A most satisfying hilly run this morning, with 11.2km completed at what is for me on these hills a cracking pace of sub-6:00/km. It's kind of funny, because I've just finished reading Askwith's second book "Running Free" and am currently devouring Boff Whalley's "Run Wild", both of which exhort me to ditch the watch and GPS and run with nary a care nor concern for pace, time or distance. I do understand where they are coming from, but the reality is that I'm chuffed with this morning's run, and doubly so because I have empirical evidence via the faithful Garmin that it was as good as it felt.
I do think that the lack of charm of suburban street running can be overcome to a large extent by recording data about your running of them. It may not sound very endearing, but those accumulating lines of data in the spreadsheet, and ever-improving line and bar-charts provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Not because they "prove" very much (no-one else even sees them), but they neatly encapsulate what road running primarily means for me, and that is the maintaining of general fitness and the delaying of the inevitable aging process. Plus my oft-quoted line about never ever wanting to take my generally good health for granted; and data helps to keep me honest about that, if only to myself.
I dare say if I had some wonderful countryside or mountains to run in, I'd be less inclined to fret about logging my runs, but that isn't the case. There's rather less charm about the streets of my neighbourhood than the fields of "southern Northamptonshire" where Askwith runs... but I digress. I'll write more about that when I review both books soon.
The wonders of my spreadsheet also reveal that my run today was my fastest this year, and is approaching my pace of a year ago, and so I am finally making up the ground I lost over summer. With ten days to go until race day (Sydney Half), I'm in a good place at the moment with my running. Mind you, it's probably just as well, because a long line of night shifts starting tomorrow will probably enforce a ten-day taper, so today's hit-out was a a good one at the right time.
In other good news, my knees, which have been a little troublesome of late were better today, with no need for ibuprofen, which is likewise encouraging.
In yet even more good news, I am confirmed for another trip to Europe around this time next year, sadly too late for the Moyleman, but in time for the London marathon (should I succeed in the ballot) or possibly the Three Forts marathon in Sweder's neck of the woods a week or so later. Although to be honest, my knees are wincing at the thought of all the downhill sections of that race, whilst my brain is struggling to cope with the thoughts of the ascents.
But then, I live for the hills ... or so I keep telling myself.
Rock on, hill lovers!
Golly -
forty years ago!
May as well ... 2014
