Popping the Bushy parkrun Cherry

Saturday 31st January
Run #31
First Time at Bushy parkrun

It was decide we'd take this week's parkrun tourism a couple of miles down the road to Bushy Park: home of parkrun. Bushy can regularly have almost 1000 runners so the parking or rather, getting out of the Park before lunchtime afterward, had always been something of a disincentive. We hoped this was likely to be slightly less of an issue than usual when we stepped out of the flat to find it snowing. But in fact 844 people still turned up to run in the snow, which says a lot about parkrunners, and probably Bushy parkrunners in particular.

After dashing back into the flat to grab waterproof jackets and an extra hat we headed off managing, in a typically British way, to talk about the weather, and running in the weather, almost all the way there. Arriving 30min early made grabbing parking a cinch, and also gave plenty of time to run the car heater on full and debate the merits of jogging over to the toilet block in the snow, versus staying warm in the car for 5 more minutes (the desire to not think about the bladder the whole way round won).

As it transpired the snow had massively eased by the time we lined up at the start and would in fact have stopped by the off. But as it hadn't on leaving the warm cocoon of Volkswagen I wore too many layers, as usual. The start was probably about 30 people wide; more a bunch than a funnel, and I was amused that the pre-race briefing came out of a speaker a chap held on top of his head. No issues with bunching and very little congestion at the start made for a good paced first k that segued into the second before I knew it. And, true to form, I was too warm before the second k was over. "Dress for the 2nd K" M told me - one of these days I'll get that right!

M set a good pace and I made a conscious decision not to check my watch. I could feel it was pretty pacy for me; not my all-out effort but at least 10 sec/k below my comfortable pace was the gut feel. I honestly didn't notice at the time but we overtook a lot of runners and weren't over taken at all. Which was great considering how difficult it felt trying to seed at the start.

It was pretty slippy and muddy in places and I could feel muscles round my hips kicking in to keep me upright. The extra effort that not slipping takes me is no doubt a direct reflection on my weak core. Really should get back to the planking! And it meant a few wide sweeps on corners. But the inevitable face-plant was saved for another day and I came in with a time I've only ever beaten over 5k twice before.

The logistics and organisation at Bushy were top notch. What could have been chaos was a well thought out well oiled machine of cheerful and enthusiastic efficiency. Right down the the bucket you could put your barcode into it you were too embarrassed by your time to go and get scanned (or had forgotten your own barcode). Genius.

With a fast flat course that could easily yield some PB times in better weather, we'll certainly be back

No Snow But Go

Thursday 29th January

Run #29

3.5k Local Blocks

This morning it felt like the weather had properly turned. Or at least as much as it ever really does down in these 'ere parts. Given that the rest of the country is closing airports and tweeting snowman pics, the fact that I spent most of the day hoping for a snow run and contemplating layering is hardly newsworthy. But hey, I'm sure I felt at least 3 bits of sleet in my face earlier, so it's a big deal alright? I might need a snood for goodnesssake.

Getting out of the train station at Richmond and hoping to see at least a flake or two in the air was instead just met with more of the same wet pavements as usual. It seems the promise that, "yes London should have at least a bit of snow in the afternoon" turned out to be fallacy of weather-predicting proportions. The only hint of anything even resembling interesting winter weather was a chunky blanket of hail caught in the wipers of the cars parked along my walk home.

Jazzing up my long black sleeved long legged kit - and to take the edge off looking too like someone running in a full wetsuit - I zipped the sleeves off my multi-coloured butterfly rain jacket and opted for a neon yellow ear-warmer headband (to match the neon yellow zippers, natch). A good choice it turned out because the wind was mighty chilly around certain corners.

It was a very enjoyable 20 minutes of zigzagging up and down the blocks on the hill. I had planned to do a longer loop but found once I got going I actually just wanted to keep up-downing. There is something delicious about starting most runs on a long downhill coast though. A very stress free (if slightly cheat-y) way to warm up.

It was a bit of a weird sensation as the muscle in my legs got warmer but the skin on my legs got colder the longer I was out. The cold was pushing my legs towards cramp and I felt like I had to pump harder to keep myself warmed up. Quite fortunately then that all the back ups were in this bit. Probably just a testament to my not being a very efficient runner. Or needing thermal leggings. I can see one of those being easier to address than the other…

Rain / Pain Go Away...

Wednesday 28th January

Run #28

Part 1: Runch Plans

So I realise I am behind (again!) on my blogging and still need to go back and write up Sunday and Monday. But before I do I want to tackle today because I want to write this one in 2 parts. This is the before. With my usual Wednesday evening class at 19:00 tonight I have brought my kit to work with plans to try and replicate the highly successful runch of the other week.

It does seem that the Universe may have other plans mind you.

The weather report suggests decently gusty wind and a fairly British amount of rain all day. But I spy a weather window around 2pm so that's my aim. I have packed a windcheater that M very kindly loaned me (New Balance Shadow Run Jacket in electric blue with neon yellow zips, just for the record) and my favourite peak in case it is still raining, so weather I think I have beat.

More problematic is the calf pain I woke up with. Avoiding front-foot running and my minimal trainers and trying to cut down on hills feels like its helped the PF that was threatening and, though my instep is still a tad tender to prod, the heel pain has all but gone. However, despite religious stretching and a commitment to foam rollering that saw me trying not to wake the neighbours at 6am rollering my calf this morning I have a fairly focal pain a third of the way up my right calf that twinges on toe-off. Gut feeling is that adding in sprints yesterday may have been a push too far at this stage.

So I will be taking it short and easy this lunch, with a focus on active recovery as much as possible.

