I Drink, therefore I Run

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 wh...

A two-run week...must be the first time in a long while as low as that, other than when injured or post-marathon. On the up side, two good runs - including a very early morning loop round Braishfield, not my usual at all. I have never really got on well with morning running, however I guess that's just because I have never done a lot of it! There is something about the freshness of the morning that just can't be beaten...usually. On this occasion, however, I seemed to have decided to co-incide with the work and school runs. It certainly gives you a different insight on the travelling public- ie yourself, normally - as they push on to work or school in the metal cocoon of a car, mildly oblivious to the running public. You get some odd looks as well, though I'd like to think that was merely jealousy from the desk bound wage slave reconciling his morning activity with what looked like a very much nicer start to mine. Couldn't resist using this picture either - tee hee. All...

Well, what a beautiful week for running! This would be for two reasons - firstly, that I started to get back into some harder training again with an interval session - 4 x 5 mins at 10k pace may not sound like much, but it was pretty testing - and secondly, because I managed to meet with the Southampton Athletics Club for their Sunday run. Only 5 of us this time, as we tackled an undulating (nay steep!) 13 miler through the countryside from Winchester. Just another one of those runs that reminds you what a glorious part of the world we live in down here. Running with a group is a different experience. Firstly, you have to subjugate your own needs for the group, regulating your pace to match the front or the back. Inevitably the group spreads out, but that's ok, you wait for your fellow runners at strategic points if you are up ahead. Also, the route is not yours alone. And, you must also take your turn at the front, pushing the pace where necessary. What you get back is a great cam...

Another busy and mad week on the work front, though I did manage to squeeze in an extra 5 miler to get the weekly total nibbling up a bit. I am just starting to notice a bit of 'creep' around the midriff...have to watch out for that one. On Sunday, my long run of around 10 miles was absolute torture with a belting hangover from the Saturday night. You do quite literally sweat out the alcohol on the way round! I was debating having my first long run with the running club, but to be honest, not only did I not feel like it, I probably wasn't legal to drive anywhere. So far, I have not set a new running goal, though I feel that time is nearing. I do seem to be able to go for about 6 weeks before the lack of a focus gets in the way a bit. When you have to go out and put in the hard miles of fast work, which means pushing your pain threshold, it is difficult to do that without a specific purpose. Now why do I also think that's a bit of metaphor for how my life is at the mome...

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...