Please make the mud go away

Didn’t run mid-week, wanted to give my right calf a bit of extra time to recover. Seems ok for now.

Usual 9km loop today, but after the heavy rain of the last few days, and what with the warmer weather thawing out the last of the ice, it was a tad muddy out there. There’s a narrow bit that heads downhill between two fields on the way back along the coast. No idea how I stayed on my feet, it was like a muddy chute.

For what it’s worth I did it in just over 1hr 6m, but when conditions are so sticky there’s not much point in trying to time it. I lose time trying to walk round the mud or through the least deep bit, but also running through the mud must sap my energy too. On the plus side it means I have to work harder, so maybe there’s a benefit somewhere in the long run. I’m still enjoying it, I like the hills, but I also need to find somewhere nearby that’s relatively flat and dry to get some speedwork in before Southbourne, otherwise I’ll never be able to run at the pace I need.

Did come across a good samaritan today! I was running round the lanes heading toward Langdon Hill car-park, when I turned a corner to find the lane flooded. No way round it and about eight inches deep. Now I don’t mind a bit of mud, but there’s no way I want water in my trainers thank you very much even if that makes me a wuss. (I try to avoid races with names like Grim, Grizzly and Full Death Experience) Anyway, so I’m stood there thinking ok how far do I back-track, when the hourly car that you get on this lane just happens by. Very kind lady offered to drive me across the lake. Result. Run resumed. So thank you lady wherever you are.

Should manage a short run mid-week.

The Return of the Mud

Too warm for the forecast snow, temperatures here now around three degrees so we just had a bit of drizzle most of the night. The rising temperatures have thawed out most of the mud, so pretty mucky today especially near the end of my run. Still a bit of ice here and there, so mud is likely to get worse before it gets better.

6.96 km, 47m 50s, 6m 52s per k average, 312m of climb. All pretty average, but glad to have got out. Basically just did a loop from Stonebarrow, will do much the same at the weekend but include the loop round Langdon Hill and the climb up Golden Cap.

Would have been fun to have had some snow, but being right on the coast in West Dorset we’re pretty sheltered so it’s unusual to get more than a dusting, although to be fair we did get a few inches last March. It did get cold enough for the river Char to freeze over this time, there’s some photos of it on Facebook on the Charmouth Appreciation Society page if you’re interested.

Sunday Sprintday (sort of)

I guess ‘sprint’ is pushing it a bit, but I did what I said I would. Found a fairly flat bit of Dorset track, 7km up and back, tried to do it at 10km pace. Was a bit rougher underfoot than ideal, short sections were just shingle so that slowed me down a bit, but it was a worthwhile exercise.

Did the 7km in 38m 8s, average pace 5m 26s per kilo. I was hoping for a bit less after all the recent hillwork. This pace equates to something like a 54m 33s 10km, which would be about two minutes slower than my PB set about five years ago. So I think that means I’m still not back to full fitness yet, but then again I am five years older.