Sawn-off unicorns

I've missed a few runs recently, but made it out last night for the weekly long run.  No, it's not actually that long yet - tonight was about 7 miles.  Plenty long enough in this drizzle, but still considerably shorter than what many people would consider a long run.

Running at night on country roads presents its own special challenges.  I've taken to wearing a small headlight that means that at least the space in front of me is lit and I can avoid the potholes.  And drivers can see me in plenty of time - a slightly odd bobbing light from afar, but me from close.

It does mean that when I'm running in areas with streetlights, I look a little odd with this thing in the middle of my head - like a sawn-off unicorn.

It also creates an interesting little feature when running in the rain.  Much like driving at night in a snowstorm - the rain passing in front of my face gets lit and swirls toward me.  Very odd.

One question though - we're into October and it's getting cooler.  And people have lots of central heating on.  So why don't they draw their curtains - either for privacy or at least to keep the heat in?

No wonder this report came out today from the Energy Saving Trust on the UK being the worst wasters of energy.  From what I saw last night, we waste pounds each evening...

40.5 miles run - 1038.5 miles to go

Posted by Tony Quinlan

Carcasses

Dead rabbit lying by the side of the road.  Sounds like the start of a Cowboy Junkies song or some particularly downbeat country song.  Possibly the first ever Bedfordshire Blues?

And moments later, running back into the village, there's the remains of the old church up on the hill - further back than I'd thought it was.  There are, of course, stories about its being used by satanists and its being haunted.  Looking on the web, there may be something in the former - mention of it apparently made the papers back in the 60s and again in the 70s.

As for the former - haunted?  There's supposed video of a ghost here, but if you can see anything, you're either more gullible/perceptive than me or you need new glasses.

No ghosts on the run today.  Uneventual in the extreme.  Apart from the rabbit, and he wasn't talking.

28.5 miles run - 1050.5 miles to go

Posted by Tony Quinlan

Lessons galore

Well that was an interesting one...  Sunday morning, windy, occasional rain, with blasts of sunshine along the way.  Not quite four seasons in one day, but certainly three of 'em.

And the lessons.  First the positive one - I've finally worked out how to set different limits for different sessions on the heart rate monitor.  So today's run was at a higher rate than normal.  Officially, rather than accidentally.

Others were less positive.  My camelbak is good for more than just carrying water - it could have carried the rain jacket for those occasional moments when I needed it.  Rather than wear it the whole way around.

And a wicking layer coupled with a rain jacket is not a good combination on a day like today.  Overheated the whole way.  And taking off the jacket wasn't really an option in the wind - I tried.

Having whinged about all of that, it was a good long run.  Timing wasn't bad, dealt with the hills well, etc, etc.

26 miles run - 1053 miles to go

Posted by Tony Quinlan