Long and winding road.

Temperatures have stayed at 7° or 8° ; the cold has not had an impact yet.

Training is from this day onwards is being approached differently. Until now I have, without exception, ran when I felt like it. This has left me languishing in low mileage-ville with little clue that progress was limited! Yes, I was relatively fit but, no, I wasn't quick, committed or capable of real endurance.

To arrive at the start line in April next year something had to change. For me, I needed a schedule that I could read, anticipate and tick boxes. The chosen numbers give me a day off from running and a day of cross-training each week. The mid-week mileage will increase over the months to bolster the week's total miles run as will the weekend double. The schedule starts at just under 60 kms for the week; at the most I should attain 120 kms.

The fact that I've run somewhat below the level expected on engaging the schedule means that I'm prepared to take a 'hit' on the mileage over the weekends until I can do it without risk of injury: there isn't enough time for recovery.

Here we go!

Johnny