Stability Through Motion

17 miles this morning, up the usual paths to Woodeaton, Noke and Beckley (grass shot left!), then a new shorter route to Stanton St John finding my way in the mist along public footpaths, including a bit of bramble - ouch - to Forest Hill and across the scary A40 to  Shotover park and home. Kept it a bit shorter this week to save myself for the Carneddau mountains next weekend, but felt strong the whole run. Met almost nobody, but there were more birds about than I’ve seen recently, and I scared quite a few deer.

Woke up late after a bad night, still not feeling up to the long run. The drive to Cholsey woke me up though, and a Shredded Wheat - horrible bits of cardboard they are too. A clear cold morning, but no nozzle freezing, and a really quiet and scenic 17 mile run up to the Ridgeway via Moulsford, down the Fair Mile to Aston Upthorpe past race horses in their paddocks, following a stream past South Moreton and back to the church at Cholsey.
Water intake: zero.
Water output: you don’t really want to know, but more than zero!
Food intake: 8 jelly babies.
Shoes: the reliable Saucony Jazz Grid, though they do tend to pick up ploughed fields in their tread.
For once, the gloves and hat never came off.

Here’s that tree again (see last week) taken the other side, from this morning’s 19 mile run. Same route as last weekend, done in reverse, with one different footpath just so I could get lost again. I felt much much better afterwards than last week. I think the secret for me is to get out for a walk after finishing the run and showering, rather than just lying on the sofa which I’m much more tempted to do.

No frozen nozzle this time, because I wrapped it in bubble wrap, and also blew into it after each swig to keep the tube clear of liquid.

Consumed on the run: 1 whole original Kendal mint cake, 250ml water.

I tried to get this done before work, but woke up a bit late. The first time I’ve ever run with hat and gloves on the whole way, and a gilet on too. Set off on roads to Shotover park, crossed the mad A40 at 8am safely, then it was cross-country all the way via Beckley, Noke, Woodeaton and the little track back to Cutteslowe. The last two miles were tough, whether it’s because my legs haven’t fully recovered yet, or that I’ve lost the fitness they had before.

I hardly drank or ate a drop enroute - my drinking nozzle froze up after about 30 minutes!