Feb 13th - 4.28 miles (35.20 mins)@ 8.16/mile

Another enjoyable run today - easier cos it was sunny. Started off as a recovery run after hills then efforts tempo yesterday, but I just felt like I wanted to go faster - 8.05/8.02/8.50/8.13. The third mile had a good uphill in it and I was slowing to recover a bit at that point, but I really feel I am running generally faster in the daytime and when the surface is good. I'm back in my Asics for 2 days now and that helps - like slippers they are, with springs in.

Tomorrow will probably be a bit longer with a gentle Kenyan start, but no question of stopping yet. Last week was another almost 30 miler and thats standard now. Feels good

Feb 12th - 5.04 miles (40.55) @ 8.08 mile

Today I felt like a faster run, and why not try to improve my 3mile time. 1 mile warm up then: 7.54/7.40/7.13 - well I'm quite pleased with that! No break and a gentle incline in the first mile up the dual carriageway, then fairly flat for a mile and a gentle decline to finish off the out and back loop. Still needs to speed up but it felt good. I alo felt very tired at the end, so I hadn't reserved much and held anything back, so thats good. Roll on 10k and half marathon - I'm looking forward to them.

Feb 11th - 7.11 miles (64.07 mins) @ 9.01/min

Regular Wednesday run with L - no N due to baby duties. Met at the park, once round to warm up and then off to find a fairly big - 0.1 mile long - steep hill to do efforts up x 5. Quite tough after the first 3 but we both did it. Then back gently to the park to drop off L and a longer loop home for me. A bit disrupted but a decent length and some useful efforts in the middle.

Feb 10th - 4.74 miles (39.44 mins)@ 8.23/mile

You may have noticed theres a day missing. And on the 40th day she rested . . . . . .

Although she is a bit miffed because she didn't really want to not run. It turned out to be a combination of cold, wet rain, a dark evening as I had been stuck at work with no obvious opportunity to go out earlier in the day - so much easier to run in the sunshine or light at least. Its still cold and icy and I was a bit concerned regarding the slipperiness of the pavements etc and all the negative thought built up a bit to overwhelm me into inactivity.

Anyway, back today and glad of it. A short gentle run - still icy and slippery but a good overall pace and I was pleased with that. I think I forgot yesterday that its easier to be a 'when am I running' question, rather than 'am I?' And the other part that, if your day is going to be busy, run early. Lesson learnt.

Feb 8th - 8.69 miles (79.54 mins)@9.12/mile

A long run at last! We all went swimming today in Abingdon, about 8.60 miles away. So I decided to run there.

As I said earlier I am reading about training for the MdS and this chap run/walks miles and miles with a heavy rucksack. I get a bit overtaken with books and I set off with my needless rucksack, filled up with needless water supplies for a cold, sunny but snowy day. Wasn't til I got halfway there that I realised I didn't need to bring it.

The route was nice - cyclepath along dual carriageway (very icy as not in the sun) then slowly quieter and quieter into smaller villages, until into Abingdon. Very nice distance and run. Not too fast because of the patches of snow and ice, but managed without any difficulty. However, I had no need to expand the miles to 9 or 10 miles. Didn't want to push my luck today, I felt quite lucky that I had stayed upright this long.

Feb 7th- 3.04 miles (32.40 mins) @ 10.26/mile

Today was a Saturday, so I felt I could wait a bit before going out for a run. Which was just as well seeing as how it went down to -4.8 C during the night and was aout -2.5 C when we woke up. The sun came out later and it reached 6 C at the peak today, beginning to melt things from lunchtime onwards, but frozen ice and snow provided fun and games on the run before then.

I'm reading a book written about a man's attempt at the Marathon des Sables. Its really interesting, seeing all his training up to 2 years before he took part - I'm half way through and he hasn't even got a guaranteed place yet! I so fancy this challenge - all of it appeals to me; consecutive days running, extreme weather, even having to carry everything bar tent and water. EXCEPT for the lack of flushable toilets, and the fact that you couldn't have a shower for a week, or a proper wash without using some of your precious water allowance. I just don't think I could get my head round how the dirtiness of it, and thats my stopping point at the moment.

Anyway, the relevance is that me reading about this mans training for a sand run always comes to mind as I trog out into the snow. Similar texture somehow. Its making me really want to run at the moment. Each day I am choosing to go out, and most days its a 'no contest desperate to get out and relax' feeling.

Went out to see Nathans little boy this evening - even leaving the first Irish match of the six nations campaign before it had finished to get there in time. No bother, when I got there it was on in the hospital room! And we beat the French!!!! Cant believe it!! Anyway, the reason I'm mentioning this desperately important fact is due to the fact that I ran most of the way there and back, after having already run this morning! The shoes are so good it almost felt easier to run than walk.

No real aches or pains, only a little indigestion today and felt good enough to 'sprint' relatively down a clear bit of road at one point. I'm missing the speed sessions actually - want to see if my consistency will pay off like my bruvs!

Feb 6th - 3.01 miles (32.21 mins) @ 10.45 /mile

Another very snowy day, actively snowing most of the night, but, by the time I got out after clinic to check out the state of South Park for a planned sledging expedition, it was 50% snowy ice and 50% slushy mulch. I ran out of the Churchill and one loop around the park before returning - need my waterproof socks really, but my Inov8 Roclite 320's are gods in this weather, absolutely excellent.

Had a bit of indigestion today, starting just before I went out and continued on the run a bit. Didn't stop me but can't really understand why.

Really glad I'm still going in the 'run' of runs - it still provides such a good window to relax away from phones and everything and chill out a bit. Very therapeutic I'm thinking.

5th Feb - 2.65 miles (29.39 mins) @ 11.12/mile

Woke up to a real winter wonderland - real snow, far more than at the beginning of the week. Must have dumped 8-10cm in the night. Couldn't wait to get out and I ran up to the top of Shotover Hill, with lots of cars stuck at the bottom and on the way up. I wanted to see the view of Oxford from the top, but it was snowing and misty from it, so I made a snowman and ran back down.

I didn't make the 3 miles point today, and the speed isn't anything to yell about, but I ran in extreme conditions, for Oxford and England, and I loved it! Its like running in sand, but lighter and more forgiving, and of course far brighter. I think it must be good to reduced SAD - I wonder if thats why the lands with longterm snow don't suffer so much depression (do they?)

4th Feb - 6.41 miles (58.25 mins) @ 9.07/mile

Regular run with workmates - lower numbers today as Nathan is expecting his first child, so it was just me and Lasantha. I warmed up with almost 2 miles to the park, then we looped out of the park, across the JR hospital and into Headington Hill park for a loop, before returning. Very nice little trot, at a good pace to chat. Did some of Stefans drills afterwards.

Cool with small patches of ice but very manageable and very pleasant (sound like an old granny!)

3rd Feb - 3.90 miles (32.56 mins) @ 8.27/mile

Another quite white run, although most of the snow has melted and left only vaguely icy patches. Has warmed up a bit but very cold wind. Ran with Jan and Ros in Bury Knowle from the JR and I could definitely have given Tigger a run for his money! I was too embarassed to finish with the drills, but I read an article this morning advocating the importance of short sprint efforts several times a week so I added in 5 x 30 second sprints and a few extra fast fartlek additions.

