Miles 18.23; Units 23

Another week of only two runs - however, I have been reminded that I did also go to a circuits class and a gym session, so in fact I still exercised more than about 99% of the population! It just doesn't seem that much in relative terms to me. I am aware that the last statement sounds a bit arrogant..so please accept it for what it is worth! Another great long run out with the club through the Hampshire countryside. It hinted at drizzle but limited itself to mildly muggy. We had a newbie with us today, which made me cast my mind back to that time for me, and the slightly embarrassed 'new girl/boy at the disco' emotion it can engender. I did feel for her, as she said 'oh I fancy about 10 miles' which then became 13 with a chunky hill at the end - and then she had to run 2 miles home! The testosterone of the group was rising, the boys and the girls!

I was also thinking about the power of music on the run, and my taste for pumping electronica, not a style I was into when young - however now I love it for driving you on, espcially the 1990's Ibiza type tracks. I was wondering what it would have been like to attend some of those raves, just letting yourself totally go to the music. Can't imagine that that must have been like. One of my favourites right now is 'Rapture' by IIO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbaWdyDipcw (if this doesn't work, maybe search for 'rapture IIO' on youtube). There is something just so mesmeric about it, I am sure that I enter some kind of a trance focus when I listen to this whilst burning round a track. Oh how my life has changed from 5 years ago..

Just awesome music for intervals.

Wine of the week is a belter - Domaine de la Janasse Terre d'Argile 2007, Cotes du Rhone Villages. This wine got 91 points from Robert Parker, and I am not surprised - it is just his kind of wine, really big and extracted. It's a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre from this well known producer, who worked up something very special in the excellent 07 vintage. It is so dense, with a nose of blackberries, and kirsch. There is a rich, texture of fruit, and a long long finish. Plenty of life in this wine. Quite glorious, and a shocking 15.5%!

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miles 30.46; Bike miles 0; Units 27

A good running week. I planned for 4 runs, however only 3 resulted as the Saturday run fell to the combined demons of ice, cold and shopping (!). I thought I might be able to nip in a cheeky 3 or 4 miles after we had returned from the delights of the first batch of Christmas shopping (oh, and buying a new telly...so it was not all bad) but it was not to be. And a rather nice bottle of La Tour du Mons 2000 (Cru Bourgeois Margaux) called too.. This week, I managed a hill session in the cold on Wednesday, which did not tax me too much, a steady 7 on Friday, and then a challenging and hilly 18 on Sunday. This was a great run in the cold air - just splendid to be out there when it is so quiet and cold. Just really wonderful. The temperature hovered between -1 and +1, no snow in sight, and a bit of occasional ice. Just really good. I was reflecting as I ran on one significant change in my attitude since running - and that is my approach to artificial fibres. Before running, it had to be c

Miles 33.84; Units 27

Exercise-wise, a back end loaded week. I had to miss three training days through pressure of work. Sometimes that's not such a bad thing, as it gives you a chance to recover. All too often, we runners can run ourselves into the ground, if we are not careful. However, after two days you start to feel the lack of exercise, and imagine that you are ballooning up in weight. This of course is not true, though that is little comfort. This may also be a personal thing, however I usually find that when I take more than one day off, a number of niggles emerge - in this case a touch of plantar fasciitis (for you non-runners, a pain like a drawing pin being lodged in your heel - see the gloriously Heath-Robinson picture of the necessary stretching to help the recovery). Maybe the body is just seizing the day and bringing the bad stuff out that it has kept under check whilst you are exercising - clearly 3 days is enough for it to think "oh good, we seem to have stopped all this mad runn

miles 20.64; Bike Miles 0; Units probably too many!

A couple of runs this week, Tuesday and Sunday, the latter a great long run - just over 14 miles - really feeling back in the swing of things, and ready to book some races now. It was just glorious to be out in the cool but sunny weather - absolute joy! I am finally feeling like I am able to run again. It has also been a bit more of a relaxed week at work, with a couple of days on a training course, and the rest of the time in the office. Also, the throat was gently easing out by the weekend ( I did promise not to go on about it).... ....which is good when I tell you that we went to Hotel Terravina again, this time as a gift for my 40th Birthday from Carol and Huw, to take part in a 'sabrage' event, which means that you chop the top off a bottle of champagne with a sabre! All very extravagant and grand - see me brandishing said bottle in the attached photo. What a great experience that was, really very special. Thanks to C&H for that! Other than the Champagne we also had tw

I Drink, therefore I Run

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