Part 2: Post Runch Systems Check

I almost hit the weather window. It was certainly brightening up and I was optimistic I'd escape a soaking. But was pleased I'd gone with the windcheater anyway as the heavens doused me with a squally 5min lashing only a few yards out of the door. It was that brief however, and the heavy scudding clouds kept to themselves after that. Not until I rounded the last corner into a wall of wind did I realise I'd managed a pretty sheltered route sticking, as I had, to the local streets and mews of Belgravia, behind the office; a beautiful blue-plaque hunting, regency route

I actually did take some concentration to remember to keep it short and steady and the knot in my calf was hardly noticeable once I got the blood moving. It really does only seem to clench up on staying off my feet; definitely worst straight out of bed in the morning. I'm sure that is a key diagnostic indicator for someone in the know. I may have to track down that someone one of these days.

But until then, back to the office after a brisk shower, to finish up my workday afternoon rolling my insteps on golf balls under the desk.

'Floating Up to Some Strides (Pah Ha Ha)

Tuesday 27^th January

Run #27

6 Riverside Ks with 4 x 100m Strides

M, deep in the midst of his brutal P&D marathon training schedule has said more than once that my Run Streak could do with more ‘structure’. The idea of just waffling along each evening for a few K along unplanned routes at whatever speeds it feels like my body wants jars against his every spreadsheet run log.

So, taking a leaf from M’s run of the day the plan was to add in some strides to this evening’s run. Basically run the flat riverside route I’ve run loads of times, but step the last 100m of every K up to a sprint.

Another still and fairly mild night set the scene for a pretty manageable run. Setting the initial pace was fine but my Garmin light only staying on for a couple of seconds made working out when the .90 rolled round each K to kick in the sprint – and more importantly when I could slow back down! - a bit of a moveable feast.

It was only once I got back that M clarified that the idea is to build into the top pace over the preceding 70m and the pace increase should be ‘like floating up to a controlled stride’. Needless to say my run was not this graceful arc of speed change and more a frenetic hurtle forward for the last 100 and a gasping fish-out-of-water heaving for the following half k at least, trying to get my breath back sufficiently to do it again on the next one.

I felt pretty pleased with the efforts though, as unrefined as they were. But, truth be known, I’m just not sure at this point that I feel the need to be doing ‘more’ than just running every day.

But, while I decide, I am at least going to sort out the light on my Garmin

A Short Rush Through Rush-Hour

Monday 26^th January

Run #26

4k Loop over the Railtrack with M

On what should have been a rest day after his Sunday long run M elected to come along on my Monday night run as a recovery. Which was good for me as he always has enough breath to keep up a good one sided conversation, even where I can’t respond. (Incidentally that whole “you should be able to hold a conversation while running” thing has never made sense to me. If I can hold a conversation, I’m walking. Anything above a walk and its breathing like a walrus for me).

I left it to M to pick a route so we started with one of the long downhills from the flat, enabling me to just about be able to contribute to chat for a bit. Then over the road and across the rail tracks, which never fails to give me a nervous flutter.

The route followed past Sainsburys, Homebase and along a pretty busy main road then back into Richmond and through the town centre. Given that it’s still dark before leaving work I’d forgotten it would be the peak of rush hour. It was a new experience weaving in and out of the homebound commuters but I felt we did a grand job of not pissing anyone off too much.

There’s something I like about running in busy places where almost no one else is running. So this one was a fun one. And ended on a good push up the most of the hill and a nice walk to cool down.

Follow The Yellow Grit Road

Sunday 25^th January

Run #25

15.5k Reverse Tamsin Trail & Dysart Loop

After last week’s long run round the Tamsin Trail of Richmond Park I decided this week to tackle the same but in the reverse direction, then tack on a wee bit of pathway out of the Park and back towards the Thames. Either way you do the Tamsin Trail there are a couple of chunky hills, and I’m not yet sure which direction I prefer. For the record I consider ‘reverse’ as clockwise, and ‘the normal direction’ as anti-clockwise, for no reason other than the fact that that this the direction I’ve usually run it! I think it probably stems from the couple of k of Richmond parkrun that take in the Trail near the Richmond gate going anti-clockwise. But I couldn’t be sure.

The nice thing about the reverse direction is that the first 3k is almost exclusively a steady and continuous decline. It’s the k in the middle of this stretch that, in the opposite direction, is my parkrun nemesis every time. But going this way it’s a sweet flow downhill and feels gooooood. This side of the Park is my least favourite. That’s not to say it’s not lovely, with its yellow gritty track, duck pond and wooden bridge over a stream near the Roehampton gate. I think it really is the relentless continuation of the slope that puts it out of my favour. So tackling it in this direction definitely helps with my liking of it and I find myself at Roehampton gate before I know it.

Of course, there’s a price to pay for all that downhill. And the sharp up of Broomfield Hill in the 6th k - in a segment christened ‘The Guantanamo Experience’ by someone on Strava - the rise of 25m in half a k makes sure you don’t forget it. I always myself run up this hill, no matter how slow that ‘run’ ends up being. Which is probably stupid actually, given how tweaky my PF and calves have been feeling. But I can be stupidly pig headed at times.

The reward at the top is my favourite bit of the Trail, whichever direction you come at it from. One of the high points of the park the view over toward Roehampton and Kingston is awesome, and the trail bends through the trees and – in this direction – on towards the big downhill. After slogging up the 39m you get to run the same down the other side and boy it feels good.