It was odd because I felt a bit tired to start with, and I was so hungry my stomach was rumbling, but I enjoyed it more and more as I got going. And the speed still seems to have been ratched up a notch.

9.02/8.18/8.13/8.11 pace

I worked out the other day that a 3.35 marathon would mean 8.12/mile pace, and Athletics weekly suggested regularly running at that pace slowly increasing to 18 miles at that pace. Since then I seem to be near 8.12 most of the time. What a strange thing the head is! the thought of working towards a marathon is very exciting at the moment. I am perusing the websites to see whats available from April or so onwards and will report back.

2nd Feb - 3.10 miles (27.57 mons) @ 9.02/mile

Dont worry about the lack of speed today - this one was a run from the Churchill hospital, to and around South Park and back, in active snow and a white background everywhere! The promised snow has arrived (thank heavens I didn't pick a later week for Lanzarote, I would have missed it, and it is beautiful.) A little slippery and frozen mud is not the easiest thing to run on, but such a relief to get out, even for a short time, after a nightmare clinic. I am so enjoying my running at the moment!

And on it goes! 4.44 miles (36.40 mins) @ 8.15/mile

Just couldn't not go out! My legs were bouncing, not complaining at all. The drills I learnt in Lanzarote are paying off and I feel like Tigger!

Mile times were 8.18/8.13/8.14/7.59. I ran twice round a loop on the edge of Bierton before visiting a friend. Lovely country roads loop and a final flurry at the end. Very cold and chilly wind, took about 2.5 miles to defrost my hands, but I loved it! Finished in the sun.

Me done it child! 7.57 miles (77.29mins)

So its finally arrived, the last day of the experiment. Thanks so much to Gaff for the idea and the inspiration.

Went out with Sam for a gentle Kenyan warm-up 3.3 miles, then went off for a bit on my own.

Initial 3 miles in 36.34 mins (around 12.11/mile) then 9.29 for the intermediate mile then 8.26/8.56/8.42 for the next 3 miles with Morrell avenue accounting for the 2nd mile.

A really good run! I breathed normally the whole way round, cheered at the 3 mile mark and felt light and fluffy for the mixed on/off road, undulating last 3 miles. Really enjoyed my running today and feel back at it!

Its been a great experiment, a great time to carve a daily niche for relaxing, de-stressing, achieving. I feel like its helped me in one of the most difficult months to train, to produce by far the most productive - mileage wise - January in my runing history. I feel my legs are strong, no aches, did more stretching than I usually do on holiday and I think that really helped. Have a 10k planned for 1st March and a half-marathon for 29th March and looking forward to doing some more strength and speed training in the next month.

Months total lies at - I feel a cheer coming on - 150.79 miles! As for my other goal of running 1500 miles in one year - if I assume I will run every day, its 4.11 miles/day, which leaves me in credit by 23.38 miles or 5.68 days! It also means I ran on average 4.86 miles/day in the month.

Very pleased, such a great and achievable idea, but enough to stretch me into a different person this end of the month. Roll on February, where I will try to go for at least 1, if not more of the short distances 3, 5 and 6.1 miles. I also want to practise running at 3.35 marathon pace and find a race to aim for in the spring. Didn't enter London (by accident), but there are others I haven't done yet.

Will I run tomorrow . . . . . . . . .



. . . . . . can't wait!

Day 30 brrrrrrrr! Total 5.69 miles

Actually, it isn't that cold! I thought I would shrivel up and hibernate in the 2 C at Gatwick when we finally landed, but I had 4 layers and a hat to hand - no problem! It must be more about wearing the wrong clother Grommit, rather than it actually being unmanageable.

So this morning, when it didn't dawn bright and sunny and I couldn't wander straight out onto the lovely terrace, to greet the little bird that helped me demolish 2 whole aiplane biscuits and some malt loaf throughout the week, it did seem a little strange. Very warm with the heating on, in fact warmer I think inside than outside on the terrace. Pity the rest didn't hold true.

Not at work today, I dressed for the Arctic when I ran down to Tesco to get some more fizzy vitamins to release my energy. I have so much faith in those tablets. Much better the fizzy ones too, not so good if you can just down them with your morning coffee. Anyway, the other main change was I puffed heartily on a new inhaler. No shakes or heart racing that I usually get, but definitely a good deal of coughing. And now the time of reckoning!!

First 3 miles (flat then gently downhill, cold but not mind numbingly, and windy (pah! we can do wind!) - 8.20/8.33/8.19!! Now this isn't going to break any Olympic records just yet, but it flippin' cheered me up, I can tell you! 1st mile I breathed in deeply! 2nd mile began to tighten up and 3rd mile was a big hindrance, but I'd forgotten to puff just beore I left, so tomorrow - watch out!!

3.47 miles to Tesco in 8.22/mile average. Then a slower recovery home due to hill but mainly to get breath and confidence back (2.22 miles in 20.04/9.03 per mle average).

I'm writing this later on in the afternoon, just as the light is beginning to fade, and my legs are jangling. I want to go out and do something else now! Another run, swim or cycle. Maybe a longer run tomorrow - I feel really enthusiastic!

Day 29 - last day. 4.27 miles (39.06 mins) @ 9.10/mile

Oh dear, the last run round the lagoon in medium wind and glorious sunshine, the beginning of a beautiful day. Pity it couldn't have been the all-out race that my head was thinking of as I left my little apartment for the last run. My chest seized up straight away, couldn't get a deep breath at all and had to really slow down just to keep going. Started coughing in the 3rd mile and it began to feel better, but definitely a problem.

Then I spent 90 mins sitting in the sun, by the pool, chilling and considering what I had and hadn't got out of the week. The good things include the weather (just to be able to train every day without freezing and in shorts, perfect, not too hot), the different terrain, interesting runs, hills, even the wind made it interesting; being able to relax in between sessions - no work, no mobiles going off genereating work etc; the runners I met from Marlow make me realise I really like the company of other runers - I'm less convinced by the multi-sport variety! The opportunity to train with and learn from two of the most famous triathletes, second to none. Encouragement in cycling from Rose, a triple Ironwoman at 54 years with still a far greater cycling kick than I may ever have. Taking Paul's bike - a real 'beauty' and a pleasure to ride. The restaurant was nice, friendly, and I was only gatecrashed by a cockroach type 'friend' once - we were both terribly surprised by his sudden appearance on the tablecloth, exactly opposite me and in between knife and fork, but I'm afraid I reacted quicker with a flick than he could.

Things I would like to change: unfortunate elitist attitude of some of/most of the other competitors on the duathlon camp; stomach cramps and tight chest; wish I could have brought my partner with me, missed chatting and wittering on about various things during the day; eurosport on tv but otherwise not really telly; wish I had brought fewer pants and another book, preferrably the 'marathon des Sables' tome I can't wait to start (not much to do in the evenings if karaoke or drinking aren't really your thing). I really wish I could have run faster most of all. A few really fast runs would have done my confidence the world of good. Might have ended up a lot more tired - as it is I hardly feel tired at all, I feel regenerated. Would like more self-confidence in my running generally - seem to be going through a bit of a barren time and it needs to be re-focussed I think.

