Sunday almost 10 mile run (1:46hrs)

...turns out I only did 9.65miles as I turned around to early - clearly I should have packed the GPS with me.
The weather was glorious and just cool enough so that I wouldn't overheat. Have bought myself a belt to carry waterbottles with me - looks ridiculous but it turns out to be a good idea as the run was MUCH more comfortable. I also took gels for the first time - they also made an amazing difference and I got home without feeling sick for once. (They also seem to have a somwhat laxative effect - hopefully just a fluke otherwise I have a problem.)

Hill Training with Reigate Priory Club

3 sets of 3 sprints uphill with a jogg back in the pitch black ....I survived and just about to relax into my well deserved bubble bath!!
Tip of the day: Never ever have dinner just before you go out for a running session...

Cross-training

The glow of the Tadworth 10 is slowly fading and it's now into the hard bit of training in miserable grey weather. Sat down and did an outline training plan (no point in getting too scientific about it - it'll only put me off...) which has hopefully enough variety to keep me going. So yesterday I did 1 hr swim session at the Dorking Swimming Club (trust me - not a simple pootle up and down the pool...). Hardest bit was - yes, right guess - getting out of the house. I managed, only to arrive at the pool (6miles from home) realising I forgot my cosy. But I did not give up, scrambled my last punds together and acquired a dreadful swimming costume which is going straight in the bin. Well, at least I did the session. This morning, a little weary.
Outlook for this evening - Hill training session with the running club - deep joy (unless someone feels the urgent need to schedule a vital conf call for 7pm?????)

Milestone 2 - the Tadworth 10 miler

Today I ran the Tadworth 10 mile race in the Epsom Downes (read NOT flat) in 1hr 56 mins. I had a really good race - felt strong, confident, even happy until mile 8 at which point muscles started aching rather badly. All in all, the race felt much easier than the one I did in 2008, unfortunately I did not manage to beat that time (i ran 2 mins faster last time). I don't quite understand why as it felt much easier (and I ran up ALL the hills which I was unable to do before). Maybe it's down to weight and the fact that last time I only stopped rowing 3 months earlier and maybe I still had much more strength in my leg muscles?
I went home and laid down in an icecold bath (well just my lower extremeties) for 10 mins before having a nice boiling hot shower. Apparently the cold bath is supposed to aid a speedy recovery - I'll let you know whether it works in the coming days.