Smooth as silk

Today was a day off and I was tasked with a number of jobs, to have a haircut and to prune the apple tree (a BIG job) so there was no running during the day but plenty of walking, climbing of ladders and sawing. The Delightful Mrs S has been out at work most of the day so I was even responsible for cooking the evening meal which was well received by all.

By 7.00pm I was liked a coiled spring, a panther pacing the hall for all I wanted to do was get out and get the wind on my legs again so off I trotted shorts, vest and my windproof and no Garmin at all, just my headtorch. I proceeded to go out for a wonderful, melodic, evenly paced run at complete recovery pace, the run was exactly as I have been training on the track, consistent, unstrained and relaxed.

I have come to learn that if my jaw is relaxed so are my shoulders and therefore my arms; if my fingers are loose and it looks like I am playing an invisible piano then I am unpressured. A lovely run tonight which is good news for Saturday

It is runs like this that prove the training is working

Shorts and Sunglasses

After mentioning I felt like a zombie yesterday I soon realised it was true when all thoughts of a run with HEROS were out of the window when I looked at the alarm clock this morning to see 9.30 am and on hindsight was probably a good thing as it appeared they did a 15 mile downland run which would have been just a tad too much for my tapering plans.

So up and about the Delightful Mrs S requested that I got on with various chores but soon became suspicious when I was seen tapping away on Facebook and then about 45 minutes later reading texts in the garden. I went into the house and mentioned  "Duncan wants to go for a run" to which I was released on good behaviour.

The weather was fantastic today, it was Shorts and Sunglasses weather and was the main reason I wanted to get out into the woods to just get the feeling of freedom from long sleeve shirts and leggings. I was even seen to don my Union Flag shorts and potter off up the road with a big grin on my face and was amazingly 5 minutes early as Duncan invariably turns up with military precision which he did today to the very second...incredible.

First question "How far and where?" Duncan put up a finger and drew a vague map in the air mentioning a few places and I said "A man with a plan" and so off we went with Duncan spluttering that is was not a plan, I cared not a jot, I just wanted to enjoy the sunshine in shorts and sunglasses probably the first time the combination had been worn in 6 months.

A great 10 miles or so of mixed path and road with a few stops to catch up with friends and acquaintances along the way...a great afternoon of running getting me back in time to get the last jobs done for the Delectable Mrs S

One for the trail

I quite enjoy this song at the moment


and probably is a sign of my general mood but you take what ever feel from it

Zombie

...run for you life

Tomorrow is my last proper run before the Thames Path 100 and I am looking for a gentle run around the North Downs similar to last week with the gang from HEROS but this time I will try to hold off and hang near the back so I do not do myself a mischief. 

This week I feel absolutely bushed having worked a 6 day week with extended days and have been seen to continually drop off in the armchair or on the train home, I feel like a zombie half the time so have to recuperate a bit before next week's trial. So tired as I am I am no doubt going to be running like a zombie tomorrow.

Kit collection starts

I am [yet again] viewed with suspicion by the delightful Mrs S as a small mound of items is slowly growing in the dining room and my sports bag is placed nearby. I have been very mindful of her wishes to keep the house tidy so am keeping it all in one place ready to move it at a moments notice.

 

The new kit appears

I am going to admit that I am beginning to get a little daunted by the Thames Path 100 but have done a lot of preparation and am pleased to see that I can take drop bags. Our main kit will be taken to the end immediately but we can label bags to be left at miles 28, 51, 71 and 91 the secret is what will be best left. They coincide with hot food so it may best just to put snack replenishment for "in between" times and the other logistical point is they cannot be over a certain size and in my view disposable as I do not want to hand around later collecting expensive boxes or bags

The cunning plan

So here is my cunning plan, buy cheap shoe bags for the princely sum of £1.00 each from a local low cost sports shop and when used, fill them with the previous leg's rubbish and discard. The young lady at the shop was rather taken aback when I walked up with 5 bags but they are pretty good for temporary use, double-lined with thick plastic and a draw string...genius :-)

Next bargain was I found that the local petrol station was selling Red Bull Shots at half price as they are near their sell by date so they are going in the latter bags and a pile of new socks will be disseminated  soon

Say goodbye to the budgie

Like a caged lion I was seen pacing the living room this evening ready to go for my plod up to the running track; we had been promised mild weather, if you can let 10 C being mild and I decided to not wear my Skins A200 compression tights for the very first time since Christmas some 330 miles (531 km)!

