I’ve got this feature that I’ve enabled on my watch – auto pause and auto resume. Causes me no end of trouble. Usually, I’m fairly used to pressing stop when I stop and start when I start – for example if, at I’m an an intersection, waiting for cars top cross or something like that. Problem is that if it automatically stops, and then I forget its done that and I stop it by reaching out and pressing the stop button while I’m approaching the stopping point – it saves the entire exercise and stops the exercise. So basically todays 10km run was a few 2km ones instead of one big one. Argh but I don’t really mind now that I’ve changed it back to ‘manual’

Also I read in a book, “The art of running faster” once that its running should be fun and that if you are ever in pain, just stop. Then start again. What a simple thing but ‘we’ don’t do that – our egos say that we must not stop and we should push on and endue the pain…why? Its no fun. Stop, rest and go again and run while its not painful because thats what makes running fun. I’m not talking about stopping because you’re tired, I’m talking about stopping because your sides are splitting.

Anyway, that’s what I did with about 1km left in my run. Felt real good doing that – its good to feel almost sensible!

Gym didn’t open today. That’s kinda annoying at first then it becomes an opportunity. Really? Yes – I was an opportunity to do something else instead. I ran:

And because I ran I felt that it was a good substitute rather than doing nothing.

I learnt some very interesting sayings recently which I quite like:

1. Winners never stop trying
2. 80% of success is showing up (Woody Allen)

I like the first one because, it says even though you are not a winner yet, you are a future winner now, provided of course you follow the 2nd one (showing up and trying).

And the other is cool because ‘being’ there is important. Some people just don't ‘be’ there – so If you’re there you’re so far ahead of everyone else and 20% to success. Quite true. What you do with the remaining 20% is really up to how you want to do.

And you know, when you’re up against “it”, wondering why you do it, knowing that you’re present and you’re trying, then that’s alright then, then its worth it, you’re on-route to success. That’s a good message to keep in your head.

I love it when I get an award from Strava – today it was 2nd fastest time on A40_Run_To_Denham. Its because its a Mondays – they’re are the best days to go running, I’ve also very pleased to have slept very well this morning. I’ve found that If I’ve got the time I should sleep within an hour window between 20:30 and 21:30. That gives me a good refreshed feeling when I wake up and more important is that I don't feel tired waking up and getting out of bed is not difficult as it would be otherwise.

A pace of 4:26/km is nice and comfortable. Though its funny how more difficult this same pace feels further on in the week. My new replacement Pegasus 33s are doing pretty well though I still feel my feet getting tired (what I’m i expecting, right?) after 10kms but wow what great shoes. I think the thing about these are the zoom units in the forefoot region which is where I run and so a nice swooshing, smooshing action when I land on the zoom units is exactly what I want.

I don’t run with a heart rate monitor anymore – its just a nuisance. When I do eventually upgrade my running watch it will be one with a built-in heart rate monitor which I don’t have to store separately. I’ve been eyeing out this watch but I as usual I don’t need it, but thinking about it, its price is ridiculous: £434.80 so I’m not forking out that for a running watch when I got the Suunto ambit 1 one which is just fine really (albeit 5 years old – released in 2012). I just dont car about the heart rate anymore – which actually makes me think that perhaps i should end my strava premium membership as i think that's one of its features – analysing your heart rate. Then I gain not sure.

Oh I ran a bit differently today, I went up top instead of down the normal south park road, which was because there were cars stacking up on my normal cross-over point so I(well my legs made the decision almost wholeheartedly) instead just continued on and when down the other way which was nice because I always fine that while inertia tells you not to change, when you do change its a beautiful experience. For example, I ran past a lady and she said “Good morning” and its that kinda stuff that happens when you change and go against inertia.

I was thinking while I was running this morning, how lucky I am to be able to run – its a privilege and a gift thats given to me every day and I just love it and one day I’ll say to myself, thank you for doing it, for taking the strain, for pushing myself and for doing something which, lets face it will not be something I can do forever. Its almost sad that there is a certain gap in ones life where one’s body and fitness can react and adapt to strain and training so that you can do it. Then, inevitably, you’ll get bad knees or get married, have children – priorities will change and you’ll loose the opportunity. I guess, in a way life its like this, and opportunity which if you don’t take, never comes again.