I have a plan for February - a possible plan anyway. Now that we have (almost) proven that it is perfectly possible to go out everyday with minimum of fuss and life can manage around this, what about aiming to set new records (not necessarily at races but could be just Garmin recorded) for 3 distances - say 3miles or 5k, 5 miles and 10k? The pressure now moves to delivering performance rather than running every day although I'm thinking there must be the tiniest link between the two somewhere. Food for thought . . . .

Day 28 - 6,68 miles in total

So today was the track session - oh joy! I always love the idea of the track - on the telly I suppose - and I can picture myself racing round Usain Bolt style. Its always a bit of a let-down though when I actually get to run there and I feel like I have been shrunk a bit, because it always takes me far longer to get round the track than it feels like it should. I have to say I rated my chances of keeping up with the 'elites' in a track session as nil, and was feeling slightly grumpy about the whole potential humiliation of the session ahead.

I managed the warm-up without being dropped!!! (by everyone anyway). I finished with Phil, the kindly Welshman who is taking the camp, and a man almost returned from the dead after 3 days of horrible gastroenteritis, first day back. I don't care who it was, it was company. Had another 'heart attack' the whole way round though. Must be stress. I puffed on my inhaler before I went out and coughed a lot, but don't think it made much difference.

Then we did drills, which are quite fun and something really useful and tangible to take away from this experience. Then we did the session . . . . . . which was actually great! You can try this at home if you like. We ran 10 x 100 metres at fast but not flat out pace, then very slowly jogged back. The idea is to re-inject pace after the last few days of slow running (might be for them!) to teach your legs about pace again. I managed it all without withering away or anything else more embarassing, and we all stayed together in a group for the whole lot. Felt wonderful at the end.

I extended my cool down run to make sure it was at least 3 miles, which was touch and go as the Garmin was shouting about being low on battery - you try my legs love! Mde it though and will feel quite conisderable smug for several hours at least!

Day 27 - 8,26 miles in total

Hello again, dear reader. I'm sorry to report I had an immensely bad time of it last night with 2.5 hours of stomach cramps and waking up feeling like I'd been kicked in the gut by a horse. The tablets I'm taking to try to solve the cramping problem combine to form a type of gastritis that makes it difficult to take a full breath in - at least I think that's the reason.

So I decided to get out early in case bits of me fell off later on and I felt too pathetic to make the 3 miles. So off I set at 7.53am, before breakfast which is much more conducive to running, round the lagoon in a howling gale. Well no actual rain but winds that threatened to blow all sorts of limbs off. I did 3,27 miles (31,09 mins @9,32/mile), so really rather sedate, but I did it and that's what matters.

Later on that day I decided to try another bike ride and ended up journeying up and enormous hill and across the island to get to Timanfaya national parc, up to the active (not today) volcano. A friend of mine said she wanted a photo of it so I thought I'd try it. Great ride, except for when you turned round to come back again and realised that a gale had been blowing you up the hill, and was blowing so gustily and strong that there was a fairly high chance of me either flying back or being detached from the rather lovely bike I was riding, and Paul would never have stood for that! So I pretty much flew home, in more ways than one. Quite an experience!

I then was cocky enough to think I was 'cured' and went out with the group on their 5 mile 'easy/recovery' run, which means flat out, eyeballs bulging for me to stay with them. True to fashion I managed about a mile with them then fell off the back, walking just a tiny bit to get my breath back. I notice that tightness in my breathing doesn't happen when I run at my own pace, so its unlikely its either a heart attack or too tight crop top. I trotted round in a not too bad time for a hilly off-road route in a strong wind.

Day 26 - 5.47 miles in total - details below

Today was techniques running with Stefan, the olympic silver medalist at triathlon (name dropping). A very nice man. We did a warm up loop - I was downgraded to a 4k loop to be done in the same time it took the other to do a 5k loop. I wasn't too fussed about this, although did feel a bit miffed that the group weren't really making any effort to include me. I did 2.2 miles in a gentle 19.26 mins @ 8.46/mile - strong wind this morning, started off sunny so i came down in vest and shorts, and got majorly piddled on for a few minutes during the warm-up loop. All lovely and sunny again when we got back to the track.

Then we did our drills and techniques - which I enjoyed, mainly because they are all done over the same 20-30 metre part of the track and I can keep up with everyone else. We were joined by the very tall current world trithlon champion, who i think is from Estonia but was too starstruck to ask.

I did the 5k loop to cool down, partly because I wanted to know what I'd missed out on, partly becuase I hadn't yet done the required 3 miles but mainly just becuase I was enjoying running, the sun, the freedom of just being able to! Had a lovely time, not particularly fast, but the wind is fairly savage today.Did 3.25 miles in 27.46 mins @ 8.32/mile. All the other fast people had finished their techniques session and disappeared before the cool down, so I was the only one left to finish the session. thinking Phil, Thomas and Stefan would go round again, I headed off first for a head start. Just as I got to the point where I was stuck as where to go next, Stefan appeard on my shoulder and showed me the rest of the way, running ahead in his yellow jacket. Lovely route around the lagoon, I really enjoyed it.

Supposed to be a 2 hour bike ride this afternoon, but I know I won't keep up without almost busting a gut, and therefore I might go out on my own. I was going to do the Green team duathlon this morning but that was curtailed rather by stomach cramps. Thats the other hidden agenda for this months running, is to run through period pain without letting it stop me! I may have used a few extra painkillers in expectation, but it hasn't actually stopped me running yet.

Tomorrow is a difficult one because I want to do the green team half marathon in practice for Reading - would give me a lot of confidence. Only I also want to go out for a long bike ride - 4 hours planned - and Rose had volunteered to stay with me. Not sure which will win yet, as I think realistically its one of the other as they are both scheduled for the morning. We'll see . . . . .

Day 25 - 10.02 miles ( 90.07mins)@ 9mins/mile

Now today was always going to be along run, it said so on the schedule. We had a nice hilly off-road 5mile (8km) route - the first mile flattish or downhill, the second and uphill then an undulating mile, then downhill with a pull up towards the end of the loop. We planned to do this twice, me at my pace and everyone else way ahead. Unfortunately I had a few minutes abdo cramps half way round the first loop, which interrupted my flow and caused me to walk for 0.2 miles just after the 2 mile point. They settled, thank heavens, but it meant that I didn't have an uninterrupted 3 miles!

So, now way behind everyone but enjoying my music - I came prepared today - I toddled round again, very slightly quicker overall, in warm weather but the persistent moderate wind. A lovely run, especially when you consider it was easy, further by far than I haev run for months and faster then most of my recent runs.

In the afternoon I went on the most amazing snorkel safari, to Puerto del Carmen on the other side of the island. Donning wetsuit with vest and hood, flippers - they are far more difficult to 'flip' in than it looks on telly! - and snorkel and mast, we fed fish and fiddled about with starfish and sea urchins for about 75 minutes, before turning a mild shade of blue and having to get out rather sharpish. Bread to fish is like chocolate, and if you hold a roll out of the water and just break up little pieces at a time, they come and swim all over you to get it. Fantastic experience, and a nice rest for my legs.

