I ache all over...

Well, after writing that I need to work on my speed I went to the running club last night and found out we had a track session.

I think the last time I was on any sort of running track I was ten years old for sports day. Not being the sporty type I was told what events I would be entering..... As a ten year old I was out for revenge, how dare they "force" me to take part in events that I KNEW would end in the public humiliation of coming last no matter how much effort I put in to it ! So, with my best friend we hatched a cunning plan..... we wouldn't refuse to take part.... but we walked every single race and chatted to each other all the way round.

This had the desired effect of driving our sports teacher nuts and I don't remember ever having to take part in a sports day ever again....

The result is that last night was the first time I have been anywhere near a running track in well over thirty years...

We were told we would start off my doing 4 x 100m sprints followed by 2 x 200m, 1 x 400m, 1 x 800m, 1 x 400m, 1 x 200m and then a final 2 x 100m.

I had to ask how we knew where the 100, 200, 400 & 800m marks were..... Luckily this wasn't treated as a totally stupid question and I now know that each straight is 100m and each curve is 100m (measured on the inside). I must admit it looked an awfully long way round and knowing that 800m was two laps did seem a bit daunting....

To be honest after the 800m I did contemplate giving up.... but I kept at it and completed the session.... on the last 2 x 100m I even overtook a few people ! At my fastest I was running just under 5 min/mile, at this point in time I couldn't keep that up for a mile but chatting to our coach he said that will come with time.... and that building speed needs to be done by starting with the shorter distances and then building on it....

I now have even more respect for the elite marathon runners, they run faster than this for a whole 26 miles....

Anyway, after an evening sprinting I ache all over today. I have been relaxing by watching the Royal Wedding on tv and I'm off out to a BBQ later.

Happy Days :)