Fluorescence

I got my new shoes on the weekend, Saucony Triumph 9's and they are extremely fluro. Slighly different effect on the computer screen when buying them online, than in real life! On a positive note, they match my eye-watering yellow gloves.  Wore them for the first time on my Sunday run and they seemed nice and soft, but quite a bit wider and maybe not as stable as my 7's.  Keep an eye out for conkers and potholes, then.

Training Report
Thursday 15th Nov
8.2k run into work - a struggle lugging my leather jacket in my backpack - heavy!!

Saturday 17th Nov
12.4k run around Tooting, Clapham and Wandsworth Commons - pretty muddy after a rainy week but a good pace at 5.36 min/km and nice scenery to admire, lucky as my iPod died only a few minutes in

Sunday 18th Nov
6k run around Tooting Common - a short one to test out the new shoes which seem quite good, not the most consistent run as a few stops to take some photos of the autumn trees! Stay tuned to another post for these...

Tuesday 20th Nov
1 hour gym session - a few weights, squats, push ups and planks...then 15 min elliptical, 10 min ergo, 15 min bike and 5 min stepping.  All the resistance settings on the machines set to random to keep things entertaining.

Wednesday 21st Nov
8.2k run home from work - all the leaves are now mush on the footpath so it's keeping me on my toes!

Thursday 22nd Nov
8.2k run into work - really windy...lucky I didn't get rained on in either of Wednesday or Thursday's runs as the weather has been diabolical.  About 10 degrees and meant to get way colder next week but I don't care as long as it stops raining!!

Coming up next
Friday 23rd Nov
Gym - with Linc! My "Friday Friend for Free"

Saturday 24th Nov
1 hour Pilates class (if I ever make it, 8.30am on a Saturday morning isn't ideal scheduling)
13k run

A Running Commute

Iceland was fascinating.  Amazingly, as well as the spectacular Northern Lights, we also spotted the Reykjavik running club doing sprints down the side of a freezing lake in -2 degree temperatures, with 65km/hr winds howling off the water directly onto their bare legs.  I didn't join in.  I think the best form of exercise there would be aquaerobics in the 35 degree Blue Lagoon.

I've solved the thorny issue of keeping warm for my running commute to work. I freeze if I don't wear my winter coat on the tube, but it's too big and heavy to fit into my backpack for the return running journey.  So I ran home and then back in the next morning, leaving my coat at work.  Added bonus of a nice hot shower in the brand new hotel locker rooms with nice fluffy hotel towels provided and washed by the Valet - more luxurious than showering at home, really!  And I didn't have to get up any earlier than I would to get to work on the tube. Problem solved.

Plus there's sunlight running in the mornings so you don't spend the whole route staring at the ground in the dark, to avoid slipping on the wet autumn leaves covering the typically wonky London footpaths. More time to admire the scenery - Sloane Square, the red brick Chelsea mansion blocks, the Thames and Battersea Power Station, and the lovely Clapham and Wandsworth Commons.

Training report
Monday 12th Nov
8.3k run home from work - several near misses involving darkness, puddles, wet leaves, and a group of screaming schoolgirls scaring each other (and me and some cyclists) in the bushes in the Common.

Tuesday 13th Nov
8.3km run into work - was definitely one of my faster ones as I'd realised I'd left it too late to get to my 9am meeting (arrived red-faced at 9.05).  Sadly my Garmin went haywire and apparently I ran from Wimbledon, through the water of the Thames, and over some buildings in Chelsea, all at 3 min/km pace!  It took me about 42 mins though so would have been about 5.15 min/km pace, quite fast for me.

Coming up next
Thursday 15th Nov
Gym - maybe a spin class or just some treadmill

Friday 16th Nov
Gym - treadmill and some resistance stuff

Saturday 17th Nov
1 hour Pilates
13km run

Aurora Borealis

I have my fingers crossed that the weather will be ideal for Aurora Borealis sightings, as we're off to Iceland tonight!  The Northern Lights, the Blue Lagoon, volcanos, geysers, glaciers.  Not many chances for running I don't think but maybe we can squeeze in some sort of glacial hike!

The weather has improved a bit here, about 10 degrees, so no preparation for the -6 degrees we're anticipating this weekend.  On the plus side, running has been a bit easier.  Collected my very attractive fluro yellow running gloves this morning (wiggle.com, thanks for the tip Dad!) so I'm prepped for snow!

Have been admiring the lovely autumn leaves these last few weeks, not many left now and it will be my 8th and final Northern Hemisphere autumn.  I'll miss the gorgeous Commons on those freezing sunny autumn days with red and yellow leaves everywhere, even if the conkers do give high odds for breaking an ankle when out for a run.

Took it a bit easier on the running this week with some cross training at the gym and my calf is fine. Just tight legs in general, now.

Training report
Monday 5th Nov
8.5km run home from work - took it easy, but took a different route from usual which wasn't the best. Too many slow commuters to dodge on the footpaths!!!

Wed 7th Nov
Gym session - 15 min elliptical, 15 min bike, 10 min ergo and 5 min stepping.  Pretty boring but caught up on the results of the US election on the TVs.  Thank god Obama won.

Thurs 8th Nov
7.5km run around Tooting Common, multitasking again with another stop off at the Post Office to collect my gloves and some electrolyte drink tablets ie make your own Powerade! Felt a bit foolish doing the last 2k with a giant box under my arm but thought of it as some kind of weird weight training.

Coming up next
Iceland!!
Back on Monday 12th so guess I'll be back into it then.

Fireworks

It's Guy Fawkes night tomorrow, so there's been fireworks going off everywhere all weekend. I managed to finish my run home from work on Friday just as the local cricket club's annual display started, incredible fireworks with loads of people braving the cold to watch them, so that was a good finish to the run. And a good start to the weekend!

I could really feel my calves tightening up having only had one rest day so far during the week, so tried to stretch more than usual. I really need to get that into my routine as I hardly ever do any stretching.  I think that's why my bottom left calf was sore on my longer run on Saturday - it was really painful afterwards but seems fine today.

My hands were freezing again on Saturday morning so have just bought some gloves online! Much needed I think.  Also saw Saucony is releasing a new version of my shoes so hopefully can get a good bargain on the old model Triumph 9 soon.


Training Report
Friday 2nd Nov
Ran home from work, pretty easy run but very dark! Was treated to a brilliant fireworks display for Guy Fawkes night at the local cricket club, perfect timing to run past for that!

Saturday 3rd Nov
Missed Pilates...oops...but managed a multitasking 13k with stops at the post office and the jeweller.  7 degrees and sunny, but really really windy!!  Run was a bit tough toward the last 3 or 4k, due to the sore calf

Coming up next
Monday 5th Nov
8km run home from work

Tuesday 6th Nov
Cross training at the gym...not sure what yet?
1 hour Pilates class