Day 24 - 7.67 miles in total

I am buzzing! What an experience this morning was. The weather is changing again now after a few hours glorious sunshine, but cloudy and intermittent rain and a moderate wind was this mornings recipe - perfect for an eyeballs out duathlon.

The course was 2 x 2.5 km running then 20k bike with a large hill in the middle, then the running lap once again. All varieties of age and nationality taking part, and quite serious bike stipulations. I had to shorten my tri-bars as they were beyond the regulation allowed! I thought they were joking! Its not like I was actually going to features in any podium position.

I was delighted with my run time - the first 3 miles were 7.21/7.29/7.40 then the bike was always going to be slow, finished in 54.31 at average just over 22km per hour. The final run was 7.28 then 4.26 for the last bit. I had a puff on my inhaler after wards as I think I had used long retired parts of my lungs for the first time for many years.

Everyone was so friendly! Shouting encouragement, I suppose particuarly as I was never far from the back, and the women were very pro-women. Towards the last part of the last run, just before the final 300 metres on the track, I was coming up on the second man who had overtaken me on the bike, and these two Danish women were riding alongside me, encouraging me to overtake. What could I do but oblige!

I ran in my Irish cycling shirt and on my brothers bike - presumably the first time its been raced, and I loved every minute of being out there, hang where I finished. Its not about winning, everyone if there for a different reason, and I enjoyed it so much for all the kind of reasons I could never have predicted.

At one point on the ride I saw a man bythe side of the road with his bike upside down. I asked if he was ok and he said he had no innner tube to repair his second puncture, so I stopped and gave him one. What a warm feeling. the poor b**ger then got another puncture and finished way last, but received an award for worst luck competitor! All in very good spirits.

So I have now entered for another duathlon in Monday, slightly shorter, a half marathon on Tuesday and a mini-triathlon on Wednesday. Will also try to do some sessions with the duathlon group, although I am painfully distant from their running and cyling speeds, and some with my new found friends from Marlow, who I met on the plane. Val is doing the 10k in a bit and Brian and I are going for a gentle ease down jog around the lagoon while we wait for her to return. She yelled loud for me this morning, so it only seems fair.

Went out in the evening to cheer Val on. Brian and I cheered her off then ran to just before the 2.5k turnaround point - 2 x 5k laps. Gentle run was still too much for my stiff legs, but I managed to keep it up and was a good move in the end. Val finished in about 43 minutes - inspirational! Really good effort, she makes me want to improve my time so much. Maybe leave if for a few days though!

Day 23 - 4,97 miles (41,09 mins) @8,17 per mile

Similar course to yesterday at 10am this morning. Brief bike ride first and some aching in the legs this morning. Hotter on the run today - must take a bottle with me for water, and laid off a bit as the race is tomowwor. Bike session this afternoon - will report tomorrow. Still so easy to run and relax in between so the aching doesn't matter so much. In less than 24 hours here I've done the equivalent of three days running at home when I lfet! Must be careful not to overdo it, easy to do!

Day 22 - 5,11 miles (40,39 mins) @ 7,58/mile

Oh my! Can you spot the difference yet? Started the day at 4am, off to Gatwick, 4 hour flight, arrived early into glorious sunshine (it is still January, isn't it?) Got sorted out in an apartment with a lovely view and then went out with the 'green team' run at 5.10pm (no time difference). Pace was to be 5 mins per km for 8km - hoilly run. It wasn't until we'd strated off down the road that I realised I hadnø't actually run at that pace for some time, or that distance.

The body beautifuls left me at around 3 miles, but not so far ahead that I didn't know where I was going. / of us in all - flattish 1st mile, then up for 2 miles then aolong and down for the rest. Knackered by the end of it but I did my 8km in 39.55!! A small amount of pride involved, not just for keeping to the set pace but for doing the longest fastest run for ages! Its so warm relatively, but not uncomfortably hot. Doesn't get dark til 7pm, and gets light around 7.30am. It is SO easy to run here. I love it. I remember where most things are, go tsettled in right away.

Went to duathlon week welcome this evening and have programme for the week, as well as lots of freebies. Nice organiser - Welsh trathlete called Phil who's 60 this year. Need some sleep now

Day 21 - 3.0 miles (26.19 mins) @ 8.46/mile

Again not an earth shattering time - a morning run this time, around 10am. Very sunny but still very frosty and slippy so more of a tip-toe really. I wanted to run faster, and had the energy to. I feel the stress is reducing now and I'm finally feeling like I've almost organised all the things I can organise before setting off - the rest will jst have to live without me. I am feeling very pleased to have completed part one of the experiment in tact. The chances of that now go down a bit for the next week, as I'm planning on 3 miles being just the icing on the cake. Hope to bump this months mileage up a bit, and get closer to training for the Reading half marathon at the end of March, and the Goring 10k at the beginning of March, both of which I've entered for.

I also tried out another experiment this morning with very commendable results. In a fit of rebellion I ate an egg McMuffin 20 minutes before my run, again squeezed in between various commitments. No stitch, nausea, gut overenthusiasm ro anything at all ! I'm contemplating introducing this as a significant part of the February experiment!

My legs are desperate to get going in a warm non-frosty setting - although I will miss the beauty of the cold in some ways. Still have 2 days to run when I get back. I will try to put up my inital plan for next week on the site later on. You might like to peruse http://www.holiday-weather.com/lanzarote/seven-day-forecast.html at some point, and maybe http://www.clublasanta.co.uk/ if you fancy being infected with the same desire to spend calories!

Thursday 22nd Jan 2009
Flight 10:30am
17:10 8km O/R hill run
+/- 18:15 fitness bike

Friday 23rd Jan
8:15 8km O/R run
10am 45 mins O/R run
Swim
3pm Transition training and short bike ride
18:15 fitness bike

Sat 24th Jan
10am Lanzarote International Duathlon - 5/20/2.5k
4pm 1.5 hr bike ride
17:15 10k race

Sun 25th Jan
10am 1.5 hr run
1.30-4.30 snorkel safari
Gym

Mon 26th Jan
7:45 duathlon 2.5/14.8/2.5
or 8:15 8km hill run
10am run - techniques, drills and exercises
2pm bike - hills
or aquathlon 200/3km

Tues 27th Jan
7:45 half marathon
10am 4hr bike ride
Swim
17:00 run 40 mins
or 17:10 track session
18:15 fitness bike

Wed 28th Jan
7:45 mini-tri 400/15.2/4.4k
10am track run
2pm easy bike
17:10 12km O/R run

Thurs 29th Jan
7:45 run
Swim

Flight home15:45

Day 20 - 3.49 miles (31.15 mins) @ 8.58/mile

Another recovery run for want of a better word. Really cold wind, didn't want to go out in the pitch dark so made it around 5.30pm instead and ended up at my partners work so I got to walk home with someone and then stay in (except for a cello lesson).

I've been thinking, wondering why things have got more difficult this week? Part of it must just be continued effort over a much longer duration than I've ever known. Small runs but still daily. No residual aches and pains (apart from a bit of a tight left hamstring area) which, for someone a sniff off 'old-ty' isn't bad and surprises me.

