Miles 19.3; Bike Miles 8; Units 24

A new running determination has come back to me this week, as I stare at two inevitabilities. 1) I am entered for the Hursley 10k in 2 weeks, and, much as I may like to think that I have all my fitness still in my legs, I really don't when it comes to going faster. I am still able to knock out 15 miles at a fair old lick, but faster work - well, I probably haven't run as fast as a 10k requires since about early April and 2) I am also starting to slip just a bit through a lack of a goal. I have determined that I intend to run London next April if I get a place, or a club place (I will not take a charity place as I cannot be bothered with the fundraising - sorry - done it twice now!) and so I will need to get used to hard work again. So, only two runs, but both good ones this week.

I went out for a cycle on Wednesday evening as I just fancied it - it was raining yet again so I was not bold enough to cycle in to work; however, by the evening it had all improved dramatically. Therefore delighted to be getting my bike miles in. I still open the garage with a frisson of excitement, seeing my new machine in there, ready and waiting, asking to be used. It even looks athletic! I clearly have some kind of machine love going on.

On the wine front, a special event! This week I hosted a wine tasting for 12 people at a local restaurant - a proper paying engagement. It came from a chance comment from a company that we have worked with, looking for a wine event. I said "Why not me?" and they said "absolutely". So, we tasted eight wines, which were:

Cloudy Bay Pelorus NV

Reuilly Les Bouchauds 2009 Gérard Bigonneau

Peter Lehmann Riesling 2008 Eden Valley

Albariño Martin Codax 2009 Rias Baixas

Régnié 2009 Les Côtes de Saint Cyr

Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2008 Marlborough

Rioja Reserva 2005 Marqués de Riscal

Gigondas 2006 E Guigal

(all from Majestic)

Without doubt the winners were the Albarino (I think I have mentioned this one before, really rich, chalky-dry and very interesting on the palate) and the Gigondas (big, bold, spicy and berry flavours). The Pelorus also went down very well and was the equal of most champagnes.

So, I am delighted to have shown the way on the tasting front - I am good at it, I enjoy it - can I build a career around it do you think? According to John Williams from the seminal 'Screw work, Let's Play" I have written my first 'playcheque'.

Pip Pip.

Comments

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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