Sunday run returns

The clocks moved forward today which means one hour less sleep. Overnight frost made it a chilly start to our run; the first Sunday that we had managed to hit the road for three weeks. A small amount of snow is still in the hedgerows but nothing significant. I decided to keep on the roads today to make life a little easier as I wanted to increase the distance. I was hoping to do ten miles but thought this was a bit ambitious as we had missed some training. The route was along country roads and a bit lumpy in places. Garmin recorded altitude gain of 340 feet so it was quite tough. It also recorded 900 calories burned and an acceptable average speed for the seven and a half miles covered. There were a few more runners out today, quite a few in shorts which I thought was a bit brave. With this start to the week it may be possible to achieve twenty five miles for the week.

The only wildlife spotted today was one common buzzard hovering over a field looking for Sunday lunch. Walkers dressed in winter clothes, some carrying camera's, were also in evidence.

Successful end to the week.

No long run on Sunday means that we had already revised our target down to twenty miles for the week. If we don’t do the longer run on a Sunday it is very hard to get motivated to do it during the week. Thursday I wanted to complete five and a half to leave just four and a half for Friday. We set off on a pre-planned route which would be a mixture of both on and off-road. We went along the main road before the first off-road down a track for one mile. A bit soggy in places but slightly down hill it was OK. Back onto the road for the next mile then into a field. We ran on through a small copse and into one of my favourite fields. We usually run down one side of it and then run diagonally across the middle rising about a hundred feet to the far corner. It is a good stamina building piece of work. Unfortunately since our last visit the farmer has ploughed it up, this made even running around the perimeter difficult. A little bit leg weary we ran the rest of the way on the road. Still we achieved the five and a half miles.

Today I thought four and a half miles around the houses would be fine. I got a bit bored after three miles and veered off down the side of a field. It looked alright so I thought why not? About a third of a mile long it was stickier than it looked. I could feel great lumps of mud being thrown up off my trainers and hitting the backs of my legs. I was quite pleased to get back onto the road and head for home.

I will be watching the weather forecast with interest and hoping normal service will be resumed on Sunday.

Back with a Vengeance

Patches of snow and ice still litter the grass. It is still freezing but the north easterly wind has subsided; this makes it feel a great deal warmer. Learning from my mistake of yesterday I left off the extra vest. Setting off alongside the main road we were surprised to see three Deer grazing contentedly in the field. They were feasting contentedly on the farmer’s crop of winter barley and took little notice as we ran past. We soon turned into a country road which after two short but sharp hills slopes downwards into a village. Across the main road we continued in a right handed arc, passing some twenty bee hives that have been over wintered sheltered beside a hedge, in a field waiting to be moved to a more suitable position when spring arrives. They should have been in their new quarters by now but bees do not work when it is cold. They stay in the hives swarming together to keep warm. They also need feeding on a sugar solution to keep them alive as winter rations that they had stored are nearly exhausted. On we went to the next village before crossing the main road once again and heading up the track on route home. On the track we met a couple with what looked like a Husky puppy. It was not on a lead and the owners did little to catch hold of it although they could see us running towards them for some distance. It did not respond to their calls and wanted to run alongside of us. I was tempted to keep going and let them retrieve it for themselves but we were heading towards another main road. It was not the dogs fault just thoughtless owners. I caught hold of its collar, pointed it in the right direction and gently propelled it in the right direction. I uploaded the days run onto the Garmin Connect website and was pleasantly surprised to find that despite our distractions it was one of our faster efforts. We may suffer tomorrow as a result but it appears the training is going in the right direction in spite of the weather interruptions.

No excuses, get out and run.

For two days I have looked out of the window and found reasons why I should not go running. Snow, ice and a ferocious north easterly wind being the main ones. Today looked better, most of the snow has melted and ice had been reduced to the odd patch. Fields would still be frozen and passable with care while pavements looked clear. This was good in theory but fields which had enjoyed the late afternoon sun yesterday were very wet. Standing water and glue like mud made running difficult. It was obvious after two miles that the extra vest I had put on was surplice to requirements but not a lot I could do except suffer. Running the final three miles, predominately uphill, was a struggle. The time was slow for a five mile run but that was due to the underfoot conditions. Tomorrow I will choose a different route, if it freezes hard overnight we will try off road again.  If the weather is milder sadly it will be on the road.

Sunday run cancelled.