The main thing that has changed over the last week is the pace/busy-ness of work. Runs were very much the enjoyable feature of the early days in January, and I would still like to have more time to enjoy them in a more relaxed way now. But the fact is they are being squeezed into inconceivably small time spaces around busy work and outside of work life. This is one of the things I wanted to address in this month so its good that its happened, and I find I can fit a run in still, even into a busy day. The main reason for this is back to the fact that it is a 'when' not a 'whether' question, and this takes the sting and the moaning out of it all too. No guilt, no whingeing, no asking other people to make excuses I can believe in so I don't have to go out. How weird!

So the fact that this run wasn't particularly fast doesn't really matter on that basis. Not all the runs this month were ever going to be full on efforts, in fact that may well have rodgered everything very early on. I still have things I want to achieve, which means I still want to get out and run! Ilook at the daily run as my wind-down time, and its interesting to see how this is squeezed out of some weeks quite effectively if there isnt a good reason to maintain it. The fact that it helps maintain my sanity should have be a good enough reason I suppose . . . . . . .

Day 19 - 3.13 miles (28.26) @ 9.06/mile

Today was a shamelessly slow recovery run. It was cold, dark, I'd been hungry all day and my thighs, back and shoulders ached from heaving boxes, cycling and running yesterday. What a crock! I am seriously worried that I won't have the stamina for the whole week from Thursday, and I so want to get the most out of it.

Stand back. I have been running now for 19 days constantly. Ok so not a marathon every day, but consistent significant running, through frost, snow, cold and wind. I think my body is a bit tired and sleeping has still been a bit disrupted, which has a significant effect if you demand a certain amount everyday. No rest days.

I think my mind is so active because I am trying to think of all the things I want to pack for the holiday, what I need to do before I go, in three different hospitals, teaching, cancelling the vegetable order etc. Progesterone is making my balance so rubbish that I am walking into almost everything, and I fall over when I try to stretch my quads.

That all said, I think thats all fine. Its ok to feel tired, feel fed up of being cold, feel hungry and sore/stiff. Its all part of this experiment, all part of fitting running into everyday life, even if some of those 'everydays' are tired days, dark, cold with rubbish weather. Others will be sunny, days you just want to get out there and run, and all the cold dark runs are worthwhile, because it means you have the strength to peg it along the canal path or round the park when you really want to!

Interestingly enough, one of the biggest things thats currently bothering me is the thought I might actually forget to go out for a run on one day! Its becoming so much 'part of the furniture' that I might just overlook it. When everything is all sorted, I'm in my apartment on Thursday, with the lovely balcony over the pool, and the sun is just going down at 16 C or so and I go out for my 3 miles then, thats when I'll start relaxing and enjoying it!

Day 18 - 3.01 miles (25.24 mins) @ 7.1 miles per hour

So today was a little bit of a practise for the duathlon next Saturday. The duathlon is 5k run/20k bike/2.5 run - todays was 12.4 miles bike/3.01 run. And it was cold, windy and fantastic fun! I'd planned to bike first, a last chance before packing up. When I finally got out, the wind was up and I felt like just going down the road and back again. Before I knew it I was 5 miles away and looking for a reasonably long way back (my first idea has been for 45-60 mins and I made 55.50 mins).

The transition involved hoiking the bike carefully into the back garden, which was open as my partner was hard at hoeing and raking. I left the bike there, carefully guarded, ran in the front door to change shoes and ran out, literally, with about three layers on, and shades! So cool! It was sunny, but I wanted to see if the glasses bounced when I ran in them. They have fantastic optics, high tops great for cycling, but they are a bit old, and I wondered if they still held their grip. Did well.

The course, made up on the way round, was the same out and back from the other day, my legs a little stodgier up the hill but I still had some energy left in me to speed up at the end. Then pant madly for a few minutes. Very exhilirating! Proabably the cold.

I then started the real fun! 3.5 hours to wash, disassemble and try to cram in the lovely bike into the now not so lovely bike case! Thought it wasnt going to go for quite some time, then I decided it bloody well was, nomatter what (hope Paul wasn't watching too carefully). I may rescind and open the case back up to check everything is ok, before I go, but not sure what I'll do if its not really!)

Day 17 - 3.32 miles (40.36 mins) @ 12.15/mile

A gentle run with Sam around South Park, with the Morrell Avenue hill in the second mile. Its actually getting more difficult to run slowly, which I'm hoping means I'm learning to go faster. Chilly and windy but not rainy, thank heavens. A nice chat on the way, left me invigorated!

In preparation for the impending holiday, I bought some new, rather cool bike shoes (3 sizes too big cos they were much cheaper) and I put new Look cleats on them. So I thought I'd finish off the run today with a short bike ride, try to get used to getting out of the new cleats - always a bit of a palava, learnt by painful experience on several occasions when I either forgot to take my foot out or couldn't! Rather embarassing and rather sore on the old elbow! Such was my mental aptitude today, I even practised taking my right foot out, as would befit the strange driving habits of a place like Lanzarote.

I was only out for 3.19 miles in 14.44 mins (13miles an hour apparently! The wind must have been behind me, I felt I was on fire!) Great fun, such a lovely bike with tri-bar set up, very comfortable. Tomorrow I plan another ride and then to pack the thing up in a lovely warm suitcase all ready for its holiday. Only 4 more runs before I'm off!

Day 16 - 4.62 miles (40.04 mins) @ 8.41/mile

Just ran down to walk the dog, kind of 'shared' by myself and Mary, who is out today, hence me walking. Took the long way - its only a mile away - to get a continuous 3 miles in and, as usual, set out at the pace I left things on the last run. Soon settled down - I want to do the proper rest day in between thing to make sure I can put my all into the fast days.

Had a really lovely little walk with my Pup. Actually she's 14 and a half almost now, which, for a cross breed, is fairly amazing. She isn't too well, though she leapt around like a Pup trying to get out the door for a walk and almost pulled me over. Her heart isn't great, she has arthritis of her shoulder and kidney failure, although her organs seem to have omitted to tell her!

Short run back up the hill - only complicated by the fact that I was starving before I left and felt really sorry for myself on the way home! A good strong run up the hill nonetheless and I enjoyed being out (especially with an excuse to miss the potential early morning session!)

Day 15 - 3.02 miles (24.50 mins) @ 8.14/mile

Now today was interesting. After whingeing so much yesterday, I decided, as it was an evening run in the end anyway, to go nice and slowly, as a recovery run. Which of course means the opposite in my contrary head!

Out-and-back course, downhill on the way there, with quite a significant half mile downhill at the end before the turnaround point. So the first mile seems to go past with quite a lot of effort involved but is only 8.27, which I was a bit disappointed with and decided to open up a bit on the downhill. At the same time I started thinking about doing a negative split, despite the course back being mainly uphill (a far cry from the planned recovery session!) So the next half mile goes by in 4.03 and then I turn round and peg it up the hill.

Its my favourite hill in Oxford - a lovely mellow gradient, never too hard but just enough too stay interesting. And the mile, mainly uphill, was 8.24! Battle on. I raced home puffing and panting in 3.54, a little uphill but mostly flat. And was I delighted!

I finally felt like I had the strength, stamina and choice to really 'run' three miles! Hurrah!

