2 sets of 40 second planks:
10.5 miles in 84m 10s = 8:01 m miles…
The Run:
I have a lot to do today, too much almost, so I decided that the run should be my own. No rushing to meet deadlines. As is often the case I didn’t really know how I would feel or how fast I would run until I got out the door. Ran to music for the first time in at least a year, using the Creative music player Mel bought me 5 years ago. AfroCelt Sound System helped to build a feeling of momentum during the run.
It was pretty cold and just having set out, I saw a very pretty girl struggling to cycle up the hill ahead of me. I’ve seen her before and I know she is sweet-looking, but it was a joy to watch that ass, painted into those jeans, working it’s way up the hill. I ran very hard to make sure I got a damned good look…
The pretty girl set the tone for the run. A beautiful, light, monochrome sky and sea, a positive mood (continuing…) and light playful feet. That’s the first time that I have felt real power in my legs. I just kept pushing the mid-point further and further, also did a little rock-hopping on the way out to Salthill and kept dancing and weaving either side of a white line painted along the center of the promenade walk. I decided to go past the diving board to guarantee that this would be my longest run. Then I decided that this would be my first 10 miler, so I ran past the board and up behind the golf course, then back up to the main road through the caravan park. I wanted to be certain that I wouldn’t turn up short of the 10 mile mark. I neglected to mention there was a 20-30mph wind most of the way out. Mid-point at 42:45.
Figured that a negative split should be mine if my legs held out. Running got easier on the way back, my legs stayed strong, my lungs opened up at 60 minutes and then I just ran free, all the way home. I ran the return leg of my short run in under 19 mins, so I knew that I had held my pace. The last mile I could actually have run a minute faster, but I don’t want to do or die, I want to enjoy. That is actually part of my discipline….
Ran the full return leg in 41:25 which is a good negative split for a ‘long’ run.
Prepared a salad fit for Gods to follow that run. Baby spinach, celery, raw petit pois peas, dill, fried sweet peppers, fried diced bacon, diced boiled egg, diced salami, sultanas, sunflower seeds, herb salt and a bit of oil…
My persistent high spirits seem to be paying dividends all round.
