Update no.2....

Waited for the rain to subside to a drizzle and ventured out again. Was much better this time around although my calves felt like they had lead weights inside them and my feet went numb at the end. One day I'm going to get to the bottom of why this keeps happening.

It was lovely and cool and I ran through puddles to splash myself.

1 x 4 miles plus 4 x 20 minute sprints.

We think the route might be more like 4.5 miles and will measure it in the car tomorrow. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my heart rate monitor, pedometer or even a watch, and my mobile ran out of battery en route so I've no idea how long it took.

Update...

I'm sitting here waiting for the rain to stop. It's about 6.20pm and has been pouring relentlessly for the last two hours. We are trapped inside.

The storm began when we were out on a bike ride this afternoon. Lightning forked down on all sides and the sky was yellowy-black and we all got soaked. But at least it was a hard half-hour of exercise, especially the speed we came back at, so if I don't make it out for another run tonight it won't be the end of the world I suppose.

I could just go out in the rain I guess, but it's that kind of thick, solid rain that drenches you in five seconds and the thunder and lightning is also a bit offputting. Depressingly, the forecast is for more of the same for the rest of the week.

Still. We have the Olympics on Thursday and Ironman on Friday.

Crap run this morning. Set out to do five miles, had to turn back after two. Crippling stomach-ache. Tried to keep going but couldn't. Had to turn and walk back.

Not sure how to explain this. I do feel really out of shape at the moment (since leaving for France). Is it possible for this to happen in the space of four days? It's weird. Running this morning felt like what I imagine it would feel like if I'd pulled on my shoes and set off without having done any exercise for two months. Maybe something to do with a change in diet and eating times on holiday. G's cooking, although delicious (apart from last night's very rare duck....) is extremely rich, heavy and calorific and we always eat really late in the evening (literally about 11pm) as it takes him all night to cook it. He is an obsessive foodie in every sense of the word. Normally, I never eat later than about 7pm and normally I eat my main meal in the middle of the day.

And I'm not sure I like running in the mornings. Every time I do it, which admittedly is not very often, it always feels twice as hard. This morning Glyn and I got up early and went straight away and within about half a mile I felt all wrong. My breathing was really laboured and I just felt exhausted. I never feel like this when I run in the evenings. I suppose you just get used to it in the end if you do it often enough. But now I feel on a bit of a downer and will have to go out again tonight to make up for it.

Another thing I've decided is that I don't like running with other people. In fact, I hate it, and I don't think I'm going to do it again. Nothing personal against anyone but I've noticed that it makes me feel so anxious that I never enjoy it. I always say to people 'just run off ahead' but they always say 'oh no, let's run together' and then about five minutes later say 'actually, I can't run this slow...' and run off on their own to 'stretch their legs out' which is what I wish they'd just do in the first place. I know it's stupid to worry about it but I can't seem to help it. I prefer to just be alone.

2 x miles.

Left Hove at 8 o'clock Friday morning and arrived at the halfway point just south of Orleans at around 7pm same night. The drive was fine; just long. Entertaining a six year old in the back seat of a car for hours on end is a newly acquired skill. Stayed at a gorgeous B&B on the shore of a lake but it was pouring with rain when we arrived. Torrential. No run.

Second day's drive was another long one as we got stuck in really bad, really painful traffic just as we entered the Dordogne. My newly acquired skill was worthless by about lunchtime and cries of 'are we there yet?' and 'but when are we there?' filled the rest of the journey. Finally arrived about 8pm. Too knackered to do anything but collapse in a chair. France seems so much bigger when you drive it.

First day of holiday proper today. Big, black slow-moving clouds, intermittent (boiling) sun, and on-and-off rain all day. Lay by the pool drifting in and out of sleep. Finally got out about 6.30pm. Ran for about 45 mins along a paved lane that ran alongside the River Lot to a beautiful medieval village called Clairac (and back). Approximately four miles I think; I was running very slowly. Gorgeous scenery all around - vineyards and fields of sunflowers. My shins felt really sore tonight. I think this might be because I've hardly done any road-running lately.

1 x 4 mile run.