Mammoth month

Wow what a month, what a busy month more like it. This month has seen me break the 200 mile ceiling averaging out at 50 miles a week and included a 45 mile ultra marathon from Wendover to Central London.

I have now changed my training plan slightly and now doing back to back on the weekend with me just completing a 32 mile or 50 kilometres of running on the weekend mileage I could have only dreamt off at the beginning of last year when I hobbling around on crutches.

So it will continue, I have a break from distance for a couple of days when I will be out all evening on Monday and a short run on Tuesday with the Club, long may this streak continue.

Roman Run

Great run today exploring some of the more unusual aspects of Kent as we tried to navigate along the London-Lewes Roman road from Keston to Titsey.

The over night mixture of snow and a very hard frost made the paths and fields treacherous underfoot which many a twisted ankle and stumble along the way. There were a few mistakes in my map reading but in my defence it was quite difficult in the dark with a fine covering of snow in places so did pretty well considering the conditions.

The Roman road although visible was not much to look at and if you were to stand there without knowledge of its existence you would not have been able to spot it. Our little excursion took a little longer than expected but the training is taking its toll at the moment and we are just glad to get time on our feet and push through the current "running on tired legs" part of the training. I have added a Garmin download for you to look at, I have a feeling you will be able to spot the track of the road by its straightness.

Distraction Techniques

You are allowed a quick guffaw whilst reading this but it does have serious side to it.

In recent times whilst running I have been very much on my own in dark, cold conditions, feeling decidedly uncomfortable either physically or mentally as I go for my goals. I think I have even commented on this previously how I can find myself so absorbed in my run that have I left a few people behind me when I went into autopilot mode.

Wednesday's run of last week was a perfect example of finding myself in a complete auto mode but this time it was because I had "put myself there!" This is where my friend the squirrel comes to help me.

Eddy the Squirrel comes out with me on runs and is often seen (in my minds eye) sitting gently on my shoulder, he has the ability to vortex (hence Eddy) and glide around my body to any place I choose for him to go. The ability for me to control his position also allows him to go to places that maybe hurting at that time or he may even go to other places so that I can "ignore" the pain. Eddy never talks, never argues but is a presence that is soothing to me.

Today, whilst Eddy was resting in my back pack, we were coming to the last 5 miles of a very tough run and we had two more steep valley crossings to do to get back to the car. George and I were happy not to chat at that point so I practiced "juggling" two imaginary silver balls which were orbitting my head and decided to stop for a quick wee, George stopped behind me and said "That is a nice view for someone to see from their bedroom window in the morning!"

I was so engrossed in my mental juggling that I had not noticed that I was taking a wee break opposite the only house within about 1/2 mile!

Although it sounds silly, it really does work with practice, just be careful not to do it by busy roads.

Green Tea

My latest idea came after a craving for a cup of hot green tea after a run a few weeks back. I had been in a Chinese restaurant just before Christmas and had a cup with my meal and thoroughly enjoyed it compared to its Indian brother.

I was out on a run last Saturday and was just grumbling about the cost of sports drinks considering that they are in fact just sugary water when I came upon the idea of cold, sweet green tea in my sports bottle.

So, as I write this I have a pint of the stuff cooling down in a jug ready to decant in the morning. I'll see how it goes after all there is nothing wrong with experimenting.

Romans

Saturday's run has a Roman feel to it as I have discovered that about 5 miles from where I live there is the course of a Roman road that is begging for me to explore. Armed with my trusty waterproof map and compass I am planning run down to the road which is now woodland track, path and permissive path across farmland to see what it looks like. This will hopefully take us through a much needed shortcut to the North Downs Way on the Surrey Hills which is the main ancient thoroughfare to east coast of Kent. I'll report tomorrow to tell how it went.

One for the road

For the old hippies out there ;-)

The training starts to kick in

And so does the apparent tiredness that goes with it. 

• Last 30 Days - 182 miles
• Last 7 Days - 52.5 miles

I started off tonight with the intention of doing 12 miles, no more, no less. The difference was that this time I was to run with no Garmin as I wanted to see if I could pace myself at exactly 9 min/mile average pace. I was really pleased that I came in at exactly 1:48, perfect. However I was only saying the other day that when I hit 50 miles in any 7 day stretch I feel a great feeling of fatigue. It may be a coincidence tonight but about 2-3 miles from home I just found myself stop running and just started to walk, I hadn't realised the significance at the time but I must get through this silly physical block. Don't worry, I only walked for about 50 yards and then I carried on up an up hill stretch looking forward to a hot cup of tea. :-)

Bbbbrrrr

I helped out at the club last night as the Timekeeper for the 5 km time trial, I don't normally run in these monthly events as I like to do a recovery/easy run on Tuesday's of about 6-10 miles, the 5 km event tend to wreck my legs a bit.

