Tag: bourne woods

Running and stuff….

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

Just an 8-miler this morning, according to my training plan it should have been 13! Doh!

Although I ran 13 miles last Sunday and 12 miles a couple of weeks before so I thought with just two weeks until the Peterborough Half I'd take it easy a bit. It was a lovely morning and didn't really want to spoil it by going hell for leather* chasing a particular pace. I'm confident of completing the race, just need to decide whether or not I'm going to try to beat my PB. I'm going to crack on with the training schedule, throw in a couple of fast 6-milers and see where we're at.

This morning's run did throw up some interesting observations:

  • The amazingly fast walking man – he was walking his dog and going at such a pace I had trouble overtaking him.
  • I nearly killed off an elderly couple – it would seem that didn't hear me approaching and my cheery 'morning' nearly brought on a heart attack.
  • Caused a bit of commotion at the ponds – some fishermen didn't appreciate the dog jumping in the pond and scaring off the fish.

In other news…..

Currently reading 'The Cry' by Helen Fitzgerald, great book about a baby that goes missing in Australia. A dark psychological thriller with a gripping moral dilemma at its heart. Well worth a read!

And finally….

Off to see the fantastic Frank Hamilton in Cambridge tonight….lovely jubbly….

* This is not a phrase I use very often and just wanted to point out that I do actually run in running shoes not some great pair of leather clad boots.

 

Rain. Rain. Rain. #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 3 Comments

Day 20….

The other day I posted about why I take part in Juneathon, one of the reasons was for the challenge. Tonight was definitely a challenge.

Left work and drove home in the rain, light rain, but rain all the same. Amazingly this was the first night that the chances of running in the rain looked on the cards. I wasn't too concerned, it actually looked like it was brightening up as I pulled up at home. How wrong could I be?

By 8pm, when I was ready for the run, rain was in the air, but it was still very light. In fact, I arrived at the woods and things didn't look too bad….

Half a mile into the run things changed….the heavens opened and it chucked it down. I don't quite know what it is, but running in the rain is really hard work. Tonight was just over 3 miles but it felt like 30. Either it is the fact that your t-shirt suddenly becomes a sponge and seems to absorb 5000 pints of water, or the mind begins to play tricks on you and every step seems to feel like you've just completed a marathon.

Made it back to the car absolutely soaked and well and truly ready for a hot shower, cup of tea, sit down and relax…..

Today's mileage = 3.29

Total Juneathon mileage = 95.95

Mojo level = low

And how about a map of the route……just because I can….

 

Day 19 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

Yes you've guessed it…..another few miles at the woods tonight. Very predictable! I will make every effort at the weekend to try and run somewhere different. I will also make every effort at the weekend to try and write more interesting posts!!!

Today's mileage = 4.23

Total Juneathon mileage = 92.66

Mojo level = high (only because I am approaching 100 miles!)

 

Day 11 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

36.67% of Juneathon is now complete. Tonight, rather predictably, was ANOTHER run round the woods with the dog….yes I understand that it's getting slightly boring. Note to self: vary the run more.

Although, I have now smashed through the 50 mile barrier for the month. Tonight was 5ish miles including a brief stop off at the ponds so the boy could take a dip to cool off….

Tonight's run followed Amy's End of Year Show at College. This show gives the students a chance to create an exhibition of their work for people to admire. Amy has now come to the end of her A Levels in both Photography and Graphics. In graphics she had created a brand of cupcakes called 'Clare Rose' including advertising, packaging, menus, etc. The final outcome looked great printed up and mounted….

In Photography she has been using the word 'identity' as her stimulus for some great pictures, including using me as some sort of homeless guitar playing fella….

Well done Amz….you got there in the end!

Today's mileage = 5.43

Total Juneathon mileage = 55.07

 

Day 10 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

One third of the way through Juneathon and still feeling pretty positive about the whole thing. Tonight, predictably, a run round the woods. Nothing really to report except that maybe the dog did manage to avoid getting lost – which is always a plus. A gentle 4ish miles at 9min/mile pace – may go training with the club tomorrow. Taking part in Tuesday night club training has been seriously lacking recently.

Blog is lacking pictures tonight. Although I have got one of my gorgeous niece at the bar with money and ID in hand….lovely jubbly…

Today's mileage = 3.89

Total Juneathon mileage = 49.64

Mojo level = high

 

Day 8 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 7 Comments

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men

Gang aft a-gley,

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,

For promised joy!

This morning's run, at the woods, was planned to be to the ponds and back, about 3ish miles. This didn't quite go to plan….

Lost dog! Well I didn't actually lose the dog, he lost himself. This does happen every now and then, so initially no big panic. In the past he normally manages to find his way back to the entrance to the woods and hangs around waiting for me. Not this morning. So I thought maybe he has gone back to wait by the car at the other end of the woods. Not this morning. So I began running back the way we had come to look for him. I looked to the east of the woods….

Nothing. I looked to the west of the woods….

Nothing. So back to the entrance….still nothing. As I began to panic slightly I decided to make my back to the ponds for one last look around where I last saw him, with the idea that if I did find him I would drown the fecker in the ponds! And lo and behold who should appear from over the hill……?

You're right….the chuffing, fecking, idiot of a dog. 10 miles run!

Today's mileage = 10.27

Total Juneathon mileage = 42.19

Mojo level = after this morning's experiences….it is dropping drastically.

Now off to Wakefield for Long Division Festival

(Music festival!! I am NOT a maths geek!)