Thursday 29th December

No running today. I've decided to rest and give this virus a chance to go away so I x trained round the Sales instead. After that it was walkies time for Jessie so at least I've done something on my rest day.

Very cold here and although we haven't had any more snow, there is still plenty on the ground from the previous couple of days.

Reading through my Running Log from 2002 when I started training for FLM, I realise that I should have been doing more training these last 2 weeks than I have been but I hope to catch up once this week is over. Back then I was running 5 times a week (occasionsally 6), horse riding 3 times a week and swimming and weight training too. Looks like I need to get off my backside a bit more if I'm to regain some of that fitness for this time round.
..........................................After New Year.

Wednesday 28th December

A very cold and snowy morning. I was dying to get out and give my new MP3 a test run so I donned my off-road shoes and headed for the fields, this seemed safer than the roads which were very slippery.
All went well until the last mile, where I just ran out of energy and had to walk for a bit. It must be this virus I've got that sapped my strength but suddenly I felt like I'd run 10 miles already so I walked/ran the last mile home. After breakfast and a hot drink I started to feel better and managed Asda and dog walking without further trouble.
The MP3 is fab and in my excitement I forgot to put my watch on so have no stats for today.

4 miles done.

Tuesday 27th December

After sleeping for 12 hours I got up and didn't feel as bad as yesterday. I still feel tired and have no apetite but decided to go out and run for a little while as Jessie dog needed a walk so I might as well combine the two.
I felt much better after the first mile. It had snowed in the night and everywhere was covered although it was quite slippery underfoot in places and the wind was bitterly cold. It was good to be out and I enjoyed a short walk/run in the snow.

3 miles walk/run
33 minutes .04
Average HR 129

Mondsay 26th December

As I opened my eyes and swallowed, it felt as if someone had sandpapered the inside of my throat in the night. I've decided not to run today in case I make the germs I'm fighting off get worse and I have taken some squirts of First Defence to see if I can make if go away before it takes a hold.
So many people we have seen over Christmas have been full of colds and coughs. I really don't want to go down with anything now and hamper traning, with the Benfleet 15 looming at the end of January.
A rest day then.

Sunday 25th December

Happy Christmas!
The morning started off with the present unwrapping and bleary eyes from the late night before, then after I'd got the turkey into the oven I got my running kit on and grabbed the dog and headed out the door for a half-hour to myself.
It was so quiet, not a car or another person anywhere. The weather was lovely, mild and sunny and we trotted along, happy to have this time out before going back to the family, cooking, drinking and making merry.
All in all, a great day.

2.5 miles
26 minutes.56
Average HR 131
10.62 pace

Friday 23rd December

Peace! Everyone is out and I have all day to do all the things I haven't managed to do this week so far. Most of them are pretty mundane, such as making sure we all have enough clean clothes to wear over Christmas and doing some housework so that the visitors don't think we live in this mess all the time!
But the best thing of all is that I got to run this morning, without having to look at my watch and had the time all to myself.
So, I combined the rest of the Christmas Card delivery with running and I did the first 2 miles nice and easy, the next 3 were brisk and puffing and the last 3 were slower but not as slow as the beginning of the run.
So, I didn't time it, just ran according to how good it felt. Now I am back doing the chores and feeling very pleased with myself.
This week will be a low mileage one but I don't mind as I totalled 27.5 for last week.


8 miles
Avg HR 147
Peak HR 180

Thursday 22nd December

A rest day for me again as I just can't find time to run at the moment. Yesterday I managed 3 quick miles in between shopping and other pre-Christmas thingys to do but the two days before and today were just too busy.
I hope to be able to get out again tomorrow and now that I've done all that I intend to do shopping wise, life should begin to return to normal (whatever that is) quite soon.
Christmas Eve will be hectic and so probably will not be able to run but I always go out for a short one on Christmas morning, its so peacefull with everyone else indoors and just me plodding along, getting myself some tranquillity before the hubub begins. Lovely.

Yesterday - 3 miles.
Not timed.

Monday 19th December

Strangely, my legs don't feel too bad today but i've decided on a rest day and hope to find time to run on Tuesday.


Thanks everyone for the comments on here, its good to get some feedback.

Sunday 18th December


A bright, very cold and lovely morning. The puddles are frozen and the ducks are walking around on the ice in the ponds. The frost was still here when I left home for my run at 11am and I felt cold until the first mile was over and I began to generate some heat,, but I never warmed up enough to take off the hat and gloves I was wearing and the jacket stayed zipped up to the neck all morning.
Nevertheless, I had a good run and was knackered by the time I finished. I went out with the idea of doing 10 miles but ended up adding on another couple by going back home and getting the dogs and taking then for their run before I cooled down as I knew I wouldn't want to go back out into the cold once I'd had a bath and eaten.
10 miles of the run were off road and by the time I'd finished, it felt like someone had given me a couple of "dead legs" (remember when we used to do that to each other at school?) and I must admit to having to have a few small walks in the latter stages.
But it felt really good to have done the run today and I am getting quite confident that I will manage the distance of the Benfleet 15, its just the mud and hills that are bothering me now!


