Beautiful Bright Blue Sky

Rain was forecast for this morning. In contrast to everyone else in the region I was actually looking forward to it. The promise of running in the cooling rain was very appealing!

Something went wrong though!! When I opened my eyes and looked through the mesh of the sleeping compartment all I could see beyond the green pine trees was blue...beautiful bright blue sky!

Oh well another glorious hot run in the sun!! I should be relishing this...It's a rare occasion that I can write that in Glasgow!!

I headed off along the cycle path in the opposite direction this time. This way delivered more shade- at least on the way out. I ran past the towering red and white lighthouse, along the cote savage. Inhailing the smells and trying not to look at the pace!! Once my body got going it was a really good morning run.

On the return journey I realised that I had had it easy on the way out. The sun was rising above the treetops, I was running into it, and even the plentiful pines were unable to prevent it boring down mercilessly as I plodded along.

I reached the gates of the campsite satisfied and once more relishing the fact that most of the site (including the rest of the Stevensons) were still slumbering.

I am thinking that in order to have any chance of completing the 12miles planned for tomorrow I will need to get up even earlier!! Perhaps I should just squeeze them in before I actually go to bed!

6m-51:42

Err...what day is it?!

It has happened. I got up early today. Had a really hard day, fixing up the tent, buttering bagguette, eating croissants, sitting by the pool, reading,, coping with +30 degree heat. You get the picture. By tea time I was so exhausted I had been contempating an easy 3m. Still as the plan says 3m easy or rest I decided to rest!

I ate a large plate of pasta having made this decision..then it struck me....we were on Tuesday NOT Monday. Already I haven't a clue what day it is!! I should be doing reps and at the very least a bit of speed work!! we had arrange to go for a sundowner so I had to act fast if I was going to do anything at all!

Oh dear Berlin and the IOM half just seem so far away from here!

I pulled my trainers on and left my garmin to find a satelite! Resolving to do a 3 mile running as hard as is reasonable-on holiday! I set off only to return 3 seconds later as I still had my large brimmed sun hat on!!

I set out along the cycle path, through the fragrant pines which exude the evokative fragrancce of the Cote Savage. The air still warm but cooler at 8pm. I was feeling surprisingly good and felt I was striding out strongly.

Everyone here cycles and the looks you get when running vary from complete awe to complete confusion! 'Why run when you could cylcle'

I was happily doing sub 8mm so I tried to push my pace up a little. It was then that my Garmin totally lost the plot. The readings started comming in as 6mm, then 5:3mm finally saying I was whizzing along at 3:2mm!! (I would have been happy wi the 6!!)

I got back to the campsite in 21mins and had apparently done 3.7miles. Yeah right! You and I know that the gamiin never lies...but on this occasion I can only assume it was confused and clearly doesn't speak to french sattelites well!! Hope it acclimatises for the next attempt!! (I could same the same for myself!)

I would have to be honest and say I probably did about 2.75m.
approx 2.75m-21min