Darlington HM

Again apologies for my blogging laziness.
Training since last post has been average 100km per week. Have got in a few 30k plus long runs including 36k last week at 4:25s with Clown. Monaghetti camp was a bit of a bust after I sprained my ankle on the Saturday morning. It didn't stop me running, although it's still a bit swollen and sore if I turn sharp corners.

Darlington HM yesterday was a key run for me, my only race in the 4 month leadup to Boston. I came in with 70k Mon-Sat and my first day off in over a month on Thursday when I felt a bit off colour. So I was pretty fresh. I PB'd in 1:22:03

Here's my strands entry:

Pleased with this result. I'd set a goal for 1:22:30 - to be 3 and a half minutes/10sec per km faster than last year on this course, and meeting my 2:54 aim for Boston (HMx2 plus 9minutes for this one as it's a hard course)Wanted to run by feel, not pace. Set out fast enough to clear the crowds onto the kitty litter track for the first 3k. Then turned to the steep down and up loop that B'Man loves so much - at this point my shins were screaming and I was glad Clown didn't run. Next section was the 5-11k steady uphill. Sat in a pack with BigKev and B'Man (although I didnt realise he was there!) I ran at the front of the pack, perhaps stupidly taking the brunt of the wind, but I dont think it mattered much. Around the turnaround the pack broke up, and it was a matter of concentrating on maintaining pace. Big Kev flew off int the distance, and I knew Simon was just on my tail. I still felt steady and strong until abut 17k when I started to struggle, although I wasn't passed. I passed one guy at about 18k, then went onto the trail again. I really concentrated on my footing after the recent ankle sprain, and waited for Simon to catch me, thinking I had nothing left in the tank to go with him.I found out afterwards that he was feeling just as bad at this point. I turned to the finish with the clock at 1:21:55, and didn't quite manage to go under 1:22. This was an all out effort really, didn't have much more to give . Last 10k in 37:25 - faster than my 10k PB!5k splits (2010 in brackets)
19:55 (20:38)
20:17 (21:05)
19:02 (19:58)
18:34 (19:38)
4:10 (4:30)

I see this as consistent with a 2:53 target for Boston. It also makes me wonder what I could run a flat/ all road HM in currently, although I've always set PBs on hilly courses so it might not be much faster.

5 weeks to Boston and things look good. Mona told me to respect the HM effort and take things easy this week. He also suggested the last really long run should be 6 weeks out, so I'll do 32 max this sunday, 28-30 the next and then taper from there,