3 Common Circular Walk and a humid day with a sore hammy

I had a couple of pints after work in the sun.  I get home, get the kids in bed and then head out to do the 3 commons circular walk.  I start of fine and push hard.

Then suddenly, somewhere around half way my ham string starts to twinge.  Possibly still miffed after the ridiculous 60m repeats at the track session.  I toy with stopping but keep going.  It's more uncomfortable then painful.  I have put down to do the works 5 miles time trial on Friday but now I am worried about next weeks 3 Bridges Relay.  Best see how it is in the morning.

Apart from the hammy, the run is fantastic.  I run strong and it and it is beautiful at dusk.  The steep hill, in the alley near the finish, I usually walkup I have to run up as there are two teenagers walking up there.  Still I do it.

I like these late summer night runs as we near the shortest night.

8km 43:33

Water Fountain to Water Fountain at Dusk

So what has happened to the running?  The last interval session has left me (still) aching.  I got very drunk on Friday.  We went camping on Saturday and Sunday I did lots of children carrying.  Yesterday I was still absolutely drained.  I'm still drained today.  My wife goes out with the running club.

After a tough day, I feel a run would help.  I wait for my wife to return and then head out for the water fountain to water fountain run.  The sun is well on its way to setting.  I have my light with me and hope not to use it.

There's some sort of party going on the common.  I run through it.  I'm not sure if I am running fast but feel I am running strong.  I touch the top fountain and head back.  It is darker still but I can see.

Eventually I relax and feel good and pick up speed.  I never need the light, and it is beautiful on the common.  Glad I got out and took the gamble on the light.

4.5km 23:13

Track Intervals and ending tired

Tonights session, 3 x 1600 with 400m walk recovery.  I feel a little tired, yesterday's 10 miles took it out of me.  I still run diligently.  I probably average 6:40 for the 3 reps.

At the end we do 8 x 60m.  Some of the reps I am first past the line.  At the end I am properly tired.

3 x 1600m 8 x 60m

Slowly home

I have a deal with myself.  Any time I want to drink more than 3 beers in a session, I have to pay with for it with a 10 mile run.  This is to keep me in check.  Tonight was meant to be 5 miles steady.  Instead I decide to run home.  Unfortunately this is 9 miles.  I decide to stick in a couple of laps of Shortlands Park.  The problem is the rain.  It's due to rain just about home time.  In the end my wife talks me into it.

I leave work and it is dry.  I'm not feeling the love though.  I haven't really been running long (apart from a bit on Sunday)  So it's a struggle.  Still, I keep going.  I think part of the problem is the shoes.  As I knew it was going to rain, my favoured semi-running flats were off the cards; they leak water!  Instead I wear my barefoot shoes.  As much as love barefoot-style, on concrete it takes its toll on the legs.

Eventually as I reach Bromley the rain starts to come down.  I move my phone (read music player) into the depths of my bag to protect it from the wet.  I slowly run the two extra laps of of Shortlands Park to make the 10 miles.  Then head home, slightly soggy.

Once I am back, it's kind of satisfying to have run the 10 miles.  But I have been enjoying the buzz of the short and sharp stuff.

10 miles 1:32:01

Intervals minus baby

It's my wife's night to go the running club.  I couldn't motivate myself to run at lunchtime so I wait for her to get back and then go out.  I have had to cook our dinner, I'll have to wait even later to get mine.

I go down to Shortlands park and run my intervals.  There are probably more like 350m but this is what I have been running.

As I do these there is a Dad out walking his baby in the pram.  The baby is wide awake and the dad walks round and round the park.  I remember such days.

I run my 10 reps, and it gets pretty hot towards the end.   By the time I run home I am pretty hot and sweaty.  The house seems roasting hot.  There is my wife, wrapped up in a blanket on the sofa.

Intervals 10 x 400m with 1 minute recovery

Hill Session with a little bit of vomit in the mouth

I have my dinner in the 5 minutes before putting the kids to bed.  Once the kids are in bed I do an hour or so of ironing.  I then go out and run my usual friday night hill session.  I couldn't do it on Friday because my wife was out.  Doing the run tonight gets me back on track for the week.

The warm up is fine but then a couple of intervals in I start to feel a bit vomitty.  I see out the run despite being tempted to abandon.  The final hill is run well.  I warm down, despite the vomitty taste good to get the session done.

Hills 32:00

Water Fountain to Water Fountain with my Wife

I used to run this with my wife when we both were far worse runners.  These day's we don't run together as usually one of us has the kids.  This morning we dump them with the grandparents and head to do this run.

The pace is slower than if I had run it, but my wife runs a consistent strong pace.  It's a beautiful day and an enjoyable run.  Good to have some time together, running away from the kids.

4.5km 27:34