cold, wet and hellishly windy. Storm-force windy. Second, my daughter got sick for a few hours, and I didn’t want to leave her. By the time she was better, it was dark, I’d lost my mojo and the storm hadn’t abated.

I did have a plan B though. My plan B was simply to run on day 5 and suffer 1 less day of recovery. So that’s what I did. My good lady helped me design a route that was never too far from the house that if I pulled up I couldn’t walk home in a reasonable time.

I set off slowly, in milder weather, and felt great for the first 15 minutes, and 25 minutes, and 35 minutes. The only arduous part was about the 35 – 50 minute mark, a long uphill stretch of 1.5K into a strong wind. I tend to run faster uphill, to get the pain over with, and catch my breath on the down phase, so it was hard – but manageable – work.

I made it! The calves were fine, they held up great, and I never doubted the fitness. I completed the 10K in a leisurely 65 minutes, with no after effects. And felt great afterwards. Plenty left in the tank, it was always a question of avoiding injury rather than running out of puff, literally. I stretched, iced and spent the rest of the day eating, drinking and making merry.

Yesterday, I did some final stretches for the legs and back, which was a little tight after such a long time on the move.

So, today’s the day. It’s race day, day 7. The race is around some of the roads I have only just run on. I’m hoping to duck in under the hour mark. I’ve done the prep. I’m cautiously optimistic. Plan for the worst, hope for the best. I’ll let you know how I get on in the final part, part 5 of 7 days to 10K.