On the running front, I've been quite good at keeping a regular cadence of running. I have however since been focusing on my new normal and have slightly neglected it in favour of doing more programming as it was quite interesting. I have balanced this fascination by going for a 10.6km run yesterday. 

My fitness is increasing and it's all about regularity.

I went for a run in the sun yesterday and it almost killed me. It didn't help that I decided to go sockless with my barefoot running shoes as this resulted in two painful blisters.

I had to stop running at least twice because it was so hot, hot, hot! Looking at my statistics it was about 24 degrees which was...hot - perhaps too hot for a 50 minute run in the sun. I've gotten much better at stopping during runs if I need to, for example, to avoid passing out. 

This was that run:

Actually speaking of hot, I watched the film "Some like it hot " starring Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemon. It was such an enjoyable film, and really for the first time that I watched her in a film. She really was a beauty and to think that Jack lemon was around at the same time means that well, her era wasn't that long ago. My fondest memories of Jack Lemmon are in the films Grumpy and Grumpier Old Men with Walter Matthau.

Most of my run was in zones 4 and 5 with it disproportionately in zone 5 which hints that I was taking strain most of the run. This was largely due to the heat but also due to my week-long absence from running while getting up to speed with my new working arrangements (I quite like working from home now){xbref tag="0" title="Working from home" desctext="Not something I always liked to do but I could get used to this!" } [Working from home] ¹⁵{/xbref}. 

I've ordered a new set of trainers because my last set is no longer usable - I tend to use my trainers to the max and only throw them out when I see at least a few toes coming out or they touch the road{xbref tag="0" title="touch the road" desctext="for example if they wear down the tread and my toes can feel the tarmac beneath me" } [touch the road] ¹⁵{/xbref}, which is the case with these. It's a real shame that these are finished because they so comfortable and sadly they aren't made anymore{xbref tag="0" title="Asics Hyperspeed 6" desctext="This are no longer made: https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASICS-Gel-Hyper-Speed-Running-Shoes/dp/B00S0I7C64" } [Asics Hyperspeed 6] ¹⁵{/xbref}.

My new trainers are coming in from China, so it will be a while until I get them. They are the Sortiemagic Tenaka RP 4 which like my outgoing are also Asics.

As I couldn't run in my Asics, I decide to run in my Merril Vapour Glove(sockless) which was a bad mistake due to the aforementioned blisters. I'm not down and out in terms of running shoes - I've still got my trusty Nike pegasus however I'm slowly reverting to my original preference of a lighter shoe, but these are still a fantastic option!

Considering I took (or maybe because to it!) I ran at about 4"44 average pace which was good, I didn't realise I can an extra .65km as my original goal was to get my usual 10km. Not bad.

Another consideration for me not running last week (but not a big reason) was that I ran out of carbs however I've refuelled. I've always been a big proponent of Science In Sport's gels are the are sugar-free. So I got some of those and received my order of CR7 which is a new energy solution that I received through my cousin - Not sugar free but fine I'm not going to cry about the details of post-exercise carbs!

Since my last run which I outlined in A few runs during the stay-in phase, I decided to go for another, this time along the canal. 

This run is a beautiful run out in the wilderness between Uxbridge and Buckinghamshire, through Harefield Place Nature Reserve.

I decided to wear my old bare-foot style of running shoes, which are among the longest-serving running shoes that I have. These particular ones are on their way out, so to speak, as they're fraying at the edges. 

Its been a while since I used them and seeing that I was going to go more off the beaten track on this run, I figured they'd be a good option to go 'trail' running. I followed some trails branching off the canal and followed past a few lakes (or perhaps they are dams) and basked in the sun which was pouring down in all its splendour. As its getting warmer now(we've had a mild winter, haven't we?), I put on a vest, shorts, donned my feet covers and set off. 

It's a good thing I wore a vest as I was hot and it made a big difference. I saw quite a few people on the way - walking themselves and their dogs. I think the combination of the summer sun and the novelty of getting out for 'one daily exercise' in amidst to the lockdown restrictions have made it a more valuable endeavour. It's intriguing to me what else may have also changed. 

Anyway, I found that the barefoot running at times was a bit tough on my feet, which otherwise have been used to the comforts of cushioning ever since I moved to a move sturdy shoe. I found myself keeping to the edges of the road, where the grass was and where there was more moisture and fewer stones (I felt every single one). 

I ran noticeably slower. A couple of days back I went for a run as described in my earlier posts, and afterwards, say about 4 or 5 hours later I started to sense a strain in my inner thigh/groin area - where the leg connects to the torso. After a few nights of good sleep, it went away however after this last run its back. Now it's not absolutely sore or anything like that - just apparent.

My theory is that due to the frequency of my running, the muscles in that area are straining because I tend to either not go for a run, or go full-tilt, which I imagine is hardly a progressive strategy, and might very well be the cause. 

Either way, it was a great run, bit longer than my last few which were around 8km, this one was about 9km and a bit. Pace as I've discussed as a lot slower but comfortable at around 5'00/km and the run, there and back took about 47mins which is pretty decent. 

I had a Blackcurrent jelly in the fridge which I saved up for after this run, so having got into my flat, I headed straight to the fridge and got it - ice cold! I tried to a few 'leg swings' just to convince my body that doing that would fix the strain in my groin area. I winced a bit and it was a little uncomfortable but I got through them. They'll probably make no difference but never-the-less, they did help me in identifying exactly where the pain was.

The thing to keep watching for me is that I'm not going down in terms of my average performances, and at the moment there is a risk that I am, I'd like the graph to be trending upwards. The solid blue line is the level of fitness, which is directly proportional to the amount of running you do. I need to go for more runs.

I ran past my local Tesco and it always interesting to watch the people queue out outside, 2 meters apart by law. They seem to look so surprised as I come sliding on by, like they've never seen a person running before. That always amazes me.

That said, they might be looking at me, thinking 'look at that bloody fool running about'. I do my shopping early in the morning to avoid the crowds (and the queues). 

Might use the foam roller now...

In terms of running, I've not been running that much with the whole staying in business and the number of things I've had to contend with, but I've managed to go out for a few runs so that's not too bad - I even went out for one today!

This was quite nice, I took it easy and reduced my pace and seeing that I've not been as busy running as I usually am, it was a needed reduced workout.

This one was pretty tough and I was quite hot due to the recent improvements to the weather. 

This one was my 'I need to get out of the house' run, which was pretty tough but ok.