Day14 - 6.1 miles (60.34 mins) @ 9.56/mile

So, the two week point arriveth! Today's run was easier on the brain than some others - regular running slot with two friends from one of the hospital, with quite a wide spread of ability, but both improving rapidly. We ran round a lovely small park - I warmed up by running there and I felt like I had overdosed on Pro-plus! I was bouncing, couldn't wait to get out. Did some fartlek during the first few laps and tried some short sprints to liven things up. A gentle run home and I felt completely knackered for the rest of the evening. Watched Wall-e but only just, cried mournfully at the happy part and fell straight to sleep/coma on hitting the sheets.

That's my second post 30 mile week, I make it just over 31 miles for this week, and I am left with the feeling that increased running distance, frequency, a few nights poor sleep and the cold in most of the recent runs must be to blame for what seems a woeful lack of stamina! I have planned 2 half-marathons, swimming, cycling, triathlon, international duathlon and some snorkelling for the week I'm away - what a shock that will be right now!

I think I will minimise distance tomorrow, knowing that I finally have the weekend off and Friday presents an interestingly busy day, with possibly the first 'squeeze it in somewhere' situation this month. The sensible thing to do on Friday, as all the magazines would have you know, is to get up earlier and manage the run before work - no carrying clothes around all day, shower all done and can make meetings in a relaxed manner all day if necessary. I could practise that tomorrow as I don't have any specific morning appointments. I wonder if that will happen . . . . . . .

Day 13 - 5.58 miles (48.38 mins) @ 8.43/mile

A little bit earlier than last night but not a lot, another busy day. A lot colder for some reason tonight - down to 5.5 C when I left and 3.5 C as I write this a few hours later. I initially planned to go out with the running club for efforts tonight, for the first time in longer than I can remember - thats for efforts and the running club! But then I sat and thought about it a little, and realised that I think I am putting myself under a little too much pressure for that at the moment. Work is busy - on-call the last 2 weekends and, although its not busy, it prevents relaxing. I think I have the 4.1 miles a day for that elusive 1500 miles in a year too close to the front of my mind as well. I go out not just for 3 miles but 4.1 mostly, and its a little too early to feel that pressure. That is also turning into the seemingly benign 'wouldn't it be nice to have another 30 miler week' which is an unfortunately small step away from 'and what would it feel like to go 35 or 40 in a week?'.

I have to recognise that my aim is to complete the 'January experiment', and to include too many goals too early might just jeopardise that. Maybe I could use this experience to build on for the next month and so on, and I am fully expecting the last week (or 22-29th) to be a fairly massive haul to bump up the overall mileage. But it felt much beter this evening to acknowledge that 'I don't have to push it just yet, there's always tomorrow'.

So my back-up plan was to do efforts myself, and I thought I had set my Garmin for an unlimited warm-up - planned for just over 1.5 miles - then 3 mins fast 2 mins slower recovery, x 5. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, my Garmin didn't quite get the message. Must play with it tonight to get it right - but it does show me how long its been since I did a technical workout. So I improvised to 'open my legs up' in more of a fartlek experience, with 2 fairly stiff hils included. The mile speeds don't reflect the effort I felt I'd put in, and I feel a little bit disappointed by the time, but I did feel like I enjoyed opening up, and will try it again soon. I also wanted to take the nileage up a little, mainly with the 30 for the week in mind, whether that is right or not, and its within reach.

Its funny, 3 miles now seems like a comfortable 'stretch' each day, but some days I don't want any more. There is this strange phenomonen that afflicts me each winter, making each mile, especially away from home, a more difficult trial than in the midst of a summers day, when I feel I could run forever. Its like there is an invisible pull towards home and a little bit of a panicky feeling involved in moving away, bizarre. And 3 miles now seems like a decent distance - whereas in the summer it might seem a little frivolous (not sure if that applies to 3 miles every day). Tonight seems like a positive 'distance run' and I suppose it was, relatively. A complete change in many things, this month is providing.

I did feel a bit flat starting today, but two disturbed nights sleep might explain that more than anything. They say you should try for an extra 10 mins sleep per night for each mile you run in the day, so I'm putting it down to that!

Must put in a little note about the 'brains' behind the operation, my brother, who is having a pile of interesting thoughts himself, due to recurrent leg pain invoked by repeated bashing away for at least 3 miles a day. Its a tough learning process that might go either way, but he always said he was doing it to change the way he thought about running and what would and wouldn't make you decide whether to go out or not. He's displaying real bravery as well as common sense, and I so hope he makes it all the way through. He's my invisible partner every time I go out, along with Paul, and it just wouldn't be the same without him. Slainte

Day 12 - 3.45 miles (29.13mins) @ 8.26/mile

Today I left it til 17:54 to go out - well, it was warm and no ice, what the heck. Not so often that I get to leave it that late, but the truth is I had little choice with a busy day. I took all my stuff home, having carried it around 2 hospitals on a sight-seeing tour of Oxford, then turned it around very qucikly at home.

Mainly because I didn't really fancy it, but 3 miles is only 3 miles! Right. I was going to do a very straightforward out-and-back to the bottom of a nearby hill and enjoy the challenge of going up the hill as the 'prize.' When I finally got out, in shorts for the first time this year, I actually started enjoying it and extending the route to a circular loop, which I thought was going to be longer than it turned out to be. Felt very freeing tonight, although I was glad to get back and didn't want any longer tonight.

Day 11 - 4.28 miles (40.28mins) @ 9.27/mile

The thaw has arrived, but I managed to go out to see the last of it disappear. Despite starting at a leisurely time in the morning courtesy of the weekend, and a positive temperature reading, the first mile of my run up to Shotover country park was almost entirely white. All the pavements outside our house and most up the hill were covered by snow/frost hybrid. The top of the hill was definite snow, filling in some of the ground unevenness on the grass and making for very slippery running on the main driving track. The sun was out and it was beautiful - I felt like I was on top of the world.

On the way up, the fastest double X chromosome in the Headington road runners loped up to me, scaring the life out of me as I was Ipodding intently at the time. We exchanged a few comments and she passed on with her equally loping male companion. And I puffed on after them, as they disappeared into the distance. Great to be able to talk ot such talent though. Afterwards, apart from being glad of the chat, I was immensely grateful for 2 other things - firstly that I hadn't been singing 'tunefully' at that point(especially some really old fashioned 80's track, written before she was born), and secondly I was glad I wore my DXB's, as up to then this week I had been wearing the exact same trousers as she had on, only much worse!

On the way down to home I met two lovely enthusiastic dogs clambering up quite a steep climb, and I stepped to one side to give the better track to an older gentleman making a very good job of the hill. In my laboratory autistic nature I left looking at his face to last, and was quite surprised when he called me by name! Only the departmental histopathology Professor! Didn't even know he ran!

Then the last part of the journey back was like coming out of Narnia, as all the white had disappeared, and all the black tarmac pavements were back. I was so intent on memorising the view, I have to say I didn't really notice the run itself. Nothing has dropped off or seized up yet. No real aches or pains, although I do have a bit of a worrying sniffle. I feel I am sitting more upright at work - not sure if thats related - and I feel more flexible somehow. I also think I've toned up a bit since the beginning of the month, but that may be the impending Lanzarote effect!

