Tread Softly

This Thursday evening, look to the western skies as Jupiter and Venus, the two brightest planets to the unaided eye stage a close encounter over the Northern Hemisphere. Tonight's run saw me glancing up to the heavens to look at the planets as they slowly converged reminding of Yeats:

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet,
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

from nationalgeographic.com

Gates and Diversions

Today saw me stuck at my desk and concentrating like mad building computer stuff but everso often I would glance out of the window to a beautiful sunny day. 

Tonight was a planned 10 miles comprising 3 mile run to and then from the running track with 16 laps of the track. My legs are feeling amazingly good at the moment, if a little tight in places but I was hoping that the  run would get some blood pumping through the muscles to loosen them up. With the legs so was my breathing great, chest clear and breathing unlaboured. Checks done, it was time to enjoy the run and my mind was soon drifting off to other things and on arriving at the park found my way was barred by the park gates that had been shut early...ggrrrr. Luckily I have discovered a way of getting in without clambering over them and was soon seen squeezing through a gap, raking my hip on wire fencing and then continuing on to join the gang leaving me to hog lane 1 or 2 for the 16 laps. 

I was extremely pleased with my pacing session tonight. I had planned to run the 16 laps in 34 minutes ~8 min/miles (5 min/kms) and managed to do it in 34:12 seconds. Great practice for getting to know look and feel of a race especially when the legs are tired.

Bidding my farewells after the stretching session I ran home to come across a massive set of roadworks with closures, enormous tarmacking trucks which didn't stop me sneaking through to get to the other side to dodge cars and other lorries so that I could cross the road and to home. Tired mentally but pleased I got out to the track to get some wind on my legs. If the weather is good tomorrow it will be more of the same but on trail during the day as I will be off enjoying a long weekend

Half mast?

The training plans started for sure tonight, if a little tentatively, and was originally classified as a Recovery Run just to get the legs moving and to see how they felt after a few miles. I went to my sports bag and pulled out my running top and UJ shorts, nipped into the bedroom and got my kit on to look aghast at my shorts with this rather airy feel down below to note the "Boys were out of their Barracks". Looking inside my shorts I found the lining had worn away and was now exposing a large hole, only thing to do was get the Budgie Smugglers out and wear my shorts over the top of them.

All sorted it was time to get out and run to go around my set piece 10km route, no watch, no Garmin, just to run and enjoy. About 5km into it I began to feel a few aches so stopped to stretch my quads to the resounding noise of the ligaments crackling like a pair of castanets...the niggle instantly gone I carried on feeling very comfortable indeed.

Feeling pleased with my start back after a week it is time for a little rest before my return to the track on Thursday which I am sbeginning to look forward to these days.

Miles and Plans

I went out for a lovely walk this afternoon with the Delightful Mrs and girls walking about 6km of hills and mud ending up in the cake shop. During the walk the subject turned to my Thames Path 100 which whilst fleeting had Mrs S suggesting that I make it the last "long" run I do. I have mentioned the Grand Union Canal Run a few times but she does have a habit of switching off when I mention plans.....however when I said "I was hoping to go a little longer than 100 miles" ther reaction was amazing and I got more than a flea in my ear!!! Shall I just say she is not impressed.

Long and short of it is I am now officially doing the Grand Union Canal Race on 2^nd/3^rd June 2012.

That is not news I hear you shout Dear Reader but I have been keeping off the subject of late as I was concentrating on  the Thames Path 100 and its outcome before I made a firm decision. So this evening I have been seen pouring over Excel spreadsheets  to recreate my training plans for the next 12 weeks and as usual it looks as scary as hell but I have the heart to do it.

In the next 12 weeks I have planned in 800 miles (~1300 km) which averages about 9.5 miles (~15 km) a day and like all good training plans, the first day is a rest day :-)

Beware the cameraman

Lesson learnt...The cameraman is not necessarily your friend!

