It was an early start…and a beautiful morning…

Planned to do a little bit further than what has been my daily 3 or 4 miles. Therefore, I ran for 5km, turned round and ran back. 6.32 miles in total.

Although it was cold, it felt really good to be out and running. It was a little slippery underfoot in places, but made it back in one piece, and feeling better than I left. Result.

Totals:

Runs = 11

Mileage = 43.29

Swims = 1 (600m)

It was a very busy day today, we had stayed over in Cambridge Friday night and spent the day in the city.

So it was a 3 mile loop of the village at 7.30pm.

Totals:

Runs = 10

Mileage = 36.97

Swims = 1 (600m)

‘Why Running Matters’ by Ian Mortimer

First book of the year. It’s a running book. I love a running book.

This book was ok. It follows a fella in his year of running. Quite a lot of, I did a parkrun with my son, I beat him, I beat him, he nearly beat me, he nearly beat me, I only just beat him….he beat me.

A fairly interesting read all the same.

We are away for the weekend as soon as school finishes, so it meant a very early run.

Dedication.

Alarm went off at 6am and I was in the garage on the treadmill by 6.10am.

3.10 miles at a very gentle pace. Listening to the album ‘Doom Days’ by Bastille – I great album to run to.

Totals:

Runs = 9

Mileage = 33.89

Swims = 1 (600m)

I know the plan for Janathon was to run every day, but I normally swim on a Thursday, so I’ve decided that a swim is quite enough.

I’m not a great swimmer, I’m knackered after the usual half-hour in the pool and the thought of then going for a run is just too much.

I did 38 lengths of the school’s weird 15.8 metre pool. 600m.

Totals:

Runs = 8

Mileage = 30.79

Swims = 1 (600m)

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’.