Day 10 - 3 miles exactly (28.31 mins) @ 9.30/mile

I have to say, in planning this mornings run, back into work where I had left all my clothes etc yesterday, for a morning on-call in the lab, I hadn't actually realised it would be quite so close to last nights run and it would be so cold - like -3.5 C. Now, having run last night at -4 C or so, you might think this sounds like a chicken-out, and there may well have been an element of whinging involved, but ice in the morning is much more dangerous than defrosted streets in the evening. I discussed my options - walking in and running home, driving etc. But then I realised, as I looked out the window, that I think I am forming some sort of bond with the world in this weather, and I really wanted to get out there and see how it felt this morning, whether the trees still resembled Narnia stage props, whether it was icy etc. I put my multi terrain shoes on and thought I'd take to the parks mainly.

The parks and trees were beautiful - I will really miss the ice pictures when they finally melt. It was cheek freezingly cold again, which usually equates to below freezing. As with last night I saw 3 other runners, which reassured me that I wasn't the maddest person in Oxford at least. Unfortunately my legs didn't work quite as well today and I made slow progress. Some was dillydallying over frozen grass, rutted park and patchy snow, and I did have a rucksack on and a bit of residual back ache from last night - I think the shoes I wore last night need retiring - but I couldn't seem to speed up nomatter what. However, I was glad I was out, and delighted to have kept to the plan and have the rest of the day off.

I've just checked the weather and it looks like the frost and snow is just about over and it will be warming up, and raining - something new to run in!

Day 9 - 4.48 miles (38.18 mins) @ 8.33/mile

Now today I planned to run home from work. This may not seem like a big issue, but that would involve running in the dark, as well as cold, for the first time since a rather nasty attack in Oxford on a runner along a fairly busy road. However, I had an enormous clinic in the morning which didn't finish til 1.45pm, than I wandered over to the other hospital to spend the afternoon doing other bits and bobs. It was freezing in the first hospital and even more freezing walking over. I have to say, I was close to wanting to curl up in a corner.

It was fairly freezing inside at site 2, but I decided to walk around as much as possible, 'networking' and sorting things out face-to-face, which was fun. Then I looked out the window around 4pm and thought it looked remarkably foggy and unwelcoming. My partner had already informed me that it was -5 C by the car thermometer and too cold to run in.

Then I read my brothers blog site entry for yesterdays run, and it all changed. I rest my case for my inspiration.

When I finally got out the door, Garmin all synched already, one woolly hat and two pairs of gloves on, it was wonderful! It was snowy lightly - what I had thought was mist - was apparently closer to -4 C, and I ran though prettty much virgin undusturbed light snow for the first mile,,absolutely delighting in it. I would hard pressed to find a more enjoyable running experience since the end of the Jurassic Challenge. It was like running through a classic Christmas card scene.

I managed further than I thought in all, running down to the ice rink to meet my partner (it was actually warmer walking into the ice rink than outside!). It didn't matter how far it was, I took no notice of distance and just enjoyed the feeling. I wasn't cold at all and my legs just wanted to go. My last full mile was 8.12 mins, which may not seem much to the untrained observer, but I think I might just be beginning to speed up.

Day 8 - 4.31 miles (36.48 mins) @ 8.32/mile

Today I ran into work, as I had left all my stuff there from running home yesterday. Seemed like an easy option when planning it earlier in the week, but I have to say I was knackered last night, falling asleep by 7.30pm I went to bed early, slept like a baby and woke up feeling much better. It still felt like and effort to start with - a bit stiff after yesterday, which eased with agentle jogging mile. I had just had an early morning cello lesson, which is always inspiring, and I decided to take the long way in to rack up an extra mile.

One of my potential goals in thisyear of turning old-tyis to try for 1500 miles. I managed just under 1200 miles last year - the first year of recording, courtesy of a very cool book given to me last Christmas by my bruv and sister-in-law. Anyway, 1500 milesmeans 4.11 miles every day! A pretty tall bloody order I thought after I'd worked that bit out. However, that means about 29 miles a week and I exceeded that last week, so maybe not so unbelievably difficult.

I tried to introduce a bit of pace into the run today, after a proper Kenyan starting mile of very slow to warm things up, although at 2 C is was positively tropical! I don't think things went below freezing last night. Then I ran the second mile at 8.02, admittedly downhill, but I was trying to let my legs know what it would feel like to run that fast again, and also to remind my head that I actually could. The third mile was flat and, with extra effort, I made it in 8.03. Not bad, with a hill at the end in the 4th mile. A very nice route that I hadn't tried before, shall have to do that one again.

I don't feel half so tired today, but I do find this week at work dragging, and with work in the lab Saturday morning and on call all weekend it will drag further yet. Starting this running experiment in the holidays was a very sensible move and supports success in a way, by establishing the pattern before work gets in the way to disrupt things. Having said that, work and timetabled events do lend a sense of order to things as well.

8 down, 23 to go, 7 of which will be in the sunny tropical climes of Lanzarote!

Day 7 - 5.14 miles (46.06 mins) @ 8.58/mile

Day 7 dawned murky. Another new low temperature last night of -7.4 C, reached early in the night, by midnight, and then things started heating up to leave us at a balmy -1 C at 7am.

On most Wednesdays I run with a group of people from one of the hospitals I work in, round Bury Knowle park, which is soft ground, interesting, about 0.67 miles in the perimeter circuit and a good chance to chat and get fit at the same time. Some of these people haven't run before or for a long time. One of my best friends, N, started the group - he took up running about 4 months ago in a gneral fitness craze after he found his wife to be pregnant! So, after about eight years of him smoking and telling me I was crazy for running, I now find myself loping round the park with this incredibly enthusiastic chap who is literally bouncing along. It was a wonderful experience, and I really hope he keeps it up, for his, the baby's and my sake as well. He's very positive about life and things in general which helps enormously. Running is far more in your head than in your legs.

N did his first race on Boxing Day, a 5k in the literally freezing cold, and, just before we started out, he mentioned that if he beat 30 mins he would be happy. So there's me trying to calculate pace, thinking I hope I can manage a 30 minute 5K and trying to find another way of selling a particularly nasty short steep hill on the third rep to a rather tired and puffing runner. We walked for little bits, but he finished in 29.32 mins and I could have cried! One of the best races I have taken part in, and not for my own time.

So I decided today we should do some efforts. It was only the three of us. We went round the park once to warm up and then raced each other to various trees and articles of park furniture, walking back to recover. It was fun and I hope seeds a regular session, as much for me as anyone. I really want to get some speed back in this month. I ran over to the park and did another lap after to make up the distance, and was quite delighted to relaise that I had just recorded my first post 30 mile running week for months, without it seeming like an effort at all!

Day 6 - 3.09 miles (26.02mins) @ 8.26/mile - 8.47/8.07/8.24

Get this - it was -6.9 C when I left for work this morning! Another new record - Mum measured -7.2 C on her weather station in the New Forest. I put on so many clothes, but actually it felt fine, just like yesterday, only I was better prepared. Still boiling when I'd finished walking to work. I went straight downstairs to get the regulatory cup of filter coffee and a woman asked me where I worked and wasn't I cold, because I was down to a T-shirt by that point.

