Steady as we go

Accupuncture seems to be working on my achilles. Ran last night, 35 mins over 5 miles and all is well. Keeping cycling time up easily, need to start commute again. Maybe next week.

Ouch

Is old age catching up with me?  Tried acupuncture last night, 6 needles in my calf and around ankle in an attempt to sort out a very sore achilles.
Might have to try orthotics in my running shoes, a real shame as I was hoping to move towards "bare foot" minimalist running.
On the plus side I am still putting in few hours exercise each week, ticking along.  Scotten 100 entered, first event if the year!

#cutgate in the snow

Got up today at 6, drive towards a full mon setting in a clear sky until I reached Langsett reservoir car park. Then wearing my most suitable winter running attire I ran to the cairn at highest point on Cut Gate then came back down.
Normally a very good run, today a fantastic run. Snow covered the whole route, up to 6 inches deep in places.
Hard work? Yes. Satisfying? Oh yes!

#WinterTraining "Regime"

This is what I am trying to do over these cold weeks.

Ride to work (40 miles round trip) once a week.  As usual, meetings and such like have meant that I cannot often squeeze more into the week.

Run a couple of nights (approx 60 mins) with head torch over local common and through woods.

At weekend, one long type exercise, either a 2-3 hour bike or 90 minute run, maybe a shorter run on the other day.

This will tick over till spring.  A couple of adventure race entries would be nice, but depends on how the family are feeling.

#DeadToenails

At last my toenail has fallen off.  Those that follow this blog will know that it has been black and "coming off" since the beginning of August Tour of Bradwell ultra marathon in the Peaks.

Well, today it finally decided to fall off.  The new nail is over 50% grown, there is no pain and I am running again.

#Autumnfitness - Love and Hate

It's now December, well into autumn.  This is generally a miserable season for going outside, but I have tried to pair up each negative with a positive:

:-(   Headwinds are sent to upset me every morning I cycle to work.  Nasty, nasty invisible energy sappers that make me work too hard for 6:30am.
:-)   The way home is nearly always a cracking tailwind - 30mph here I come!

:-(   Darkness envelopes a huge chunk of the day.
:-)   I get to run wearing my Hope One headtorch - what fantastic kit, built to scare creatures in the woods.

:-(   The dropping temperature means I have to wear loads of extra clothes.
:-)   I get the chance to wear those extra clothes I own.

:-(   Everywhere is wet and muddy.
:-)   Everywhere is wet and muddy.

:-(   I have put on a couple of pounds as I have not managed as yet to cut down my food intake from the summer.
:-)   All my clothes that are too big for me in the summer are now the correct size again.

:-(   I have to put my Look road bike to bed for the winter.
:-)   I get to use my cross bike as a winter bike.

What to do in good weather

Got up this morning early.  I was ready to go by 6:30. But what should I do? Should I run over Cut Gate? or cyclocross Cleveland Way? How often do we see such nice weather this time of year?
Final choice was simple, with such weather I can't waste chance to go out on best road bike, the one I won't touch in bad weather when I will run/mtb/cyclocross. 70Km from home and back in plenty of time to go swimming with Laura for second day in row.