Week 18: New Year resolutions

Monday found me still in London and dragging myself out for a quick 3km run over the muddy local heath, dodging the shetland ponies.  Then it was back home to France and resolutions to train more, eat healthily and drink less.  Wednesday I got back into my gym routine, with 30 minutes on the static bike followed by 2km on the rowing machine and some weightlifting.  I also got in ten relaxing minutes in the hammam which helped remove the stress of a family Christmas.
New Year day I woke up feeling a little heavy and tired from the night before but decided to go for a run.  I set myself the ambitious target of running up to a mountain hut in the mountains.  The first two kilometres rise gently and my pace was good.  However as the route got steeper my calf muscles began complaining and I was soon down to a rapid walk.  I did not find it easy, perhaps the food and drink of the festive season were to blame, or my recent lack of training.  Maybe I was also a bit ambitious.  The route rises 1200 metres over 10km.  There are very few flat parts so I walked most of the time.  After two hours I found my legs getting shaky so stopped to eat a cereal bar.  I felt better after this and as the path plateaued was able to run through pleasant pine forests carpeted with bright green moss and grass. I had now reached the snow line and although it had not snowed for three weeks there were still pockets of snow to negotiate.  In some places the snow had been packed into hard ice and at one point I found myself flat on my back, luckily I was uninjured if a little bruised.  I finally arrived at the mountain hut and met up with my family after 2 and a half hours.  I decided to walk down to avoid injury as the snow was very hard and icy.  My calf muscles felt pretty tight so I made sure to stretch well.
After a rest day I went out for a family run around the local reservoir, a 3.5km circuit.  I managed three circuits and pushed myself for the last one increasing my speed.  As it was a Sunday and not raining there were lots of people running off the holiday over indulgence.
I also started reading a new running book that my wife received for Christmas.  I must admit to being a bit ashamed to read what appears to be a girly book, but it turns out it is a good beginners guide to running.