Where do I re-start? by philk

Ventured 22 miles today just so I could freeze my tits off! I often drive past Longmoor Army Camp and see a track alongside the A3 but never knew if it was accessible, allowed or worthwhile running along it.

6.28 miles - turned to be a very enjoyable jog around the perimeter fence at Longmoor Army Camp firing ranges. It is a path I have seen from the A3 many times but I never knew if it was possible to run it, or how far it went. Looked it up yesterday and saw it marked as a circular 7 miles (my garmin measured 6.28). It was minus 1 when I started, snow and icy in places but mostly melted apart from under the trees so it was do-able.

Fat Club - another 1lb off this week. Like everyone trying to lose weight, I am a little disappointed with just 1lb but when I look back on the weeks intake I can't complain really. In fact it is a bonus. I am going back to daily weigh ins for a while though, this once a week malarky isn't good enough and I want to keep right on top of it.

Never ever give up

Was undecided today. Wanted a long run, preferably around 14 miles but wanted to do it all off road and relatively flat. I can run 14 miles of up and down, up, up and down, up, up, up and down around here but finding a pretty flat course is not easy. Could have gone round the island and added a little bit but been there, done that, and wanted somewhere new. Considered a drive up to my dads and a jog along the Basingstoke Canal but wasn't sure of the snow situation up there (could have rang him I suppose!). Looked up a few dismantled railway lines and found one in Chichester that looked OK. So off I, and the dog, went at 9am this morning.

Brrr... -  too bloody early, it was cold. Very cold. Wore an under shirt and t shirt and shorts today.

Centurion Way - went  here route in the end. Eventually found the path but could find nowhere to park so ended up the other side of the railway line and walking in (a gentle warm up?). Set off, Garmin OK, dog OK, then found it is probably one of the busiest cycle  path and dog walking  areas on the planet! Honestly, if I wasn't dodging speeding cyclists I was putting the dog back on his lead. Kept going thinking things would thin out soon enough but for the first three miles they didn't. Cyclist riding 4 abreast across their path, dog walkers with 6 or even 7 dogs, off the lead, and yapping at mine who is on a lead but straining to get at them. It was awful. The people of Chichester are so rude. BUT being an ignorant old b'stard myself I carried on, eventually got out in the sticks where there were fewer people. Here the path changed from gravel to mud. It was still hard underfoot due to the frost and ice but it was beginning to thaw, and this was a problem on the way back. Got to the end of the path which was only 5 miles and not 6 as the map said. Never mind, turn round and headed back. By now the mud was slippery and I was in road shoes. Got through that and started to meet dogs and cyclists and more dogs and more cyclists and gangs of school kids who all own the path we were on. I was so thankful to get back to the car after doing just 10 miles that I packed up there and then.

Centurion Way pt II - never again. Nice run, quite scenic, some interesting statues along the way and old railway markings (telegraph poles, sleepers, station (now flats)), some anti tank defences from WWII, Brandy Hole (smugglers caves) but such ignorant people. I don't want to get to know them but I would like them to get the fuck out of my way when I am running towards them or give my dog room to pass by, or even a nod of thanks when I stop and hold him off the path so they can get by. But no (actually, one other jogger smiled) so we will not be going there again.

Thursday - I intend to pop up to Surrey for a jog along the Basingstoke Canal or Cranleigh Line. Will decide on the day. Is it silly to drive 50 miles to run 10?

Never ever give up

2012                                                                                                                                    Miles Ran 131                                                                                                                       Weight Loss 11lb

...when the Mrs drops you off miles from home so you can do a nice long slow run, you turn on the Garmin and find the battery is flat?! The weather is great, no snow, no ice, no rain, no wind, temp around 3. Great for running. All football called off so tha t means

A Sunday LSR - worked out route, checked distance. 11m, OK. Left home, forgot Garmin. Went back, collected Garmin, Mrs K dropped me off so I HAD to run home. Garmin battery flat. Laces loose. Stone in shoe. Busting for a pee. Nowhere to go. Set off. Ipod, Eddie Murphy, Delirious. Makes running easy. Laughing. 2 miles later finally stop for pee. Ipod. Eddie Murphy, Delirious. Still laughing out loud as I run. Laughing too much. Had to stop. Gooney goo goo!! Adjusted route due to footpath closures. Took direct route towards home. Still running. No idea of distance. No idea of time. I just ran. A lot. Got home. About 90 minutes.

Never ever give up

Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! And it was on my feet, not a pushbike, go cart, scooter or any other wheeled device. Actually, that might not be quite true...

8mm - really didn't fancy a run yesterday, no reason why, I just didn't fancy it. So I went to the gym for a change. Did 20 minutes aero gliding on 'Fat Burner' mode but instead of doing resistance 1 + 2 I ramped it up a bit to 4 + 5. Then I went onto the treadmill (doe sit count as wheeled?). Fiddled with the buttons and set it up for 8 min miles (not KM, I do know how to change it!). Thought I would give it a go and see how it went and, amazingly, I managed it. Bloody hard and I needed a decent rest afterwards but it's amazing how, as you get close to the target, you suddenly find more energy to push you over the line. Finished off with an hours weights then a lovely long sauna and steam bath (with a very sexy young bikini wearing 20 yr  old but that is another story).

Decision - was going to take a rest day today but with snow forecast for overnight I might not be able to get anything done tomorrow. I have  a football match to referee but that will probably get called off, snow or no snow as the pitch will be forzen. So should I run today, take the rest day (feel like I need it as I ache after yesterday) or risk it any maybe have to go to the gym tomorrow? Saying that, snow is forecast for the country but we rarely get it in Portsmouth, the sea air and big hill protect the island from most weather so we might well miss it. Hmm... will think it over.

Never ever give up