...you enjoy long runs?

This week again was a mix of runs as I am heading to Birmingham and Wales for the long weekend. With the rain that is supposed to drown us this weekend I thought it best to get my long run in during the week. This seems to be becoming a habit! Anyway after my awful run in Newark at the weekend (got sunburnt and could not keep myself going at all for the 5.7miles) I was in no mood for my long run Tuesday. I started on Tuesday not Monday for 2 reasons:

1. Monday was journal club at 9am. There was no way I was getting up at 6am to go for 9miles. 

2. I was still slightly sick from the weekend. I am not liking these 2 day hangovers!

Anyway Tuesday morning off I set with a grumpy face on. Though I changed my route up a bit thinking this might help and it did. I actually ended up doing the route twice instead of a long route along the canal towards Nottinghill. This was nice and different and not too bad elevation wise. It was a quieter part of the canal which I liked a lot. Though I was at 8.2miles with another .2miles to go before home so did have to run around some housing estates to get my miles in. But starting slow again meant I felt fine for the whole run and actually really enjoyed it! Was half considering only doing 5miles but pushed on and felt great! I managed a nice slow 9min/miles which was great. Finally slowing myself down to enjoy the longer distances. I don't want to go much slower then this (if I want to PB) but we'll see.

Another part of this week was my bite for the triathlon/duathlon. I think I really want to do one! It'd be fun and I can actually swim which will be handy. I think I'd prefer to do a triathlon then a marathon any day. It's more versatile and man running for 4 and a half hours does not sound appealing right now! So maybe a sprint marathon to get me going? With this in mind I set off for the gym last night to get some recovery miles in and a cycle. My recovery miles were shit. I did 8min/miles for 5km. Yeah that's not recovery but I always get confused on the treadmill and just kept going with it! I did do a nice 6minute 9.30min/mile cool down at least. I then hit the bike straight away and decided to just do a 30minute cycle to see how it felt. 7.4miles later I was done and not sweating that much. The next step in this is to head to the pool next week and see if I can still keep my head above water. 

The downside to this hour and a half in the gym (did core as well) is that my legs are a little stiff and sore today. Thank god it's a rest day! Going to have to remember to treat my body nicely! Tomorrow is a maybe 3miler around Birmingham and then a 5miler while in Wales? Let's hope they get completed!

So far 20miles of exercise in! Boom!