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