The reason I am partial to reverse Tamsin is that, after Broomfield Hill I like all of the rest of the route, regardless of whether you go back up past Pembroke Lodge or take the yellow grit path towards The Dysart pub and the Thamesside as I did today. There is a lot of running through cool wooded areas, with loamy bracken paths and a lovely earthy smell. Leaving the Park opposite The Dysart I pick up a hidden path towards the Petersham Meadows. In a cheeky move I finish at the bottom of the hill to home and jog walk back up to cool down, justifying it with an acceleration of pace over the last k to leave me doubled-over and breathless but happy at 15.5k

Osterley parkrun with M

Saturday 24^th January

Run #24

Osterley parkrun

Another blue and chilly day and M decided a bit of parkrun tourism was back on the cards. He had a few K more to tack on it was decided we'd drive together to Osterley Park and he'd run back while I'd take the car back.

This was a bit of a novelty parkrun for me as M and I rarely run parkruns together: he usually finishes a good 6 or 7 minutes ahead of me so lines up near the front. I try and seed myself behind all those that look like the kinds of runners I'd get in the way off, trip up or otherwise cause an obstruction to; it usually takes me a good 10 or 20 seconds to cross the start of an average parkrun.

Osterley has a wide - and today treacherously icy tarmac! - start so we lined up should to shoulder and I left the line at the go for a change. I'd love to be able to chat away as we run together but, only a few k in I'm too breathless to do much than dig in and the convo becomes decidedly one-sided. I'll put my hands up and admit I'm not usually great at running with M. But I am making a concerted effort recently to rein in my frustration with  how exhausted and slow I feel running with him, even at my pace. Probably the feeling joggers get taking their champion greyhounds out for geriatric paced jog on a short leash. Can't imagine the greyhound enjoys it much either, but M usually tolerates me fairly well if I can keep the f-bombs in check.

It was a good run. M pushed me as much as he could, within the limits of the fact I felt knackered, both in myself and in my quads. The week in general, and probably the bouncing around the hills of the Park yesterday, may have taken more out of me than I thought. I tried to pull something more out of the bag as M encouraged me to pick it up going into the last k but, as he told me after, I did not really pick my knees up, or pump my arms harder despite his encouraging suggestions. In the end it was a course PB but a way off my parkrun PB, so I drove home happy enough.

And M loped off, back at his pace and probably just happy to be off the leash again.

Hyperlapsing All Over The Park

Friday 23^rd January

Run #23

4k Park Trails and a Whole Lot of Unmeasured Ks

Friday was a glorious weather day. Frosty and azure with a sparkly sun and minimal wind. 

Still not back to 100% healthy I knew I wouldn't get a world-beater run out of today but figured I’d be Ok for a few consecutive K with no issue, which I did around some of the lesser trodden trails of the local end of Richmond Park. The rest of the few hours I was out in the Park I spent gadding about playing with a new iPhone app from Instagram that I’ve discovered called Hyperlapse.

Hyperlapse is a very simple and very basic video app where you shoot a short section of video and can then speed it up, up to 12x, to compress your film into a frenetic info-packed supershort that can then be filtered and tweaked in just the ways that Instagram photos can and uploaded and shared via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr.

A 2min video of a run sped up to 12 kicked out a crazy 10second montage of anything I could point my phone at while running along. The app has an auto-stabilization built in to minimise the inevitable bouncing around that could otherwise make shaky cam videos just too nausea inducing. However as the demo linked above shows, while perfect for staying still and shooting other moving things, or for shooting from various modes of transport, the effects of shooting while running are a tad more ‘frenetic’ shall we say.

Thoroughly unbothered by this, I happily bounced in fits and starts around the quieter paths of the Park for goodness knows how may K in total. All the while trying not to let my sticking out camera arm not throw me too off balance as I pointed it, mid-run, at any interesting trees, deer, paths and puddles that took my fancy and caring not a jot that I likely looked like a total loony to the few dog walkers and deer that did witness my micro-documentary making.

Hyperlapse videos of mine, and other runners who have done the same, can be currently found on Instagram with the tag #useyourrun

Downhill All The Way... In The Name of Rehab, Obviously

Thursday 22^st January

Run #22

A decent 5+k (if you ignore the negative elevation!)

Sticking with the PF avoidance / rehab plan and not feeling 100%, I decided on a route that I knew was a bit of a cheat, planning as I was to head almost exclusively downhill and walk back up from the end to my flat! Yes, that’s not really the ‘done’ thing. But with the difficulty in keeping it on the flat locally and wanting to try and get into the Park if possible, along with the PF-rehab advice to avoid hills, I made peace with it pretty quickly.

I’m not going to lie, there is something beautifully liberating about running on a decline when you know you won’t have to run back up it! So this was a pretty cruisey run. It wasn’t exclusively flat, but the inclines were far less meaty than the downs. And I spent the most part of these ups trying to remind myself not to run on my toes; not as easy as you think and requiring constant self-reprimand but which absorbed my focus away from the bit of extra effort.

I got some good split times. Yes, OK, probably largely a credit to gravity rather than my effort! But still nice to see. And the heels and insteps felt good, so worth it.

Injury Prevention Strategy 1: PF

Wednesday 21^st January

Run #21

A couple of hard-won flat ks

It somehow got missed out of the preceding couple of posts that I am currently skirting round a bit of plantar fasciitis (PF). For those that don’t know the PF is the thick band that spans between your heel bone and under the knucksles of the ball of your foot and provides the ‘spring’ in your every step. It’s tough, fibrous and, when inflamed can produce a heel or arch pain that’s like stepping on lego in the dark.

I can pinpoint the exact moment, stood in the train on my Monday commute, when I shifted my weight over to my right foot and felt like I’d transferred my full centre of gravity over a particularly sharp stone. I couldn’t seem to shake it off and walking it off wasn’t really happening either. I kept my run super short on Monday but it seems some probably over-striding sprints in fairly minimal shoes was not the way to go.

