June 2015

[glaconman]

Having managed 14 races in just over 3 months I'm thinking I have a reasonable excuse for my race reports being so concise. Rarely have I managed such a purple patch without pulling-up. So now feels like a good time to have an easy week, ruminate and plan.

5ks, 5 milers, a couple of half marathons, trail and fell. There's nothing like tearing up the training manual and getting out there and racing yourself fit. I'm very proud of the valleys that surround me; they represent a sweet spot of running culture that, whilst not unique, are very special. I'm a lucky boy.

I've definitely got the right balance between easy running, racing and cycling. The thing I need to get under control now is weight. Being a sensible weight makes running a much more enjoyable sport.

When we got back from India in January (after 3 weeks of trying to find the best restaurant on the sub-continent. And it's still Shivala opposite VT station by-the-way) my knuckles were raised against the door of No 80, Kilogram Street. I've since managed to pull that back to 74. But at 5'7.5'' I'm still, well, 'stocky' is how I like to put it.

There doesn't appear to be much on the calendar before the holidays. The Tour de France looms large after an interesting build-up of Spring Classics and last weeks excellent Dauphine. Most people are predicting a great race. We'll be travelling to France the day before the final stage to do some cycling. I cannot wait. Hot days cycling in the high mountains, evening storms under canvas, Alsace beer in medieval villages and Toulous sausages spitting in the pan. Vive La France.

My big target on our return will be the Burnsall 10 in late August. So I'll need to keep the running going on holiday if I'm to do well in what must be one of the toughest 10 mile road races in the country. I've run it twice but never turned-up fit. Time to give it a better shot this year.

Other than that ....... I'm going to put my feet up tonight. And drink a pint of my latest homebrew (a 3 malt and triple-hopped IPA called Oxymoron) and wish everybody a Summer of health and well-being.