This time next week I will be a bit nervous !

Well, for me the running week is over, I’m working all day tomorrow and won’t get the chance for a run so I have been out today instead.

This week I have run a total of 13.6 miles split between two runs…

After last weekends 13 mile run I felt too tired to run on Monday, I also managed to hurt my neck/shoulder at some point last week and moving my head and arm was quite painful so a couple of days rest seemed like the best idea.

On Wednesday I ran 8.21 miles on the roads around Steyning and I could feel that I hadn’t fully recovered from Sundays long run even with two days rest in between so I decided to skip running Thursday and Friday so that my neck could completely recover and the rest of me could catch up. I have felt quite tired this week but I haven’t managed to get the early nights I was planning and the pain in my neck was waking me up each time I moved.

The good news is that the extra days rest seem to have paid off and I had a good run of 5.39 miles today. Even better is that I completed it in the best time ever over this distance averaging 9:58 per mile. I was quite surprised because I felt I was running quite slowly, I thought about 11 mins per mile, but then when the runmeter app told me my average time after 15 mins it was about 10:30, after 30 mins the average was 10:15 and it just got better from then on. Apart from the fact it rained. It wasn’t just little raindrops but heavens opening you are going to look like a drowned rat type rain. I don’t mind running in the rain, there can be something quite exhilarating about it but it was quite windy as well. Maybe this is what sped me up for the last mile and a bit home !

So, the running gear is now drying on the AGA again, I have dried out and I’m planning next weeks running….. At the moment I’m planning on two runs, Monday and Wednesday.. Monday about 3 miles and Wednesday about 5 miles…. Then lots of early nights before the half marathon on Sunday. In a way it is strange to think it is so close. I have been planning and training for this for months, with the continuing rain we have had I know it will be wet and muddy… But I also know I can cope with that so long as I’m a bit careful with my footing….

Anyway, these are two random photos 🙂 the tune belt iPhone holder I use, seems to keep it dry in all weather and it doesn’t rub holes in my arm like my old belkin one used to (model ab82 if you a interested) and my wet clothes drying on the Aga..

I also saw the first few spring lambs today. I will make a point of stopping and photographing them soon before they grow !