Hi all!
I was playing with a new route this morning after a slow exploration last week. I'd calculated it as 5km, off-road, no mud but greeny park bits, separated from traffic and wide paths for multiple runners. This one has some challenging elevation changes - nothing too horrendous - just a lot of incline early on and a couple of short steep bits later. So I was a bit slow for a 5km by current standards. I also decided to run without music as I don't want to become too reliant on it - but I do miss it.
Think I can leave this route for a bit now, and explore a bit closer to home again.
Tuesday's 3.5k run was with the dog for only the second time - the first almost put me on the IC but this time I took him around Lydiard Park on a short lead. Think the dog is fitter than me still 
Later on Tuesday, I was in London to watch the dressage at Olympia horse show, but to finish off the Xmas shopping, and to get cheap parking, I rocked up at Westfield shopping centre in Shepherds Bush. It's over 1km from Olympia, and then some, by the time you find your car!!! Anyway, all in my 'normal clothes' and long coat, I'd walked to the horse show in the wet. It took ages. But the stairs were a heck of a lot easier than last year (wonder why?! Haha!) When the event finished, I found my way out from a side door and then jogged all the way back to the car!!! It wasn't raining - I was just bored of walking! I was a bit warm in my jeans and coat, but not out of breath, and (best of all) I didn't get caught up in all the traffic leaving Olympia. I made it home 30 min before my friends - who had paid more to park at the venue. Rather chuffed with myself, surprised, and a teeny bit smug at squeezing a bit of extra running in to make up for missing Good Gym.
I was going to post my route but thought this picture, of the Shetland Grand National setup at Olympia, was a lot more festive!
Also this week I've signed up for the 10k Resolution Run in April for the Stroke Association, which will give me an incentive to start longer runs again, now my plantar fasciitis is under control. Who knew doing 3 x 5k's a week would feel like 'goofing off'?!
My 'Elsa' (from Frozen) dress has arrived for Saturday's Parkrun and it just about fits (arms are a bit tight). Got a dilemma about sports bra straps being visible, but I'm not going to lose any sleep over it - I'll look like her grandma anyway so no-one's going to worry about a couple of straps showing! Photos on Saturday's report to give you all a laugh - so happy running until then everyone! X
Working back up to 10km
Back to back Purkruns
More running tourism
Fabulous450 Out on a Muddy Morning Run ❤️
desert island disc theme now stuck in head
