We are going to do the Hove Promenade 5 mile race in two weeks, if there are still places.

Thing is, I've got a bit of an aversion to running outside at the moment which is weird because a few months ago it was the complete opposite. I think it's because I've been doing far too much treadmill running lately, and whenever I do go outside I find it much harder; it makes my legs really ache.

I suppose I just need to get out there and get on with it.

But the weather too - bleugh. It's positively autumnal now. Today is ridiculous. It's pouring with rain, and the bins outside the front door have just blown halfway across the street it's so windy. Thankfully someone else has gone to retrieve them; I'm all snug in me PJs. Exciting life.

10 x mins crosstrainer.
6k run (started at 12.30 pace built up to 9:32 pace at end)
20 x mins powerplate.

I need some new running shoes. The mesh is going. Will wait until the States though; why pay £80 when I can get them for £30.

Quick Friday workout.

10 x mins crosstrainer
15 x mins treadmill (1 x 10:00 min mile, jog, then 1 x 200m @ 8:46 pace)
15 x mins weights
10 x mins powerplate

Tried to do some kind of hills workout tonight, in a fashion.

Ran at a slow pace for an hour, upping the incline every three minutes. By the time I got to around 35 minutes, my heart rate was hovering around the 185 mark so it was hitting the spot. I then brought it back down over the next fifteen minutes and then sped up for the last ten minutes on the flat, at about a 9:50 pace. Didn't feel any aches or pains so that was good. Just a bit knackered.

10 x mins crosstrainer
60 mins run - approx 8k
20 mins powerplate.

Had a day off proper running today. Sort of. Was also working from home today. Sort of.
Had to go to the doctors for a repeat spirometry test. I took a whopping 3 years off my lung age. Yes. Now my lungs are only 54 years old, not 57. The test was much tougher this time. I had to do it a bit differently, about 11 or 12 times. I thought I was going to faint afterwards. It took nearly half an hour too. ... So I await the full results with interest.

Slipped into the gym afterwards for a quick workout.

10 mins crosstrainer
15 mins run (1 x mile @ 9.54 pace then 3 min jog then 2 min @ 8.19 pace)
10 mins cardiowave. I know I sound like a stuck record but this thing is a killer.
20 x mins powerplate.

There's a woman in the gym that I see frequently. Pretty, blonde, nice and friendly-looking. About my age, maybe a bit older. She's a runner; a really serious runner. I quite often look at her on the treadmill and think... my god, I'll never be like that. She just has that ferocious concentration in her eyes and she runs crazily fast and steadily, for hours. Never has music on. Always wears really tight lycra. Totally lean and lithe. 100% pure muscle. You know the type.

I had a good chat with Reni, the personal trainer tonight. She was asking me how I was getting on, and was interested in my upcoming 10k and how I was going to train for it. She gave me some tips about breathing when tired and told me to try it next time. As I was talking to her, this woman came over and asked Reni about some stretches to try, as she was training for a 10k and was having some problems with her hamstring. Reni said something like 'oh wow the whole world's training for a 10k it seems'. This woman then said 'why, who else is?' and Reni said 'she is, too' gesturing to me. I've never seen such an appallingly disguised look of derision and disbelief as the one that momentarily (quite a long moment) swept across this woman's face as she looked me up and down, before she regained her composure. I know I'm not imagining it because Reni said to her 'what? what do you mean?' in a confused voice. I didn't hear or see the woman's response after that because I'd gone to fill up my water bottle, my cheeks burning. I mean, I do get this reaction sometimes, but a lot milder, and I'm normally able to convince myself that I'm just being paranoid anyway. But this was different. And the most ridiculous thing is, as I walked away, instead of feeling pissed off, I was thinking oh, I hope I didn't make it obvious that she upset me because then she might feel really bad and embarrassed. I'll pretend I didn't notice anything.

The weird thing about it, is that fifteen minutes previously I had run alongside her for 45 non-stop minutes. So why would she be so amazed? Maybe she just hadn't noticed me, I suppose.

15 x mins crosstrainer
2 x mile run slowish (11:20 rising to 10:40 pace)
then 4 x 400 metres @ 9:45 / 9.30 pace with 3 min jog recoveries
then jog to finish
20 mins powerplate

Sometimes 400 metres feels like an entire circumnavigation of the globe. And back.

Went to mum and dad's for country run but overnight storms had turned the track into a slippery mudbath.

Back to gym then.

15 x mins crosstrainer
30 x mins run on treadmill 'HILLS' Level 6.
I found this quite easy for some reason, so might try level 8 or 9 next time.
20 x mins powerplate
30 x mins weights
lots of stretching.

... all this fucking exercise and I still can't touch my toes.

I think I feel almost back to normal now. Still a bit of tightness for some reason, but nothing major.

10 x mins crosstrainer
7k run - 48:47. Avg pace 11:12 but I started at a 12:40 pace and finished at 8:37. Tough last bit, my legs felt tired and my guts felt dodgy.

Tomorrow gonna run outside. Really strong winds today; hope they die down.