price [TDC676]

Recovery day today at only 4 miles total [lunchtime with QMUL group and to evening Run England group.

Was there ever any doubt that ‘elite’ level sport is not good for you? GOOD of course is a very subjective matter. Plenty of studies have shown what is considered a minimum ‘good’ level for general health and well being. Beyond this level you are interested in different reasons for trying to excel at any given activity [this includes non-physical activities] than ‘health’.

For professional athletes being number one at almost any cost is the name of the game. Certainly there must be a viscous cycle of wanting to be the best but needing to make money so needing to be the best etc. Hence the drug issues and match fixing problems coming to light recently in several sports?

Luckily perhaps for most of us [no matter how passionate we are about our running] the limits of having a fairly ‘normal’ 9-5 life/job precludes any possibility of getting into this kind of tricky territory.

The most difficult question I always find asked is, “why do you run?” I haven’t yet found a suitable answer beyond the banal, easily spouted responses.Health, well-being, sociability, stress-relief, endorphin rush, getting from A to B quicker/more cheaply, blah blah blah. All true but seems to somehow undersell what running is really about?

In a recent interview I said, off the top of my head, “To move is to live.” Sounds like an off the shelf, self-help guru, aphoristic platitude kind of pseudo-Zen soundbite? I realise that for me at least it is probably the closest I’ll get to the ‘an answer’.

TDC 676 days 7477 miles

clocks [TDC582]

Only 12 miles this morning with viewtube runners but with some gentle hill repeats. Always strange when the clocks go back, you have an extra hour in bed [supposedly] but you wake up more tired?

Everything feeling fine ahead of the harder/longer warm up week starting tomorrow. I can’t believe another Movember Milo Miles is here already! Here’s to another successful completion.

TDC 582 days 5910 miles
RTR100 3456/4810 [71]

[TDC575]

Yesterday I went through the RTR70 originally planned mileage for 2015 and 70 virtual circuits around Jersey. Doubt very much I can safely get to RTR100 now with only 74 days till the end of the year and a whopping 1400+ miles to go? 4500 miles for the year would still be a best ever annual mileage, but I’ll still try for it. At least I’m now 90 miles ahead of the TDC average needed mileage.

This morning a jog to viewtube then 10 miles with Chris keeping me on my toes at 7.30 pace and below [where I should be working on Sundays] for the last ‘lazy’ Sunday longish run I can allow myself.

All hotting up mileage-wise from tomorrow!

TDC 575 days 5841 miles
RTR100 3387/4810 [70]

[TDC568]

Lovely sunny morning but just a short 9 miles total with viewtube runners today. At the point now where 10 slow miles feels like you haven’t done anything.

Only another 44 miles and I’ll have finished the originally intentioned RTR70 [70 virtual 48.1 mile circuits around Jersey] and starting to chop away at another planned/hoped for 30 circuits before the end of the year!

TDC 568 days 5777 miles
RTR100 3323/4810 [69]

5KM [TDC540]

Glad to see that Paula Radcliffe has released blood test data and explained the results. Now we can get on with celebrating her achievements. Frankly rather naive though of jumper Greg Rutherford to moan that “people think we are all taking drugs”. If high profile athletes cheat [and states sanction cheating at the highest level] it is reasonable that sport loving individuals will and should question those involved. Until athletics has a cleaner reputation the situation will continue.

This morning a relaxed 6 miles jog before meeting viewtube guys for a 10k training run followed by a quick tea break. Then another couple of miles jog to West Ham Park to do the 5K there as a time trial. I was hoping to get close to the 20 minutes mark today, but only managed 20.35 [20.16 course time] with slightly tired legs. Only 16 miles today.

Tomorrow should hopefully see me go through 3,000 miles for the year so far, but with a farther 1810 needed in the remaining 108 days. Not getting any easier, though I am going ahead of needed TDC mileage..

TDC 540 days 5434 miles
RTR100 2980/4810 [61]

muggy [TDC519]

Muggy morning but missed the rain. A relaxing 10K at viewtube then a jog to WHP after some tea then surprised myself with a 5K only a few seconds slower than yesterday [albeit on a flatter course] on legs that are tired. Breathing only slightly laboured so is certainly the legs that are holding me back [pace flagged over the last mile].

Have to get back to the crazy mileages again from tomorrow. Yippee! First mission: make back the TDC behind mileage of 60 miles, over the next three weeks.

TDC 519 days 5129 miles
RTR100 2675/4810 [55]

hot [TDC505]

Very warm, even early this morning. Started with a jog to viewtube and then a 10K run at a little faster pace. A half an hour water stop and walk to West Ham Park and then an attempt at a fast 5K. Legs showed their tiredness after only a mile. Calves perfectly fine though. So just a bit more recovery needed. A 12 mile day.

TDC 505 days 5044 miles
RTR100 2590/4810 [53]

[TDC 482]

Lovely running afternoon with Alessio [certainly faster than if I had run alone today]. 10 miles along the Thames and 4 miles home after the evening’s Run England session.

TDC 482 days 4807 miles
RTR70 2353/3360 [48]

bugged [TDC480]

First day of week three of the Puma Points challenge on Running Bug and I am surprised to be in second place overall, up two positions from week one. I am working like crazy though; certainly I haven’t run this fast for years. Can’t see any more PBs this month, though I will try at the 10K race on Sunday.

Today just 16 miles; 10 in the morning and then 3 to work and 3 more back via the evening’s Run England session.

TDC 480 days 4767 miles
RTR70 2313/3360 [48]