Desperate in December

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

After two brilliant rest days I was up early again for a run before work. Holiday schedule trains meant I had to hit the road by 4:30am to shoehorn in a 5km trot, which (thanks to an early night) I managed to do. The magpies of christmas morning were replaced today by kookaburras which took great delight in laughing at my running form, not that they are in any position to criticize running techqniue. Very, very few people were about - in fact I was passed by just three cars and didn't see another walker, runner or cyclst at all. Very quiet indeed.

I completed the moderately tough, undulating street circuit in a touch over 31 minutes, which I'm more or less happy with - it's progress in the face of seasonal gluttony, so I am happy with that, especially so early in the morning (never my best time of day).

My course this morning took me past the church where I was married a little over 25 years ago. Coincidentally I was only two days ago looking at my old wedding suit and wondering why I kept it - it would have to be significantly re-tailored before I stood any chance of wearing it again, and that brought me round to wondering about such things as diet - and in particular to Sweder's recent boarding of the Temperance Express. A particularly bold move I think, with New Year's Eve just two days away and I hasten to add it's not something I am about to replicate. But I do admire his courage, and it has helped me determine to also curb my alcohol intake over the coming weeks. I'm not going to give it up completely however - I have two friends who both take the month of January off from the booze and they are impossible to get along with during that time. But I can reduce my intake by 50% or so, and will.

Just a few days to go now until Sunday's 9km race. Actually it's a pretty low-key fun run, but I'll be using it to assess where I'm at with my running and what sort of goals to set for the year. I'm still keen to push on for a sub-2 hour half marathon, and there are some PBs I'd like to lower. We'll just wait and see how the next few weeks pan out.