Wet intervals on my own

I still have bit of a cough and a weird pain on my breast-bone.  I summon up the energy and head out in the pouring rain.  Down to Shortlands Park.  I run 8 x 1:30 (which is probably about 400m)

After a while I adjust to the rain and just bang out the individual legs.  I did plan a jog recovery but that doesn't really happen

This intense running causes the breast bone pain to go away.   To think I wasn't going to run because of it...

Intervals 4x1:30 with 1 minute recovery

Long Run Substitiute

I meant to do a long run yesterday but it wasn't going to happen with the weather and I felt like I had a virus. I wasn't going to take my running kit to work but in the end decided to.

At home time I am fully up for the run home.  The first few miles are hard and then somewhere along the line it starts to feel good.  Really good.  The last few miles are an absolute joy.

It feels good to be back on it.  Work to be done, but good to do a longer run.

9 miles1:18:06

Water Fountain to Water Fountain run

I love having dinner with the kids.  Tonight I round of with a large serving of Rice Pudding and a large glass of white Rioja.  This isn't so good when I come to do my evening run.  I want to get out and catch the light, so I get the kids in bed and head.

My form feels good but my cold is still there.  My shoes also seem to be leaking in water from the slightly damp floor.

Eventually I reach the top water fountain, touch it and head back on the downhill leg.

All I need now is for this code to go away and the weather to pick up

4.5km 23:42

On the mend from a cough

I really want to get back on it, I'm over the post marathon slump.  The only problem is that I have come down with a nasty, nasty cough and cold.  Today I am hung-over, but I want to run.  I have a route round Millwall Docks planned.

At the changing rooms I see Matt.  I tell him that one day we should do the Millwall Dock Route.  Most times he runs the same route.  He heads off.  I get changed and head out.  As I get a quarter way round and the route is shut.  I try and run round it but there is no way.  So I turn round and head the other way.  It's lovely and I am running well.  The marathon may not have gone well, but something about all the training has pushed me on.

Suddenly in the distance I see Matt heading towards me.  I guess he has hit the same road block.  I ask if he minds if we run together.  We head back together.  I love running, but I love running with company.  And we chat.  Given that I am coughy and hungover, the run and company feels really good.

We are soon back at the office.  I shower and then at my desk, the runner's high kicks in.  I'm revelling in my Marathon failure.   Next target, 3 Bridges Relay.

4km 24:03.

Dandelion Run

A 5km run with lots and lots of stop and starting.  Probably took me an hour and half to run the 5km.  That's because it was the Dandelion run.  I know what that means and that is all I will say.

5km 1:30:00

Beckenham Loop on the way back

I've been at a friends lazing in the sun all day, drinking wine and eating cake.  The kids are virtually asleep in the car on the way back so it is a case of putting them into bed.  I toy with getting some beer and vegging further, but the summer short race season beckons.

I put on a simple pair of shorts and a t-shirt and head out.  I decide to instigate a new route, the Beckenham loop.  Down to Beckenham Cinema then back round past Waitrose, past Westgate road before turning back towards my home.

The first part of the run uphill is hard and I am out of breath.  I have had a cold and badly smoked a cigar the other day.  I get some drunken comments from some idiots on the High Street which I ignore.   Then after I pass the cinema, I start to really enjoy the run.  My running form is still good, probably polished by all the marathon training miles.   By the end I am really loving it.

I know there is a sneaky half bottle of chilled wine back at home.  Really glad I went for the run.

5km 31:00

Back on it

I'd decided to take a couple of weeks off running after the marathon.  I even biked to to work.  I have an urge to run and train and push.  But that would be bad.  So a couple of weeks off.  Today I go for a gentle, gentle run down the river towards Wapping.

It felt good.  Ran on some of the marathon route.  I'll come back and do it properly one day.  No tiredness in the old bones or muscles, but I still need to recover and come back stronger and resist the urge.  Next week I think I may run a training cycle I want to burn-in, but do it easy, easy, easy.

4.5km 26:29