month total 1005

Well I must be 11 hrs and 29 minutes behind schedule now after the minimalist catch up of 5 minutes... Let's say about 100 minutes a month extra for the next 7 months to get me going. How did I manage an average of an hour a dAy last year when I'm struggling to make just over half of that now?

Week total 128

That'll teach me to count my minutes before they're run... On Thursday I somehow jiggered my back (techie medical term there) and it really doesn't feel as if running would be a good plan. I can walk Very Carefully and now and then I stand stock still and give a wee yelp if some dodgy movement gives cause for it. I'm hoping that if I take a rest from running for a few days it'll get better by itself.

Morning Mist

56 min
Start 5.15
Got out just a little too late for the first most spectacular pinknesses but the sun coming up through the mist was good for some special effects all the same.

Steady run, nothing spectacular but no difficulties either. (Remembering to snort both sorts of asthma drugs before going out probably helped...) Debbie Harry's Desert Island Discs as soundtrack.

Sound of Silence

36 min
Start 21.45
"And so, Elma, what did you LearN from today's run?" (as Chris Russel might say...)

"Well, Chris, today's lesson was most definitely that it is nOt recommended to leave your iPod hanging all day on the loading station of the computer in the On position when the computer is switched Off."

This technical glitch meant that I started off my run with a voice saying 'Battery Low' and after 6 minutes it gave a wee bleep and closed down. Leaving me to complete my run about the rapidly darkening fields with nothing but the sound of my breathing and the odd bit of late birdsong.

Ah well, glad I got any sort of run in at all really when I was so late home.

(Almost) Thunderstruck

36 min
Start 5.00
Had planned to have a Long Run this morning. When I set out the skies were grey and a few drops of rain were falling. It got heavier and heavier and by the time I was out where I could see the rising sun filling the tiny gap under the clouds at the horizon there were lightening flashes and distant rumblings of thunder. I decided that it wasn't really smart to continue to go further from home.
(Ooh, I have less than 100 minutes to do to get to 1000 this month and it's only the 22nd!)

Week total 320

Including at least one quality run with the Blue Post event on Wednesday.

Stroopwafel Stitch

66 min
Start 20.30
Came home at 6 and was hungry so thought I could have my evening meal and still have time to digest it before my run. However I was definitely feeling too full still for the first half hour of my run and had a slight stitch in my side. Managed to keep running Very Slowly till it went away. I suspect the stroopwafel during the Archers was the real killer...
Did 2 extended circuits of the Eng, taking in the various extra paths and a grassy field to make up the time. Speeded up at the end with my favourite running music.

Blue Post Route 32 min

78 min
Start 18.30





Ha, forgot to get a photo of myself with Scottish flag, ah well, maybe next year - this will be my standard outfit for this event from now on I suspect.
























It was a tough run - felt much longer than the rumoured 4.2k distance but as it starts with an uphill bit over sand dunes and goes on through various types of woodland path, ranging from firm to soggy to sandy this wasn't surprising. Someone from the organisation told me I looked strong when I came over the finish so that was nice - I can't say I really felt it but I did run all the way at a slightly faster pace than my usual one so it was worth doing just for that.

Blue Post Test Run 2

88 min
Start 17.00










Wasn't paying attention and realised I'd missed a post when I found myself approaching the road at the other side of the dunes. Apart from this little detour the run went well enough. Last night's rain meant the sand is wetter and a bit firmer underfoot than the powderdry stuff at the weekend. Forgot to make any photos till I was almost home so here are some (sort of blue) rhododendrons I passed and the curve of the rows of maize plants as I run up towards the windmill.

Blue Post Test Run

85 min
Start 18.45
First of all sorted out the loosening laces problem by searching my running accessories basket for my spare elastic laces and installed them in the current favourite flat shoes. Then off to the Soesterduinen to have a trial run round the Blue Post route for Wednesday.

Week total 304

Yes, finally getting back to realistic running times to catch up with my self-imposed year-schedule.

Dawn with Joep

86 min
Start 5.30


































Some trouble with repeatedly loosening shoelace (and a photo which won't go right way up...) but apart from that a good run. At the end had a go at my 'fast 6 minute' circuit and did it in 6.45, which is a lot better than the 7.44 I did some time ago.

Down the Line

62 min
Start 20.30
Run about Soest where the newly planted rows of sweetcorn(?) caught my attention and, together with the various levelcrossings, formed a straight line theme.

via De Bilt

85 min
Start 5.30
Great run - first out to De Bilt via Bloeyendaal then back via the Uithof and finishing off with a few fastest-yet circuits of the sportfield in the Wilhelminapark. (2:40 followed by 2:20)








Caught up with my Archers podcasts after missing a lot last week and then managing to re-install iTunes on my old laptop last night whilst sitting outside on the Kersstraat.

No Swallows, No Amazons

71 min
Start 20.30
Just as I was listening to the Kate Adie edition of 'I've never seen Star Wars' (a Radio 4 programme where people have to try things they've never done before) and they were discussing her reading the book 'Swallows and Amazons' I came across this sign which shows how different life today is for children looking for adventure.

Good run - getting faster on the way back with fast music.

Week total 253

Despite all the work-on-house going on I've still managed to fit in 4 good runs this week.

Yellow Iris + Sproet the Swan

37 min
Start 19.45
Managed to get out for a short run to bring my first week of this month up to schedule. Out to Bloeyendaal and back with Sproet.

Liberation Dog

75 min
Start 19.45
Had set my alarm for 5 this morning but after yesterday's epic workday helping with the roofing activities I really didn't fancy getting out of my bed so early. (Despite having gone to bed earlier than I have done in years.) Today also involved a lot of physical work, climbing up and down scaffolding and painting in awkward positions but surprisingly at the end of the day I was really looking forward to going for a longish run. Went out past the Berekuil and out towards Groenekan.

Finished off with a couple of circuits of the sportfield in the Wilhelminapark. First one 2:50, second one 2:30 and I'm sure there's much room for improvement. Not sure what the distance is exactly - a little more than 400m?

Sunset Park Run

70 min
Start 20.15














Same route as yesterday morning more or less but with the sun in the other direction. Off to try out Diet's shower now.