#Janathon Day 23 (missed a few) - a virus (my excuse), a long taper run, shining eyes and panic about broken running shoes!

Missed three days in Janathon as I had some sort of virus and my chest wasn't quite right, not good as I'm asthmatic. Kept warm, relaxed and slept a bit more than usual and okay today :-)

The first 8 miles of today's run was part of my wife's half marathon training so was a relaxed run with Fleet. This is her longest run so far, she's doing really well. 

After returning back home I set off to make up the miles to 26.7, about two thirds of my longest run as planned in my taper period. About half of it was in the dark so good practice for the ultra. Blinding walkers with their dogs with my headtorch, they all stopped as I approached, I need to dip my head! The first thing I see are the dog's eyes reflecting back, in fact it's amazing how many eyes I see about in the fields - cats and foxes I guess.

Alas my running shoes have a split! I'm only two weeks away from the ultra!! I've ordered '2' identical pairs from different stores and hopefully I can break them in in time, should be okay if they arrive in time. I plan to call both stores and turn up charm and pleading to maximum.

This time of year I run in Inov-8 Roclite 282 GTX shoes, this will be my third pair (fourth when both I've ordered arrive). I'm really pleased with them and I can't complain as I've done a lot of mileage in my last pair. I'd appreciate multiple crossing of fingers.

My Janathon mileage is now 189 miles but I don't expect it to rise greatly during the next week or so.

#Janathon Day 19 - more of same

Treadmill running, kinder on the joints! Still recovering from long run but feeling quite good. In taper period now so decided a gradual increasing pace for 4 miles was good for a little more intensity. Ended off with some stretching.

Talking to young people at a local school about engineering tomorrow morning.

Janathon total is 162 miles.

#Janathon Day 18 - recovery run and stretching

Recovery run at the gym this evening of just over 2 slow miles followed by a good stretching session. Definitely takes longer and more effort to loosen up as you get older!

Janathon mileage is now 158 miles.

#Janathon Day 17 - a hard long run on a muddy route, longest run of my training

When I set off for my run this morning there was a sprinkling of snow on the ground.  Needless to say it all melted and made my run pretty muddy and bit slippery.

Broke my run up into an 8 + 32 miles so that I could use home as a pit stop.  Stopped at my cousin's house in Datchet to refill my water bottles too.

I started out across the fields and picked up the Jubilee River in Maidenhead.  I followed the Jubilee River to Eton and crossed over to Datchet. There I picked up the Thames path to Runnymede with a good view of Windsor Castle. It's a shame that the Thames bank along the castle grounds is not opened to extend the Thames path, oh well!

It was a hard run at the end and my muscles were aching quite a bit, I'm glad I've run 40 miles. This is the longest run of my training and I will now taper over the next three weeks and if goes well (including the weather) then I will run the Thames Trot at the beginning of February.

Janathon total is now 156 miles

#Janathon Day 16 - assisting with half marathon training

Fleet and I accompanied my wife on her scheduled half marathon training run of seven miles.  A crisp morning but no wind so not too cold. What is really good is that my wife's running pace is improving :-) She's doing very well.

My long run tomorrow.

My Janathon total is 115 miles, Fleet's is 50 miles and my wife's is 30.7 miles.

#Janathon Day 15 - marketing, chasing and a daylight run

So today was a marketing materials and try get paid day at work.  One of the jobs in running your own business is chasing payment for work done, this can be a bit frustrating but It's never a good thing to take non payment personally.  Anyway, I think it was a vaguely successful day.

I managed to take Fleet out for a daytime run although it was just starting to get dark near the end.  Total run was 8.14 miles.  It was getting cold near the end, I need thicker gloves!

My Janathon total is 108 miles and Fleet's is about 43 miles. Fleet has had more swims!

#Janathon Day 14 - another short session on the treadmill and I need to rest before Sunday

Another gym session and running on the treadmill for 3.18 miles followed by stretching.  My plan is to do my long run on Sunday, hopefully it's not too cold! I need to make sure I'm rested enough but I'm feeling tired at the moment.

My Janathon total is 100 miles.

#Janathon Day 13 - work, eat, meeting, run, eat, blog = dull

Feeling tired today and was concerned if I would manage any exercise.

Finished work, had something to eat and then off to a meeting at 8pm.  Ran back from meeting (not very far and not included in total), put on my gym clothes and went with wife and youngest son to gym that closes at 10pm!

Gentle run on treadmill for one mile and slightly faster second mile. For beginning of third mile thought I'd practice a fast walk (useful in ultras) and then took treadmill up to maximum incline and walked as fast as I could breaking into a run.  Slowly dropped my pace down again. Total run was 3.15 miles. Had a short stretch and then headed home. Got home and finished my dinner while writing this post. All a bit dull really!

My Janathon total is 97 miles.

#Janathon Day12 - another evening run with Fleet flashing like a Christmas tree

Well Strava reckoned I went for an afternoon run but by afternoon I would expect some sunlight? Nope, dark, cold and a little wet at times, definitely an evening run.  Head torch on the whole way and Fleet flashing like a Christmas tree.

Ran just over 9 miles this evening.  Battery on my head torch went flat in the dark so I had the experience of changing it in the dark. I need to practice this a bit as it was quite fiddly.

My Janathon mileage is now 94 miles.
Fleet's mileage is 35 miles.