PB on 4km AV xc run; slowish Thursday 6km run

Today was the second AV winter series run, 4 km for women and 8 km for men at Balnarring (near Hastings).  As is often the case it was warm and sunny at Willung South but cold and grey elsewhere, but we didn't actually get rained on while running (at 2 pm).

Basically the 4 km loop was a lap of the Balnarring racecourse with an interesting added crossing of the middle with 4 of the low horse trial jumps to be hurdled or climbed or vaulted.  I liked the jumps, hurdled 1 and sort of vaulted the other 3 bigger ones.  The going was wet but not too deep and even the muddy bits were solid underneath.  I felt better on the grass than at Jells Park and that probably means my form was better.  I tried to concentrate on knees moving up and forward, midfoot landing and keeping a good cadence.  Ran 21 mins 33 secs; about 2 and a half minutes better than the 4km Springwood Park run a week ago.  Not enough female club members to make up a full team (very low turnout for a variety of reasons) so will just get recorded as individual results.  Plenty of men, so was not needed as an honorary bloke this week.  Many years ago I rode my horse at a horse trial here.

On Thursday the Harriers run was 6km Liddiard Rd course and I ran 34 mins 42 secs, about 90 secs slower than at 6km Flinders School 2 weeks ago, a bit disappointing as similar hill and should have been 1 or 2 minutes quicker.  This was borne out by being beaten by people I can expect to come home in front of.  Maybe the 18 km 2 days earlier left the legs a bit tired, or just an off run.

Tomorrow I have a 70 km bike ride with the extremely fit 70 and 80 year olds in the local cycling club and can expect to struggle to keep up with them and the other friendly TRAMPs members, but lunch will be at the Rosedale Bakery so there is incentive to treddle along for a good coffee.  Trevor not doing either of this weekends outings.

So can do the weekly running total now; 38.96 km; YTD = 495.19 km.