I Drink, therefore I Run

Another lean week on the miles front - just a treadmill session in the basement gym of the Holiday Inn in Bolton (which was as good as it sounds..) and a lovely, lovely 10 miler today in the morning sun. Up to Hilliers arboretum, hen through Ampfield wood, back via Green Lane. So many other runners out too - we are a happy crew, with the knowing glances of 'look at what we are doing to enjoy ourselves that others aren't!' Getting up early, heading out when the day is still crisp - oh, that is such a treat. I am really beginning to appreciate the natural world in the morning, from having a coffee on the patio with the gentle morning sun starting to warm the day, to the fact that it is just - well, quieter at that time of day. Makes you feel very philosophical about things. It's been a strangely busy weekend, which started with a wedding reception on Friday at Marwell Zoo. It is somewhat peculiar - in a really good and different way - to be met by a Zoo train at the gate...

Dear Reader, a double-post this week, as last Sunday I was in Italy. More of that later. Quickly on the running front, very low miles, due in part to work commitments (having to spend days in Bolton..) and in week 2, because the route from the Agriturismo would have made a 4x4 have a bit of a think about attempting much of a run! A 400ft straight climb up a trail in the heat..well, you can see why the miles did not happen! Let me take the chance to wax lyrical on a wonderful holiday in Southern Umbria. We stayed at the Tenuta di Canonica near Todi. The views were astonishing - towards Todi on the left, and down towards Lago di Corbara. We spent many hours just staring at it - hence the low level of holiday book reading! The Tenuta was also a fabulous place, with the wonderful Francesa and Matteo looking after us very well. Janet was especially taken with Mozart the African Grey parrot, who used to tweet away all day very merrily, mimicking the phones and the owners. He'd go all qu...

First week of getting back into the step of things - with the pleasure of no specific target other than enjoying my running and keeping life in balance. I've had 4 runs this week of 4, 5.5, 6, and 7.5 miles, all just at whatever pace I fancied - which is still probably a little fast, however if you are in the mood then just go for it, that's what I say! A lovely run on Sunday, out to the Salmon Leap, then across the fields to Squabb's Wood, and back along the Old Salisbury Road. This is a great trail/road run with some lung-busting climbs, and a cautious trek across a field with cows in it - you have to skirt round them and generally they leave you alone! One of those just perfect runs when you start out before it is too warm, and the heat only picks up as you are heading for home. You have the joy of having beaten both the sun and the traffic! Get back before 10am, and your run will feel fantastic. Definitely one of those runs today that is de-stressing, just a real pleasu...