The overnight snowfall is not very deep. Enough to put a fresh covering on roads and pavements it will be too slippery for running. Wind that is blowing from the east gives quite a low chill factor. Cars with rear wheel drive are moving cautiously while four wheel drive vehicles are demonstrating  their qualities. Fewer people than usual are walking dogs, those that are being well protected from the cold. Snow on the road reduces the noise made by the traffic and leaves an eerie silence. The sporting program is all but wiped out and presenters struggle to fill in time. One such filler was an interview with the racehorse trainer Nicky Henderson on channel 4 which was both honest and informative. Re-runs of old footage is just lazy journalism and exposes less talented presenters. Presenters that are unable to improvise and only read from an auto cue. The World Cup football qualifying matches that are being played this week means that no Premier or Championship matches are being played. This means that Sky has reached down into the lower divisions for matches to screen. Skill levels are lacking but the endeavour is high and results are less predictable.
I have just seen one runner go by. She was moving as if unsure of her footing. This cannot be enjoyable or achieve much from a fitness point of view. The risk of injury looks to outweigh any benefits gained.

Revised target hit.

Friday saw us reach our revised target. We did not approach the task with much enthusiasm but knew it had to be done. Even the pavements had quite a lot of surface water which made things a little bit unpleasant. Snow arrived on Friday night as forecast and has continued on and off throughout Saturday. This could put our Sunday run in serious doubt. If we are unable to run tomorrow that would be two Sundays lost to snow. I suppose we should expect that in late March in England.

Poetry in motion.

I just knew it would happen. Miss the Sunday run and the whole weeks schedule goes out the window. It appeared straight forward enough; four runs of six and a half miles would more than cover the twenty five mile target. Not running on Monday was a mistake; this left us to completing the miles in four consecutive days. Tuesdays five mile run added to the pressure which was compounded when we did the same on Wednesday. Fifteen miles in the remaining two days is just too many (we don’t run Saturdays). Revise the target down to twenty and we have something that is achievable. We set out today feeling more optimistic and enthusiastic. The first mile was a bit slow but there was a hill in it so that was acceptable. After half a mile of downhill we turned left up a track that goes on for a mile. We put our backs into it and climbed at a steady even pace. Most of the excess water had drained away from the track and the wind had dried the mud so it didn’t stick to our shoes quite so much. At the top we crossed over a main road and ran down the track on the other side of it for a mile. This was easier going as the surface is not so broken up. At the far end of the lane we turned left and ran alongside a main road home. This was a run of just over five miles which means another five tomorrow will reach the revised target. Revising a target to something that is more achievable makes better sense than struggling to hit one which is just beyond my capabilities.

This is a poem from the book I wrote. If you have competed in races you will understand the feeling. Please leave a comment and let me know.

The Race Runner

Raindrops fall on a balding pate,

Merged with sweat flow at a rate,

Across his brow and down his vest,

He runs and runs no pause for rest.

Fire in his lungs cannot be quenched,

As from his chest they’re almost wrenched,

In out in out they heave and sigh,

Praying the finishing line is nigh.

Thighs scream out enough enough,

His calves rebel, the going’s tough,

Blisters form on cramped up toes,

The pain it comes but rarely goes.

Over the line he’s tired and weak,

His head is pounding he cannot speak,

A week’s recovery is all he needs,

Then off again at breakneck speed.

Spring postponed until April

Sunday came “we will run come hell or high water” but looking out of the window we were not enthusiastic. While we stood and deliberated it started to snow. It was small flakes at first but quickly escalated into something a little more substantial. Visibility reduced to about fifty yards would have made it dangerous to run on the road. Grass was soon covered which would have concealed lumps and bumps that could cause injuries to ankles etc. Pavements also had a light covering that made them slippery. The only sensible decision was to stay at home. By lunch time conditions had improved but with football looming on Sky TV it was too late.

Monday was completely different. You would think you were on a different continent, sun shone and it was almost warm. Running was put to one side in favour of gardening, well moving logs anyway. It was backbreaking and took most of the day. Today still not fired with enthusiasm we got out and did it. Five miles around the roads because heavy overnight rain has again flooded some of the fields and those not flooded are very sticky.

Hard disc, hard luck.

It was just as well we ran on Thursday as the computer problem proved to be more serious than at first thought. All attempts to solve the problem failed. We were able to remove the Hard Drive and save the contents to another computer which means I have been able to save all of my writing. We then ran the recovery disc that took it back to factory settings. This wiped the Hard Drive of all the documents and Software that was on it. We reloaded Internet Explorer but despite repeated efforts it comes up with error messages. The computer is a few years old and is running XP which may be the root of the problem. It is very time consuming and frustrating. Not sure if it can be fixed or whether it will mean buying a new one which we can ill afford.
Come hell or high water we will go for a run tomorrow just to get away from the computer.

Day ends in disaster.

