Adam in Runderland

Another 10 days has passed and the high cards are coming thick and fast. Apart from a couple of Aces and a 4 it was all top end cards. On the positive side they spaced themselves nicely (until the last three days) and I was pleased to get a King on a Saturday when I do my long runs anyway. It has been a terrible couple of weeks weather wise with rain and strong winds. This meant planning my runs more carefully for the times when the gusts lessened. I had four days of rest after the 20 miler as I had run ten days straight. I thought this would help me to feel rested but sadly it was hard work getting back into it. Only myself to blame as I hadn't done any stretching. The last ten day stretch now and then it will be the final two days. I figure there are still some picture cards lurking, but I love a long run. Day 31 - 8♣ - ran 9 miles Day 32 - A♦ - ran 1 mile Day 33 - 4♣ - ran 4.4 miles Day 34 - 6♠ - ran 7.5 miles Day 35 - 10♠ - ran 20 miles Day 36 - 9♣ - ran 10 mil

30 days in and it has been a bumpy ride over the past week. I've had a heavy cold and chesty cough. It kept me out of action for 48 hours, but I find it lifts when I run. Mainly down to being able to spit out all the gunk! I've generally been running further than I need to. This has been in part due to not wanting to stop once I started, partly because I wanted to round up to a 5k or 10k, and on a couple of occasions it was because I drew a lower number on a day I was planning big mileage. I really enjoyed the marathon on day 24. It was the SVN Ranscombe Winter Challenge The combination of feeling good and beautiful scenery helped me manage second place and a healthy time given the muddy conditions. Over half way already and another marathon coming up in a couple of weeks. Run the deck is helping to keep me motivated and racking up the miles. Day 21 - 8 ♦ - ran 9.5 miles Day 22 - 5♠ - ran 5.5 miles Day 23 - A♥ - ran 1 mile Day 24 - J♥ - ran 26.2 miles Day 25 -

It was good to return to Ranscombe with SVN in February. Just a few months ago I ran the same event in the Autumn and enjoyed it finishing second. This time the weather was kind and it was another clear, sunny day. Unfortunately it hadn't been quite so dry in the lead up to the event and this resulted in a bit of mud.... I arrived at the new car park just after seven in the morning. Once registered I ate a couple of flapjacks and a banana and fiddled with safety pins for too long until I had my number secured. At 7:45 we were briefed by Traviss and fifteen minutes later I was in the toilet when I heard the other 120 people set off. Lighter and much relieved I began at the back of the field and started to make my way towards the faster end of the field. After a mile I was clear of the main bunch with room to see where I was putting my feet and also to enjoy the glorious views. The route starts along a path before passing onto muddy, stony track where we encountered the first mud.