The normal organiser of the event was not available so, I with two others stepped into the breach. I ran to the club, a distance of about 3.5 miles and then immediately regretted this as I found us standing in a dip for 30-40 minutes with the sweat on my back cooling me off bit by bit. I later found that some people had recorded -4 degrees centigrade on their car thermometers.....ouch, no wonder I found it hard to write with my cheap biros.

Say NO to cafe food

Monday is traditionally my evening off training and I usually relish it to catch up with some reading or if they want, my teenage daughters if I can wrench them from Facebook.

However, needs must when the Devil drives and to earn a little extra cash I am often seen rushing off to London of an evening to do some lecturing at a well known university. This means that on those days I go without a hot meal for nearly 48 hours!

With the increase in training I am noticing need to eat a small meal at least 4 times a day but getting sick to death of eating sandwiches or supermarket pasta meals...I am desperate for ideas on low fat, carby alternatives, any ideas?

Where is everybody?

So there we were, near to the end of our run we had worked out that during that time we had hardly seen anyone throughout. As we plodded past a small intersection a lone runner came lumbering out of a side path looking flustered.

"Did they go that way past you?" he said

"Who, the HEROES?" I said

"I'm John"

Getting confused I knew him as a group of runners called HEROES he pointed down into the valley and said "There they are" and ran off with a cheery wave. Looking through the trees I could see a gaggle of runners in a multitude of colours, yellow, red or blue. These guys are a mix of all the running clubs in the area and run every Sunday in the areas we had covered. I have done a couple of runs with them and they certainly know the area.

It got us thinking that we missed those runners by about 200 metres at the intersection and had it not been for John we wouldn't have seen them. So whilst we are running around this area there could be loads of other people who we did not see or just the other side of the hedge, we just think we are running by ourselves most of the time

Off the Map

Had a great 14-15 mile run today with a buddy from the club called Duncan who is a barefoot runner. Duncan always amazes me as he was getting continually injured until about a year ago when he threw away his training shoes and went bare foot! A year later, a new running style and he can run with no problems, injury free.

We met up at 7.00 am and went straight to the countryside to start running at 7.15 am, 30 minutes before sunrise, It was just about bright enough to run trail but I wore my head torch for the first mile until in open fields. My biggest objective today was to run off the map and try and discover a few more trails and just run until we felt like getting back to the car. All these objectives were achievedand was really pleased when we found a new trail that joined up a set piece route, I can now add 5 miles to a circuit without having to map it.

It has been a busy 8 days and have run 79.1 miles in that time quite some going and I feel great.

Confirmation

I have just got an email from Mike Inkster about my entry to The Moonlight Challenge in February 2010.

My foot has been playing up over the past week since I ran at Wendover and I am just a tad worried about it although it has improved today after my run and a hot bath. I wrote to Mike telling him that I was carrying an injury and asked if it was OK for me to enter on the night of the challenge as I was unwilling to commit to the £30 entrace fee quite yet, here is the answer:

Jerry,


Thanks for the message. As you're so keen to come and play in the dark, mud and cold, I'll be more than happy to keep you a place - just in case you feel fit enough to be there. If you could let me know before hand that you're coming that would help as I can then have a number ready for you. However, if all else fails just turn up by 17.00 and we'll sort it out then. Good luck with the injury and hope to see you next month.

Mike

 Just the answer I was looking for, thanks Mike

Calluses

Not the greatest subject to talk about in polite company but after today's run and my little discovery of what I suspected was a large blister was in fact a wet callus.

I had a good shower, let my feet dry out naturally and then tonight have given them a good look over. It seems they are in pretty good condition but there are some hardened areas that need to be rubbed down and so got a small piece of P120 sandpaper and had a good rub over.

I put my trail shoes back on and amazingly they feel really comfortable now. The heel is a little worrying but I will keep an eye on it and see how it turns out.

Blisters

I can't believe that after running 45 miles in rain, snow and wind then traipsing through mud, snowmelt and snow last week I suffered no ill effects to my feet.