I did however wear a showerproof jacket and my backpack to the track continuing to wear it during my steady laps....boy was I warm and just amazing how our bodies acclimatise such I was really pleased my old pins were getting an airing to cool me down.

It is a bit scary to think I only have two more runs to go before the Thames Path 100 and just getting that horrible feeling of have I done enough. Time to get the plans finalised but I have a feeling I maybe getting a cold

Fidget

Today has been frustrating as Hell for me as I have been locked in a meeting room with 5 other people doing indepth project planning and only left it once to get some lunch to return and carry on for a total 8 hours leaving later than normal.

After leaving the office I was like a greyhound out of its trap chasing a hare and was a bundle full of energy and almost ran to the station and on boarding it heard an announcement to state that someone had collapsed and an ambulance was being called delaying us for a further 25 minutes. I used these extra minutes to have a snooze and in the end had 50 minutes of deep sleep waking just in time to get off and walk the 2 km home turning up over an hour later than normal finding a small bowl of cold pasta on the side. The Delicious (if a little apologetic) Mrs S had not done enough not realising until she saw my bowl but I happily tucked in and as I licked the last piece of sauce from the bowl planned to burn off the excess energy of the day and go for a run, that is, until my work phone rung and I heard the bemoaning tale that the server guys had broken my system leaving me the honour of fault finding and fixing the issue which took over an hour and the time was now way past 8.30 pm a run was now out of the question.

I know I shouldn't be grumbling as I am tapering and Thursday is my officially planned run but it can be nice just to get out and get some fresh air and blow the cobwebs out so should lie back and enjoy the rest.....although I am fidgeting like there is no tomorrow.

Slave to technology...

...or "I can't get a f%^king signal"

Imagine the scene, ten hairy runners bedecked in lycra, fluorescent jackets enough to light up the dark side of the Moon, running shoes that "will make you run as fast as a reebok" and enough electronic equipment that would be able to guide the Apollo 13 mission.

Now come in from a different angle, a more introspective view from the mind of a runner in the scene as he swears under his breath about the fact there is no signal from the satellite, bemoaning the fact that the batteries needed charging, their headphones are tangled or they hadn't reset it from last run. As the run starts all conversation is drowned out by a chorus of beats and squeals from the dastardly electronic creatures strapped to our wrists.

The run

Then when we are all in throw of our runs we come to the most beautiful scene in northern Kent and we don't look at the beautiful rainbow, the lark on the wing or the amazing view but we carry on glancing at our pace, our split times or the all important update that we have currently run 5.12 miles because it is important we know that 0.01 miles is ~ 20 yards and it is important we know exactly how far we run!

The finish

We all sprint the last mile to our cars, some racing, others just desperate to end and we get to the car park all flustered, sweaty, out of breath and beeping as we switch off the darned GPS device to a chorus of "What didtance did you get?" to hear the following answers:

Runner A: "I get 16.3 km"

Runner B: "I got 10.5 miles"

Runner C: "I got 28.27 km, I forgot to reset mine, so how do I subtract miles from kilometres?"

Runner D: "My heart rate is 230 beats per minute, it says I am dead....is that good"

Runner A: "Yeah but we climbed 8,000 metres!

Runner C: "Wow I am currently 10 metres below sea level so does that mean we climbed 7990 metres?"

Then there is me keeping quiet as I had yet again forgotten to start the frigging thing

Squirrel tossing and cakes

There are runs and there are runs, today's was one of those runs that will take me through to Wednesday next week. 

This morning was one of those days that when you looked out of the window you couldn't gauge if it was cool or mild but I could see the tell tale signs of frost on the grass outside so erred on the side of caution and went for a long-sleeved top but chucked some gloves and a hat in my pocket just in case. On picking up Duncan at the top of the road he too seemed to have the same concerns but he had gone the whole 9 yards and was wearing a hat and a pair of sunglasses.

Turning up at the car park we soon saw the others sitting in their cars ready for the off and as we waited for others we clambered out and joined in the merry making. Due to the temperature there seemed to a lot of disappearing into the bushes for a pre-run pee which seemed to a prequisite for the group mainly because there are women in the group. One of the silliest comments I heard for a long time was when one of the guys who was eating a banana chose to discard the skin by lobbing it into some undergrowth to which someone earnestly asked "Was that a squirrel you just threw?" to much hilarity....yeah right, that is what we do! :-)

Getting this group to start was very hard as it is just a collection of runners so after shivering for about 10 minutes I decided to run 10 yards and somebody went "Oh we are off" which was sufficient to get the group going enough for Nancy to take the route owner.

