Four, A Magic Number

Yes, I've managed four runs this week - if you can call today's effort a run. I was a tad pathetic out there today. Martin and I ran the anti-clockwise Dundry loop and I was almost ready to call for an ambulance by the time I got to the top. Pretty it was not. I eventually made it back and I think it was a little quicker than the last time we ran the anti-clockwise loop. 34:09.

That's it, I'm out on a secret mission, it's the works night out down town.....

Works Christmas Dinner...

Don't normally do much for lunch - ooh, nice, that rhymed. Three course meal. Too much. It was nice but hardly cooked in the kitchen. I'm thinking it was bulk bought from the wholesaler - is that a word? Moving on. Should've gone for a forty miler to burn it off but I didn't. Have a feeling the week is headed south. I'm out on the town Friday night - and I'm not sure the fifty miler to burn that off is going to happen.... Well it's nearly christmas!

Three In Four

Three runs in four days is possibly a seasons best - only took me till December... To be fair, I think I did run three times in four days some months ago but it's definitely been a while.

It was quite enjoyable, head torch blazing the way - and no, before you say it, I'm not practising my night time off road running for the 21st. Okay, technically I guess I was but out there in the dark it's safer than running up and down the country lanes.

I felt really sluggish in the first couple of kilometres. Maybe that was down to heading straight out after the drive home but if I gave myself time to think I'd probably have talked myself out of running. No, it was definitely better to have struck while the iron was lukewarm. Anyway, with the first few k's out the way I started to feel better and began to enjoy it out there. All done, it was only 9k but I'm happy with that.

Did I Ever Not Feel Like It But I Did It Anyway

Feeling knackered - and that was before I dragged myself out for a run. There was no way I would manage a run in the Black Mountains so I downsized to a run over May Hill instead. Not quite the same. I did stop and take a wistful look out towards the mountains from the top of the hill. It was a lovely clear day and you could make out the entire range along the border. Another day.

I felt lumbering at the start and felt lumbering at the finish but I got out there despite having a raft of excuses as to not bother. I finished off the days training with an hour on the exercise bike. Taking the weekend as a whole it hasn't been too bad. I managed a decent orienteer melded with reasonable mileage and two days of running. My achilles is feeling tight but I think the only way it will resolve is to just keep plugging away and ignore it.

Anyway, can't spend all day on here. It's time to get baking. Experimental cranberry and blueberry pies...

Wandering Around Woodchester

Wasn't tempted enough so the orienteering it was. I parked up the van on Selsley Common and ran along the Cotswold Way before turning off at Nympsfield and heading along the road to the event. 8km.

Quickly registered, I headed out on the blue course. I didn't exactly light up the world with my speed across the ground, briefly slowing on the ascent to control one to talk baking with Vanessa - you can tell I take this orienteering lark very seriously...

I had a good run all in all. I won't bore with the detail. Suffice, I didn't make any big mistakes, just one small one that cost me a minute or so. Other than that it went well. If I'd not run to the event I would probably have knocked a minute or two off running the trail sections but for now I'm happy to keep my orienteering strictly for fun.

I finished in 49:06 and 14th place (52 starters). That's my quickest by far and most importantly inside the hour at last. To be fair I think it was a little easier and shorter than normal but hey, you can only run the route provided. And that was the orienteering finished till the next time. With my dibber downloaded I headed home following a route suggested by Pat W and by the time I got back to the van I was fair knackered...

Almost Tempted...

to head to Snowdonia on Friday night. The forecast looks dry. Cold, yes, but dry. Vera is back on the road after an MOT hiccup so it might be fun. The downside would be missing Saturday's orienteering league match....

Plotting The Office Cakes

Haven't run so far this week. Nuff said. More importantly it's time to start thinking of what I bake to take into the office on my birthday. Yes, it's almost time to strike another year from the record...

My current thoughts are edging towards an experimental Christmas blueberry and cranberry 'mincepie' with my signature almond paste top.... Well, there's no point in playing it safe, is there?

Aching Achilles

Doh! l guess two days of trying run quicker wasn't the brightest idea I've ever had. My achilles is sore again so I didn't get out for a run in the Malverns. In fact I didn't get out for a run at all. It was a lovely day though. I'm fifty-fifty on whether to run the LCL Cross Country tomorrow. I'm definately ruling out the Cracker. The question is whether my achilles will be up to slogging round and round some soggy sports field in a far flung corner of the Universe...

Getting Serious...

Another day. Another lunch time run. I think I must have recieved a bump on the head sometime in the last couple of days! It was only the Dundry run but I'm so unfit it felt like I ran a double loop I was so knackered.

The big question now though is, what to do on the weekend. There's the Cardington Cracker on Sunday but I'm honestly in such poor shape it might be too much to suffer. I'll maybe just go for a plod somewhere tomorrow. The weather is looking good. Chilly but sunny. Maybe the views from the Malverns could be a good shout.

A Turn Up For The Books

Well that was a surprise. Me, feeling energetic enough to go for a solo lunch time run. More of a surprise, I suppose, was that I quite enjoyed my run along the tow path beside the Sharpness canal.

I headed out from Purton in the direction of Sharpness. After fifteen minutes of running I stopped, turned around and headed back. But not before I took a moment to read about the old Severn train bridge, long since dismantled. Apparently a tanker crashed into it back in the sixties...

Been A Poor Week So Far

Totally forgot about the Pomphrey Sports 5k yesterday - doh. Hopefully I can get a run in over Dundry on Friday with Martin. Sunday there's a possible Cardington Cracker up in sunny Shropshire. Saturday could be a Blorenge blow out but not sure I can be arsed to travel for a two miler - a steep two miler, mind, but still only two miles..

What A Weekend

I reckon I might be recovered by Wednesday. Not sure I have the endurance for the Christmas season. Managed an hour on the bike - I just about managed to get through it without falling asleep. On the work front it was back to it with a bang. The grindstone continues to grind.....

And Relax

I'm happy to report that I've had no after effects from the achilles after yesterday's race. Hopefully that's that put to bed.

I've spent the day doing not a lot. It's been good to do nothing. I did an hour on the exercise bike - it's too cold for my poor hands on the real thing at this time of year. Finished off with twenty minutes on the concept 2 rower. I've let that slip over the last sixth months but it's such a good workout I'm going to make much more effort to include it in my training from now on.

More importantly I continued my baking training. My own recipe vegan pork pie style thing with chickpea, lentil, pepper, carrot and herbs & spices. Pleased with the result but I need to work on my crimping...

Curious Incident Of The Run In The Night-time

Well work had me worried for a moment but it all worked out in the end. I managed to get to the night race in plenty of time. And I'm glad I did. It was great fun. Just my sort of thing. Right up my alley - ooh, matron. Okay, I think I'll stop there.

It was a great route. Two laps of three miles through the wonderful Forest of Dean. Two thirds was on muddy meandering single track. The rest on forestry trails. And it was surprisingly Hilly.

I got held up a little bit on the first lap in the first mile but after that things spread out and I was able to use my death defying powers of mentalness to really go for it amongst the tree roots. I lost my footing a couple of times but recovered without falling on my arse.

I finished 10th from what I heard was ninety starters. Pleased with that. I honestly don't think I would have run it any faster in the day light. I could get to like night running...