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My October
By Spike (aka "Running for Beer") | October 24, 2007
Sunday 7th October
Rest day for me.
Julie ran Loch Ness today & put in a really great time. OK, we’re not fast runners by any stretch of the imagination, but I was really proud of Julie bringing her time down from 5:53 at Abingdon to 5:10. And on a pretty tough course. I’ve only managed better than that twice, and only on a flat course, and I haven’t got too near that recently. So its a bit of a kick up the bum for me.
Saturday October 13th
5.11 miles Ave 11:07
I haven’t seemed to find the time to write up notes on my runs recently, so am filling in the last couple of weeks as best I can remember. I have been struggling to find the time to fit in the running with work, so have been going out later and hence less likely to feel like writing up. Am getting plenty of use from my head torch though.
Its a strange thing with a long one week, short next week type schedule. Even though I am only doing half distance this weekend, its as though the runs are really long. I am really struggling mentally to get out there and run. Managed it OK in the end today, but am not so sure about tomorrow.
Sunday October 14th
7.23 miles Ave 11:03
Found it very tough to get motivation. Its not a long run, but it seems it. I didn’t get round to sorting out my water bottles & belt, so ended up running 2 loops so I could stop off for a drink (unfortunately not at the pub).
Monday October 15th
2.52 miles Ave 9:41
Just a small run round my favourite loop to keep the legs going. A pretty pleasing pace for me, especially given the reasonably large hill.
Saturday October 20th
10.1 miles Ave 11:24
Having missed a run again (work is my excuse again) I was feeling a bit daunted by the task for today and tomorrow. I still haven’t got the water bottles sorted out so once again am doing 2 laps.
The problem with using the house as a drinks stop is that I also use it as a toilet stop and that can pretty easily become a habit. It sounds stupid, but if I have a pee break a few times I find the urge to pee increases for future runs. Does anyone else find this?
Sunday October 21st
14.04 miles Ave 12:41
Still no water bottles sorted out, but I decided to go for a bit of exploration today. I started with my favoured run along the cliff tops, then round the small village road, then round the back roads of the next village, then the next. I found two or three roads that led up to different parts of the sea shore. That was really nice.
The wind had also picked up quite a bit today. It strikes me as strange how you can be almost unaware of the wind when it is behind you but turn into it and it can be hard to make any headway.
Some of the roads were quite hilly, and some pretty stoney. One in particular went from tarmac to gravel to stoney to rocky, whilst gradually getting steeper at the same time.
By the end of the run I felt good but pretty tired. My preferred running shoe (Nike Free) has little cushioning and the rocky ground left its mark on the arches of my feet. They were quite red and a thin layer of skin was peeling off. They were also a little bruised. Still, I prefer that to shoes in which you can run over any type of ground and feel no difference at all.
Monday October 22nd
4.11 miles Ave 10:59
The legs were starting to rebel a bit at the start of today’s run. Not so much because of the distance as the wind. Unless its coming directly from behind or in front, I find myself struggling to keep in a straight line. And this seems to tax muscles that are not too used to getting much work to do.
I have now booked up for the Cornish Marathon in mid November, so I will have to adjust my schedule for that. I will be on the mainland for a week and a half for work. I was worried about finding somewhere decent to run then worked out that I if I got the sleeper train from London to Cornwall & back again I could make it to the marathon. I have heard great things about this marathon (its a pretty tough one) so am looking forward to it.
Tuesday October 23rd
Worked through lunch again which meant I missed my 2 miler for today. Started a new intense Gaelic course this evening, so a late run was out of the question (especially since I had no option but to come home via the Chinese takeaway with a big bag of food – guess I may as well have a few glasses of wine now too). Gaelic will take up Tuesday & Wednesday evenings for the next few weeks. I just hope I can keep up with the kids (or at least my 3 year old). Sydney, my 5 year old, still thinks its funny to teach me new words, then later let me into the secret that she made it up.
Topics: Spike (aka "Running for Beer") |