Too Hot To Handle.

After completing a second three mile run last week I was keen to build on that momentum. This morning it was hot and forecast to get even hotter so it was best to get it done. We ran on the side of the road that was in the shade of some large trees. This ploy worked well for a mile when we changed course running along a lane before entering a field. The ground underfoot was rock hard and unforgiving. The sun was beating down and I was beginning to sweat freely. I took a bottle of water but this had little effect. I got progressively slower as we went along, partly due to the heat and in part due to the fact that I had missed so much training. It was good to be running again and I have no after effects on my Achilles. The weather forecast for the next week is more sunny hot weather but I will try and get out there.

One step at a time.

Yesterday I took a step in the right direction. A three mile run without any adverse reaction from my Achilles tendon. It had been two weeks since my last attempt and eight weeks since the injury occurred. Even the cycling, which had been reduced during Wimbledon tennis fortnight, has done little to retain much fitness. It will be a long slow road to reach the level of fitness I had achieved before the injury happened. I do not enjoy running in hot weather so a little rain would be very welcome.

I have been out with my camera a few times and have posted some of my pictures.

Poppies in oilseed rape fields.

Poppies in perfusion.

A scene from one of our regular runs.

Tranquility.

Canal in town center.

Sign depicting what was sold at the town market.

The life cycle continues.

Two weeks have gone by and I am still unable to run due to my injured Achilles. I have caught up with all my gardening duties and done a certain amount of cycling. Not that cycling is keeping me fit, more of token effort to get out inthe fresh air.

Had a very pleasant day on Friday, we went to Wimbledon to watch the tennis. Having tickets for center court we were able to watch the matches of Laura Robson, Janowicz and Murray. Although it only lasted three sets the Janowicz match was the most entertaining. Robson was not at her best and it was all too easy for Murray.

It is good to see the Tour de France has started. Today it is Corsica which looks like an ideal holiday destination. Maybe one day when I win the lottery.

Run,walk and curse

I started out on a run today. This was the first time for three weeks that I had attempted running. The cycling was not really keeping me fit so I thought I would give it a go. It took two and a half miles for me to realise it was a mistake. The two mile walk home gave me plenty of time to reflect on the decision to run. I guess I will be back on the bike for the foreseeable future.

Cycling! That's pants.

Another week gone and still not able to run. Cycled on Thursday, Friday and today Sunday. The new cycle shorts that I bought for today's run are padded but I still felt a lot of the bumps in the road. Just to compound matters I picked up a rear tyre puncture as we were nearing home. I should really go out and mend it but it is Sunday afternoon and the final of the French Open tennis is on TV so I will watch that instead. I watched some of the motorcycle racing from Portugal earlier, fantastic close racing, superb skill.

Bank Holiday at Blenheim Palace.

Cricket on the back lawn at Blenheim Palace.

Re enactment of the Civil War staged at Blenheim Palace on the May Bank Holiday.

Spinning wheels

Tuesday was the third day in succession on the bike. It’s not hard work or to be more accurate I don’t make it hard work. It is not a training session but a means of stretching my injured leg without putting any strain on the injury. Spinning the wheels for three quarters of an hour in a medium gear gets me out of the house and with the sun shining it is quite pleasant. The injury is still painful and I do not anticipate running again anytime soon. As it improves I will put a bit more effort into the cycle rides to get the fitness level back up. It would be nice to get up to twenty five or thirty miles; this would give a change of scenery. We may also incorporate cycling into our normal routine but the running must come first.