A bit of Google self-diagnosis (ooooh, dangerous game!) threw up some useful gems:

-       PF can be brought on by a sudden increase in mileage, hill running or a switch to midfoot running (well, my daily run outs and an inability to avoid hills and instinctively switching to fore-foot for hill running could well be at play here)

-       Higher risk in those with tight calves (check) and/or fallen arches (check: flat hobbit feet all my life, minus the hair)

-       Pain during the push-off phase while running, not during initial contact and reproduced by walking on tip toes rather than heel striking (yup yup yup)

-       This and lots of other useful PF Info found here at competitor.com

So the best approach seemed to be: avoid hills where possible, stick to the support trainers and heel striking, keep mileage down and cadence up. Stretch the calves, foam roller (gah!) and roll a frozen golf ball under the sole of the foot to keep the PF mobile (seriously).

So this is what I’ll be doing for a bit.

Today’s couple of k was a testament to how hard it is to find a flat route of more than a few metres near me. A casual bystander could have been forgiven for thinking there’d been drinking so tight were some of the switchbacks. But if the heel pain goes away, I don’t care a jot.

A Spot of Runch in Battersea Park

Tuesday 20th January

Run #20

5k Battersea Park Lunchtime Run

Tuesday this week was always going to be a tricky one, as I had arranged to meet a friend direct from work with plans that would take up the rest of the evening, giving no time for post-work running. So the night before I had gathered all my stuff together to take to the office for my first run at lunch. Or in the terminology of the fabulous and inspirational @Susie_Chan '#runch'

I was, for some reason, apprehensive about this one. Mostly because I wasn't sure I could work all the logistics (changing, running, showering, managing to look office-presentable) into an hour and running late for anything stresses me out. So the second 13:30 rolled round I dashed to the loo and changed in super-quick time. Desk to pavement in 7 minutes.

It was, fortuitously, probably the most beautiful day of winter so far and the kind of day that makes me deliriously happy to live in a country with seasons. It had been hella cold when I'd left the house at half 6 and I wasn't sure if the mercury would have made it out of the sub-zero zone. But it was one of those rare winter days when, rather than bright white and watery the sun was bright warm and springy. Very unseasonably you could feel a bit of heat where the sunlight hit your face and threw the Thames into a million sparkles. There wasn't a cloud and the air was still crispy chilly but I was the perfect mix of warmed up and cooled down the entire run.

Given that time was at the forefront of my mind I elected to head over to Battersea Park: almost exactly a k from the office, find a 3k route around there and then the k back for a 5k that should fit nicely into the lunch-hour, which is exactly what I did. The Park was buzzing with people - dog walkers mostly - and I got to see dogs in all shapes and sizes, as well as other runners out for their runch.

What was quite obvious was that there did seem to be a 'type' of runch-er. Almost to a man (I didn't see any other ladies) they were the guys you see at the front of cross country races: singlets, short shorts, compression socks, maybe sleeves too, and a steely determined run style that looks simultaneously both whippet quick and speed-walk nonchalant. Needless to say I was overtaken a lot, and in fact lapped on my little loop, not that I was worried at all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this run. Being someone who routinely works through lunch, or grabs a quick soup at Pret or just snacks all day at their desk, being out 'deliberately' in my lunch hour came with something of an illicit thrill - the closest thing I could liken it to is being sent on an errand by a teacher and being out of the classroom in school time. Which probably says something about both my conscientiousness and immaturity. But we won't dwell on that…

As it was, I would have made it back to my desk neatly within the hour, if I hadn't had to queue for the work shower. Which goes to show you can't plan everything. But all in all, a great first runch.

How NOT To Warm Up for HIIT

Monday 19th January

Run #19

Treadmill 2k with mile PB

I'd had Monday in mind for a short pre-gym treadmill run since before Sunday became 'the long run that wasn't'. So I planned this one to be more of the warm-up variety. Half a k of running along at my comfortable pace and I decided I'd do my next mile as a pyramid. Only I only ended up going up one side of my pyramid and didn't quite get to the down…

Increased my kph by 1 every minute, until I hit 14.5kph for the last 90 sec. Now people that can run fast on a treadmill (M has reached the point he can't do sprints or TABATA on a treadmill because the standard gym ones 'don't go up high enough'. Seriously) amaze me. I am not even close to that: typical gym treadmills will go up to 20kph, but as soon as I get to my flat out sprint speed I feel like I may quite easily kick myself in the back of the head with my whirling heels and have to pay 100% attention just to keep upright. In my mind I feel I look like a cross between roadrunner (without the happy-go-lucky calm) and the preceding few seconds in those viral videos of people face-planting treadmills in slow motion on YouTube.

But, concentrating like a bitch, I managed to keep my 14.5 to the end of my mile. Mile time was 8:06 - over a minute off the last one I did, and though setting a new mile PB had not been the plan initially, I was pretty pleased with that. Pleased that is until the HIIT class I'd gone to the gym for started and I realised that I'd left all my energy on the treadmill. Turns out legs like jelly are not conducive to weighed squats and lunges.

Whoda thunk it hey?

Warning: Ice and S'No Fun Ahead

Sunday 18^th January

Run #18

A slippery 6k pavement run

Everything about this run felt doomed from the start. I woke up later than I’d expected. Later in fact than I thought I'd be back by on account of a late night and not setting an alarm. So I was grumpy and resentful before I even got going. One of those days when I could have done with giving myself a stern talking to and a metaphorical slap. But I hoped that once I got going the run might do that for me.

Usually, as much as I might not want to go for a run, once I get out there and get a few ks under my feet I can feel the attitude adjustment and the mardy moodiness and feist tends to give way to something more positive; even if not a ‘love’ of the run, definitely a less self-indulgent mithering.

