January 2012 running update

I have really hit the ground running since 2012 arrived – I’ve clocked up 10 runs this month and a total of 137.80 km (85.6 miles). That is at least 20km (12miles) more a month than I’ve done so far during my best running months (mostly summer).

My average monthly pace is still hovering anywhere between 5.30 and 5.50 min per km, but I’ve always known that I’m more of a long distance/endurance runner than a Speedy Gonzales.

The map above is the route I took on Friday – I ran home from my office in Canary Wharf. The distance was a bit less than 18km but there were a lot of traffic lights on the way, so it took me 1 hour and 45 minutes to get home.

Wearing a backpack and nosediving to the ground about 4km into the run might have slowed me down a bit as well  – once in a while I don’t pay attention to the road surface and go flying :|  My left palm is now missing a chunk and both of my knees are bruised and blue. The left one is still aching which is a bit of a concern, but I’m pretty sure that it’s just a superficial injury.

Before I had done that run I thought that maybe I’ll start doing that every Friday, but I have now changed my mind :) It’s a bit too boring to just run on a straight line for 18km and battle with people and traffic lights on the way. A good option for me might be to take the train to Elephant&Castle and have a short 11.5km run home on Fridays instead.

Running more is definitely making me need to sleep more. Beddtime has been 9:30 on the clock in our household this month. J is tired by then as well as he’s still recovering from labyrinthitis (he can walk now but his hands are shaky, he cannot handle noise or too much visually and he still has to take his anti-nausea medication). I really do not know how some people have the energy to run every single day. My fitness level is not there yet. I feel quite content running twice a week and really proud of myself when I do it 3 times.

Bring on February!