The run yesterday was one of our better efforts. It may have been the milder weather or just the desire to get it done. A circular course of just over four miles, it went very well. Knees were not in rebellious mood, breathing fairly even and target of twenty five miles achieved. A good start to the day. Then it all went wrong. Connected the Garmin to the computer to upload the run details to Garmin Connect to view the run analysis and the computer would not start, not even in Safe Mode. Tried all the solutions we know without success. The other bad news was that the book I am writing is on this computer as well as the book I have already written and some poems, not to mention the pictures. I have no back ups for any of this work so today could be very long trying to sort it out. The moral of the story appears to be, "Back up, back up and back up again."

For better or for worse we're going!

We ran five miles yesterday. This only leaves just over four on Friday to achieve twenty five for the week. We set off on the road through a housing estate. Buildings give some protection from the wind and the smooth surface of the road helps to loosen stiff joints and muscles. A mile and a half into the run we turned left down the aptly named Canal Lane. From the lane we could see the M40 motorway in the distance. Cars and lorries en route from London to Birmingham and vice versa. At the bottom of a steep field we joined the tow path beside the Oxford Canal. A flat but slightly muddy one mile later we were in town. A steep hill reduced me to walking before the top but a fairly brisk run home from there made up for it. A white overnight frost and bright sunshine this morning means we are going to run today as the weather forecast for tomorrow is heavy rain. I just hope the joints will stand it.
Went out yesterday and bought a new lawn mower, the old one which had given good service died. The grass is growing, a sure sign that spring is on the way.
When we get back from our run I will sit and write more of my book. I have gathered my thoughts and can see where the next part of the story is going. At the moment I am reading "The secret life of Bletchley Park", it is a bit hard going but very informative and I will see it through. Has anyone else read it? If so I would be pleased if you would let me know what you thought of it.

Winter is not over yet.

Too cold and windy to run Monday, spent the day writing my book. Making progress but it will be a long and winding road. Weather still cold today with fine snow in the air but we just had to wrap up warm and get on with it. Once on the move it was OK, we did a mixed course with some off road. Fields that are flooded had ice on them so were passable without getting our feet wet. Nearly six miles at a fairly brisk pace has set us up for an easy run in to the end of the week. Probably run five tomorrow and leave a short four miler for Friday.

No snow, got to go.

I had hoped that the snow which had been forecast would be lying two inches deep when I looked out this morning. This would have given us a reasonable excuse not to run. The last of the autumn leaves were bowling down the road at quite a pace, driven by a very crisp easterly wind. Enthusiasm was not great but I had stated that ten miles was the target for the day so we had to get on with it. Choosing a route that would keep the wind at our backs and with ample opportunities to shorten the route if necessary, we set off. The wind and a desire to keep warm made us set off at quite a pace. Downhill for a mile and a half followed by a mile and a half uphill warmed every bone in our bodies.
A left turn took us along a fairly level three mile stretch towards the next village. A few ups and downs but nothing to severe. The countryside was fairly open and in the distance I could see the village church ahead of us. It took quite a while before it appeared to get any nearer. We passed it with six miles on the Garmin. The route was a large triangle, this meant that passing the church we turned left for the run home. It was beside the main road with the wind coming into our face at two o'clock. The snow that had been forecast overnight was now beginning to fall. It was not big flakes just small icy ones. This last four mile leg of the run was slightly uphill and quite demanding. I had chosen a route that was all on the road. We had not run ten miles since October so I wanted to make it as easy as possible, if that distance is ever easy. The fact that it was all on the road meant it was reasonably quick considering which was satisfying. All in all a good start to the week.

Hit the right note, on target again.

Wednesdays band practice was the first we have attended for a month. Luckily there was enough plays who knew the music to carry me through. We have about forty members of all ages and all abilities. We play a variety of styles from classical to Rock around the Clock. I play the clarinet and my wife the alto sax.
Yesterday it was too wet to venture into the garden so I wrote another chapter of my book. It was tough going and involved quite a lot of research on the Internet.
Back to running this morning, only needed just over four to hit the weekly target. I find it is harder to motivate myself to go out for four miles than five or six but we did it. A circular route mostly on the road it was quite quick. I did consider doing a speed session instead but did not think my knees would be up to it. I still think we should be running ten miles on Sundays and will be looking for that distance this week. The weather forecast is snow at the weekend so we will have to see what conditions are like.

