As you will know if you read my blogs, I like to run. I completed the Fleet half marathon in March in an not-so-good time of 2 hours 31 minutes. But I did it having not run for over 10 years. For most of the rest of March, and into April, I ran but a little bit half-heartedly. Then all that changed.
Whilst reading my local neighbourhood Facebook page one Friday evening, I noticed a post from a neighbour who was looking for a running buddy. She went on to say she wished there was a running club in our area but really didn’t have the time to set one up. My partner and I thought about it for about 30 seconds and decided we would start a club. Afterall, we both run and felt we needed a new challenge … So that evening we set up a simple Facebook page. What we didn’t bank on was the high and immediate level of interest. By the Sunday evening we had 45 members and counting!
I need to point out (sadly) that this is not a picture of me! However I need something to aim for!!
Two weeks ago we had our first meeting and appointed the Committee members. We are just now about to finalise the admin for the club and our Training & Race Secretary has got us off to a fantastic start with our first offical club run last night. He’s introduced us to the world of negative splits ….. what’s that you may well ask? Until last night I’d never heard of negative splits. Having done it and since Googled it, I can now appreciate the importance of this technique. There are, according to Runner’s World huge positives to negative splits. You can read more about negative splits here, but in essence it’s about learning how to run the second half of a race faster than the first and enjoy faster times at any distance. Something I definitely need to work on given I want to improve my race time for the Basingstoke half marathon in October. I would like to shave around 20 minutes off my final race time.
So, did I manage a negative split? Yes I did. I ran each 1.09 mile lap faster than I’ve ever done before, ran three laps and managed to run the last lap faster than the first. Yipeee! I can now say I’m a negative spliter.
Next week it’s all about Fartleks. I will let you know how I get on with these and whether I can achieve the heady heights of being a Fartleker!!
Deborah
Hi - I am Deborah, and was the founding director of talkhealth My blog is generally focused around my own personal story about weight loss, running, exercise and generally trying to get and stay fit, as well as what's been in the news that's topical. Any views expressed are my own.
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When you set a goal it is all about small steps and most significantly you have to take the first step.
I remember being at school in an R.E. class and the question we had to write an answer too was “what would you do if you had 24 hours to live” I gave the usual answers like eat my favourite food and watch tv all day. The person next to me simply wrote “I would start to walk to Mecca” I said to him you’d never get there in 24 hours from Basingstoke on foot. To which e replied “but at least I know that I took the first step and that’s the hardest one.
Now don’t get me wrong I am not going all religious in my comment …..
It starts with a first step and that’s the hardest part. Setting up the club, starting with a goal… Great first steps.
I am loving the new club already and think it is going to be a real success.
on May 1, 2013 at 7:31 pm Ben EasonGood on you deb…. really good to see this…. 🙂 negative splits are tough…… a friend ran 10 miles in under an 55 minutes with a negative split…. ouch.
on May 1, 2013 at 7:34 pm Mark WestbrookThank you for your comment Ben – as my daughter just said, before I had the chance, your comment is so inspirational and a good thought to take through life. And Mark, thanks for your comment too ….. as you know I am trying!! Not sure I’ll manage 10 miles in under an hour however 🙂
on May 1, 2013 at 7:39 pm DeborahOh, forgot to say that I’m loving the club too and can’t wait for the Fartlek week!!
on May 1, 2013 at 7:40 pm Deborah