Hare and hounds

Not much to say about the monthly work 5 mile time trial. It was windy, I did it in the Nike frees, lots of new people went the wrong way. I finished 8 seconds outside my target, a minute outside my PB.

Running back to the office I had a good chat with a woman doing the Marathon next week. I think next year is the year for me. Will do it sub 4 hour as well.

5 miles @ 38"15

Random Running

I still had decided on the route for today's run even as I left the building. One of my colleagues was outside the building presumably having a "fag"
"Coming for a run?" I ask
"I've hear running on concrete is bad for your knees" he replies
I think about explaining to him about the barefoot revolution but there's running to be done.

A lot on my plate at the moment at I just buzzed around the city. Over Southwark Bridge, back over Blackfriars bridge, a litte way down the Embankment and back via Paternoster Square. Not until the last km did I start to really flow and then it was all over.

25 mins @ slow - moderate pace

Dawdling on Tower Bridge

I love London but the tourists dawdle. I have been a tourist in other cities but us Londoners don't ever really dawdle, even on holiday.

Despite the sore foot I need a lunch time run Mapmyrun on the Iphone is getting too much of a faff so I just track the time.

Across Southwark Bridge, down the South Bank, across Tower Bridge, up Bishopsgate and back to Guildhall.

I love running across Tower Bridge. I remember seeing a triathlon on TV where they ran across the Sydney Harbour bridge. It looked so cool. I have walked across the Sydney bridge as a tourist and one day I will run across it. I may one day run across Tower Bridge on my way to the sub 4 hour marathon.

Today the run across Tower Bridge is ruined by the dawdling tourist, in particular an Australian.

34 minutes moderate pace

Charing Cross Bridge and back

I have always considered the run to Charing Cross Bridge and back from Guildhall an easy option but apparently it is 5km according to mapmyrun.

In the Nike frees I set of at a ludicrous pace darting in and out of the crowds (de ja vu anyone?).

Once again I blow at around 3km but after slowing down for a km, I pick up the pace again for the last km, savouring the pain.

More worrying is the pain in my left foot where the middle toes meet the foot. After running there seems to be pain and swelling. Best keep an eye on that. Tomorrow a return to spongey shoes to see what effect that has.

5km in 28 mins (a couple of minutes break at half way and traffic light/crowd stops)

Lunch time date with a pair of lovelies

Just back from holiday and back to work. It's not all bad as I have a lunch time date with a pair of lovelies. The wife and kids do not need to panic, it is The Nike Frees.

Straight away the romance is back on. I run off at a ludicrous pace, flowing, then zipping, then darting through the crowds. I am running the familiar river route from Blackfriars to The Tower and back via Leadenhall.

An idiot comes cycling down the Thames path almost crashes in to me. I throw a well aimed punch in his direction. Not to hit him, but to scare him. It works, he is scared.

After 3km I am exhausted from the pace. I return to a jog and enjoy the burn from the fast section (non-runners would not understand that)

It is beautiful and sunny and life is good. The Nikes feel fantastic Oh to be in Love in the Spring!

4.75km 26"20 (some serious traffic light stoppages)

Around and about Les Mathes

My good friend and host, Bec tells me lunch will be ready in half an hour. I think this gives me time for a quick 5k, as she works on French time (this is not a bad thing, just different as I work on London City Time)

When I am really on form I don't take the iPod. Running is its own reward. Today I'm killing time and relaxed, so it's an old Danny Baker and Danny Kelly podcast.

Runs always go better with a story behind them, but I can't think of one for today. I set out planning to run half the way to the coast on the route run earlier in the week(Not much of a story). A couple of km in I take an interesting looking turn where a number of things are signposted in French. It ends up at a dull camp site and nothing of interest. I run back to the main road.

As I reach the halfway turning point, not really having left Les Mathes, I run a little way into the pine forest. Though I know lunch will not be ready when I get back, an interesting diversion is not appropriate today and I turn back before discovering anything.

On the return I play a little with my form and push it to ensure the 5km is dispatched in under 30 minutes (to keep it respectible). Today's run did not really go anywhere. Some of my recent results and performances have been like Christmas gifts. It's currently Easter. When everyday is Christmas, you soon get tired of Christmas. Empty is defined in terms of full, Full is defined in terms of Empty. Today is empty.

5k @ 6"00/km

Sand blasting

I'm still on the West coast of France. Today I drive to the seaside and run along the seafront. It is windy, in fact blowing a gale off the swelling Atlantic.

As I run the promenade road the sand blasts my legs. I am glad of my cap and sunnies. I tilt my head to keep the cap from blowing away.

I head south but the road eventually turns back inland and the beach is too uneven to run on. I turn back the way I came and back past the start point. I eventually run to the end of one jaw of the harbour. The wind is sapping my strength. I decide 5k will do for today and it's back to the car to seek shelter.

I am in my old faithful trainers. We have been through so many adventures together, but in my mind I am fantasizing about the Nike frees.

I'm relaxed and the wind is distracting, so it's an easy pace. Today only the sand blasts.

5k / 29 minutes