Run to be Social

Rain was forecast for the afternoon so it was decided that a morning run would be more comfortable. It was band practise in the evening and I find it hard to blow my clarinet after a hard run so that also was a factor. The run was five and a half miles long and circled the next village. The first half was mostly on road and slightly downhill, the second half was more off road and slightly uphill. We met a couple of other runners while we were out but they didn’t speak, obviously members of the Antisocial Running Club. The distance we covered makes a total of twenty one miles for the week so far; a four mile run tomorrow will hit our target. There is a local running club near to where we live but we don’t see them out running in groups. When we lived in North Devon we belonged to a club. Six days a week you would find groups running from the clubhouse. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays would be well attended and in the heyday of running Sunday morning ten or fifteen would turn out for a long run. The first four or five miles of which, some would be recounting their exploits of the night before in the bar. By the time we got to ten miles running was taken a bit more seriously. How times have changed. The curtain raiser for the season used to be the Taunton Half Marathon at the beginning of April. It was also a last chance for those runners doing the London Marathon to stretch their legs. It is the thirtieth anniversary of Taunton this year. http://www.tauntonmarathon.co.uk/ .Bideford Half Marathon which was run last week has been held for over ten years and also provides an alternative. http://www.bidefordaac.co.uk/index.htm

The rain forecast for yesterday has arrived today so all garden activities is postponed. I have chopped logs for the fire and it is time to get back to writing my book.

What a Carrion

Yesterday had to be one of the most satisfying runs of the year so far. After increasing our mileage slightly on Sunday to eight and three quarters we were able to follow that up with six and a half. Fifteen and a quarter by Monday takes away the pressure for the week. It wasn’t a fast run but it is what I call lumpy. Mostly off road as usual, one of our favourite summer routes, it rises and falls quite sharply over fields and through a wood that were drier than I expected. At one point I saw two buzzards circling overhead. I reasoned that as they only eat carrion if I kept moving albeit slowly at times I would be OK.

Recently we had two large beech trees pruned in our garden. The logs, which were left in a pile, should last through next winter if we are lucky. The log pile was sited in the wrong place so I spent yesterday afternoon moving them to a new location. I was not able to move all of them as there was just too many and my back was killing me. Anyone that tells you a log fire is all fun is lying.

Brilliant sunshine today so no running, just catching up in the garden. I left the log pile well alone and put a good portion of the compost heap on the raised beds ready for planting. It will be lettuce and other salad crops. While I was working a couple of frogs hopped by enroute to our neighbours pond, spring must be in the air. I have more compost to dig into the main vegetable plot and one of the first things to go in will be broad beans but not quite yet. I really like broad beans how about you?

Sunday in the country

Overnight frost meant two things; one it would be cold and an extra vest would be needed and secondly it would be firm under foot. Firm enough to get off road.  The first half mile along the road was a nice gentle warm up before taking to the country. With the exception of a short half mile section it was off road for the next six and a half miles. The route was one that we have covered a number of times. In the summer it is well used by hikers and dog walkers but at this time of year there was only a few hardy souls. The first part is across meadows that have cattle in them. These have become poached and uneven. Frozen ruts had crossed with care. A short path along by the old water mill is narrow. It is shared by horse riders, mountain bikers, walkers and runners alike and because it is by the old water mill it floods regularly and never drys out. It was very muddy and slippery requiring extra care. Once past that point a steep uphill run for the next half mile was followed by a breather on the flat. We then plunged down across another three fields before swinging left to run alongside a disused railway line. The old railway embankment prevented the water draining away. It also sheltered it from the frost making the ground underfoot very, very sticky. Mud clogged the tread on our shoes making them extra heavy. On the outskirts of a village noted for its Morris Dancers we turned left again. Over a wooden bridge that straddles a river we headed across arable fields. Exposed, the wind had dried them out and although it was uphill the ground underfoot was good. Past a small windmill, which I suspect had been used to pump water to the farm once, we ran on and up the Main Street of another village. Off road for the next mile brought us close to home. Checking the Garmin showed we were still short of the distance that I wanted for the day so we had to run a loop around the roads to make up. Home and showered it all seems ok now. Eight and three quarter miles done, a good start to the week.

Car Brakes Budget.

Yesterday was a muddled day. The car went to the garage for some attention to its braking system and was expected home again for tea. A morning stocking up at the supermarket was followed by an afternoon awaiting a call to collect the car. The call eventually came to say the car was having a stop-over and would not be coming home until lunch time today. We got up and despite having porridge for breakfast we went for a run. It was quite hard work as the off road bits were quite gluey underfoot. Some parts of the fields are still under water. The farmers have managed to plough some of the land but it looks very wet and will be a while before they are planting seed. We finished the run on the road, up hill for the last half mile. It always seems to be up hill coming home. The run was just over five miles which exceeded our twenty five mile target for the week. The car came home just after lunch. A gleaming new brake calliper and pads but none the worse for its night on the tiles. If anyone tells you brake callipers are cheap they are lying.