Or, the week the fannying around stopped (with apologies to McDonald & McIntyre)
So, this was when the 16-week training programme kicked in. The one I'm to stick to religiously. Erm. Right. It went something like this.
Monday - programme says 5m. Mrs. T says "we're going to Stirling"
Tuesday - programme says "Rest or Cross-Train". Mark does 7m
Wednesday - programme says 6m speedwork. Mark says "off to Edinburgh for Scott's surprise party"
Thursday - programme says 5m steady. Mark says "on the way back from Edinburgh"
Friday - programme says "Rest or Cross-Train". Mark does 7m
So far, so bad. To be fair, it was more a rearrangement around events than a deliberate ignoring of the schedule, but *not* a good start. The two midweek runs around what's becoming a firm favourite winter route were amazing. Fresh snow on Tuesday and desperately cold with freezing fog on Friday. The run rose to just above the fog level though, giving an eerie scene - backlit by a low sun - of trees and hills wreathed or just emerging. Beautiful.
Got things back on track with a 14.5 mile run today; a bit longer than the programme called for, but there aren't many options open in the current weather. Did the loop round Glen Fruin, but anti-clockwise this time, avoiding the bastard mile of 600 ft up from Faslane - coming up from the Glen is shorter with much less ascent. It does, however, mean the last 2 miles are pretty much all uphill from the seafront home, which was a bit of a challenge with yesterday's 7 miles still in the legs. Nice run, though, in occasional snow flurries, and the hills at the end will be good for the legs.
Went back to my original playlist for this week's run, and going to go with the song which sets me off. No decent videos from this summer's Hampden gig, so I'll revert to my Barcelona DVD...
For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside
That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive.
Love it.
Finally, the programme for Sunday offers "Rest or Cross Train". Finally going to do something 100% by the book - guess which one...
Week's summary: 3 runs, 28 miles : Long run 14.5 miles
Miles since acceptance: 290
