Half Marathon then an Eleven Mile Run :oD

Okay peeps - just a quick one as I couldn't get on blogger at home and all the Garmin data is there; I'll update this tonight!

Spent the morning cheering on Mava and co at the Ranelagh Half marathon in the morning - I half wished I'd entered and could then have had a nice training run on a very pleasant route in good company, possibly pushing myself to a better time. In the end I watched, cheered, took piccies (going to RichK as soon as I can upload them - small problem there) and ate a hearty lunch.

Went to Womble's for a bit of a natter over coffee while the food went down, and then off home to prepare for a run. I'd originally thought of an eight miler, but then decided on ten, and set out without a definite route in mind. I did the first three through Nonsuch Park as per my last few runs, and was chuffed when my HR stayed down pretty well.

I then had a decision to make - I took the route down towards Stonleigh, and then along Ruxley Lane (turning right at the roundabout) and then back into Ewell. I tried to avoid the climb over the railway bridge at Ewell West, but in the process got lost, although it was a really pleasant little run through some parkland - I may well see a bit more of what the route is about on Google Earth, and make it a deliberate run one of these days. I eventually found my way back through Ewell, up by the scooter shop, and then did the return route through Nonsuch Park. I hit the ten mile point at 1:28 - which was pretty pleasaing all things considered. I eventually did just over 11.3 miles in 1:40. By my reckoning that would make a half mara in something around 1:55 - and with company possibly better. Not fantastic, but I'm doing under nine minute miles pretty well now.

Slightly worrying was the tiredness in the soles of my feet over the last few miles, and the way that the average heart rate climbed. I think I'm going to have to do some cardiac drift training a la winsurfin' Susie, although I do find that slow running stuff deadly tedious.

Wish I'd had my kit with me over at Womble's - she went out running a similar distance with GymFreak, and some company would have been good. We compared notes as we both got back at around the same time, and were running at damn near identical pace!

I was a bit worried after yesterday's lunch that I might put on weoight, but I've dropped another pound - so that's nine in just over two weeks. The full stone by the social looks distinctly possible :oD