What a start, it just turned into going up and down, then UP which caused my lungs to feel like they were on fire but we got up there and the run continued with the usual good humour and chat. I have a feeling my tapering is working as I felt really comfortable today, cruising the hills flying over the crests.

It was all over too soon and I had mentioned to Duncan that I wanted to go to the cake shop nearby so armed with some money I found in the bottom of my backpack earlier we went into eat the most delicious piece of white chocolate and raspberry cake for myself and a piece of coffee cake for Duncan the perfect end to a really great run.

I can promise that no squirrels were actually hurt in the making of this run

HEROS

Looking forward to tomorrow (Sunday) when I will be driving out to High Elms with my good friend Bhundu to join the H.E.R.O.S (High Elms Run On Sunday). I just love this group of people as they comprise most of my friends from all the running clubs in the area. It is not a club per se but a guaranteed cross country run of about 90 minutes.

I last saw the H.E.R.O.S two weeks ago when I was on my 24 mile solo run and am forever kicking myself for not running with them as often as I should because the runs are always full of laughter with the chance of finding a few new paths.

So look out High Elms, Bhundu and I am coming to play...distance? I care not a jot.

Image linked from the H.E.R.O.S website

Olympic Orientation

Had an amazing day today when I attended Wembley Arena for my Games Maker orientation training with thousands of other people. 

I got there quite early so spent an hour or so chatting with the other volunteers talking about their roles and was amazed by the diverse roles that everyone seemed to be doing. I spoke to one gentleman who was from the Foreign Office and will be assigned a dignatory and will be his or her diplomatic aide for the period of the games to people who were to be meeters and greeters, drivers or security guards.I am excited now

Eatsleep

Pleased with my consistent run on Thursday evening I awoke Friday morning, lay under my duvet, gave myself a luxurious stretch, the type one has after a deep sleep to find that my legs were possibly still slumbering. Standing up it was very noticeable that my legs were tired....that nice tired that tells you that the training is working. It is then I realised that I was really hungry which is a common occurrence these days when waking up such that I am beginning to have breakfast again normally comprising 2 toast first thing and then fruit at my desk as I tuck into a fresh coffee.

The delightful Mrs S was off to work and I managed to blag a lift to the station allowing me to get the earlier train, I sat there reading my Ipad feeling, yes you have got it, hungry and just  little bit tired.

Finding the lift is still out at work I have got used to doubling up 10 flights of stairs which just felt that little bit more uncomfortable for the umpteenth time this afternoon.

It then occurred to me that I had run 61 miles in the past 7 days and they had been very consistent, focussed miles and it was obvious why I was so jaded such that this evening I slept on the train home. Arriving home I had an enormous roast chicken meal with piles of vegetables and a 90 minute sleep in the armchair.

Then I stood up giving myself a luxurious stretch, walked to my running shoes and put them back in the utility room....afterall, I am tapering and tonight was not scheduled in as a run, I cared not a jot

Winning Face?

Time to get out to the track tonight and I went about getting ready but due to the ever changing weather was unsure what to wear so decided on my thin long-sleeved top, waterproof smock, leggings, gloves and my trusty backpack.

By mile one the gloves were off, by mile two the smock was unzipped and was now comfortable to push out a comfortable pace. Arriving at the park where the track is I was met by the fact the 5 metre tall main gates were padlocked shut and had I been 30 years younger willing to climb them but now the time was pushing on and did not relish the idea of a 1 mile detour so took off my pack leaned against the wire fencing and squeezed through and pulled by bag after me!

At the track I saw the rest of the gang in the throws of their warm up chatting merrily amongst themselves as I paid my dues and joined the track, tonight was just 16 laps comprising 8 anti-clockwise and the other 8 clockwise. All around me the others were doing 12 x 400m sprints, stomping and gasping around me as I pootled around watching the entertainment, some of those guys were just taking a little bit too serious. By all means be serious about your training guys but please enjoy it also, those last 8 laps were hilarious looking at some of their faces... I kept shouting "Show me your winner's face" as they grimaced past me.

Anyway, I was pleased with my plodding having done 16 laps in 32 minutes flat so feeling good and so after a catch up on some of the gossip I returned home via the road this time to a complete a very comfortabe 11 miles....roll on the taper.

Silence is Golden

but Duct Tape is Silver!

