Category: ‘Daily Diary’

I was meant to head out first thing for a run, but just didn’t feel like it. I put it off and off through the day until it got dark then figured if I don’t head out now I never will. Legs still aching from the off road run on Christmas Eve, this was a run I never really got into, looping around town at a slow old pace, feeling the ache in my right groin from where I slid awkwardly two days ago. Moreover I think I have the makings of another cold brewing, so everything feels a little laboured.

I was meant to do ten miles, but at 9.2 something I called it quits. Little satisfaction in this run. I think I should have stayed at home.

Time: 1:10:27. Distance: 9.27 miles. Pace: 07:35.

Permission to run denied. A rest day then. Enjoy Christmas!

Something a bit different today. Grantham Running Club, like other clubs up and down the lambs, put on a Christmas Eve run, where runners were encouraged to don their Santa suits and had out across the Vale of Belvoir to a pub where a three course meal awaited.

A three mile jog to the house from where we were to depart – mulled wine and mince pies on offer. After the first of several group photos we headed off on a mostly off road run. Looking the part in my modified Santa suit, I tried my best to stay upright on the muddy tracks and trails – very nearly coming a cropper on one or two occasions but, by and large, keeping the Santa suit clean. Some of the views en route were stunning – lucky to have mostly blue skies, we could see for miles and miles. Indeed we were very lucky to just have a stiff headwind to contend with after the battering storms of the previous 24 hours.

Ten miles later and we were at the pub. A swift change and food and drink was soon being enjoyed. A very pleasant morning’s run!

WIth predictions of chaos caused by strong winds and rain, we returned a little earlier than planned back home, and I wasted no time in getting my recovery run in before the wind became too strong to be able to run without fear of a bashing from a tree branch or worse.

The top of the right foot is painful when wearing the Nike Frees of the past two days. Thankfully there was no discomfort when the Lunarglides were on and I can be more or less assured that it is merely some tendon discomfort where the tongue of the trainers has been rubbing rather than anything more sinister.

On the standard recovery run of Queen Elizabeth Park through to Dysart Park and back, the outward leg was run mostly into the strong headwind, which saw me come to a near standstill at times. On the return leg I was blown almost more quickly than was comfortable for a recovery run. Pleasingly although the legs were a little tired, there was little sign of soreness or tightness from yesterday’s 23 mile run nor the accumulation of 82.5 miles across the past week.

Distance: 6.16 miles, Time: 46:31. Pace: 07:31.

Still in the Fens of Lincolnshire, I was out fairly early for a planned long run. In various incarnations, this run has been run on the last Sunday before Christmas for around the last seven years. A six mile dead straight road heading to Coningsby before finding another six mile long dead straight road to Gypsey Bridge. Interspersed with other straight roads and you have yourself a 23.5 mile long run.

The other USP of this run is that the entire run takes place at or around sea level with barely a noticeable change in elevation to be found – this despite passing through two hamlets that proclaim to sit on top of hills.

From the off and aside from some initial alarmingly green strings of snot barely ejected from the nostrils, it was apparent that body and legs were feeling noticeably more healthy than in previous days. There was very little of the run when I had a direct tailwind but much of the first half had a slightly favourable cross wind, so I deliberately eased back on the pace.

Coningsby is over halfway and after a welcome pit stop, I picked up the effort a touch on the way back, keeping the pace consistent or slightly faster despite the wind increasingly blowing more directly into the face. The flat straight nature of the run began to take its toll with several tendons and muscles in the legs aching from the repetitive strain.

At 20 miles there was a tough mile into a direct headwind before thankfully the final turn saw me back to having a crosswind, which allowed me to log the fastest mile of the run and indeed the week in the final mile.

Some considerable coughing later once stopped and it was time to drive back, having run over 82 miles for the week. Quietly and with not a lot of pace, I’d logged my biggest mileage week ever. Week one successfully accomplished.

Time: 02:51:24. Distance: 23.39 miles. Pace: 07:19.