This run did not go like that.

The first hurdle was where to go. Being as I was located in some of the loveliest of England’s green and pleasant lands down in the West Country I had been thinking that I might take a drive out and find a really pretty and rewarding rural run out somewhere. Maybe even down to the coast for some sea air. But given that I was almost out of morning given my oversleeping and knowing I had to drive back to the big smoke in only a few hours it didn't seem such a feasible plan any more. So I just headed off along some uninspiring residential streets.

Barely a few steps out the gate and it became clear that staying upright was going to be a challenge! The pavements were thick with frost that had yet to burn off and my boxfresh runners felt like they probably still had some factory coating on the soles: grip was non-existent! And so began a weird part-run, part-skate complete with windmill arms and a drunken looking weave across the roads and I tried to seek out every sunlit bit of pavement in the hope of more grip.

It could have been fun, but it wasn’t. My mood did not improve and the angry was not being run away. Being a Sunday it should have been a long run. Some decent ks. But after 4k, and only about 2k from home I assessed how I felt, realised I wasn't winning today, and turned for home.

While it’s true that usually I’ll enjoy it once I get going I also promised myself that, if after 2k that ever really wasn't the case, I would let myself stop. This was the first time in as long as I can remember that I've taken myself up on that promise. So it wasn't a long run. And if you factor in that I bought runners almost primarily for the long run I’d planned to do, it was probably one of the most expensive per-k runs I've ever done in the UK.

But you can’t win ‘em all. At least I got out there. And there’s always tomorrow.

Not A Mile In Her Shoes

Saturday 17th January
Run #17
6.5k Countryside Road Run 

Down in the West Country for the weekend the Saturday plan was always going to be parkrun at Longrun Meadow.

Longrun is a great parkrun with a spirit-lifting community atmosphere and flat, if usually muddy, course. But the plan was swiftly scuppered on realising that, like an idiot, I'd left ALL my running shoes in London. And this despite packing nearly every item of running kit I own to cover any weather eventuality.

Wasn't too worried as the immediate thought was to borrow some runners off my mother, who I was staying with for the weekend, and who shares my foot size. Only it turns out the mother only had brand new runners. Bought in New York and box fresh. And I just couldn't be the one to sully them on their maiden voyage with the potential ankle-deep mud at Longrun. A mile (or 3) in her shoes was out.

Given that I'd mentally prepped for parkrun I doubled up on my layers and headed over to see if I could lend a hand to the volunteer team. Last trip to Longrun Meadow has been a wet affair with some monster puddles. In contract today was a ghostly frosty white on arrival and what puddles there'd been were crisply sheeted with ice.

After a chat with the race director I donned a hi-vis and positioned myself at the apex where the pathway became a mirror of treacherous ice, to funnel runners onto the grass and avoid any injurious slips or trips.

             

 

Seeing a parkrun as a volunteer rather than a runner is always an eye-opener and I love cheering people on and seeing everyone running their own race, especially how many more smiles there are towards the tail end.

But once the cones were stacked and the flags rolled up until next week the ice was pretty much melted and I still had a shoe dilemma to resolve and a run to do.

Unwilling to quit the Streak purely because of my inability to achieve simple packing, I went to town on the hunt for new trainers. This escapade was a mission of highs and lows as, over and again, I found a perfect potential pair that turned out to not have my size. I ended up with a pair of men's New Balance in a size up from my usual! But my usual Brooks run a size up too, and they felt good as I attempted mini shuttle runs in the shop, around baffled Saturday browsers. I didn't feel elated with my buy, being as I am someone that will usually over analyse and research any potential purchase, but tried to keep the Streak in mind and think about the run.

After my standard paranoid fiddling with laces, socks, laces again etc I elected to head out from the front door and towards the Quantock hills. Living ordinarily in London's zone 4 in it always takes me a while to get used to running directly on roads instead of pavements, paths or underpasses. And initially much of my attention was focused on the curves of the country roads and making sure I was always running on the side with the clearest visibility to traffic. But once the air became strong with the rural smell of cattle farming and the roads had grass growing down the middle I relaxed a bit!

Little of this route choice was flat but no hills could be considered substantial and, as I adapted to the undulations through the countryside I tried to keep reminding myself to focus on the experience: the clarity of the air, the views across the Deane vale, the rushing of a stream alongside the hedgerow.

Getting back to the front door it occurred to me that I hadn't given my  feet or shoes a moment's thought during the run. Maybe the new runners will turn out to be a fortuitous purchase after all.

A River Runout with M

Friday 16th January
Run #16
6k Riverside Run with M

Knowing I was spending the weekend away but determined to fit a Friday night run in before the long drive to the West Country M asked if I wanted us to run together. We rarely do this. I'm something of a wheezy plodder and M has evolved his running to the level of some kind of phoenix-risen speedy iguana. Or something. And it's only on the slowest of his recovery runs that we are even close in pace. I also find it hard not to curse at his well-meaning encouragement as he skips along, breathing as easy as if he's sat on the sofa, while I gasp and flap like a fairground goldfish on the pavement. Funnily enough M doesn't take me swearing at him that well.

But this evening's run was entirely enjoyable. Viciously cold and clear, we headed out along the riverside run towards Twickenham. For once, knowing that M's natural pace is so much faster was a motivator to push my pace, rather than a de-motivator. An easy conversation flowed, that I managed to hold up my end of (well, sort of. My contribution did diminish as the Ks increased!)

The river run was dark quiet and with only the moon reflection on the Thames and the 'eco-lighting' that glows brighter as you pass under it. This being a Friday night, near the end of January and with the murcury hovering near zero, the usual plethora of dog walkers and January runners were conspicuously absent and we ran mostly in a bubble of rhythmical solitude.