This was the first Tuesday back at the club for four weeks due to lecturing commitments and I was looking forward to it. Even though this was supposedly Valentine's Day the family all had their own agendas so we were all cut loose to do our thing, mine being a chance to catch up on some gossip with the gang.

So after a disastrous run through the woods in which I decided to cut short and go over the bridge to the roadway because of the quagmire by the river I was soon found discussing marathon training plans with a few wannabes in the park. It was obvious that the numbers were greatly reduced by the school half term and the romantic nature of the day such that only about 50 runners attended, my legs being a tad sore chose a slower group so that I could enjoy an Easy pace.

Little did I know that this group was a very quiet one, talking was at the very minimum and on up hills non existent....bar me chattering and whittering on as usual about any piece of nonsense that came through my mind, I cared not a jot. However at about 8 miles (in total  of my evening total) I found myself going quiet and introspective savouring the run and the fact I was near to the end of the bulk of my TP 100 prep.

I have a break tomorrow evening but hope to get out for a routine run on Thursday but very tempted to have a run on the North Downs Way on my own....just for the peace and quiet!

Moonlight Challenge 2012 video

When you see the temperature at -7 centigrade (-10 C with wind chill) I am glad I did pull out early as the journey back would have been a nightmare otherwise. Well done all those who carried on to complete the 5 laps or until they were call in due to the worsening conditions.

At least you can see me at the start (just look out for the shorts on the right)

Besti Squat *

No, Dear Reader we are not back to the age old question of "Do ultrarunners $h1t in the woods" but what does a stupid ultrarunner do when:

1. Running through the woods in the dark,
2. With a headtorch whose battery is fast running out,
3. Assumes all the snow and ice has melted away,
4. Is going full pelt down the path
5. and finds an icey patch.

That's right, he does a Besti Squat!!!!

Besti Squat*

Never in short running history has something as innocuous as a slight slip been so dramatic as I was seen to slide in this ridiculous pose. How these skaters make it look so graceful and gentle I do not know but for me it was full of waving arms, swearing and cursing to then miraculously stumble at the end to carry running without a break in step.

That said and done, I had quite a pleasing run tonight with a few aches in my hamstrings and IT Band but nothing a nice warm bath won't ease out

All down hill now

Today marked the last "big" training run before the Thames Path 100 in March and to be frank, it held no joy for me as I plodded out of the door by myself again to go through the drudge run in conditions not best described as inspiring. As usual my intention was to get through it as consistently as possible and just stick to the roads and wave or nod curteously to runners and cyclists as I went through it not too surprisingly there were not too many about today. How I miss the solace of the North Downs Way.

The run completed I have spent the day marking college scripts ahead of the deadline and was probably one of the reasons I was not that inspired today but they are complete now, all submitted and it allows me a little respite to do some more planning for the race. I am affectively in taper mode from now and until then but I want to complete my 88km (55 mile) 5 day streak on Tuesday and after that steady shortish 10 mile runs to get the legs settled and remembering what they are here for.

Running with a Cage Fighter

Probably the strangest title for a post I have added for a little while but that is exactly what I did today, ran with a cage fighter!

The delightful Mrs S had organised having her hair done at a friends house with a visiting hairdresser and I was at a loose end so said she would drop me off there and I would take an extended route home by foot. I popped in to say hello and then discovered our friend's 16 year old son was up for a run too so we teamed up for a nice 10km run together, a little shorter than I wanted but probably best as I am up for a longer run tomorrow.

It transpires that the young lad, Toby, had been at cage fighter training earlier that morning and had spent an hour or so doing wrestling but I have to admit that we were both nervous of each other, my reputation proceeding me as a proficient(?) runner and he as a speedy 5km runner, we were soon testing each other and we seemed to settle into a pace that we both felt comfortable with. A great leveller as I allowed him to take the lead  for the route and then discussing options to go off road which he was happy to do as it gave him a new experience of seeing what it was like. 

This gave me the chance to chat about cage fighting and I was astounded about the amount of training and effort that goes into what is a very violent sport. I was also very impressed as to how he came across as a very mature and calm manner when discussing the fighting, best described as experienced and controlled.

The run was fine as an ad hoc event but I felt as I wanted to do more so it was turn to bring my experience and control into it and stop when I did so that I could save myself for my solo long run tomorrow.

Running drought is over

Since the snow fell last weekend and my aborted Moonlight Challenge I have had a running drought having not ventured out for a week. I returned home last night and had just let my tea settle and stood up, grabbed my kit to then find the snow had stated falling again...run cancelled. I have done too many miles in my training in the past few months to do anything stupid, care is my second name at the moment.

