Oh dear, no run since last Saturday!! Did a 15 minute thing on the turbo last Sunday, but it was just one of those weeks. Anyway the legs have had chance to recover from the battering I gave them last weekend.

Did my two laps of the park this morning in the rain and I was looking forward to it. Turned in to a bimble and a walk! I was wheezing like I don't know what.

Stats: t 26.26, d 3.614, hr av 105 max 182.

I think I recall that max heart rate moment! Just when I decided to walk.

Valentines Day, but no massacre. Lieu day and a trip to the dentist so at home this morning. Out to park for a bimble. More walking but less wheezing.

Stats: t 24.27, d 3.614, hr av 126 max 162.

Sunny morning too. Right calf benefited from a massage with tiger balm yesterday so will do same now.

Too late and too wet on Tuesday when I got to my BnB, but on Wednesday got to Nether Heyford bright and early. Opted for a yomp through the fields. Jogged a bit but mainly walked. Haven't mapped it yet, but went to Flore and back using a new to me path for return route.

Late Thursday as back home. Dentists on Friday to have crown re set so a brisk walk in to town and back. Saturday a gross attack of lazi-itis.

Sunday morning out for my usual two laps in the park.

Stats: t 22.20, d 3.614, hr av 135 max 189.

Breathing was good for first lap and slowly got worse. Good effort tho' and managed a steady jog all the way.

A long day working on Monday so a day at home in lieu on Tuesday. Set out for my usual two laps in the park and even fancied making it three, but actually only did one! Hey ho. Didn't even bother looking at my HRM. Breathing was OK, just my legs not up to it. The long distance driving definitely messes with the old legs.

Postscript: No need to be so down hearted old chap! Here, have some stats:

distance for one lap = 2.253k,  time 13.58,  hr av 126 max 198.

So you can see that you maybe tried a little too hard and then the average hr went down because you walked.

PPS: I'm going to stop using this forum thread for my training and use the 'Training Calendar' feature like I ought to. 

A bit of a milestone day. I managed to do the (nearly) 5K run round the park loop in just over 30 mins. Not fast, but it was the continuity of my effort that was good.

I have entered a 2up Time Trial on the bike and because someone else will be relying on me to do my best, I have found some focus for my training.

"Focus, focus, focus" as Brad Pitt said.

28.06 for my 3 laps today. Got rid of lots of anger at doing crazy day of work yesterday.

Once I get to the pace I did the 10K in last June I will step up the distance.

This evening was an odd one. Set off with intention of going a bit faster, but must have got carried away! Had to walk on first ascent. Picked it up again on the top but started walking even sooner on second ascent, so decide to reduce run to two laps. In an attempt to rescue the outing with a bit of pace I legged it down the street to home.

The pace calculator in the calendar on here showed that I did indeed run at a faster pace, despite the walking!

I will have to really concentrate on my pace next time out.

An odd week with the time trial on Saturday afternoon to test me. It was very hard for me but my team partner was very kind to me and towed me around the 10 miles easily. My breathing was shocking! I really do have to cincentrate on getting my lungs better. Todays outing in the park was done with this foremost in my mind and I was feeling better at the end of the second lap than I did at the start of the first!

I have plotted a new circuit in the park and I will try that soon. Two laps will give me 5.25 k.

Furthest run this year tonight. 7K (6.99 on the route plotter) across the fields and back along the canal at Nether Heyford in Northants. No walking either. Slowed and stopped to fuss doggies, climb stiles and open gates etc.

Gorgeous night too - left the thermals off!

Wow! What a month March has been. Looking back over my posts since this time in Feb it certainly has been good to me.

Tonight was exceptional as my breathing was so good. It was like I had a new or refurbished set of lungs - so what was different. I definitely had a bit of a cafeine buzz on but thats not so unusual, that just made me go to hard in the middle - plus the guy I passed - heh hey.

Right calf just giving me tell tale signs of stiffness so eased up for return along canal bank.

A flying start to April! After spending most of the day officiating at a bike race I was ready to get out for my run. The figure of 8 in the park is proving to be a worthy challenge. The 60 steps have been resigned to a hard walk or I am so knackered I am slow for the next bit! The extended downhill leg is superb for improving leg speed and I think that is were I made up time tonight as I topped 10K per hour for the first time.

I am pondering the purchase of some off road shoes.

Was desperate to get out myself today, but after 4 1/2 hours stood ironing, I darent risk it (from experience) Well done you!

Thanks Trout. I have been cursed by work this week also. No run till tonight, but it was good. My 7K here in Northants at over 10 Kph. For some reason my breathing is a hell of a lot better and I think that has made a huge difference. I am wondering if I have been subject to a mild infection.

Well I am glad it has gone!! I think I must have coughed it up on the A6 when I did that timetrial the other Saturday!

I do my calf stretches all over the place - whilst filling the van tank with diesel, while queueing for a coffee in Sainsburys and now whilst typing this. I'm obsessed with the flexibility of my calf muscles!!!

I know the feeling about stretching...I have started to up the number of stretches (calf) i do and its helping. The other thing I do which helps reduce risk of shin splints and pain up the outer side of lower leg (from ankle to knee)...you stand with your back leaning against the wall, feet about 6" from the wall. Then one foot at a time tap your toe but dont lift your heel.....feels easy at first but I start to feel it when you get to 40 taps, I stop at 50 but if ya can get to 100 then youre doing fab. Thn do the other foot. Its supposed to help reduce compartment syndrome and therefore, shin splints.

Ive been out today for an earlyish trot....took the dogs with me for part of it, around the fields but god its hard on the calves...that was 3k, then I dropped fogs off at home and did my mile route on pavement which was easier. Avoiding hills if poss has helped calves too. I have got into the habit of listening to Radio 2 when Im running for the variety in music, but sometimes they do interviews and the last time I ran they had Peter Kay on and I had to stop running I was laughing so hard!

I had a thought regarding your standing ironing for so long. Have you given thought to what you wear on your feet while you work? Like so long in flats and so long in high or higher heels. That would vary the tension on the muscles.

I tend to use supermarkets for my brew and toilet stops. Now I park as far away from the door as poss so that I have to do a walk.

I've not got to the point of listening to anything on wires while I am out, but who knows I never thought I'd get a hrm!

My brother-in-law got a Garmin for his birthday, but doesn't use the hrm bit. I said he should. His reasons for not doing sounded like me a few years ago!

It has been another silly day workwise and I am sitting in the OK Diner Northbound on the A1 at Cromwell.