I love irn bru!!

Monday - easy 10 miles (7:49 min miles)

Tuesday - warm up, club tempo 3.7 miles (5:58 min miles), cool down

Wednesday - 4.4 miles (7:22 min miles)

Thursday - 17 miles (9:05 min miles) elevation 2,247 ft

Friday - 20 miles on the west highland way (9:41 min miles) elevation 3,232 ft

Saturday - club 8 mile race (7:16 min miles) https://www.strava.com/activities/476386562

Sunday - recovery 8 miles (8:10 min miles)

The goal of this week was just more miles in the bank. I had planned 2 long runs. I cut thursdays one short by 3 miles because I had the dreaded white finger, if youve never had that it is absolute agony and totally ruins my runs.

A yoga session in the morning loosened me up for my long run. This was easy paced with a souble dunter of the conic hill. The views were totally different than the same place a week before (last weeks photo on previous blog). 

Another yoga session at night and my legs felt good again.

Saturday was a club race. I knew this would be on tired legs but that was the idea, and I was totally burst on the last mile and couldn't hold my usual pace but that was what I expected. 

Anyway, I love irn bru. I would drink it all the time if it was any good for you. I just can't get enough of it. However seeing as it's full of sugar, rotten for your teeth and body, means it's not wise to drink it all the time. 

I recently seen a YouTube video from your world within called clarity. Your world within is a series of motivational videos. In the video it mentioned a quote that said "deciding what not to do, is just as important as deciding what to do" or words to that effect. 

So therein lies the irn bru. I've not had a drink of it in weeks. I'm trying to do more miles, and last Sunday when I was planning out this weeks miles, I set myself a wee reward of an irn bru on Sunday night if I met my target. 

A long run Thursday followed by a longer one Friday, and an 8 mile X country race with the club in Saturday, meant I was doing well but would have to get up and do 8 mile recovery on Sunday morning. 

I bought my irn bru on Saturday and left it sitting out. It was the only thing that got me out the door on Sunday morning. 

80 miles in the bank, and it was the best can of irn bru I've ever had! 

Here comes the snow

Monday -  7 miles (7:46 min miles)

Tuesday - speed session 400/800/1000/12000 x 2, 400/800/1200 https://www.strava.com/activities/468978540

Wednesday -  5.4 miles (8:37 min miles) PM 6.3 miles (7:03 min miles)

Thursday - 6.6 miles (8:04 min miles)

Friday - off

Saturday - 14.4 miles (8:58 min miles)

Sunday -  6.3 miles (7:26 min miles)

Weekly total 56.7 miles elevation 4300 ft

I had set out to do 80 miles for the week as part of my build for the year, and I finiahed well short of that. Home life meant I scrapped Fridays run, so I had 44 miles to do over the weekend. Saturday came and the place was full of snow! I went on the west highland way from Drymen and went up the conic hill and back, I was running out of time before work so ended up with only 14 miles, but it was a good run and was safer to stay off the pavements.

I had planned a double run on Sunday, but chose the far more fun option of sledge shopping and a few hours up the park with the family.

Not the most outstanding training week but the snow is never here long, I have a kid and Im still a big kid, so there was only ever going to be one winner!

First week of 2016

Monday - 8.1 miles  (7:03 min miles)

Tuesday - a day out on the bevvy

Wednesday - 6.2 miles (7:03 min miles)

Thursday - warm up, 6 x 800m (5:33 min miles) , cool down

Friday - am  19.5 miles (7:48 min miles) pm - 4.5 miles (7:57 min miles) https://www.strava.com/activities/465677268

Saturday - 10 miles recovery (8:34 min miles)

Sunday - 11.8 (8:53 min miles)

Total miles 70 elevation 4000 feet

Well this was the first week of full training this year. I had taken a few easier weeks to let my legs feel fresh for the start of the year and so gar so good. Ive lost a wee bit of speed but that will be back next week.

Fridays 19.5 miles was a bit of a sore one, I haven't had a long run in ages. I went for 19 laps of the housing estate, good for the mind and body. It is good training to run past the house continually when the easy option is there to quit.

My priorities have changed a bit for the year, I got entry into the west highland way race, so I have ditched the plan to race a marathon in April/May in favour of some longer training runs. Ill still be doing at least 2 speed sessions a week, possibly 3 but im going to favour distance over speed for a few months and see how this makes a difference.

The 'A' race this year is glenmore 24, I just love running in circles and after making a complete arse of it last year I need to go back and make amends.

I have a goal in mind for the whw and g24, and a yearly target of 3,500 miles to run. Time to up the weekly miles 😊