12.5 miles
2 hours 28 mins
Average HR 148
Peak HR 165
Average pace 11.84 min miles

Saturday 17th December


I felt much better by yesterday afternoon so went to the pub last night. The result was I ended up sleeping late and not feeling much like running this morning, coupled with the bitterley cold wind outside, I banished all thoughts of a long run till tomorrow.
Coward!!

Friday 16th December.

I woke up with a funny feeling in my chest and a wierd sensation when swallowing. I was also very hot so i decided not to run as it feels like I'm coming down with something. I think I'll coddle my self today and see how I feel tomorrow.

Thursday 15th December

I decided to combine Christmas card delivery with my running today so I did our village and then ran a bit extra and managed 5 miles. it was pretty cold and I didn't feel much like running which is not like me at all. I felt slow and tired all the way and was really ready to call it a day at 3 miles but went for a couple more because I knew I'd be cross with myself if I wimped out.
I felt better after I'd done it though, as usual the "afterglow" makes everything alright.

5 miles
Not timed

Tuesday 13th December.

Up with the lark - if only! Well, up at 7.30am and running at 8.15am. It wasn't so cold today and I didn't need my headband and even abandoned the gloves once I got warmed up.
I actually managed a negative split today so I was pretty pleased with myself, running the second three miles at a brisker pace than the first three. Gosh, this running thing is getting serious.

6 miles
Average HR 145
Peak HR 176
1 hour 05.19

1st 3 miles = 33mins .49 - 11.16 pace avg
2nd 3 miles = 31mins .29 - 10.43 pace avg

I know this is no great speed to many runners but I am pleased with it and felt like I had run quite hard but could have gone on to do more.

Tomorrow is a busy day so I think it will be a rest one for me and I'll be hitting the roads again on Thursday.

Monday 12th December.

A cold, breezy day but above freezing so it was OK for running first thing.
I for got to start the timer on my watch for the first mile so only timed the other 3.
Legs aching a bit but not so bad as yesterday, my back is feeling much better.

4 miles done.
3 miles in 32minutes .22
Average HR 148
10.74 pace

Sunday 11th December.

Another lovely but cold day. Today is my rest day, just as well as my right leg is aching behind the knee and all the insides from calf to ankle feel twisted and stretched. It must be the result of the fall I had yesterday, so it was a good day to visit the pub, do some pottering indoors and generally take it easy. The most strenuous thing I did was the dogs walk, 2.5 easy miles, the same as every other day.
I am hoping the leg will be feeling better and I can go for a run tomorrow.

Saturday 10th December.

A bright and crisp day. A heavy frost had made it a bit slippery underfoot so I decided to have a lie-in and go for my run later when it had warmed up. My back was stiff and sore after doing a lot of driving yesterday, so I though I would only go for a short run off- road and see how it felt once I was out. As usual, once I got running, all thoughts of only going out for a couple of miles disappeared and I got home 9 miles later, muddy and sore after falling headlong into the mud. Even so, I had a good run and thoroughly enjoyed myself. if it wasn't for my back hurting, I would have carried on but I had done more than I intended, so wasn't disappointed at all.
Now the painkillers have worn off and I am stiff again but I'm sure that some excercises and stretching will help.


9 miles
Didn't time it
Average HR 147


Total miles this week 24.75

Wednesday 8th December.


I got up early again and was out the door at 7.30am, it was still dark when I left home. Its a long time since I've enjoyed being out early but I did. Didn't bother with breakfast so I was very hungry by the time I got home. Heart Rate a little higher today as I had a cold headwind on the way back.

6 miles done
First 3 miles in 33mins 48
Second 3 miles in 33mins 55
Total 1 hour 7 minutes.44
Average HR 153
Pace 11.16 m/m

Tuesday 6th December 2006.


Heel getting better but back/hip still playing around a bit.

A lovely day for being out running. Calm and not so cold.


4 miles
41 minutes 47secs
average HR 141
pace 10.36 min/miles


I did excercises for back and hip when I got home, hope that it will ease off soon. Running usually helps although I think its the long off road run I did a couple of weeks ago that has started it off again. All that romping in the long grass!!

After a hectic weekend helping our son and his girlfriend move into their flat, I have not managed to run at all so it was good today to be able to get out and stretch my legs.

5.75 miles
1 hour 3 mins
Average HR 138
10.95 min mile pace


I have noticed a soreness in my left heel again (ongoing thing) and back and right hip are a bit sore (another ongoing problem). No spare funds for fizzio till after Xmas so I will have to nurture them myself and hope it goes away.

So, here I am again, training for a marathon, The Neolithic, 30th April 2006, one which I hope I will actually be able to get to the start line of and take part in.
I ran the Flora London Marathon in 2002 then half-trained and got injured training for a couple after that so this will be the second one I have done, if all goes well.

16 weeks to go.


Day 1.

Out of bed at 7 am and out running by 7.30am. This is an achievemet for me as I've been really lazy about getting up for a while now - I am just sooooooooo tired in the mornings - and haven't been running till late morning usually. I must really make the effort to get out earlier as its a good feeling that I've been out and done it and still have the rest of the day to do other stuff, life being so rushed lately. It also helped that I stayed off the forum till after my run, another reason I am so late getting out of the door in the mornings!

4 miles easy running
average heart rate 141
time 45mins.03