This evening I could see that the pavements were dry and got my kit on and was out for a quick 10km set piece run.......and when I say quick I reckon the week off did my legs for good as I unexpectedly found me doing 7:39 min/miles on average and it felt like an easy run. "Say goodbye to the couch Jezza" I hear you shout and that is exactly what I intend Dear Reader...weather permitting.

No mean feet

There are many an anecdote on the internet about long distance runner's feet:

1. Your feet look better without toenails.  
2. You always have at least one black toenail.
3. Your pedicure kit includes a pair of pliers.
4. Your number of toes to toenails doesn't match. 

...and many more.

Regular readers will remember that just before Christmas I had an innocuous trip in the woods which banged my toe and similarly twanged my other toe on a root. I trip, I stumble, I rub my skin, I scratch myself on a branch of holly, all things I am used to and take for granted afterall, it goes with the territory.

I got home at about 10.15pm last night after a long day at work and lecturing to remember that we had in fact got guests staying over, so after a quick bath I returned to join in the fun evening with a glass of wine or two. I was shoeless and our friend commented "Oh my god Jerry, it is so obvious that you are a long distance runner, your feet look like a monkey's!" Taken aback I looked down at my feet and could see nothing wrong and carried on ignoring the comment.

Tonight I sat back and looked at my feet and I have to admit every point in the list above is true, nails are missing/growing back, some nails have thickened and there are little hard bits in the strangest of places, some would say monkey feet, I would say my feet.

The gloves are off

Now that the Moonlight Challenge is out of the way on my Events Page I now have the chance to start planning for sure for the Thames Path 100 mile race. This is an interesting thing to plan as it looks as though I will be doing it under my own steam and so will have to look at really utilising the drop bag facility at the 28, 51, 71 and 91 mile marks, so it will not just be food but clothes as well.

I have just discovered that a lovely lady called Emma who ran with her husband on my recent night run will be at the half way checkpoint  and I have already put in an order of jam sandwiches to go with my pasta soup...yum.

I feel happy in my planning stages as it really starts to focus my mind, provide me with goals for the run and collect my thoughts. The image above is just a start to get the checkpoints set up, with projected minimum times to try for the sub-24 hour finish...more to follow.

When adults play

So there we were, the Destructive Mrs S and myself looked out of the window, both children ensconced in either Facebook or going for a walk with mates. We decided to go for a walk in the snow and get some well needed fresh air, Mrs S patiently standing at the end of the drive whilst I rummaged through the garage to return triumphantly with the sledge in hand. If the children were going to be boring, we certainly weren't as be walked up to the local ski slope (a.k.a The golf course) and went about pushing young children and protective parents aside, mount our sledge together and whizzed down at full whack. At last count we had knocked over two teenagers and bounced through about 5 kids even sliding over another sledge...we had a great time :-)

Let the carnage begin

The Moonlight Challenge - Report

As I left the house for the 90 minute journey to Chislet, Kent to the Marshside Fishery I had ensured that I had packed a duvet & Blanket, a shovel and a brush. I had also added in an extra sweatshirt and a large thermos flask of hot coffee, I had no plans of being stranded on a Kent motorway what with the threat of heavy snow in the forecast.

The journey was fast allowing to drop into the service station to grab a hot burger to fill my tummy for the run, I had promised myself that if in my opinion the weather was turning to snow at any point in the run I would pull out and hot foot it home.

The pre-start

The event start has changed this year away from the pub and I was amused to find that Mike was indeed not joking when he told us he had been able to borrow a 40 foot lorry container and after getting my number 11 race number I met and had a chat with my good running buddy, Matt, who looked as fit as a fiddle. We commented that as time had gone by our experience showed just by the very fact we hadn't got much kit compared to other years (I have a feeling it was because we were wearing it all!)

So climbing into the back of container I was met by about 40 other runners snuggling together in a pack reminding me of the "Ghosts in the Machine" speech by Dr Lanning in I, Robot *(see below). Quickly putting the remainder of my kit on, I chose to wear:

1. Thin Skin top
2. Long sleeved top
3. Short sleeved top
4. Kamleika smock
5. Showerproof jacket
6. Buff on head
7. Buff on neck (as a face mask if needed)
8. Skins
9. Thinsulate gloves
10. and my trusty Union Flag shorts

Some would say too much but my view is to start of warm and strip of as and when needed.

