Week 17: Christmas excesses

Arrived in a wet and windy London for Christmas with my family.  I had optimistically packed my running kit.  My sister lives near Bushy Park which offers some great running potential.  Managed 6km around the park in high winds and drizzle.  The weather was very mild so the wind and rain were not too discouraging.   I ran with my brother-in-law and wife which made a nice change from lone running.  I was pleased too find it was not too difficult and I was quite fast.  The surroundings are perfect for trail running and 5km Park runs take place every Saturday.
Boxing day we took a trip down memory lane to Box hill in Surrey.  We often went for walks here when I was a child.  It's a pretty steep and muddy climb to the top.  At the top there is an war time fort and plenty of tree covered tracks to run on.  It was busy with lots of runners cyclists and families burning off Christmas overindulgence.  I really enjoyed running around the hill even if I was quite slow and I only did 7km.  I consoled myself with then fact that the climb is so steep and the descent the same that is difficult to run faster.
Unfortunately this was all I managed over the Christmas week, but still more than I expected to do.

Week 16: Getting back into it

How to get back after illness?  Motivation low, still feeling very tired and stomach still cramping from last weeks stomach bug.  Decided to run to pick up my son from school, only a couple of kilometres but it was good to be out in the fresh air.  The next few days were very busy with end of the year work.  I had hoped to get to the gym but car problems meant this fell through.  Then I was working for two days and I started getting flu symptoms.  I have a feeling that my running program is fizzling out at the end of the year.
Finally managed to get to the gym and pound away on the running machine for about an hour.  Next week is Christmas and I am off to London, so I am not too confident about maintaining my training schedule.

Week 15: A great start the week, but a fizzle at the end

After a lazy weekend, I started the week with a long trail run.  I have been meaning to follow the route of the "Tour de hameaux", which is around 15km.  This circular route rises very steeply, before dropping down rising again, and finally dropping back to the starting point; an elevation of nearly 800m.  Every August this route is the backdrop for a walk organised by the village council.  There are stops in hamlets with food, drink and music.  It is a very pleasant day out.  Unfortunately for me I was alone and nobody was waiting at refreshment stations.
The morning was cold, but I soon warmed up as I jogged to the bottom of the first climb.  I was quickly forced to a fast walk by the steep incline.  The path was very muddy and slippery, especially around a leaking water reservoir built into the hillside.  The first part of the route is on the north facing side of the hill, or "ubac" as they call it here in the Alps.  I could see the sun shining on the hillside on the "adret" (south facing side) of the valley, this motivated me as the last half of the route passed here.  I reached the first village in good time and the route drop down, before following the contour of the valley through a field that showed evidence of cattle.  I crossed my fingers there were no bulls as I dodged large cowpats.  Could the size and shape indicate if the cattle were male or female?   I exited the field without incident except for soaked and muddy shoes, only to be chased by an enthusiastic sheepdog.  Luckily the owner was with him and assured me the dog was only signaling my presence.  The route dropped away to cross the stream that has cut the valley, before rising steeply onto the other side and the sun.
I was feeling pretty good as I ran down the hill to the bridge over the stream.   Unfortunately I had not remembered to concentrate on my feet and slipped in the mud.  I was lucky to maintain my balance but could have easily taken a tumble.  I refocused my attention on placing my feet.  As the path rose again, I  felt as if I was moving quite quickly and my legs felt fine.  After and hour and a half I arrived at the highest point and began my descent back to home.  The sky was clear and I had a spectacular view over my village, the town reservoir and the snow capped mountains in the distance.  I could just make out the tip of Mont Blanc on the Horizon.  I flew down the final part of the slope and powered home the last 500m.  A great way to start the week.
Day two back to the gym again.  Thirty minutes of static bike and weight lifting for core strength.  Still no hamam for my poor muscles.
Unfortunately the next couple of days saw me laid low with a stomach bug.  I toyed with pulling on my running kit and trying to run myself better but I really didn't feel up to it.  How and when to get back into the running shoes after being sick?

Week 14: Increasing my distance.

Monday morning, the kids are off to school, and my wife to work.  I have a couple of free hours but it is cold, damp and dark outside.  I pull on my running clothes and shoes and, after a light breakfast, force myself out the door.  I have planned to run to a village above my house and then circuit back.  I want to increase the distance of my weekly run by 10%, so 11 or 12 km.  It is cold and I start slowly.  After passing through the village I veer off up the hill and immediately get lost.  I had turned too soon and have to retrace my steps.  I tell myself it doesn't matter, I will know for next time.  The path climbs steeply, like every path around here and I am soon down to a rapid walk.  I pass a couple of houses with "beware of the dog" signs.  These signs are unnecessary really as the beasts are hurling themselves at the fences, eager to chop down on my screaming calf muscles.  I hate dogs when I am running.  I can hear one particular pair raging long after I have passed the house.  Glad I am not their neighbour.  Finally the path levels off and I break out of the woods into a very damp field.  My feet are soon wet and cold, but the sun has reached over the crest and I am in sunshine as I jog through the village.  Now the path drops steeply back to the valley.  My pace increases but I need to watch my feet.  Wet leaves cover slippery stones and I almost tumble a number of times.  It is strange but as I descend it is colder than higher up.  It must be due to the morning mist still trapped in the valley floor.  I arrive back at the reservoir and run comfortably and quickly back to the house.  12.8 km, objective reached and I seem to be getting faster.  I am glad I forced myself out.
The next day I go to the gym and mix static bike, rowing, weight lifting and running machine.  I try doing some speed training on the running machine.  Starting off at my jogging pace, then speeding up for 30 seconds or so, then dropping back to my jogging pace.  I am trying to recreate my training on the running track.  But I really don't enjoy running machines.
After two rest days, mainly because of work, I return to the gym and mix things up like in my last session.  This time I try to recreate some hill training on the running machine by increasing the gradient.  I do not feel very efficient, perhaps it is because I am training in the afternoon after lunch.  I was a bit disappointed that the hammam is still out of action I could have done with a nice relaxing steam.