The background of this horrendous shot is that I am at the 28th mile and just left the second checkpoint at Windsor having just changed my socks, stuffed my face with fizzy drink, sweets and sandwiches. I was vaguely aware of a photographer but was not sure if he was an "official" one or a day tripper but one thing is for sure, I won't be buying his rubbish pictures :-)

To the track

I had the opportunity to go to the local running track last night not to train as I have done in recent weeks but this time go and watch the marathon wannabes from my clubs going through their speed training.

Normally I am the annoying plodder in lane one doing my pace training that sees them all zip past me and eventually lap me at some stage and it was a pleasure to stand on the side shouting abuse and the odd encouraging word to them as they whizzed past. What I love about this rag tag group of people is they are the epitome of the cross section of runners from the slow poke to the show pony, some taking it way too seriously and others there for the enjoyment.

Whilst watching the laps I was aware of another runner who I have never met running by himself and immediately picked up on the fact he was a long distance runner and obviously doing some pace and speed training. When he pulled up at the end of his allotted amount I asked what he was training for and it transpires he is doing Comrades in Durban this year so a good number of minutes were taken chatting about ultrarunning such that my club mates were ignored for a few laps.

Either way I had a great time watching everyone strut their stuff and watch the endorphins kick in and the smiles and laughters happen after...well done guys.

You are not a Super Hero

You undertake a challenge where you have pushed your body to its limits be it 100 metres or 100 kilometres there is a underlying belief that you are fully recovered when in fact you are not. Too many times I have seen athletes, I am one of them also, return to their beloved sport too soon after such a challenge and injure themselves unnecessarily .

Take yesterday (Tuesday) when I awake and find myself surprised that my knee feels great, my feet are less swollen and the blister on my little toe appeared to be drying up nicely, things were looking good; even walking up and down stairs feels fine even if it was a bit wearisome. No Dear Reader, don't think I was going to grab the lycra and go for a run I am not quite that unhinged but I did have the task of travelling up to London to give a 3 hour lecture at College and had quite a bit of walking to do something I would normally do in my stride (see what I did there) but today it felt just a little longer than I would have wanted. 

Wearing my trusty Karrimor sandals I traipsed off to the station and felt great but when I came to the hill I found it really hard as my legs felt so tired but got to the top to board the train. One little oversight on my part was having to travel on the Underground, not fun when the escalator is broken, the steps on those things are deeper than normal and it was now that my knee began to grumble as I stepped down the umpteenth riser. 

Now imagine the problem of crossing busy London roads something we take for granted but now try doing it at a trot so to miss that sneaky cyclist......ouch my knee grumbled and growled.

In all this is just a short cautionary tale...none of us are super heroes I have a feeling this old body of mine is going to take a while to be ready for running again.

Morning after...

So off to bed I went that Sunday night at about 11.00pm having not properly slept since getting up at 7.30am the day before....yuck 39.5 hours without sleep. I basically had gone through the other side and was wide awake but now was the time to crash. The Delicate Mrs S told me the next day that I went out like a light and was in a deep sleep all night as I am normally fidgety, I slept for 10 hours solid and on waking looked lie a big puffer fish who had done 10 rounds with Frank Bruno. Who knows what that was about but it soon cleared away after I had been up and about for a while.

Bursitis? (my left knee)

I say up and about for a while but as soon as I put my feet on the floor I realised the rest had let all the wear-and-tear injuries begin to out and saw that my feet were slightly swollen, the blisters on my little toes had swelled and slightly more worrying was my knee which had swollen, not dramatically but it was certainly painful, such that I took some ibuprofen to help with the swelling and put on a compression bandage to provide some support. There I sat for most of the day feet up and when I did get up used my trusty crutch just to keep the weight of the knee to be on the safe side.

As for today, I am in shoes and have driven the car with little difficulty however I have a feeling it will be a little while before I am back and running

Thames Path 100 - Race Report

Wow, where can I start? This could potentially be a long race report but I don't think I can remember everything as my brain has not been able to assimilate all the sights, the emotions and difficulties that I had to overcome especially in the last 10 miles where the weather conditions were somewhat challenging. After the last aid station a fellow competitor said in exasperation "This last bit is a race inside a challenge inside an event" and indeed it was...more of that later.

