Dark and repetitive

10.18k
Start 19.50

As soon as I got in this evening pulled on my running stuff and went out for a last effort before the half marathon on Sunday.  Some dijk repeats at various places.  Stumbled when I was almost home and caught myself on the side of the house I was passing.  Thought I'd broken a finger but it seems just to be a bit stiff and swollen and sore.  And I didn't actually hit the ground this time so no new holes in yet another pair of leggings.

Dusk with bronze donkey

10.37k
Start 17.10

Circuit before proper dark including one faster mile and generally a bit faster than yesterday.  Felt my calves a wee bit after the break, but nothing too bad.  

The Sun Also Rises

10k
Start 7.45

Ha, I'll be getting confused folk googling Ernest Hemingway landing on this post now I suspect.  Sorry folks, nothing to do with his eloquent defense of bullfighting, just another dawn run, the first in more than 10 days after a break due to general limp dischclothness.  Started out deciding just to get round at plod speed but after the first 5k realised I felt able to put a little more effort into it and did the home straight a bit faster.  (Exact stats later when Garmin is co-operating more.)

Quick Sunset Run

8.94k
Start 17.20

 

Got out in the last of the light as there was a break in the clouds after a grey/wet day. Was going faster than normal, a lot of it due to the joy of having finally managed to get the new wireless printer to communicate with the computer. I do like it when I master a new bit of technology without too much swearing.

Bridge and dijk repeats

10.42k
Start 17.05
Very fine drizzle, fairly dull run but ran up and down the bridge approach and the side of the dijk to add some extra effort to it.  

Winterdijk in reverse

11.12k
Start 8.45

 

Perfect Run (to be sung to the tune of...)

18.36k
Start 15.10

 

Great run - after going to bed at 4 having jumped about in unsuitable boots for hours at the Harley Club new year party last night I was slightly worried that my shins might be protesting but they felt fine and my planned long run got done, though finishing at sunset rather than starting at sunrise as was the original plan.  Took a previously unknown to me path through the polder - idyllic dirt path with water on both sides and a low winter sun in front of me (while the Running from the Reaper podcast was describing a canal run with a low winter sun in front of him - very fitting; there were even sheep when he was telling of how he had to chase 6 of the beasts back into their field).
Have been trying to increase the pace a bit recently and managed again to put some more effort into the run once I got warmed up rather than just getting slower and slower towards the end.  

Sportfield circuit at dusk

10.49k
Start 16.40

2k warm up.  5k at a bit more effort (too much wind in the polder to get to the sub 30 pace I was aiming for) then a recovery jog of 400m and a mile (1600m) in 9.29 which I was pleased with.

 

Early, dark and mild

10.16k
Start 7.35

 

Hill (or at least dijk and bridge) repeats

10.29k
Start 16.55

Forgot (and too dark) to take any photos when out running so here's one of the newly arranged book planks, with my running clothes draped over the table in the middle of the room.

Winterdijk the other way round

10.43k
Start 8.00

 
 

Evening meander

10.25
Start 20.50

 

Gouderak + ferry to Moordrecht

11.86k
Start 8.05

 

 

Along the river to Gouderak where a short 70c ferry crossing brought me across to Moordrecht where I could run back along the other side.
It was unseasonably warm and I had to roll my leggings up to cool down a bit after the first 2k.

New Year 10k

10.33k
Start 17.00
Bit windy on some stretches which kept my fast 5k speed below what I was trying for but felt good for the whole distance.  Perfect light drizzle running weather.