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My week - cliffs and wind
By Spike (aka "Running for Beer") | October 6, 2007
Wednesday 3rd October
Was due for a 4 mile speed session. Had aimed to fit it in at lunch time, but as usual lunch didn’t happen and neither did the run. Semi-consciously deferred it to after work then it dawned on me I had my Gaelic class. Still, this could be a good thing as Julie is away over the weekend running the Loch Ness marathon, which means I’ll have the kids & won’t be able to get out.
So, today’s turned into a rest day & I can do my long runs on Thursday & Friday after work (time to dig out the head torch).
Thursday 4th October
12 Miles (3×4 mile loop) at around 12 min miling. Weather’s pretty good. Would have gone for a straight out and back, but hadn’t got round to sorting out a feed belt. Started off with the intention of doing a known 3 mile loop 4 times but decided to try to stretch it out to 4 miles which would mean 1 less loop.
The loop takes me down to the sea, then up along the cliff tops taking a couple of detours around the cows (they seem to like standing on the trail), turning inland after a mile and meeting up with the road. Its fairly tough going but enjoyable all the same. I’m making the most of the clifftop run before the weather turns.
By the second lap I was running with my head-torch. It was fine on the road but you have to be a bit careful with your footing offroad. The trail is pretty small so its easy to drift off it.
Friday 5th October
8 Miles (2×4 mile loop) at around 11:30 min miling. The wind announced its arrival today. A bit too strong to risk a clifftop run, so a bit more road than yesterday’s loop. At times its hard to make any headway at all against the relentless gusts, even running downhill – and this is just the start of the wind.
Found that if I let my mind wander off I was quickly veering off course. Really takes its toll on the knees too, I presume its due to landing slightly off alignment. I will have to try hard to get some leg exercises going.
Considering the trouble I had with my first few runs, I am really pleased with the last 2 days. As ever, my runs were slow, but at least they were steady and more importantly enjoyable.
Topics: Spike (aka "Running for Beer") |