The night before the race

carb loading

As my regular readers will have seen (or commented to me in person) I had done quite a lot of planning and so with running bag packed with four drop bags and my already packed backpack it left me to have a small overnight bag. The Delightful Mrs S gave me a lift to the station to get the 8.00pm train to London but I was thwarted at the last moment when there was widespread delays due to a "Person Incident" so we hotfooted to an alternative line allowing me to get a later connection to Twickenham where I was to stay overnight at a Travelodge. On arrival at the hotel I dumped my bags and went about looking for food and drink suitable for pre-race carbing, so finding an off licence and a chip shop I spent the evening watching TV and eating.

The day of the race

I was up and about at 7.30am, packed and in the breakfast room for 7.55 to have a hot breakfast comprising 2x bacon, scrambled eggs, 4x toast, a sausage, 2 cups of coffee and orange juice. Stuffed to the nines I got my last bits together and walked 2 miles to the start and by the time I arrived was a sweaty heap.

Check-in was a breeze, liability waiver signed I was handed my race number, 121, a good number (a prime number squared)  and I went about catching up with old and new faces. I was even seen panicking looking for my tri-belt realising I had attached it to my backpack so I wouldn't lose it the night before!

The weather was warm if a little windy but nothing you wouldn't expect by a river and the competitors were soon seen grouping together for mutual shelter, the conversation nervous, the runners steering clear of the subject of tactics race plans......on the stroke of 10.00 am we were off.

Race plans and tactics

 The first rule about race plans and tactics is not to talk about race plans and tactics, this is a sticky subject with everyone having their own. I had my own and when prompted I kept it simply to "Keep going and get to the finish" which was sufficient for that moment.

In fact my race plan was basically aim first for the sub-24 hours but guarantee myself a sub-30 which was the cut off for the race. The second, probably more contraversial plan was to do it by myself, yes sure I was going to have people around me but I would give and expect no loyalty from anyone. I was happy to chat and joke but as soon as I felt an allegance grow I broke away, harsh to some but I had to deal with this challenge on my terms and not those of others.

 The first few checkpoints

As always the camaraderie in the group was second to none with much laughter, joking, tall tale telling and enjoying the day. I had a printout with cut off times and the first 28 miles had to be done in 5:10 hours and yes, I did pace off a little fast and apparently I was through 28 in 4:44 hours. Mile 28 was where my first drop bag was and enjoyed the opportunity to sit down, change socks and put talcum powder on my feet. To me this was complete decadence, discarding socks after such a short time but my feet felt great. After this aid station I pulled off the pace from there on after as I had a little wobble believing the warm weather had paid its toll and realising my wee was a bit dark took on extra fluids and it was only after the 38 mile aid station was I happy that all was good, I joked with a runner that the Smarties I got from my drop bag got me though . Lessons learnt from other races was that eating doesn't just happen at aid stations but throughout the run so had a little plastic bag that I filled with goodies and gels.

The first 6 hours were a blast running through some famous places, Hampton Court, Windsor Castle (signs to) Legoland and some extraordinary affluent houses, oh how the others live. Along this stretch runners passed in the opposite direction at one point a man overtook me and I shouted "What is your pace? 9 minute miles?"  He replied "Nope 7:50's" it was then I realised how slow my race pace was :-)  Small rain showers came and went but nothing that caused any hardship and more importantly not getting our feet wet

A nice surprise

At around the 40 mile mark just after another bad patch I decided to have a little walk to see some commotion ahead, it looked like a local youth shouting at another competitor, then run towards me shouting "Have you seen Jerry Smallwood?" to then realise it was my old friend Mike who had taken it upon himself to support me, I was amazed that he had even brought various bits of equipment in case I was in need of medical or physical assistance. An amazing morale booster and if I didn't say at he time Mike, THANK YOU. Mike ran with me for a mile so that he could get to his car and popped up again at the 44 mile aid station taking the picture of me above. All I had to now was run the equivalent of London to Brighton but now my immediate focus was to get hot food and that was 7 miles away and the promise of seeing some more friends, Emma and Warren who were manning the aid station who had a stash of jam sandwiches for me. 