Funnily enough, for some reason I never got warm on this run. Usually once I get going the blood gets flowing and the chill goes. Wearing long sleeves and long legs seemed to make no difference today and the cold sweat and brought to mind school cross country and the bitter 'slapped legs' sting of icy playing fields. But in this context was nowhere near as uncomfortable. It was almost enjoyable (though not enough to stop me seriously planning to buy some thermal base-layers in the near future!)

School demons exorcised.

Pub pints precede sub-par performance

Thursday 15th January
Run #15
A few K round the block. A tad drunk.

There's probably little that is less motivating to after work running than lunchtime client beers bought by the big boss.

There's also little that I am less likely to decline than lunchtime client beers bought by the big boss

So it was with a slightly muzzy head and very little enthusiasm that I got out for this night's run. I'll freely admit a lack of oomph and creativity had me running the block loops again. Not much to report on this one. Got out, kept it short, got it done. Probably saved myself a hangover in the process. A winning result, if sub-par run performance.

1k Up: 1k Down: Repeat

Wednesday 14th January
Run #14
6k of Long Local Hill Roads

As I'd needed to be in work early I planned to grab the extra hour back at the end of the work day and beat the rush-hour home to fit today's run in when I'd usually be still commuting. I sort of managed it, though I somehow never manage to leave work as early as planned. But I was still hopeful that I might actually make it home in the light and manage to run in the Park: an unheard of luxury for a winter weekday.

As it was, I didn't quite make it out before dark. And given that the Park has no street lighting and one is liable to fall over a deer or two, that plan had to be abandoned. Which left me in a quandry as to where to run. I settled on a street-lit road route from home that, roughly, goes downhill for a k, up another hill for a k, down a different hill for a k and back up, with a couple of flat k chunked between to the tops and bottoms.

The downhills were a gift, as downhills are, and a generous down makes for a good warm up. I expected the uphills to be killer soul-sappers on account of being a k long each. Especially the second one. But the pavements were clear and the dusk sky was a delicious velvety petrol-plum blanket to run under.

The second down is a road I don't know and have never gone the full length of before. By 2/3rds of the way down - still letting gravity help me fly along - I was sure I must be on a totally different road to the one I thought: how had it not reached the crossroads at the end yet?! But eventually I did and I sent a silent prayer to the God of traffic lights for the slight reprieve before tackling the long return up.

Which, as it turned out, was over before I knew it! As a natural pessimist I was girding myself for teeth-gritting push to get to the top, but it loomed large far sooner than I was expecting and I kept good pace throughout.

It struck me on the run that I have now completed my first fortnight of Run Streak, and it hasn't been nearly as challenging, motivation-struggling or arduous as I was mentally preparing for. But more on that in the next post.

Shorts Before Shots

Tuesday 13th January
Run #13
Couple of Pre-Pub Ks

Short and sweet this one. Not dissimilar to yesterdays, but with less rain and half the ks!

But the pub was calling and, in the interest of honouring the Run Streak I was determined to fit in my requisite 2k first, but not keep my friends waiting longer than necessary.

Run done, time for some fun (but not too much, it is a school night...)

Checking What The Neighbours Are Up To

Monday 12th January

Run #12

Round the block/s 4k

I had been planning to get back to the gym today and fit the running into my treadmill warm up. With the Run Steak I have seriously neglected the gym so far this month. I haven’t felt too bad as kinda figured the karmic balance is probably being evened up by all the January-gymmers... but aware that I should be trying harder to fit some cross-training in to maintain the muscle I worked hard to get over the last year.

But I was feeling pretty rough all day. Not 'ill' but dispirited, lethargic and a tad nauseous to the extent I'd only eaten tomato soup all day - unheard of for me! Getting home in the pouring rain I tried to convince myself that a run out in the hearty British weather might shift my dwalm and sort me out. Funnily enough it did. Almost as soon as I got going I felt SO much better. I decided to keep it at a cruisey pace after yesterday's long run which made it much more restorative and enjoyable too.

I really didn't want to clock up too many k today - my calf was still twingey from yesterday’s run - so elected to run around the block. Then run a street over and around that block, and so on. I started off just randomly deciding which road to turn into and then, as I ticked off different streets, occupied my brain by trying to plot my remaining route to cover every road while re-running as few as possible. Checking the route on Strava later it was quite satisfying to see that I'd only missed the odd side road.

Yes, it was raining and yes, I did get wet. But, with my trusty peak keeping the rain out of my eyes, and with the air temp still being quite mild, all in all it was the perfect trot out to see me back to the flat feeling 100x better than I had all day.

The Cosmoverse Says: Never Give Up

Sunday 11th January

Run #11

10 Miler (16.1k) Richmond Park Tamsin Trail

Running every day, one of the things that has taken a back seat has been distance. Knowing I won't get a rest day has, I'll be honest, put me off going for much longer than a 5k any day. But, deciding I could go as slow as I wanted, and with M planning on being out for a good 2 hour+ long run I was in the mind to get out and get some more ks under my feet and under my belt.

Well, what a day for a run! The air was cold, the sun was warm and the sky was a cloud-clear cerulean. I elected for long legs, long sleeves single layer and, despite looking something like a scuba diver or an otter in my top-to-toe skintight black for once, I think I nailed the best kit choice for the day never being too hot, cold or uncomfortable in and out of the shade or wind.

Getting going from cold, on a run where I know I'll need to keep it up a fair while is never easy. But within the first k another runner, running in the opposite direction passed me wearing a neon green T-shirt with 'Never Give Up' in big letters across the chest. "OK, point taken" I thought, smiling to myself. Funnily enough, round about the 4k, another runner ran past me with the same T-shirt on. Didn't give it much thought... Until I saw it for a 3rd time around 8k. I started to think maybe the Universe was trying to tell me something.

