3rd is the new 8th (Hopefully)

What a week!! I love it when a plan comes together.
After saturdays recovery run I was buzzing Sunday. The sunshine certainly helped and I headed off on my longrun with Spring definitely in my step! Did a thoroughly enjoyable 90minutes and although my HR was high, felt grand. Followed this with an easyish run monday and back to the track on tuesday where I managed 12x400's in around 71-72. The last two were really tough and I can't ever remember being so shagged after the track!
Wednesday brought another easy run, as the college had organised a mile race for thursday evening. The race went ok. I went straight into second place from the start and tucked in behind the leader. We went through the 1st lap and a bit in 70seconds which was perfect. We then went through at 2.21 for the second and I was starting to suffer. At this point another lad came around me and the two of them started to get away. Didn't get my split next time around as I was too busy being in oxygen debt!! The two lads really raced the last lap so I just kept my head down and see what would happen. Crossed the line in 4.48 which is not too bad considering the session tuesday.
We headed to Lahinch on friday for a 'training' weekend with the college. As I was racing Sunday I was planning on some R+R. The weather was glorious so after an impromptu kickabout (amazingly noone got injured!) we headed to the beach for a very leisurely 5 miles, and followed this with a nice dip in the Atlantic Ocean. That night we went for one or two, but typical students ended up in a lock in at the local untill God only knows what time - not exactly ideal preparation of a 10K about 30hours later!!!
Took Saturday off understandably and was still a bit shook Sunday morning, although I did manage a good nights sleep. Felt a bit lethargic warming up but planned on going out easy so as not to die later on. My plan was to break 35minutes and hopefully then knock a minute off this on the track in two weeks time. As always as soon as the gun went the plan went out the window!! Found myself in a group of  4 chasing the leader. One of the guys in the group is the lad who I've been doing sessions so even though I know he's quicker I said I'd try and hang onto him as long as I could. After going through the first mile in 5.08 we dropped one of the lads so I thought brilliant, if I can hang on I'll get fourth. As the road started to rise my training buddy got a bit of a gap so there was two of us chasing in 3rd and 4th. As the course headed for its highest point my fellow chaser began to fade so I found myself on my own in 3rd. The course then went over a bridge and back in a long 3 mile straight all the way to the finish. I could see my mate ahead of me so I just concentrated on not letting him get too far away. I knew I wouldn't catch him but I was tiring and needed something to focus on so noone would catch me. On the way I broke my 5mile PB which was great! I had visions of being passed by 3 or 4 in the last mile and I would have been disgusted! With about half a mile to go I was seriously suffering, a friend who was spectating told me I was safe. This made it easier but I didn't slow down as I knew I was on for a good time. As the Clock came into view I sprinted as hard as I could and barely missed going sub 34 with an official time 34.03. Absolutely delighted, my best performance ever and second only to last years munster cross country in terms of satisfaction. Hopefully it's a sign of things to come...Splits were (5.08/5.32/5.34/5.37/5.31/5.33/1.05)
Sunday: 13miles @ 6.48 HR154
Mon:9miles @7.12 HR146
Tues: Warmup:1.3 +12x400 @ 71-73sec with 200recovery cooldown:5miles
Wed:6.4 @7.08
Thursday Warmup:4.75miles Race 1mile:3rd in 4.48 + 3x800's in 2.40/2.35/2.32 Cooldown:1.5
Friday:5.23miles @ 8.23 HR 132
Total for week: 55miles
Sunday: warmup:1.86miles 10K race: 3rd in 34.03 Cooldown:1mile