I pop out for a 13.4 mile run this morning, some of it on road and a big chunk on trail and I get home to find I have a blister on my foot.....gggggrrrrr.

Posted later...Phew not a blister just a raised piece of hard skin.

Note to myself: I must look after my feet better

Out with the Mob

The only thing that was going to get me through my hectic and stressful day at work today was my promise that I was going for my run. This run heralded the official start of my training for my April challenge of the 12 hour run in Crawley, England.

It started out with a gentle recovery run and reaching the top of the hill one mile out from home I began to realise that my legs had some pace in them but pulled off for a bit until I was warmed up. Stepping into it I then noticed that there were loads of other runners out training, some the remainders of the "New Year Resolution" runners, a few serious ones with the gait of a trained runner and then a mob of runners, I realised they were from my secondary affliate club but chose just to say hello and then wave goodbye as tonight was my chance to have "Me time"

So I am back on the road taking it very easy for the moment whilst my legs recover after last Saturday.

Back on the trail

I am sufficiently rested now and will be back into training as of Thursday evening this week. 

This is great news as I seem to have come away from C2C with no injuries to talk of just few post race DOMS which have settled down nicely. I have planned in a 10 km run but will take it very easy and do it at recovery pace...we'll see.

Footsteps in the Dark!

The Moonlight Challenge....I think it is time for me to bury my demons

(#ultramarathon)

Watch this space

Resignation

Bad news at the beginning of the year which saw 3 people resign from my running club committee was made even more shocking when the remainder of the committee resigned with effect of midnight tonight.

Obviously the membership is confused as to what has been going on but a sad day that saw a flourishing club dwindle to nothing over night. As one of the members reported publicly "...the club should be bigger than any individuals."

Desperate Dan

And with the passing of my latest 45 mile challenge so goes my beard. I was enjoying the idea of a beard but after a short reflection I decided that it just had to go.

I felt like Desperate Dan shaving the thing off and went through two disposable razors to get to a satisfactory finish. I have to say though it was a great asset on Saturday's run and really kept the wind chill off my face, however you won't be seeing me with another one for some time now , they are just too itchy.

Free Poo

I have just visited the Susan Does London Blog created by the fantastic susankyliu of Twitter fame and she has a BRILLIANT photo that is just so wrong on so many levels.

I am trying to work out if Dulwich Riding School based in London is offering any passing runner the option of having a free poo or if it is a call for emancipation...I'll let you decide! Great shot Susan

Race Report

The Country to Capital 45 mile #ultramarathon started at Wendover, Buckinghamshire at a local pub called the Shoulder of Mutton.

Stepping out from our lodgings into a cold, wet and windy day we carried our bags the half mile to register. The village was still asleep as we trudged through the wet streets parts still covered in ice and melting snow to spy a bunch of other runners walking slowly to the pub. Inside the pub was a different story with the humdrum sound of conversation and laughter, pub staff walking around with trays piled high to the ceiling with bacon wrapped in freshly warmed bread. Here we met old ultra friends, Rob, his girlfriend Susan, world champion Lee, David from London to Brighton in September and who was to run with George and I for the race that day. As we were already kitted up it was a matter of registering getting our kit on the van and joining in the banter.

The Start

At 8.20 am the briefing commenced telling us of hazards, route changes and what to do in an emergency and with the traditional last question "Why are we doing this?" we were told "Because you are superbly trained athletes" we were ushered outside to concentrate on keeping warm and nursing our Garmins.

"...3, 2, 1" and we were off running down the High Street to the bewilderment of the market stallholders setting up for the day as 90-100 runners hurtled past. Winding our way out of Wendover along the icy back paths of the village around the church and then down towards Great Ash and Great Missenden. George and I were joined by David (London to Brighton Vet) and Rob a pal we had met up on a couple of occasions at the Doyen of the Downs. The first few miles were filled with joking, mild mickey taking and laughter as we settled into the run. The weather was atrocious with a wet clawing rain that was soon to see our maps disintegrate and non-designated map readers putting them into the bags to stay dry.

The difficulty with the first few miles on this type of run is the number of runners and the differing opinions of route to take. For every 10 runners there will be 3 map readers and mistakes happen such that you doubt your own decisions and I have to admit at one point we made that mistake!

