Miles 23.08; Units 23

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 pleasure, and enough to give you a glow of effort on returning home without feeling blasted. I sense that, as after previous marathons, I will now have a great 4 weeks of running as I fancy, and then some time around mid July I will feel the need to set a new goal.

Winewise, a lovely one last night with the first barbeque and outdoors dinner of the year. I am sure that some of you have been merrily dining outside as soon as the snow melts from the patio table - not for me! We tucked into a glorious bottle of Kanonkop Pinotage 2003, from South Africa. Beautiful, deep red colour, lovely ripe berry fruit nose, and (a tasting note from the label here) a hint of banana - yes, it really did have that! The tannins were perfectly integrated and soft, providing structure with no harshness. Big in the mouth, not dominating, and just right for BBQ meats. I know that Pinotage ( A cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, very much South Africa's own grape) is not seen as a 'top flight' variety but you know, when it is good, it is a pleasure. And this one was!

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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...

I Drink, therefore I Run

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