Rob-sty or Rustert?

As I was plodding through the mud today with Rusty panting by my side, it struck me that we would make a great combination in terms of my long-range ability mixed with his speed. He's still struggling with long distances since his 3 year slobbing lay-off in the USA where he didn't really get any long, ranging running due to the strict 'on-leash' laws in Maryland. He's comfortable doing 7-8 miles, but don't want to push him too much too quickly. Rusty is probably thinking 'enough of these short slow outings, let's run for 20 miles!'.

No matter how far we do run, I know he'll out-sprint me. I've tried ramping up the speed slowly or throwing a stick in the oposite direction, but he's wiley and still manages to beat me back to the car ;)

Happy Xmas!

Two really good runs this week, both on Cleeve Common. Firstly I went up on Monday with Rusty and ran a 6.5 mile route. Fairly quiet up there given the time of year, most people probably hustling around town. Different story today, was like Trafalgar Square up there this afternoon. I was glad to get off the Common where most of the 'ramblers' were and had a cracking 8.6 mile run. Quite muddy in places, definitely Walsh territory! Talking of which, I've just finished reading 'Feet in the Clouds' and thought I'd give this no holds barred downhill bonkers running that most Fell runners describe. Ok so I'm no Fell runner, and have only tried to run downhill fast on a few occasions but I must say, it feels as though either a) one of my legs is simply going to fly off or b) my groin is going to snap with the force of a aircraft carrier catapult. I'd describe my downhill style as 'helicopter with tail rotor removed' if you can imagine what that looks like ;)

Top Xmas present from Mother this year, 13 months subscription to Runners World and Helen (wife) came up trumps too with some Gore running trousers & SealSkinz gloves. Excellent!

R.

New XC route

Here's a new route that I'm hoping will become a good XC track. I've run it once before but took a few run turns and ended up running over 9 miles. Could be quite muddy in places!

Fast week

A good week this week. Low mileage but three runs since Sunday and three PBs! Firstly the run on Cleeve Hill was the quickest I've done it so far, which isn't really saying much as so far the weather has been grim or I've been using it as a recovery run. Last week I stepped it up a bit and took nearly 5 minutes off. Then on Monday I went out at lunchtime for a 6 mile loop around Staverton Airport and reduced my time from 39:50 to 38:34. Wednesday saw a race around the same loop and my time came down to 37:54. So a useful week although I must get out today to stack up the miles a bit more.

Not sure how much running I'll do between now and 7th Jan when I go back to work; baby Netherton's arrival will have a significant say in that.

R.

Brrrr

I often criticise the weather but give it it's due, today was cracking. I went up to Cleeve Hill to do my normal 5.5 mile circuit and although it was chilly, the weather was perfect. The ground was frozen, so no mud, sky was blue, the air crisp, clean and cold. Rusty still decided it was necessary to jump in to the sheep dip but he is a dog, a rather nutty one at that. As I was loading him back in to the car at the end of the run, some walkers arrived back at their car and one of the women shrieked in disbelief at me stood there in shorts 'oh my god' she said, 'aren't you freezing?' It was quite funny seeing them with parkers on, hoods up, gloves, scarfs the whole monty. Yes it was cold, but not once the blood starts pumping.

Weather looks set for the week ahead, good I say.

R.

Funny old week

By Monday evening this week, I had logged exactly zero miles. I was quite worried actually. The reason being that my 38 week pregnant wife needed a bit of TLC over the weekend plus we had relatives visiting so it was quite hard to get out. Actually it was quite nice to have a restful weekend! Anyway it's now Thursday and I've now done 25 miles, which is 5 off my weekly target but half of them have been good quality miles, the other half recovery.

Tuesday night with the Harriers was a fairly brisk 7 miler in 45 mins followed by a 39 min 6 miler on Tuesday so today I did 12 steady miles in total. Great conditions this week though, nice crisp and cold.

Interesting and quite funny letter in this month's Runners World about urban running. The chap in questions was very diligent about wearing reflective items and understood the importance of being seen when running in dark town centres. However he came a bit of a cropper when he jinked through a line of stationary traffic at some lights only to find himself dumped on the ground nursing his hip & shoulder. What he didn't see in the darkness was a tow rope connecting two cars. But hey, you can't look for everything (including moving kerbs hey Ray?).

Later.

Wild & Windy

I logged 32 miles since Sunday, quite satisfied with that. That consisted of a 6 miler around Cleeve Hill on Sunday in driving rain and wind. Not many others around, just a few hardy walkers (not a golfer to be seen!). On Tuesday I ran with the Harriers, about 8.5 miles at a steady 7 m/m pace, which was much needed after a tough run the week before. Thursday & Friday I ran to work which provided another 18 miles. So a good week in some foul weather.