Miles 34.91; Units 28

Last week of long runs before tapering down for the Big Day. My Sunday run was pretty tough, with a lot of gusts of wind, a hilly course through Farley Mount, and drizzle. All told, a good set up for Edinburgh, I feel!

It's been a busy week, preparing for the Bank Holiday, and generally rushing around. So, I very much enjoyed the opportunity to 'come down' from the long run by watching a classic of the Sunday afternoon film genre - 'High Society'. What better combo than Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra, First of all, Grace Kelly is of course gorgeous - perhaps not quite as sultry as in 'Rear Window', but no slouch. Then the great duets between the crooners - Bing and Frank - whilst tipsy on Champagne - well, what's not to like about that way to spend the day? And of course, the gravelly-deep Louis A. What a wonderful world indeed. Makes you wish you could visit Newport in the '50s..but then we wouldn't be allowed, probably! I did feel like a bit of a slouch in my post-running sweat pants, as I watched them in jacket and tie even whilst relaxing...!

Wine of the week - a little oddity called Malvirà Roero Arneis 2008 from Piedmont in Italy. Went very well with a stir fry on Sunday night. This is an elegant wine, not something you see every day, from the Arneis grape. Almost a 'forgotten grape' of Italy, it is dry, with a hint of peachy-apricottyness, and a slight tang. Not unlike a leaner Viognier. Lovely.

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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...

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...

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