Since running the GUCR (see previous blog) I had a week off running and since then I have taken it easy for a few weeks with only 25030 miles a week running with no really hard runs or long runs apart from pacing my Missus Sue to a 49:33 10k at a local league race.
Today my running club held their annual 10 mile trail race which is very hilly and mostly off road with a few road sections. I decided I would give it a good fast effort to see how my legs were recovering and how my knee would hold up to a hard effort on an off road route..
It was to be a very hot one as we (me Sue and my daughter Laura) headed to the race start and got ready for the race. Sue was to be marshalling at the 9mile point at a turn with Laura helping out and handing out sweeties to anyone who wanted.
We chatted and met a few people and got ready for the start, I got ready at the back and listened to the usual announcements and then I was off and Sue and Laura went off to their marshalling point.
I ran the first few miles with Steve from the running club who was also aiming for a sub 1:30 on a very tough course and I kept up a good pace over the hilly course averaging about 8min miling and dropped steve at about four miles and trotted off on my own trying to maintain a good hard effort. The heat really took its toll as we ran round with the temp somewhere around 34 degrees and very very sunny, I could feel the sun burning me and was glad that I had applied some sunscreen beforehand.
I pushed hard all the way round and worked hard to run all the steep hills that a lot were walking but I did walk the most severe hill in the woods that it was not really any speed advantage to run.
It was nice to get great support from good marshals and see my missus and Laura not long before the end, I maintained a good effort all the way to finish in 1:24:33 (unnoficial)
Once I finished I drunk some water and bought some tinned drinks and headed out on my MTB which I had brough on the car and went and helped Sue and Laura finish marshalling.
I am happy how my recovery has gone and how my legs are becoming stronger as time goes on and the fact that my knee is clearly not an issue and healing nicely.
This is good news with UTLD (Lakeland100) looming only 5-6 weeks away and likely to be tougher than GUCR in some ways, especially with the weather and terrain being so difficult.
Back to some decent mileage from this week till 2 weeks from UTLD.