The Mistake

As we approached mile 4.5 miles we soon found a few of us stopped staring at our bedraggled maps scratching our heads. It soon came apparent that we were in Ballinger Common and had missed our turn by about 200 metres! One runner, Tom, made a call.....a BIG call and told us to turn east down a side road, we then ducked down a path way and then found ourselves back on the main bridle path....genius call and we were back on track.

To Check Point 1 (Chesham)

The run continued and the field thinned out and we kept a consistent pace sensibly walking the rain soaked woodland uphill trails and running the downland tracks opening into fields. We took joy in seeing our buddies disappearing into the distance...the wrong way as they missed a turning but then join us again when they saw us crossing the field to their left, I think we had made up a deficit of 200 metres but it still felt good :-)

After that we clambered up a icy precarious rise, along a muddy wood section and then a lovely down hill section to check point 1 where we were greeted with the most scrumptious fruit cake, Jelly Babies and a bottle of water. Rob's girlfriend took some picks, more banter from the other runners and we left.

Time to consolidate

Again we saw runners disappear in the wrong direction straight from check point 1 and others appearing from completely wrong directions. It was madness but we have enough experience now to ignore those around you and traipsed off to make our own mistakes!

The weather was getting better but the maps had had a battering by now and it seemed they wanted to run on road when in fact it should have been trail (that would have led us on the right route) and yet again we found a gaggle of runners I got fed up and just made a decision to and get on the right side of a river and then to navigate off the features to get on track towards Latimer and then break away. It was around this time that David took a bit of a tumble on a muddy path, not normally a problem but on these long runs can cause issues. I have to admit David did look a bit shocked by the stumble but he is a tough little number and continued on, I think we had counted by now that Rob had changed his clothing combination about 5 times much to our hilarity and he is now called WardRob due to sartorial fortitude. I took great joy in shouting "Between mile 5 and 10 I shall be wearing lime green to match my shoes"

The snow still fell quite deep on the ground and was thawing fast with melt water flowing freely off the fields, over the fields our feet were frozen but soon warmed up on the wood trails and road, I was thankful that I had greased my feet in the morning and as we approached check point 2 at Buckinghamshire New University we were met by a flooded road that was covered in melt water for a stretch of about 200 metres. On the first puddle we navigated around it but I found it more dangerous to do so than just run through the second section, after all I was already wet!

Check point 2

This check point was really welcome and was at about mile 17, more fruit cake and water. My cough had begun telling me I needed salts and water so used by water ration to add a Nuun tablet. Rob make another sartorial change, this time a lovely pair of silver and orange running shoes to offset his lovely orange "3 hour" top, George a fresh pair of gloves and myself chatting up the CP staff for a new map. David was having a few problems physically but he was toughing it out, after all we were coming up to mile 18, wall country!

To me the next stage was a really big psychological one, the M25 ring road was within earshot and also we were within a stones throw of the Grand Union Canal

The Grand Union Canal

It was mile 23 and spirits were still high, David was fully recovered from his bad patch, George had controlled us well keep our reins in, Rob was chantering on the bit and I was feeling a little worried about the next 22 or so miles. Navigation had gone well and now it was a matter of solid running. I think it was the flatness of the run that worried me as we were now using totally different muscles on already tired legs.

There is not much to say about the next 23 miles but during this time we agreed that Rob go on ahead as he is much trimmer and pacy compared to our persistent style of running. The GUC once the pride of Victorian Britain, a main arterial route between Birmingham and London, is now a sad waterway filled with litter and shopping trolleys and a mish mash of hippies living in run down long boats. Proud wharfs now replaced by new housing association blocks and gas stands, now worn out monoliths on the horizon.

With that we as a group were fine, there was no need for map reading, the map was now just a guide as to distance between check points and it was a matter of digging deep and working against our personal demons and dig in.

At Mile 32 we finally came to Bulls Bridge the only turning we had to make at the canal, signs saying 13.5 miles to go. It was hear that our mood went up again as we realised we were only about 2 hours to the end and that there were no doubts in our resolve. Revitalised we ran onwards and saw another runner ahead, we were making headway and were feeling good. Around this time we agreed as a group to go for a run/walk strategy as the flat canal terrain was paying toll on us downland runners, a strategy that proved to work well, pick a distant target, run to it and then walk for a few minutes and repeat. We soon found this technique to really eat up the miles, checkpoints came and went. I had my own bad patch when I found myself getting really light headed and so had a peperami...boy did that little sucker work and with the addition of a carb gel was ready to plod forward.

