Morning running

Nothing much going on in my running world. Kind of at a standstill. Went to the doctor yesterday to have a check on my toe and she was positive it isn't a stress fracture which is good. Many times I don't trust what they say though since most aren't avid runners. Kind of gave a vague answer about tendons and ligaments blah blah blah. So I'll keep running on it and try to do more extensive massage and stretching to hopefully work any tightness out. It's the same as it's always been, sore, but doesn't get worse. 

In other injury news the pain on my iliac crest of my pelvis seems to be getting better. I may have mentioned I believe it's my tensor facia latae, TFL. Stretching and ice have been helping it feel better running.

sunrise over the Severn Valley, St. Leonard's Church to the right (1677!)

Despite these two nuisances I've been handling some pretty good miles. I hit 60 last week which is the biggest week I've had in a long time. I wasn't overly tired either, last year when I got up to 70 mile weeks I was wrecked so the accumulation of miles over time is helping. Mid week I picked up the pace one day, managing a 630 per mile pace for 10 miles. It felt very comfortable too. Sometimes I think I need to do more of those. I know they are good for me I'm just being cautious to avoid injury I guess. Stress the body and it comes back stronger, it also motivates, and keeps the mind out of a rut.

River Severn, I wasn't planning on the ducks! 

Been seeing some new wildlife out lately. I chased a badger down the canal path yesterday for a while. Also recently saw a few Asian water deer I believe. They are tiny, the size of a big dog. One day I spooked one and it jumped into and then out of the canal! It had a tiny set of antlers on it, kind of creepy looking. I've never been hugely into birds so can't identify a lot of the new ones I've been seeing. Mainly ducks and waterfowl. Quite a few baby ducks in the canal and also saw a Canadian goose with 6 goslings. Of course all of these occurrences I didn't have my camera! 

Severn singletrack

430am is the new 530am. I've fully adjusted to early hours which is super nice. I've got plenty of time to get a good run in and on my days off, like today, I get a nice quiet morning. It's totally light out too which is nice. Not that I don't like the dark it just makes it easier I think. The funniest thing is on the weekends seeing the drunks stumble home. Some of the clubs don't close until 6am! This past weekend one guy I saw fell down three times on his journey walking home. It's hilarious. Dead silent out, no cars, and it's light out. A lone guy fights his way home! Should've got a video of the guy it was great.  I also saw some girl 3 miles from anywhere in stiletto heels alongside the road heading home.

lock in Stourport

Looking ahead to July I was getting kind of mentally down about Lakeland. My running had been mediocre and not what I'd prefer so these past couple weeks have been good. I'm still disappointed in LL not being a UTMB qualifier. I am so close to being able to get in the lottery again, but the big question then is if I did get in could I do the training with a new baby on the way in October and is it feasible to take off for a few days to France in late August leaving my wife here with the kids? 

seeds looked like snow

I did find one race that is pretty convenient and it's worth 4 points, just what I need. The Cotswold Way Century. It's 103 miles I think with 12,000 feet of vertical so "easier" in comparison to Superior and LL100. The course follows the Cotswold Way starting in Chipping Campden and finishing in Bath. The convenience factor is that it's about a hour drive to the start or a hour by train with a short taxi ride AND it starts at noon on a Saturday! Which means no hotel! I could travel to the start the morning of, race for around 20 hours, then catch a train home (about a 3 hour ride) from the finish in Bath, UK. So I may run it by the wife over the next few days.