Welcome Back Winter

So winter is finally with us, well pretty much anyway, the Christmas items in the shops confirm that surely. My morning run consisted of colds cheeks, cold ears, cold hands and I was soaked through; I loved every minute of it. Running in this weather feels more like a work out and rather stupidly I feel much more macho running in the cold and wet.

Today started off as a gentle 40 minute run after intervals in the week but by half way I realised I felt good, was running a pretty good pace and more importantly, no stitch.

I carried on at that same pace for a bit but the the closer I got to home the harder I pushed, I kept checking my watch and trying to work out if it was going to be a good time, in my head I was heading for a PB for my 5 miles. As I was going so well, I added another mile on top and smashed my 10k PB by 2 and a half minutes. I couldn’t believe it.

I’ve been wracking my brains to try and think what I done differently to make me not get a stitch and for such a good time. The only change in my routine was a berroca drink a few hours before I left and a new flavour of Ben and Jerrys the night before. Wouldn’t that be wonderful if Ben and Jerrys was the answer. So, sadly excluding the ice cream theory, it must have either been the drink before I went or the wind and rain.  If it’s a combination of both then I’ll continue, as they say, what works for one….

Training in the summer always feels much harder, I get hot after a few hundred metres and constantly taking on fluids. So, although today has been thoroughly miserable, cold, wet and gloomy, I for one have a reason to be happy that winter is finally here.

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