The dusk began to fall and the headtorches were pulled up and switched on. The canal path now became a world of surrealness, animals scattered, cyclists came whizzing down the course and lone walkers scurried about their business no doubt spooked by the arrival of 3 runners passing them silently.

We thought we were running really fast when a runner came past and had a chat, encouraged us and then sauntered off at what I assume (and hope) is my normal training pace!

The last Mile

We were seeing the signs on the path junctions, Paddington 4 miles, 3 miles, 2 miles... and as we saw each one our hearts rose and we felt new vigour in our stride. Then I saw a lone figure, Joao (pronounced Jogo) a fellow competitor he shouted "Not far guys it is around the corner" David called back "We have 4 minutes guys we can't do it" I shouted "well we can bloody try" and we "sprinted" off to Little Venice, bridge in sight shouting ahead for walkers to move aside. David was shouting "45 seconds" again the bit between our teeth we belted around under the bridge to a finish line.....the clock 8:59:58.....we had beaten our 9 hour target by 2 seconds, a dip finish on a 45 mile run......BRILLIANT

A great days run, a run of two halfs, the beginning and the end. I loved it. Thanks to George, David and Rob you were great.

Peperami

It's a Bit of an Animal!

My kit, food and bottles are all lying out on the floor ready to be packed in the morning for the 2 hour train journey to Wendover later on in the evening.

Foods for this little jaunt have been selected and along with the usual carb gels and chew bars I am going to take some peperami! Normally I wouldn't touch the stuff but it seems to have all the bad things a long distance runner needs, fat, salt sugar and spices....yummy. I'll leave them for the middle part of the run and snack on them when my I feel "the hollows" coming on this is usually about 4 hours into the run when I am feeling hungry and my stomach wants to grip onto something

Cast out the demons

I have just caught myself looking at #ultramarathon websites that I was browsing last year. The stupid thing is, last year I thought it was ridiculous that someone would even contemplate doing an 85 mile endurance event let alone a 50 km.

Now I am quietly contemplating a 100 mile + race and not really feeling that worried...or should I?

Broken Trophy

Imagine the scene, I was working from home and was tapping away on my computer to hear a massive THUD from the living room. I assumed one of the kids had dropped a book or something and carried on working as there were no screams or tears.

Imagine my dispair when I went into the living room later to find my beloved Faversham 6 hour Ultra trophy lying in two pieces on the floor... there was no point in getting annoyed but I am just a bit upset that something that has such sentimental value has been broken.

Nothing a  little superglue won't fix but that is not the point, that was my Faversham trophy :-(

Icy Beard

Running in temperatures of -2 C can be quite uncomfortable so as I approach my 45 mile ultra on Saturday I have decided that the razor stays firmly in the pot on the sink. This is in a vain hope that the fuzz will protect my face a little for the projected 8-9 hour run.

Somehow I have a feeling that I won't quite look like Sir Ranulph Feines on the left during the run but it will certainly be cold at the weekend so every little thing will help.


Ironically I have had my hair cut last weekend!

Snarling Dog

Dog owners should have licenses to prove they are capable of handling a dog before owning one.

I am sick to death hearing dog owners in parks say "It's alright mate he won't bite" after the little %^@& has jumped up on you. 

Saturday's run consisted of occurrences that really annoyed either George or myself; the first being an incident when the two of us were running up a steeply inclined single-tracked country road when we came aware of a 4 wheel-drive car coming from behind at speed that was not going to stop in time to cause us to leap onto the verge narrowly missing us, a mini-cab driver nearly clipping me with its wing mirror and a Boxer dog who got excited and jumped up at me and then bit my hand. In the latter incident I shouted at the owner that "His f%&*ing dog had bitten me" and all he could say was to stop swearing...no not that his dog had bitten me and apologise but the fact I swore as though it was my fault.

So today we had a great 15 mile run but I am still amazed by dog owners who just don't quite get the idea that they are responsible for the dog they own.

BTW...hand is fine as my glove protected me

In the Zone

or is it self-hypnosis or just daydreaming?

I went out for a lovely snowy run with a group of 5 club members today, it was unplanned, we just turned up and ran through the local woods and parks with no route in mind.

