Week Total 407

78 min
Start 20.15
Ran out to the athletic club in Soest to check I knew where it was as I'm thinking of doing the Bosmarathon (half then) that starts there in October. It was dark quicker than I had thought it would be so did the last bit through the streets. Good few bits of hill training. Tom Robinson's new music programme kept me at a good pace most of the time. Registered for the half marathon in Hattem on 19 September.

91 min
Start 8.00
Various heavy showers but it's not cold so it's actually quite pleasant to run in. Crossed over the cycle bridge 4 or 5 times as 'hill' training, much to the amusement of the men who were marshalling some walking event which was going on. Stopped to do stretch exercises at a gate overlooking a gymkhana on the way home. Lots of little Thelwell figures trotting in circles on Shetland ponies in the pouring rain. Met a man with a dog that looked not quite like a Mastiff, so I asked him if it was and he said it was a Bordeaux/Rottweiler cross. Beautiful big animal. Running went well, I can feel new muscles coming into use as I consistently pick up my leg more behind me.

Thursday evening. 86 min.
Start 18.00u
On the way out to the cycle bridge stopped to admire a Norton Commando. Inspired by the photo on the cover of one of my birthday books I tried lifting my leg up more behind me as this is what 'real' runners apparantly do. Found it a bit tiring at first but it does seem to lengthen the stride.
It's now Saturday morning and I had the alarm set for 5.30 but as it was pouring with rain and I'd gone to sleep at around 2 I didn't actually get out of bed. Am waiting for the latest heavy shower to pass now before I go out... Off to consult the rainrader thingy now to see what the coming hour has in store.

102 min
Start 6.00
Out to the cycle bridge. Back and forth over that a few times while waiting for the sun to come over the horizon to have a bit of mild hill training. Worked out a new 10k route whilst looking at the cycle map - will try that next time maybe. Ipod behaved itself so I could catch up on missed Archers episodes and then have a dancy bit of run for the last half hour with Huw's Radio One Introducing show.

Week Total 296

Dark threatening sky meant that it was dark earlier than normal and as it was starting to rain I cut the run short. Anything under an hour hardly seems worth the bother really... ;-)
Monday evening 50min
Start 20.30

Friday 77 min
Start 17.45
First bit with the boat to the sluis then the Highland Coo circuit.
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Sunday 77 min
Start 5.50
Ipod died on me after 10 minutes. I must get aroung to taking it back to the shop sometime soon as it was fully charged and should have gone for hours yet. Good red sunrise. Saw a fox run across the grass about 50m in front of me.

67 min
Start 6.00
Had serious difficulty getting out of bed this morning and hit the alarm off several times, so wasn't out at first light. I-pod cord switch was playing up too which was irritating as I couldn't flick through my podcasts to the music. I really should go back to the shop with it as these hiccups are becoming more regular and happening earlier and earlier in my runs. (At first it would only be after an hour and I thought it had something to do with sweat on my neck affecting the controls.) As usual once I was out I enjoyed being there. Ran out to the Eem where there's a gate I can prop my leg up on and lean against and hold on to to do the various stretching exercises I'm now hoping will help increase my stride length. Then back over the railway, over the Eng. Ipod switch died totally when I was almost back so instead of doing another circuit just decided it was enough for today. The light is boring anyway once the sun has moved up high enough to turn from orange/yellow to white. Hmm, I seem to be more interested in the entertainment value of my surroundings than the running itself here... ach, running is quite boring on its own though. Went well enough, I wasn't pushing particularly hard, just maintaining a steady plod.