Tunes! 7.1miles

I had a second class return to Nottingham today. Retro moment that for all who remember the Tunes advert.

Anyway, got back at 5 and it was bright. What? I set off for a quick shimmy down the Nickey Line, passed Redbourn and then back up Beeson End Lane. By which time it was dark but as there was no cloud it was ok.

Pace was steady, just under 9's and happy was I with that. The legs are feeling remarkably good after completing 7 days of running on the bounce. 69miles in 7 days is pretty good.

I'm planning a decent few miles tomorrow before I head to Scotland for a couple of days. I'll leave the Asics here and just enjoy some good food and rest.

Is that snow? 5.3miles

It's got very cold again. 2c this morning and sleet falling. By evening it was +0.5c and still threatening.

I went out anyway, just to stretch the legs and ease into the week. I've a trip to Scotland so expect a midweek rest day.

The route was out towards Woodend and back via the Avenues loop. I collected my tickets for a train to Nottingham tomorrow and Edinburgh on Wednesday. Trains are my new Ryanair.

It was an easy 5.3miles in 49 mins, I make that just over 9 min pace. Nice and easy.

Yeah, lets head for St Albans, 16.0miles

Just 3 at the meeting point this morning, Paul, Anthony and your truly. Paul had called the route and it was to be out towards St Albans. So, we duly head in the opposite direction and headed north towards Luton. Apologies to any of the other lads who thought they'd meet us on the St Albans Road!

I've not done this route, its down the 1081 and then up towards Pepperstock, around the lanes and back via Kinsbourne Green and Roundwood.

Anthony hadn't been out for a good 6 weeks so I was more than happy to keep the pace at around 9mins, but Paul is quicker and likes it to be nearer 8. Anyway we moved along chatting away and catching up on the various illnesses we'd all had.

By the time we got back to Harpenden it had been a 10mile loop. We headed up Station Road and Anthony cut out for home. I needed more miles after Paul went home and so I headed over to Cherry Tree Lane. I took the path up through the fields, onto Pipers Lane. I went down the hill and took Cross Lane up through the golf course and onto the 1081. From there is it was time to get back home. 2 hours 20 mins and dead on 16miles covered.

Early start, 10.5miles

After yesterday's near meltdown I had an early night, lots of carbs and fluids. So I woke early feeling reasonably ok and decided to do a 90 minute loop down to Childwickbury.

It was a nice clear morning at 7am. The sky was clear and the tempearture fresh. The legs took a mile or so to get comfortable, by which time I was doing the infamous run round Long Buftlers that Paul loathes. I took the bridleway down to Pipers Lane and then up Ayres End Lane to the A1081. All was quiet and still on the roads.

Down through Childwickbury and I started thinking of the Virgins at the end of the marathon. That's right isn't it? Last year it was a tub of Flora but now we'll have a few Branson Bunnies to ease the pain and provide a bit of comfort.

After Childwickbury it was Beeson End Lane and home. By the time I was up at the common there was a mist hanging over the town and the best of the day was behind us.

Nice 10.5 miles in just over 95mins. Tomorrow I'm going longer as I build towards the 3 hour mark.

Was that Niall? 7.3miles

So I had a scary moment this morning when I thought I saw Niall walking down to the station. No chance of that, he's been eating toblerone for a fortnight and learning all the rules and regulations of living in Geneva.

So I took for an easy run along a route Niall enjoyed. Wheathampstead via the Swan Walk and then back to Harpenden via the detour up through the farms towards Mackerey End.
It was a real slog though. I made a hasty exit when the kids were joined by some friends for tea and left the house without taking enough fluid. I realised after a few miles I hadn't taken on enough calories over the day. By mile 3 I was feeling weary.

I made it home having covered 7.3 miles at 9.42 pace. That's just above walking pace! So it was straight to the kitchen for a litre of orange and the remains of the kids pasta.
I was planning a decent couple of hours on the road tomorrow but I'll see how I feel after a night's sleep.

Its downhill from here, 11.4miles

That's the 500 up and I'm on the home run. Less than 500 miles to go and 79 days till race day.
Today was a rep session at lunchtime with the National Grid lads. 6 were out for 5x4mins on and 2 mins off.
They have a 500m loop, so two laps is 1k, if you complete the two loops in 4 mins you;re running 40min 10k.
Rep 1 I followed Will and Rob, they are both sub40 guys so I was surprised to pass them and finish well beyond the 1k mark. Reps 2-4 were a nightmare. I'd clearly shot myself in the foot with a 5.33 paced first rep. The remainder slid towards 6.00 pace and they were painful. I finished each well behind Rob and Will, who got stronger on every rep. Woops.
So after that I was in need of an easy recovery run before dinner. I took off for Coldharbour Lane, up Westfield Road, The Oval, down and up to Roundwood and then round the avenues. It was a 6.4 mile loop all at easy 9min pace.
That's me looking down on Machu Pichu by the way.

Two Runs, 12 miles

The heat is on. 80 days to go, over 500 miles to complete. So it was 2 runs, one before breakfast and another at lunchtime. 6miles each.
The first was the loop down the Nickey Line and home via West Common. Uneventful, no abuse, no dogs or dog owners getting stroppy. Just an easy, steady 6 miles at 9min pace.
At lunchtime it was the Wheathampsted loop. The legs felt fine and I was inspired by the thought of reaching £800 of donations. I'm in the dead zone, the enthusiasm of the early runs has gone. So the donations have spurred me on and as I approach 500 I know I will run 500 more!
With a 10-14 day taper into the run and a rest day every week, I'm looking at 10miles a day to complete the challenge. Easy peasy.