Sub 3

Enjoy NZ Selbs. Obviously I'm biased but I think its the best place in the world  Where are you going while you are here?

Lord D - I hadn't come across Strava before. Looks interesting. I keep my training log on runningahead.com.  I've got 6 years on there now, but missing a month earlier this year when I lost my Garmin.

MtR - you are so right. I guess I shouldn't worry about it.  Its nice running with him occasionally anyway. Your menu sounds lovely.  I should get better at cooking some different things, especially when the kids aren't here.

Padams - I didn't realise you had to navigate it - that would be my worst nightmare. I have no sense of direction at all.  Even more good lucks!

Weight wise - at 1st Jan I was about 8-9lbs heavier than I was in October. Just form not running so much really.  Its starting to come back off already though as the mileage goes up. 6ish still to go, so should be fine for the half marathon in 5 weeks. Once thats done I wouldn't say no to getting even a bit lighter again.

Clearly - no I've never run Dublin although I did go over to watch in 2003 when a friend of mine was running it. Different course now I think. I remember it having a great atmosphere - huge support especially from the Americans.

Thanks again for the all the welcomes. 

11M including Ashton Court parkrun for me this morning.  With the incentive of a slightly faster clubmate to chase I clocked a modest pb: something around 20.31 when my old course pb was 20.39 (sadly I didn't catch her - 3 races in a row I've finished 1 place behind her!).

Hope Padams is going well! 

Just found out my Tri Club is increasing UKA affiliation prices.  Given that I joined in good faith at a subsidised rate they are offering the refund and £20 English athletics fee.  Not sure whether to pay it or join a running club.  

Went for a 2hr cycle (33 miles) yesterday improving some Strava times in the processs.  I will probably run long tomorrow and rest today given the forecast.  

Well done on the course PB, Jools.

TR had me sussed -- just back from 20.3M @ 7min/M. But it was nearly all on grass in the trail shoes (that combination seemed not to aggravate my ankle last week when I had the XC race), and I paused a couple of times to prod it and make sure it was OK. Which it was. I'm also still deliberately running with my right foot landing slightly further out than feels normal, which I found helped last week -- maybe I've previously been running with it too far in, which might explain the recurrent blisters, peculiar outer-edge shoe wear and occasional ankle problems all on that side. I needed to burn a few calories as I became an MV43 yesterday and have a weekend of Christmas-like excesses (chocs, beer, eating out) to get through without getting still heavier!

Happy birthday for yesterday, Charlie.

CW - never doubted it ! You did well to find some grass, all the grass round here has been under water all night and all day. I hope it hasnt rained as much where Padams was. Happy b'day.

2hr Turbo bagged early, nearly had to swim from the house to the garage first though.

CW - Happy Birthday

M - It's slightly bigger than it was in 2003 with more than double the no. of participants so they've broken it into 3 waves.  There's plenty of support although not at the level of London.  Weather condition are usually pretty good.  The course has changed a bit but if anything it's flatter than it was in 2003.

LS21 - I vaguely remember Marigold making some comment on his blog about being skeletal but still well within the 'normal' range for BMI.

AL_P - Hope the XC went well for you today.  King's park drains extremely well (sandy soil) but given the recent weather and the fact that you were the last race I expect it was a bit of a mud bath.

Did a little bit of faster running with 6* 1km reps.  Came out at slightly slower than my HM pb pace...., nice to be running but still a long way to go!

Many happy returns Charlie!  Nice 20m there.

Clearly.. just be patient with the quicker stuff, it should all come good eventually.  Good to see you back in the groove.

Long time on the turbo TR, sounds like a wet day down there!

Jools.. congrats on that course record, a decent time on a lumpy course.  Is it possible to be chicked by a chick??

A bit like CL's XC I had a bit of a rusty Park Run at York today.  3 weeks out with the rib problem has set me back a bit as expected so all I could muster was a modest 21:13.  Still, enjoyed the morning blast and nice to see a turnout of over 200 for the York course 1st Anniversary.  Another 4m afterwards.

Quick summary of yesterday - finished in 5:33:xx in 3rd place. Got lost a few times (had to ask for directions from someone in their garden at one point), so ran just over 43M. Garmin worked for about 5M and then kept telling me I was going the wrong way, even though I obviously wasn't (running with a group, at least one of whom knew the way), so gave up and used the map.

Knees pretty sore this morning, but no injuries, which was the main target! Apparently I was catching the leaders towards the end of the race (even though I was slowing), but was still about 5 mins behind. Really was in a lot of pain immediately afterwards - not in any specific place, just a dull ache all over.

Will write a full report (with some pictures) in due course! Thanks for all the good luck messages etc.

Nice work on the course PB Jools

Clearly  - that all sounds good about Dublin, the split start especially.  Anything would be hilly after Amsterdam this year!

2hr35 long run today. Reasonable enough pace until 20km or so when we hit the hills.  I'm really not good at hills.

And well done to the Parkrun and XC racers!

Look forward to reading your full race report. 3rd place is a great result with little course knowledge.

16 miler for me yesterday with a 3 mile uphill hill run on the mud. Managed to finish with some MP +10%. I am still not sure my MP is feelign as comfortable as it should. But early days in my training for this year.

Congrats to Jools on 5km PB. I still keep getting a cold chill thinking of my first 5km to come at some stage next month.

Good parkrun Joolska.

Happy birthday and nice 20 CW.

Hello! And good long run M.

Great run at C2C yesterday Padams. Must have missed you at the finish, was helping sort the bags out for the runners while waiting for my girlfriend to finish. She had a great run too, finished 1st woman in 6.08 - 10th overall, think it was the female course record! Very proud of her!