OOOOO that was a slow one this morning.

[Zev1963]

Sticking to one hour runs during the week now, that's long enough before work. I'll just increase the weekend runs by three minutes per week now.

Looked at the outside reading temperature reading on the heating controler before venturing outside at 5h45. Hmmm 0.3°C, that's going to be a bit nippy. Once outside, I find that the temperature doesnt feel that bad, but there is fog, lots of very thick fog. Even with my head torch, I can't see more than about three feet in front of me, and even that looks all blurry. But it's running dat, so, off we go anyway.

The 5 minute wrm up walk is fine, visibilitie is good enough for walking, and my Garmin has no trouble finding his satelite friends while I'm walking despite the fog

As usual I start with stamina podcast, and will finish with a chunk of stepping stone. Laura is telling me about posture as I cross the Route Nationale near the Café de Madame Pompadore as usual. The road is empty it this hour

A short walk along the Route Nationale and then down the little side road to the banks of the Loire. The street lamps havnt come on yet, they stay asleep until 6h00. As Laura tells me to start running I realise that this is going to be tricky. I can't see much in front of me on the ground, and unless I keep close to the wall at the side of me I cant see much around me either. This also means not much sense of the speed I'm running at. I could look at mr Garmin, he'd tell me how quick I'm going, but hey, I know it's slow, so I'll let him keep that information to himself.

Normally I'm well past the set of bollards before the little parking area at the top of the hill when Laura say's "you're half way through this track". This time she tells me this about a minute beore the bollards appear out of the gloom. Then it's downhill, off the grit track and onto tarmac. Not too difficult here as there is a low wall that I can see which follows the ittle road right at its edge. Then turn the corner and climb into Cours sur Loire, then right past the restaurant , out of the village and past the farm. After the farm turn round and head for home just before the road turns sharply and heads back down hill.

At this halfway point it's normall been 26 minutes lately, today it's 29 minutes.

The return journey is fairly uneventful, except where the wall dissapears in places I become rather disoriented, and find myself temporarily lost, aha, a boat, hmm that shouldnt be there, but I recognise it, so I know to head to the right

Finally arrive back at the turning to the little road that head's back up the hill home to ménars. That's 57 minutes according to Mr Garmin. Normally it would be about 48mins and I would carry on along the river towards Blois for 5 minutes then head back again, but not this morning. 3 minutes is enough time to reach the top of the hill and the Route Nationale and turn Mr Garmin off.

A 1 hour run, and only 7.5km. Saturday I did 9.6km in an hour, but it was bright and sunny. Strangely though, despite the fog, and 0.3°C, I don't feel cold

Hopefully Thursday will be clear

Happy Running everyone

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Ooh Zev, what a great post. Your description was so atmospheric that I feel as if I have been there with you!. One of the pleasures of running is that it's different every time. I don't remember running in thick fog although I've experienced most weather conditions. Have a great day!

[Zev1963 Graduate in reply to Ullyrunner]

Thanks UllyRunner. I've been lucky so far. I started C25K in September, and graduated at the beggining of November, since then I've run every other day. The weather here has been quite mild. Conditions havn't been icy yet, which is what I dread. There have been some frosts, but nothing too slippy.

The coldest so far has been when I was back in the UK over Christmas week. My christmas day morning run around Draycote Water was my coldest run. There was a white carpet of frost on the ground, but fortunately the sun had burnt much of it away on the black tarmac of the road that runs round the perimeter.

One of the many things that I love about running is that you really notice your surroundings, and the seasons. I used to cycle a lot, but never really got the same chance to appreciate what was around me as I do when I run.

[Hidden]

Ah, those French morning fogs! I live half the year in the South, it was foggy most mornings last year after August! I love to see it from my windows, Cordes-Sur-Ciel rises from it like a fairy castle, not so keen on running in it..well done for getting out there.

[GettingFitter Graduate]

Great post Zev, love the descriptions and a slow run is as good as a fast run.

[Zev1963 Graduate in reply to GettingFitter]

Thanks GF. It was such an unusual run for me I wanted to share it with running folk who would have similar experiences and understand. Non runners will just think I'm a bit off my trolly for running in fog !

[Irishprincess Graduate]

Oh Zev, that sounds fantastic! I love fog as it just conjures up all kinds of drama and mystery! But I must admit I've never run in it!

Well done to you for getting through it at all. Very funny moments - the boat that shouldn't be there. Hilarious! But you ran for an hour! How great is that?