The halfway mark

Henley, a milestone in the journey, it was half way, there were drop bags and HOT food. These are the checkpoints where the most people drop out, you have to remain focussed, positive and totally selfish. Get the food in, check your feet, check your kit, drink lots and ready for the long haul for here you will walk more. I did all this, powdered my feet, changed my socks, stuffed my face with jam sandwiches and hot dogs, refilled my bottle, put a sports drink from my drop bag with my kit and drank cola and sweet coffee.

Onwards and upwards

 Even though it had been dark for some time I called this the night section and now there was no stimulus, the race pack had long gone and ever so often I would hear the clank or creak of a gate opening or closing telling me another runner was nearby. I was able to pass others but not due to me racing them but the fact they were limping no doubt leaving the race at the next aid station, checking they were OK I would continue. I was feeling strong still but my quads ached, a tell tale sign that I needed more carbs, and so I ate, I drank and continued to move forward a 24 hour race still in the bag but it was going to be tight and so I decided to shift my attention to just finishing in the fastest time I could manage.

Let us jump forward

It is now 3 O'Clock in the morning and I have been travelling on foot for 15 hours, the night time is glorious, one in a  lifetime, the stars are out in abundancy, Jupiter and Venus holding hands in the bright moonlight, Orion hunting his prey. My focus now 15 to 20 feet ahead, I am alone and the mind wonders this is the time of the hallucination and came with a vengeance:

• A boa constrictor (a stick)
• Frogs (clump of grass)
• A chameleon (haven't a clue, maybe it was)

I even had auditory hallucination where I kept thinking there was a bird cheeping about 20 feet away and following me, it was in fact my waterproof rubbing against my backpack!

The weather closes in

 I can still remember this moment, it was 4.11 am and it began to rain, I was in the middle of a field, an enormous, open field and I was hungry, I was going through a bad patch. The rain passed as quickly as it appeared but it was sufficient to get me damp not helping matters but at 4:38 am the dawn chorus started and the light began to improve. The birds lifted my mood but I kept trudging along, foootstep after footstep but saying this I was in my element, focussed and determined nothing was going to stop me, well almost nothing. There were weather reports stating that it would rain later on in the day with the hint of snow but due to the mild day before most of the unsupported runners were wearing light clothing as I was, a long-sleeved shirt and a light jacket.

Apparently the rain began at the finish line at 6am or just before first light on Sunday. During the morning, the temperature dropped to 1 degree celcius, it began to sleet and then snow and the wind speed raised significantly which gave a wind chill temperature of -4 degrees.

Nothing is going to stop me

If memory serves me right I arrived at Abingdon (91 miles) at around 10.00am, I was wet, cold and very hungry. I was going to do it, 91 miles is the furthest I have ever been and I was going to pass through but first HOT food comprising a big bowl of baked beans and sausages, bread rolls and handfuls of sweets. Last push meant running light so all unessentials were dumped. Now warmed up I left and was immediately shivering but was going to get through this hook or by crook but 1 hour into my journey I was miserable, I was in horrific pain from the cold which was bone deep now and I was shivering uncontrollably. By now there were four of us in a group, talking everso often, trying to stay positive, the conditions underfoot were horrendous, like a skating rink and the safest way to traverse puddles was to walk through them. 

We dreaded the idea of entering a  field where the wind would cut through you like a knife this was about guts and determination....then to make it worse it began to snow....great big blobs of snow, my jaw ached and was locked where I had been clenching it so tight. 

