How did we get to Week 6 of my 8-week Diacore Training Cycle? I have been so lucky to work with Coach Nicola from Running Happy who has put together a great training plan that makes my job a whole lot easier. My main task has just been to get up and make sure I get those runs in!

Monday: I enjoyed a really nice Easter Hike up Kgale Hill with Polelo. We set off at 06:30 and took our time, doing it in 1:44 hours, 260 m ascent, 3.91 km. It was a lovely cool morning and there were many hikers on the trail. Afterwards, I did 20 minutes of yoga.

Tuesday: Today I had a Steady Run scheduled but… I rebelled… and if that was not bad enough… I stole four (yes four!) marshmallow eggs from my kids’ stash… Shameless!

Wednesday: After my illegal day off and and Easter egg feast, I hit the road with Tapiwa for a 26 min, Steady Run. Tapiwa was on fire today and started us out at a very fast pace. We tried a new route and it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I didn’t stop my watch and only realised when I was driving back from our post-run pilates session. I was so disappointed… some run for fun, others run for health, I run for the STATS! Without that, what’s the point of the run?! LOL! After my disappointment had worn off, I was very happy with our solid run and estimated it must have been approx. 3.5 km.

Thursday: I did 20 min, Easy Run, 2.71 km, 7:22 min/km. This was followed by some conditioning exercises (clams, squats, lunges, lateral band walks). I was so pleased to notice that my clams were a lot wider than before! My 3 year old find squats hilarious and calls them “The Toilet”. 🙂

Friday: Rest Day 🙂

Saturday: Today’s Long Run was 6 km – so shorter than last week’s 8 km which made it easier to get out of bed! I was very pleased with my time, 44:46 min, 7:26 min/km. The last 6 km distance I did was on the 4th Feb and I did it in 53:53 min so this is a huge improvement in just 2.5 months! That made me really smile!

Sunday: So I was supposed to go up Kgale Hill this morning but I ended up at Mosha Beauty Spa for a facial and FULL body massage… Mosha Beauty Spa is very close to Kgale, so does that make it count as a workout? It does, right? 🙂

Goal for my Next Race (Palapye 10k)

Next Sunday I am doing my fifth race of the #17in2017 challenge and for some reason I am particularly excited about this one!

I have some tentative goals:

1. Goal A: To shave 2 minutes off my current PB which would mean finishing in 1:13:11 – a 07:19 min/km pace. Looking at the last few runs I have had, I don’t feel I am that far off from achieving this. I’m quite optimistic. I am also pulling out my “Ditiro Card” to help me. (Ditiro has promised to run 4 of the 17 runs WITH me this year and sacrifice his usual lightning speed races!  I feel like his presence will give me the extra push I need at this point in my journey). My main worry is Palapye is a lot hillier than Gaborone is…
2. Goal B: To PB – anything better than 1:15:11. 
3. Goal C: To finish the race with a huge smile. To tick Number 5 off the “17 in 2017” Challenge. To remain positive for Diacore the following week!

(I am linking up with the lovely Courtney at Eat Pray Run. I am also linking up with Tricia and Holly for their inspirational Weekly Wrap. Be sure to read these blogs and link up if you can! It’s such a great way to stay accountable).