On a Wednesday I normally go for a run round the school field. I like it. It gets the run done nice and early.

It didn’t happened today.

Instead the school sprung a ‘Whole School Twilight Meeting’ on us – this was not part of my plan.

It meant a run in the dark around the village. It was also very cold so I was layered up and wearing the new fantastic head-torch. 4.34 miles.

I was joined on this evenings run by Anna Erhard and her fabulous album ‘Botanical Garden’, probably my favourite album of 2024.

Strava’s Athlete Intelligence was slightly more positive about tonight’s run:

Solid nighttime run with a faster pace than your 30-day average, pushing into endurance zones and maintaining consistent effort.

Totals:

Runs = 8

Mileage = 30.79

Have a listen to the best track on the Erhard’s album, ‘Botanical Garden’.

I squeezed the run in between getting in from work, eating dinner and going out again.

So it was a quicker small loop of the village.

Strava’s Intelligence Athlete agreed with me:

Quick, efficient run with faster pace than recent averages, showing improved speed and maintaining a steady effort across all miles

Totals:

Runs = 7

Mileage = 26.45

I’m a completely different runner when I’m using a treadmill.

Let me give you some context. When I go for a run I’m the sort of runner who just leaves the house, closes the door and then runs. I very rarely do any warm-up or stretching.

Similarly, when I’ve finished running, I collapse on the chair. That’s slightly unfair, I might do the odd couple of stretches, but never more than 30 seconds.

But when I’m on the treadmill I’m completely different. Tonight was the perfect example.

Today was the first day back at school after the Christmas break, it was a teacher training day, no students in, but still a long day of listening to endless presentations. Therefore, when I got home, the thought of going for a run in the dark, cold and windy evening was just too much. So it was a treadmill run.

It went like this:

• 2 min stretching
• 3 min warm-up
• 39 min run
• 3 min cooldown
• 3 min stretching

I would never have done all the extra stuff if I was going for a run outside. I know I should, I just find it difficult to do.

Anyway, tonight’s treadmill run was 4.35 miles in total. 50 mins in the garage.

Strava Athlete Intelligence had this to say:

Treadmill run with consistent pacing across miles, maintaining a steady effort in Active Recovery zones despite slightly slower pace.

I’m not sure I’m happy with Strava’s dig at me with the ‘despite the slightly slower pace’.

The sounds tonight were from the fabulous Frank Turner.

Totals:

Runs = 6

Mileage = 23.34

It was a horrible morning, grey and miserable. Got outside and braved the 15yds to the garage. Treadmill.

3.14 miles.

Today’s Strava Athlete Intelligence comment:

Steady treadmill run keeping heart rate in moderate zone, maintaining consistent pace across miles with minimal intensity variation.

Totals:

Days = 5

Mileage = 18.99

It was cold one today.

Also had a bit of a drama. 2 miles in and a little check of my mileage on the Garmin…

Flat battery. I had checked before I left, it was about 40% so not sure what is going on with the watch.

So I tracked the second half of the run using Strava on the phone. It was 4.38 miles overall.

Totals:

Runs = 4

Mileage = 15.85

It was the first night run of the month and, more importantly, the inaugural outing of the new headtorch.

The run. That went well. A slightly extended loop of the village. It was cold, especially the last mile or so.

4.35 miles. 42 mins.

Strava’s Athlete Intelligence had this to say:

Steady Janathon run with consistent Active Recovery pace, maintaining heart rate in moderate zone during a dark evening workout.

As for the headtorch. Outstanding.

Totals:

Runs = 3

Mileage = 11.47