There, ahead of us was a sign stating it was an aid station and as I went through the gate I saw someone run towards me, stop, stoop and stare, smiling and through my hypothermic, glucose starved brain I saw a sight for sore eyes, my friend Claire who walked with me to the station where I ate all I could manage....one Twix. I then had a "great idea" of using bin bag as an extra layer...llaughter ensued when we realised there were no arm holes and they were hastily made to find the blood supply was cut off, soon remedied I decamped for the hardest 5 miles of my athletic life

News behind me

It transpires that at 12.05 pm the race was cancelled and all runners were removed from the course after two competitors were hospitalised with severe hypothermia but we were so close I don't know if they could find us even if they looked but 48 runners were pulled in and the course cleared...a very good choice as I think I was lucky to get through unscathed.

At 1.00pm I arrived at the finish, I was neither elated or releaved, celebration would come later for all I wanted was to be warm and I was taken inside the Ice Rink to strip off my upper clothing, put my finisher's shirt on and wrap myself in a space blanket and coat....I was shivering uncontrollably not recovering for another 40 minutes once a hot drink and food was stuffed down my throat.

.....and there it is, 100 miles, a Race Buckle, a medal and one of the most epic foot journeys of my life, worth every penny, ache and pain

A picture is worth a thousand words

For today I am too tired to speak but hopefully this explains my silence

More to follow but first a cider and bed.

Drop Bags for TP100

I was recently asked "What do you put in a drop bag?" and that, Dear Reader is a difficult question as it depends on the rules of the race. The Thames Path 100 aid stations have the following:

1. Water and Cola,
2. Gu Energy Gels,
3. Chocolate and Sweets
4. Wraps and Sandwiches
5.  and at some stations hot food

Then there is the issue that we are only a certain size of drop bag, the TP100 stipulates they must be no larger than 30cm x 20cm x 20cm which limits what, as an unsupported runner can take. I have therefore decided on small packets of sweets, carb gels, a bottle of sports drink, a savoury snack and a high caffeine drink (if needed). In the latter stages I will have Nuun, toothpaste & brush and some light sticks, all of them will have a fresh pair of socks.

So with military precision they have been organised and layed out ready for labelling

Final Plans for TP100

After an extremely busy time at work where I seem to have turned into an IT analyst, system architect, programmer in 3 computer languages and then a teacher on two evenings I was see decamping from my offices with the thought of a six day break.

After my evening meal today I was then seen driving off to the local running emporium to purchase some Nuun electrolyte tablets ( I am treating myself) to arrive home to settle down for some finer planning of the TP100. This race is unusual as this time I am allowed 4 drop bags and I have put some thought as to what I want in them and have opted for small home comforts like packet of sweets, a tootbrush or a high caffeine drink, little treats that will raise my morale.

Notes have been prolific and the headache that has been hovering over my head is slowly leaving me as I thrust myself at this challenge. Even the Delightful Mrs S has washed and dried some kit for me and left it out on the side, even praising me after I mentioned that I had got the hotel room that I am staying in for 1/3 of the price when I booked it during the Winter sale, I have to thank George's wife for this thrifty top tip.

I will be leaving late for the hotel on Friday and will hopefully arrive at about 9.00pm ready for an early night up at about 7.00am on Saturday, a hearty breakfast and ready for a 2 km walk to the rendezvous for booking in and then a briefing before the start...then....who knows?  

Countdown begins

A rather meaningful blog title as I have finally made the decision not to faff around with Garmins and GPS for the whole race on the weekend, it is just too much hassle. In previous long runs we often went around our running clubs and asked if we could borrow a Garmin 305 as we they only last between 10-12 hours when all the bells and whistles are switched off. The added problem of running around before and after the races collecting watches and then making sure they are charged with the extra pressure of making sure you don't break it...too much hassle as I have said.

So here is the cunning plan, use my wonderfully simple watch I got for Christmas until I get 51 miles into the run at Henley and then switch on my Garmin so that I can gauge my speed in the latter half to keep me motivated. It's a plan and I may as well go for it as I don't have another one :-)

Watch this space as I have more cunning plans.

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.