As the route tracked over the parkrun route and I hit the windy stretch from yesterday (still windy but, thankfully, slightly less so than yesterday) there was a race being packed away and I did wonder if 'Never Give Up' might be a run shirt. But then noticed the race team were from Nice Work (who do a 10k Capital Runners run series that takes in the Park) and I knew it wasn't one of theirs. 2 more 'Never Give Up' T-shirts passed me before I exited the Park at 14k. I'm willing to concede at least one or two may have been the same guys running the opposite loop to me, and considerably faster. But I prefer to think it's provenance.

The Biggest Positive parkrun Split Ever

Saturday 10th January

Run #10

5k. Richmond parkrun

When I woke up this morning I actually sort of felt like running. M, who had been out Friday night, was planning a longer run later and elected for a lie-in but funnily enough I wasn't tempted. It sort if felt like one of those runs that might be quite productive once I got going and, knowing I'd have to run at some point, parkrun seemed as good as any - and one more count toward my 50 shirt.

Only, once I got going I realised it might not so much be one of those days! I think my body is still adjusting to this frequency of running and I'm getting used to lowering my expectation of how 'fresh' I think I should feel at the start. Does seem to take until I get started to remember though!

Now, can it please be noted for the record, m'Lud, that the weather on January 10th of 2015 was windy. W.I.N.D.Y: windy. Given that Richmond parkrun starts along one side of the Park it's pretty sheltered at the get go. And to be honest I didn't really notice a tail wind helping me down Sawyer's Hill and along to the corner at 2.5k. But I might have to respect that it probably was, as my times were looking good: by 3k I'd clocked a PB for each of the first 3 kilometres.

At this point I was beginning the standard internal argument that I inevitably have with myself on whether I was going to push to a course PB time ("you've on for a PB woman, just dig deep and grit through!" "I can't, I've gone out too fast! I've don't have enough left!" "Of course you have, there's less than 2k to go, the effort is all in your head, not your legs!" "But I'm tiiiiiired..." yadda yadda yadda etc). But keep pushing I did, across the muddy corner and up to where the route picks up the trail at almost exactly the 3k point. Where, rounding the corner, the wind hit me, full on in the face like a tennis racquet. Wowzers! It was like someone had snuck up behind me and hooked a bungee to the back of my leggings. A bungee attached to a caravan.

Like everyone else, I leaned forward, head down and proceeded to power forward as best I could while the wind tried to jam itself down my throat like a sock. As this was, let's be honest, a good deal slower than progress up to that point, the subconscious battle was swiftly abandoned. I did find mental space to wonder how the fair number of people that managed to pass me on the 4th k were doing it. But thoughts of a course PB were packed back up for another Saturday.

The wind dropped at the 4k point as the route turned back into the sheltered edge of the Park but by then I'd lost (felt I'd lost) too much energy into the wind to pick my pace up sufficiently. But didn't feel too bad about the time overall. And every cobweb had been well and truly blown away.

Hulk Hands and the Christmas Tree Armageddon

Friday January 9th

Run #9

Richmond Riverside 5k

A negative side effect of the last 2 runs was that, due to not thinking things through, I had run both in the gym trainers I'd packed for spinning in. They are funky as hell (neon orange and monochrome leopard print Adidas) but totally unstructured. Now I am one of the world's worst over-pronators. I have been known to reduce Sweatshop personnel to near-tears with their video analysis of me running barefoot (all hobbit flat-feet and collapsing ankles). I am one of the lucky few that get to wear the kind of running trainers that are akin to strapping brick-like compressed foam wedges to your feet. Stability is an understatement. So 2 consecutive days of running in minimal shoes has really taken its toll on my calves, soleus specifically, which are now pinging me in the back of the legs like elastic bands with every step.

Despite this I knew I'd feel good on today's run. I could just sort of tell during the day that I wasn't dreading it. I even felt good turning down a last minute invite to Friday drinks so I could run instead: not a twinge of FOMO. Given that it seemed warm but pretty darn windy I opted for long legs and a vest with my birthday run jacket on top. I love this jacket, for its jewel coloured butterfly wing print and neon zip-off sleeves, but not had much chance to wear it: It's not fully waterproof so not really a rain jacket. But too much like a sweat suit for warm weather. I was thinking it might be just the thing for cool and windy.

I also made sure I took my light. I always wear a light when running in the dark. Richmond had a considerable population of nocturnal runners, cyclists and dog walkers that I am like as not going to run straight into if I don't give them ample opportunity to avoid me. Hence the light. A brilliant green, since I figured white or red could have me confused for a cyclist at distance. The challenge is often where to clip it. Given that I had my jacket half unzipped I clipped it to the front of my vest. An amusing side effect of this that kept me entertained for a while was the way it illuminated my hands in an eerie Incredible Hulk green each time they swung forward. And the run provided plenty of olfactory deliciousness - the pavements are currently crammed with naked dead Christmas trees, out for recycling collection. It may look like a Christmas tree Armageddon but it smells like running in a pine forest. Heaven.

I wasn't planning on doing 5k. Given my calf pain I was planning on doing my minimum mile at most. But it felt good and I decided to instead just go really slow. M is doing the P&D marathon training plan, which is super hardcore and k heavy - not my bag! But it talks about the recovery runs being done at a slow enough pace to store energy, not use it up. I kept this at the front of my mind and told myself I wasn't going to go any faster than I could run while breathing through my nose. And that's what I did, right up to finishing on the uphill toward home.

