At home on a Sunday afternoon. It suddenly hit me that I had just run my slowest 10k of all time. I had to go and lie down. How do I get out of this hole? Is it even worth it? Is this the end?

The missing ingredient.

When I ask you; what makes a good runner?, you will throw all the usual suspects at me. Something like:

talent
work ethic
drive
toughness
genes
Vo2 max
speed
strength
form

And so on. There’s is a word you probably haven’t mentioned. It should be on the list. And it might need to go straight to the top.

Battersea 5km is Brilliant race. Loaded field, pancake flat. No wind. I get dropped within the first mile.

Coach Ken is cheering me on the best he can;

Keep it respectable Russell!

I can’t.

last year I did this race and finished 2nd. A hamstring tear later, and now I’m outside the top 20, moving backwards. Ego crusher.

Not even halfway, hurting, way off PB pace. There are people ahead of me I would usually expect to beat. We are near the car park now. Come on, let’s call it a day. I’ve had a go. It isn’t my day. Stop this pain, get in the car, go home, regroup for next time.