Slow progress, but progress nevertheless. In the first week of 2018 I ran the Seaford Striders New Year’s Day run, about 5k on the seafront, some short runs to and from a gym in Brighton where I went for a personal training session and the same evening a Seaford Striders run, taking my group through a fartlek. After this I had a small man-flu relapse, with no more running until Sunday. A planned parkrun on Saturday had to be foregone. 

The personal training session does not mark a return to gyms, which I used in the late 90s, to no noticeable effect. I had put in a bid in a silent auction in aid of the hospital’s Zambian charity where I work, and came out as the winning bid. The trainer, Karen, was excellent, but put me through a demanding routine. Some of the acts she made me do felt downright unnatural, but she explained that she chose them to  build balance and strength, qualities I lack. I shall do some of these at home: reverse lunges, and variations thereon, standing on one leg, squats and so on, but not for a whole hour. I was destroyed at the end.

And so ended the ninth week of half marathon training, and the tenth week is already under way.

Coming up, the Lewes Blackcap cross-country run on Sunday
Total mileage this week: 14.16 miles
Seven weeks till the Brighton Half. Running for the BSUH Charity: sponsor me