It was a social event and we had a great laugh and chat as we ran through the snow. However when I was 8 miles into my run (I had a head start on them) I found myself running through a beautiful snowy section of the local nature reserve...............next thing I know I was being called back by one of the gang "Jerry, Jjeeerrryyyy" and my bubble was burst. I had found that I had slipped into the zone and was oblivious to all around me and was about 600 yards ahead of them. Interrogating my Garmin afterwards it has come apparent that during this period my speed and heart rate was constant throughout and was unaware....maybe there is something in this!

Grid Reference

I must be a real Running Geek if friends no longer email you to say "Meet you at the corner of the High St & Acacia Avenue at 11.00am" but now say:

"Meet at grid reference TQ 424825 at 1100" and I totally understand where they mean!

PS I made up the Grid Reference...and yes I know it is a graveyard :-0

Snow stops the UK

You saw it here first, snow stops the UK. What I hear you say snow can do that? Yes Dear Reader it can but only if you live and work in the UK, one flake can cause chaos to the whole infrastructure of the country.

Ok I jest, it is cold out there and there are a lot of problems with the roads and trains but hey, I can still run. I am working from home tomorrow but I am working early morning and then later on in the afternoon when the VPN connections are less busy to the office so will be going out for a run in the local woods and nature reserve for a few good miles. I am not sure how far my buddies want to run but I am tagging on a few at the beginning and then maybe some at the end to make about 10-12 miles and then laying off for a few days to continue my taper.

Keep on Going

I got my 12 hour ultra confirmation through this evening....I am now officially excited, more of that later I have other fish to fry but with the letter came a nice little poem which I thought I would share to my ultra buddies, I think you will understand what is being said.

Keep on going, don't despair,

You won't find the answers there,

When the race is there to run

Persistence sees the job get done.

Smile when sprinters dash away, keep your courage, don't dismay.

Pace your effort, hold your stride,

Cast those niggling doubts aside. Get that head up,

jut that chin.

Keep repeating,

"I can win"

...Now the last lap, find your spot

and give it everything you've got! 

Draw on every last reserve

straining round that final curve,

Now the straight, the tape, the line,

Victory tastes like vintage wine!

Back to Back

A race for the door before the snow came down was the order of the day here in Deepest, Darkest Kent.

All over the news today has been the story that snow was coming down from the North and was expected to be up to 10 inches deep in our area this meant the last proper run for a little while.

So out I went, the temperature hitting -2 centigrade as I left for a club run via a glittering woodland path lit by my trusty headtorch. I met up with some club buddies and we went for a cracking paced run out and then hill fartleks which I pulled out of to keep my legs happy for next week and then said my goodbyes to continue a tempo-paced run.

Soon enough the snow soon started and as I write it is already 1 inch deep...no more runs for me for a few days until it settles down but I am really pleased how my back-to-back has gone and a good 34 kilometres in the bag.

Brass Monkey

Apart from the opportunity of being able to post a picture of a pole dancer (doing the Brass Monkey) it was also to signify how cold it was tonight whilst out running. Mrs S was just leaving the drive in the car tonight as I arrived home and I could see the thermometer in the car was touching -3 centigrade but I know it was much lower on the outskirts of town.

This did not deter me as I was really looking forward to my run tonight as I nipped out in full winter kit out onto the roads for a steady paced run. I decided to wear my heart rate monitor and was happy to see it hanging around the 145-152 bpm perfect for burning off all those excess calories I have collected over Christmas.

It was a really comfy run and I feel so much happier than I did last week....phew

Change to kilometres!

I am just putting my training plan together for my 12 hour ultra in Crawley and all I can say is I am a little spooked.

One thing that is very apparent that I never thought about was the fact I am running around a metric track of 400 metres and I have been training all my life in imperial measurements so it is not easy to run and "do the maths."

As I am about to embark on this little jaunt I have decided to train in metric so that I can get used to the pace aspect....good idea, bad idea, what are you thoughts?

Rubbish Run

I had to really drag myself out for a run today after missing the last couple of days. I am not sure if it was because I have been off from work and lounging around eating and drinking too much.

So today I got my kit on and headed towards the nearest trail to my house and immediately regretted it realising that it was quite treacherous underfoot. The overnight dusting of snow had hardened the mud to really make your ankles turn and where it had been in the sun as slippery as ice. Back on the roads I was able to get a good pace going but only after mile 5-6 which just shows how lethargic I was not helped by the cold temperatures. Never mind, it is behind me now and a matter of moving on.