12 mile tempo run - in good company

Today's running companions (only the front two!)

14M - medium long run including 12M at 5.35min/M

The second day of the Brighton Marathon training camp. A group 12 mile tempo run. There were 20 athletes and we were invited to assign ourselves to one of four pace groups with the aim of running together at a set pace and then speeding up a little in the second half to get a negative split.

The groups were 3.30min/K (5.36min/M), 3.45min/K (6.00min/M), 4.00min/K and 4.15min/K. I signed myself up for the fast group last night, but was a bit anxious I would be out of my depth given that there were only 5 of us in the group. And two of the others were Dan Robinson and Ben Moreau. But Dan in particular was encouraging, and I figured it's not often you get to do a proper session in such company.

It was a good call. I achieved the planned aim: I ran a bit faster than the target pace and got a (marginal) negative split despite quite fancying a toilet stop for the last half. Dan, Ben and one other guy unsurprisingly put in a more impressive speed up than me at 7K and I 'let them go', sticking with one other guy. But the pace was right for me and I felt pretty good and finished 4th fastest (not that it was a race).

Quite a day. And a fantastic weekend training camp. Great for motivation. And it was also great to get a feel for how the top guys are training.

A good loosening walk in the country in the afternoon. And some light running tomorrow before getting some speed in on Tuesday.