So lunchtime came along - preceeded by less tummy rumbling today - so I thought I'd sneak off before I noticed again. There was just the tiniest bit of reticence about it today, but both my friend in the neighbouring department and my boss/colleague had already asked how I was doing with the great January experiment, so I had to go really. Also my brother hadn't yet posted his story for yesterday yet, and I realised the inspiration he is providing.

I ran round Bury knowle park - 0.5miles to get there, a few residual slippery icy patches and some unavoidable snowy areas. Glorious sunshine, chilly only to start - isn't it amazing what you actually can do if you put your mind to it! The December me wouldn't have dreamt of going out today, or yesterday or possibly at all this year! A few circuitous loops around a fairly small park, involving several trips down a diagonal gently sloping yellowish track (that I named the yellow brick road) in the lovely sunshine with snow glistening off the grass. One of those apecial moments for the brain image/experience memory box, like those digital photo frames that hold multiple pictures and just continuaouls scroll through.

A good stretch today, nice and warm at the end, and no aches and pains as yet. i forgot my fizzy multivitamin tablet before I left this morning, which annoyed me cos I think it really makes me feel more zippy, but I'll have it later and hope it can backdate its effects.

Tomorrow I'm running early afternoon on a regular (reasonably) session with some friends from the other hospital, including my friend who ran his inaugural 5K race on Boxing Day 2008. I'm planning effort sessions in Bury Knowle to improve everyones strength and speed (especially mine - can't believe how slow I am at the moment!) Until then . . . . . .

Day 5- 3.46 miles (30.31 mins) @ 8.50 miles

No new record for freezing overnight, but a little smattering of real white, authentic looking snow met us this morning, the first day proper back to work after the Christmas skive. I was working a long day today - clinic in the morning and tied to a bleep from 5-9pm this evening, so the logical time to go out was the afternoon.

So clinic finished around 1pm, no lunch yet, and I find my legs walking me to the changing room, kit and shoes in hand, with not a single attempt at a stall, moan, stomach rumble or anything. Amazing! Last year I would quite happily have tried all three tactics, a rough attempt at feeling giddy through low blood sugar and a promise that I would do it later (read tomorrow). I can't believe the change in my thinking already (ask me again in another week).

I ran a lovely little route out the back of the hospital, across some fields covered in snow and pussy footed around bits of melted/not melted/icy snow around park lanes and quieter back roads. The sun was up, some clouds and a strong cold wind. Would have like to post a quicker time - no real efforts yet - but underfoot made it a bit unwise. Lovely run though. Bit of a stiff lower anterior ankle this evening and I feel a bit knackered today - thought it might be the cold, going back to work and the accumulating run tally, but mamageable.

Roll on tomorrow . . . . . .

Day 4 - 5.90 miles (64.02 mins) @ 10.51/mile

I was going to visit my friend Felicity today for coffee, and I thought it might be nice to leave a little early and stop off at Wytham woods for a 1.5 mile out and back run on the way. What could be simpler! I ran out - round and round and up the forest tracks, got to somewhat of a peak after 1.5 miles and headed back. I know I did fine for the first 0.5 miles at least and of course I didn't need the Garmin to lead me home!

Then things began to look not so familiar, and where was the big scaffold-type structure I'd passed on the way up? And why was the track going up a bit still rather than just down. Anyway, I was steadfastly carrying on in the blind belief that my inbuilt sat nav was paying attention, and I reached a track road, just about where I should have. Turned right, flying down the hill with a little victory wave to quench my worries, through the gate . . . . .

Where was the bloody car then? For that matter where were any cars or semblance of a car park! Why did it say this was a Thames water redevelopment site, when it was supposed to be a set of huts next to a car park, and civilisation?

So actually it took me just over an hour in total, a few explanatory and apologetic texts to my friend to explain where I was and the GPS unit in my mobile (thank God for little rucksacks!) to find out where exactly I had pitched up (on the opposite side of the hill, and there was no obvious option but to climb back up the bloody thing, although I did try to go off on a small track instead until Blair witch thoughts overtook me). Eventually I found the track again, stuck to it and just to be on the safe side checked my progress with a couple out for a lovely freezing cold walk. As it turned out I had just ran past the turning I needed and I still had a field of sheep to go through. I do worry about sheep - has anyone ever been eaten by a sheep? They always look like they might just go 'boo' at any time.

So I finally got back to the car, and I'm stretching when the helpful couple turn up at their car parked next to mine. I heartily thank them again, and the woman admits she was thinking of telling me the long way back because she thought still had another lap in me! I wonder if the sheep would like her?

To top it all today was the coldest day I have ever knowingly run on - another new record on the great weather station last night of -5.9!!!! No snow yet though, but I can feel my Canadian accent coming on a treat! I repacked my meagre rucksack with all sorts of extra equipment on the run back, and think I may well take some of the ideas to heart - chocolate in particular.

Day 3 - 3.41 miles (40.04 mins) @ 11.44/mile

A nice gentle recovery run today with my partner, almost the same route as day 1 but a bit more mud as we didn't leave the park. It reached a new low on my weather station (the one in the bird table) of -5.2 C last night! Very exciting. Has been threatening snow for several days now, although intermittently loses interest and changes its mind to rain.

So our run today was at about -3 C and it was fine. A scenic run with a bit of a slope and no aches or pains. No real effort as yet though, it has to be said.

Day 2 - 5.96 miles (58.10mins) @ 9.45/mile

A visit to my Uncles for a running rematch - the first inaugural event being held in August in Oxford. A lovely run through woods and gentle slopes, with one steep hill, and a steady flow of chat, banter and coughing from my poor uncle who has had a bad chest for a month. Anyway we did it, and in the best tradition of the event I, the visitor, was allowed to maintain my lead as soon as I worked out where the hell the end was, and I was presented with a wonderful chocolate Thorntons plaque which had been duly engraved 'winner Harewood Harriers!' Fantastic!

No aching yet, although my right Achilles is tending to be a bit stiff afterwards. I'm determined not to wimp out and will just persevere with extra stretching. Still very cold, although fine whilst running it seems.

Day One - 3.32 miles (28.13 mins) @ 8.31/mile

Day 1 dawned bright and freezing cold, in fact really freezing cold, but I wasn't to be put off my new aim, and I marched out early-ish in the morning, while everyone else was having a bath and wouldn't really notice. I did a short circuit to South park, ran across the top and down one side before popping out and finishing the rest of the perimeter, up Morrell Avenue, on the pavement. Great fun and a cool feeling of smugness ensued for the rest of the day.

The first 5 days

So the experiment began as an attempt to convert the emotional trauma associated with the phrase "shall I go for a run today?" to the surprisingly far less emotionally turbulent "where and when am I running today?"

A New Year requires a new mindset, and 2009 is no different. My brother's idea was to run a significant amount, set at 3 miles, each day throughout January, and, being his sister, I thought this was a fabulous idea.

My aims at the outset were to lose the 'guilt' associated with trying to cram another run into the week. I love running, for many reasons and yet it seems to have become a rather poor cousin to me, in that it keeps me relatively fit, destressed, allows me to go 'wow' on cold frosty days or gaze at eagles circling above parks or woods, and yet I have managed to box it into the 'personal indulgence' box of my life. I think this needs to end, and I think this might be a way to ease that process on.

So how did it go . . . . . .