Mental

Damn the endorphines. Which part of running makes your brain suggest to you that, having slogged your way around the countryside, running up another hill rather than turning for home would be a good idea?

Insanity aside, great run this morning. Right Achilles is a bit sore, but I can run on it. A good rest (a whole week while we're away, for example) will do it the power of good and then when I'm back it should be fine. Mentally tough one this morning, but pleasing result.

Four miles, plenty of hills, and a reasonable pace. Not quick, but reasonable, and kept it going. Enjoyed it too, and fitness coming. Choosing to run up and over Red Hill, and finding it relatively easy, is better than it was three weeks ago when the hill had grown!

Off on holiday on Friday!



Music: QOTSA

New shoes and sunshine

Well, it's a glorious morning. Dragged myself out of bed, and pulled on my new shoes (reluctant to call them "trainers", they're "hybrid trail / road running shoes", don'tcha know... ;-) ), and headed out (the cats having come in as I opened the door). First thing I found was a decaptated mouse on the path; clearly a gift from one (or both) of the cats. Thanks, girls.

Then out, onto the road and down into Thringstone. Pretty much turned out to be downhill for the first half of the run, and then uphill back. Bad planning, that! Still, beautiful morning for running through the woods - sun glinting through the canopy and all that. Down to the priory, around that - watched loads of white fluffy tails scatters as the rabbit population took evasive action - and back up through the woods and home. Glorious.



Turned out to be 3.8 miles too! Blimey. Didn't feel too bad, but I was pretty sweaty when I got home. When i got home and had to clean up the cat sick. Again, thanks girls!

Shower was good, explained to George why planes are faster than boats, and headed to work!



Music: Rammstein

Nice flat one

Nice one this morning. To be honest, I did waver between six and five past, when I couldn't decide whether to go or not - but I thought "hell, we have enough rainy mornings, and this one's lovely..." and got my arse out. Glad I did.

No real route plan, no real aim, just jogging nicely in the morning sun and breeze. Down to the lake, a couple of times around it, and then back across the Leisure Centre field and car park, and then up the Church Lane hill by The Black Horse. Note to self, come *down* that way!

All good though, and feeling pretty good with it all. Planning on having tomorrow morning off, and then lifting some weight at the weekend.

Oh, got a new phone, so was pleased that the sports-tracker app worked nicely and seamlessly integrated all my settings and previous workouts. Nice work, well done to the team there.



Music: Frank Turner

Hot, hilly and hard

But remarkably quick, compared to how it felt. I was back in the hutch only seventeen minutes after setting off. Turns out that was a good thing, as the heavens opened moments later!

Ran down The Dumps, up Loughborough Road, down Cademan Road, and then up Church Lane. Doesn't sound too much, but those ups are long and steep, and the downs are long and steep. All good fun, but I think I'll look at someting flatter, but longer next time.



Music: Alice Cooper

Been nearly a week

But good one this morning. Had an epic weekend, and not quite sure I've shaken off all the after effects yet, but it was a good morning run, in beautiful sunshine. Cut back up across the fields parallel with the park, and that was a nice change, apart from the stinging nettles! Ah well.



Music: Hardcore Superstar