By the time I arrived the wind had gone from 'blustery' on my run to downright gale force, with the pavement Christmas trees tripping down the road like massive tumbleweeds from some weird Christmas Western.

Hoping it dies down before parkrun tomorrow: social media is full of parkruns gearing up for a possible last minute cancellation if running isn't safe enough. With fingers crossed it's off to bed.

The Tortoise Waddle Squelch-Foot Cement Run

Thursday 8th January

Run #8

5k Clapham-Victoria #runcommute

After a fairly enjoyable backpack run yesterday I realised that I was staying over at T's, with my coat and boots at the office as neither had fit in my pack. A quick check of the weather report suggested 'rain' at 6am and, at 7am: 'heavy rain'. I spent a bit of time considering which would be less sucky: a 30-odd minute walk and tube commute to Victoria in the rain sans coat, or a 30-odd minute run to Victoria. Knowing that the overall route back to Victoria would have a couple of decent downhills and not fancying shivering on the tube, I decided I'd run in. Roughly estimating 30 minutes for the 5k I set my alarm to give myself 40 but when it went off, used up the spare faffing. As I invariably always do. It is likely I will never learn.

After scarfing down a banana as an afterthought I slugged a half pint of water and hoped that would suffice for fuelling. A quick check of the Met app again before leaving and it looked like it was going to be an unseasonably warm morning: 8 degrees or thereabout, so I left the gloves in my bag and headed out. I wasn't wrong about the temperature and, despite the slight drizzle, my long sleeve zip up found itself relegated to my bag within half a k too, and I continued in a sleeveless technical T.

Despite this being the reverse of a run I'd done barely 12 hours before, and with the downhills I'd signed up for, it was not what I expected. If a triathlon run off the bike is called a brick there should be a terminology for a run out of bed. A cement run maybe? Boy, did I feel heavy! Where was my energy? (Still in bed snoozing it's alarm clock probably) This coupled with 'backpacker's neck' and a niggle in my calf meant it wasn't my finest performance! Getting going was tough. Keeping going was tough. But the weight of the London rush-hour meant that every single road that needed crossing demanded stopping and usually waiting for the lights. While this usually drives me crazy, a lot of these were a very welcome opportunity to hold my pack off the back of my neck for a minute or two.

Around 2k the rain really started coming down, but it still wasn't cold and, with my visor keeping the rain off my face I barely noticed the wet. Until around 3k when it finally got all the way into my shoes and the run got a tad 'squelchy'. Running back over Battersea Bridge my energy hit a new low and my mental fortitude was flagging. But part way over I realised that the tarmac over the bridge was super-glossy with the rain and the sky was just starting to lighten. I mentally picked myself up and demanded I acknowledge that it was like running on the Thames itself, into the dawn. With this in mind I renewed my positivity and tortoise waddled my squelchy-footed self the last k towards the office and some dry clothes.

Backpack Run? Yeah, Why Not

Wednesday 7th January

Run #7

4.5k Victoria-Clapham #runcommute

I obviously knew I'd have to run today (duh). But what I wasn't so sure of was where it would fit in, I had plans to meet up with T: a great friend, after work and stay over at hers in Clapham South after a spin class. So, pondering my options the night before I briefly considered setting my alarm early and running first thing. Lying in bed about to set said alarm, I quickly ruled that out!

So instead, when packing my overnight stuff I popped in a variety of kit with the thought that, instead of 1st thing, I'd be hyper-efficient and fit an easy run into my lunch hour (a 'runch' if you will). But, typical to a normal work day, come 15:00 I still hadn't found time to take a lunch.

In the end, it seemed the optimal plan was, after work, to run to Clapham to meet T. Having lived in Clapham once upon a time I know the route to the Common pretty well and only needed to add a street or two to get to the High Street station.

Getting ready after work felt odd; I was doing a weekly Thursday runcommute in the Summer months but not really kept it up since the clocks had changed (ah, fair weather runner that I am!) so getting my kit on and mentally running through what to leave at the office and what to try to cram into my pack was quite fun.

Once out, I was pretty keen to get cracking, with my new 'it's the run, not the time' mentality in the forefront of my mind. But, I'll tell you, I had NOT accounted for the wild left-right-left pendular swing of running in a weighty backpack. It took me a good while to get my 'stride' right but once I had, I felt like I wasn't looking too wide-stepping, though probably still running like a duck.

The whole run I was still pretty aware of the fact that, having tightened the straps of my pack as short as possible to pull it tight to my back, the top of the straps had tightened a band across the back of my neck. A strange thing to be aware of for sure and no doubt adding a comedy tortoise neck posture to my duck waddle.

I did enjoy the majority of this run, though it took quite a bit of mental reminding: that this is a Run Streak, not a PB project, that I was running with a pack, that it wasn't a race...

After passing Old Town I veered left to head towards High Street, through some very pretty streets. It's that great time of year for the curious runner where it's dark enough to put your lights on but not late enough to close curtains. So I distracted myself shamelessly nosey-ing at some enviable furnishings.

Somewhere around 4k I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere and, rather than coming out onto a main road I seemed to be in an estate cul de sac. Running past a corner shop I passed a parked car that a dude leaned out of the window of and, and in an upbeat and cheerful demeanour encouraged me to "go run get some gurrl"

Having totally no idea what this means, But not keen to have to run past again to find out, I found myself cutting through many a random alley and bin store. Not ideal! But right when I thought I might actually be destined to run the rat maze of labyrinthine bin alleys for ever, I suddenly popped out on High Street nowhere near where I thought I was, and met up with T no worries.

Given that we'd neglected to pre-book spin and it was full, I was doubly happy to have ticked off today's run. Even if my shoulders were killing me.