...but it is playing havoc with my running at a time when I can't really afford to be having havoc anywhere in my vicinity. You would think the IRB would realise there are early morning runners who also love their rugby and reschedule their matches accordingly. But no , seems I have to change my routine. So this weekend saw me not running at all on sat and missing ireland's match on sunday. In retrospect wish I had done my LSR when England were playing as certainly wouldn't have missed much. Except perhaps the streaker.

Its been a while since I have been in blogland - no excuses really - just been a tad busy. Daughter no1 did us proud , and more importantly herself justice , and got fantastic A2 results and is off to Exeter to read English. Relief all round.The Family Andrews had our usual summer holiday/boot camp in the french alps. My hubby doesnt do "relaxing" so we climbed mountains/rafted/cycled ourselves silly. Yet again , I took my running kit on a well deserved break , spending , as it did , the entire fortnight on the shelf in my wardrobe. Also ran our "B and B" , hosting one set of friends after another. I like to think it is because we are popular and lovely people but I think its more to do with the fact we are convenient for both London and the channel tunnel.

Running is going ok but I am , I realise , past my peak. I think I was actually past it 2 decades or so before I actually took up running, but I am certainly past it now! However enjoying getting out and feeling quite liberated by fact that I dont really give a monkey's what time I do the London Parks Half in . ( Of course , I am lying , but trying to prepare myself for the ridiculously slow time that I am going to post...).

This weekends LWR (long wet run) went well. Set off at 7.15 to run the 1.5 miles to my mate Paulines house , where she joined me for 5.5 miles, dropped her off again, and then just made it up running on my own around the lanes plus a bit off road  my village  till I had done what was about I reckoned 8 miles. Heavens opened after about 5 mins of running but decided ( incorrectly) that it wasn't going to rain for long so carried on rather than doing my usual opt out of jacking it in and just having coffee at P's house. Glad I did carry on because turns out  I did 10.3 miles in just under 10min/mile pace whch was pleasing.

Anyway peeps - time to go - will try and catch up with a few old mates on here in next few days but just incase I dont manage it - good luck Malcolm. Expecting great things in Gateshead....

PS not sure why the type has gone red half way thru this post, nor why there are horizontal dividing lines. Cant get it to go back to normal. Computers are such a mystery...