Attending to my deteriorating fitness level

My running fitness has dropped off the face of the earth this year - owing to a couple of factors, namely the hotter environment and persistent niggles… after a week’s layoff and a pretty ordinary day, I decided to go for a spin.

Rather than chase the mileage (70km per week) I’m accustomed to back home, I’ve set some new challenges around shorter distances. Reading up on professional AFL fitness (elite midfielders run 6 minute 2km time trials), I’ve set the short-medium term goal of getting to a sub 7 min.

I’m well off that at present, did a test run of 2km at 3:58 min/km pace, bookended by easy paces to warm up/cool down.

Gravelly outback dirt road is sketchy, not to mention the territorial Magpies guarding their nests… alas, I’m happy to feel some (good) pain.