The Start

So being called out of the shelter of the lorry we gathered into the road to have a briefing and for Mike to fire of a horrendously loud "bird scarer" firework which signalled the start. I have learnt from this run that you need to get as near to the from as possible at the start so that you are not blocked in and blinded by the other lamps and I happily settled into the front 10 where I remained striding out at about 8:30 min/mile pace. I was soon thinking was it sensible to have worn so much kit but this doubt soon lifted when I hit an open area with the wind ripping through me like shards of glass, it was bitter.

I was really happy with my progress, my recent pace training really helping and my night running experience helping me with the route.At the first drinks stand I grabbed a cup of water and was amazed to find that the top half was now ice, the marshall told me he had only poured it 5 minutes ago!

The run continued and I felt strong as I pounded through the first lap calling my number, considering the number of people who had pounded through it was amazing to see that the normally muddy section was still holding out and I was able to keep my pace consistent.

Time to call it

The watery moon, the bitter wind and then I saw shards of frozen water vapour in the air, at first I thought it was my breath until it became quite evident. I chose to pull in at the Start/Finish and called it a day. I was totally matter of fact about it. I had a cup of coffee and stripped off to the skin and put on a dry sweatshirt and was gone within 10 minutes. The tought of driving on English motorways ina  2 wheel dive vehicle in snow is not something I relished.

After note

Half way home, the snow fell hard and by 40 minutes the roads were covered in snow, I made the right choice. I have also heard that snow fell on the course and later on the organised called it off for safety reason. I am happy with my decision but doff my cap to those who continued.

* Dr Lanning's Ghost in the Machine from I, Robot

There have always been ghosts in the machine. Random segments of code, that have grouped together to form unexpected protocols. Unanticipated, these free radicals engender questions of free will, creativity, and even the nature of what we might call the soul. Why is it that when some robots are left in darkness, they will seek out the light? Why is it that when robots are stored in an empty space, they will group together, rather than stand alone? How do we explain this behavior? Random segments of code? Or is it something more? When does a perceptual schematic become consciousness? When does a difference engine become the search for truth? When does a personality simulation become the bitter mote... of a soul?

Bags packed

Probably not the best decision I have made in my life but my heart is ruling my head for the moment and I will start off towards Marshside tonight with all the intention of starting (and completing) the Moonlight Challenge. I am aware of a few people pulling out due to the travel problems of snow on English roads but I will be monitoring it on a minute by minute basis and if it gets too snowy will pull out and return home.

As is the tradition my kit is ready but this time in the "Jezza Box" as it is a lapped race

Ultrarunners say

...

...so true

of kit list and nagging

The weather news in the UK is getting more and more worrying and as usual in the wintertime, alarmist. The Brits are normally the butt of all weather jokes when we are seen by the world to not be prepared yet again for this annual and timely event. This year it has been very mild and this next weather front has sneaked up on us and as usual we all seemed surprised that this can happen in the UK.

Apart from my jaunt out this evening I have spent some time pulling together my kit into piles and on her return the Delectable Mrs S made comment not the first time this week such as:

• "Snow at the weekend you sure you want to run?"
• "Looks cold at the end of the week is it sensible for you to run?"
• "Aren't you going to get cold,  you will need gloves?"
• "Minus 6 this weekend BBBrrrrrrr"

This is a new slant of this journey, Mrs S making active comments about my pursuit for distance and the worrying thing is that one part of my befuddled brain picks up on her logic but on the other (stronger?) side rebuffs such comments as ridiculous but secretly knowing that running around in -6° C is dangerous but at the same time a brilliant logistical challenge.

Of balls and brass monkeys

Two days forced rest completed and on Thursday evening I will do my last run before the Moonlight Challenge on Saturday evening. As the Brits amongst my readers will know, the weather has turned decidedly cold at the moment with temperatures hitting -2º C (28º F)  this evening with it expected to drop further to reach -6º C (21º F) after chill factor on Saturday evening especially around the marshland of East Kent where the challenge is being held.

As usual I am well up for the challenge, I am gathering all my running shirts to create layers along with leggings and lycra shorts with may thinsulate gloves taking a big feature to stave off hypothermia. I have even dug out the thermos flask as a way of storing warm coffee and thinking of ways to get more calories on board having concidered the rare use of carb gels as a quick solution.

It appears that the Delightful Mrs S's Running Radar has been off full sweep in the past few weeks as she knows that the Moonlight Challenge is one of my favourite annual events but even she has made comment about whether I should run it or not concerned that the weather may be way too cold to be safe let alone the journey to and from.