February has arrived

[marathondan]

Running opportunities have been few and far between, and, having even missed football this week (due to VD), I was desperate to get out. So a train journey to work, with runs to/from home/station/office, in both directions, was too good a chance to miss. 11 miles total, across four legs. This is a love-or-hate-it routine that I generally used once a week during marathon training – a nice route and potentially an endorphin-laden start to the day, but a hilly slog, invariably with a rucksack, and at 5.20 am on an empty stomach, I’m not exactly at my best.

Still, I took it steady, the moon was out, and it all went fairly well. For all we go on about how great running is, I maintain that the ultimate truth is that the best bit is when you stop. That first half-hour or so afterwards is a great way to start the day.

Tonight will be the same in return – rather more downhill, but invariably a tempo run to avoid missing the train. Maybe I should try and do this once a week – things are always easier to stick to if they’re fitted into a routine, and at my current training level, an extra 11 miles a week isn’t to be sniffed at.