Monday

Again near perfect conditions for running - but really surprised myself by running 1:03 for a 2 min p.b. over the 14.81km course - finishing into a headwind.Really put quite a lot of effort in but didn't feel I was moving that fast and still feeling a little rough around the gills from the virus I had last week.Hope these conditions remain for the Olympic marathons as some pretty good times could be achieved.

Sunday

Back on the 14.81km loop and in pretty good cool conditions finished in 1:08 which is 2-3 mins slower then before taking a 2 week break so not too bad/worried as I still feel a bit of virus hanging round.More worrying is a Left knee injury I've had for a week or so to the front inside below kneecap.

Saturday

Rest day.

13TH - 27TH July - Bulgaria

Very hot weather so eased off the training - but still managing to jog from Albena to Balchik return 7 times,(about15km),
plus 2 other shorter runs.Had a virus which lasted for 4 days which meant a few rest days but did also do quite a lot of walking.

Friday the 13th

Tour De France - coverage started at 12 noon again today and I set off for run at 10:59 - meaning I'd have to equal my best time from last night again if I was to see the intro.Happy to say I again managed the 13.77km in 1:01 to arrive bang on noon - in great running weather of about 18C a slight cool breeze and just a hint of rain.I'll only see 2 of the 5 hours of coverage as I'm off to Bulgaria at 2pm for 2 weeks so tomorrows run may be in 30C heat.

Thursday

Good news and bad news.On a very hot day ran later,(after Tour De France coverage),and managed to knock another minute off the 13.77km loop in 1:01 unfortunately a quad injury that had started to show yesterday was not only still there but getting quite sore.I'm not too worried that it will be a problem and will try to find a stretch that may help as I never stretch quads due to knackered knee joints.

Wednesday

Same 13.77km loop as yesterday - but unlike yesterday - was trying today - a couple of breathless parts - particularly on suggestions of hills but still an improvement finishing in 1:02

Tuesday

A new 13.77km route today and wasn't running particularly hard after the last 2 days efforts.Took 1:05 in pretty good cooler weather.

Monday

Did the old 18.98km loop I used to cover in about 1:10 to 1:15 a few years ago - this time I took 1:27 - but felt reasonable apart from the usual very sore toes on the right foot.

Saturday & Sunday

The 14.81km loop both days.Saturday was stinking hot with quite a lot of pollen in the air - sore toes also made for a pretty hard run and taking 1:07.
Sunday - felt a lot better - far cooler - less pollen and was surprised that I'd only managed 1:05 as I felt I'd ran pretty consistent throughout - both days felt under the pump as trying to get back to view the Tour De France - Today Sunday the entire race is broadcast - 4.5 hours....

Friday

Back to the 14.81km loop - great running weather - a months rainfall in 24 hours....nice cool conditions and although it felt really slow and hard going to begin with - ran the latter half OK once over the hill...finished in equal best time of 1:05.

Thursday

Was late setting off and also felt very tired from the off....I decided to cancel the plan run and instead went for a slow jog along the canal and ended up at the new Leigh Harriers track in the new sports village.Had a look around and said hi to a couple of Harriers and carried on with the jog along the canal then back through the town centre.

Wednesday

Same 14.81km loop - again quite warm and humid - again tried hard throughout - finished with same result as yesterday 1:06 and hadn't much left at the end.

Tuesday

Again went for the 14.81km - even warmer and more humid today and other factors were contributing to make for a hard days run.As it turned out the end result was not too bad 1:06 - but it was difficult throughout and sore toes made for an uncomfortable last 4km.

Monday

Couldn't resist trying to further improve my time over the 14.81km loop - weather quite windless today with high humidity so felt warm - compared to yesterday.Pushed hard the whole way and don't think I could have done much better.Finished in the same time as yesterday - in 1:05, so no improvement but no depreciation either.

Sunday

Much cooler weather today and setting off with a tailwind thought I'd once again try to improve on the 14.81km loop,finishing into a headwind ran pretty steady throughout the run managing to knock another 2 mins off in 1:05 - I really can't see me improving tomorrow.....

Saturday

Thought I'd try same 14.81km loop again for a 3rd day - didn't think I could improve on yesterdays run and was cursing the warm weather to begin with - and felt struggling on the one hill - but started to feel better at the top of the hill and then the weather changed rapidly as a storm suddenly closed in - ended up getting soaked and the rain was quite cold - but I still managed to finish a minute better then yesterday in 1:07 - so have to be pleased.