Oh my gawd, I need a G&T!

It was a hot one today. Finishing work early, I seized the opportunity to return to my muse: up Redland Road and around the Downs - just under 10k.

About a year ago when all was well in my world of running I was getting around this route regularly, so it is quite a benchmark for me. It was good to be back.

I just looked at Martin Hicks’ weather station records for today and see that the temperature when I went out was at 25°C. No wonder - I swear, I nearly expired.

I ran this route, hills and all in under 40 mins last year. It took me 42:30 today. I returned home, had 500ml of recovery drink swiftly followed by two gin and tonics, while stretching my troublesome shins. Obviously this isn’t good fitness practice, but we do fitness to be happy (do we not?), and the combination of getting a good sweat on and two ice cold gin and tonics with fresh fizzy tonic made me very happy. The effect of the heat wearing off was somewhat masked by the effect of the gin, so it was 90 minutes before I felt normal again.

Anyway, no aches or pains. Game on for an improved 5k time at the Bridge Inn next week?