Running Log: Monday, February 1 2010

Kelvinside Gardens -> Queen Margaret -> Great Western -> Crow Rd -> Clarence Dr -> Highburgh -> Byres Rd -> Queen Margaret

5 miles in 29:00, average pace 5:48/mile
Splits: 5.50, 5.50, 5.41, 5.54, 5.44
+ 3 pick-ups of 350 meters, average pace of 4:40/mile
+ 0.75 mile cool-down

Notes: drizzly evening run, 4 degrees (39 F); felt good out there, lots of pop in the legs; switching to minimalist low-mileage training, as well as to minimalist trainers, has definitely helped cultivate a high-cadence, mid-foot striking gait (all the rage these days in the popular press!); I think I will incorporate the short "pick-ups" more at the end of runs as a "sharpener," perhaps even making an entire workout out of them to alternate with the hill circuit sessions; Lydiard, after all, recommends such a strategy, i.e. alternating days of hill circuits with days of pick-ups along a gradual down-hill grade (which I confess, my 350 meter reps are along such a grade); one must be reminded that Lydiard is unequivocally of a high-mileage training philosophy - something that I am falling well short of this year; last year's January total was 269 miles; this year's only 95; oh the joys and responsibilities of fatherhood!