September

[Sweder]

More local outings to report, a couple of BlackCap efforts and a few shorter trips. Rain has arrived in Biblical proportions, creating vibrant streams along the flint trails. I'm having a lot of fun splashing along, seeking grip amidst the slime-covered rocks.

I was interested to see that Antonio has opted for a similar approach - lots of short, sharp runs to get back into the swing. I've thrown in a few rest days, running three out of every four days at the moment. My next challenge is to know when to ramp up the distances, specifically when to feed in the long runs. My maximum so far is five and a half miles. My aim is to get to a point where this is both regular and comfortable, then add a few miles on. I'll probably start Sunday runs with the Jog Shop crew in October. They start from eight miles (Wire and back), so that should fit right in.

Building base is all I'm looking for right now. No speed, no Fartlek, no mad hill assaults, just steady, undulating plods. My paunch is refusing to budge, but I'm not letting it get to me. I've reached a stage in life where radical dietary change is required to make an impact, and I'm not ready for that just yet. Mrs S has been banging on about Alkaline diets, cutting out acidic foods and the like. It may well help. For now it's all about getting out the door as much as possible, rain or shine, to cultivate that flame of running passion. It flickers still, for sure. Anyone who gets out of bed to run into an angry deluge on consecutive mornings must hold a candle for the sport. The trick is not to let those fierce autumnal winds blow the damned thing out.