Day 27 - Training Blog 20th January 2013

Up early for porridge and banana, adjusted the planned route due to the forecast of snow, now 26k, about 16 miles. Kit on, not as much as yesterday and off to meet Vince and Rich Coles at the Boxmoor Church. All good to go by 8:30 and off along Boxmoor High street and up Northridge Way. Very cold start but the hill got the heart going and warmed us up nice...ly, although my hands remained cold for most of the run! Good to be getting the miles done with people, the constant talk helps the miles fly by. Up Boxted to Potten End and right towards Frithsden. My forecast was for snow by mid day, not good at forecasting, it started at 9am and got heavier through the run. We ran part of the Berko half marathon route, down past the Donkey Sanctuary, up the steep long hill towards Little Gaddesden, felt that. Now snowing heavily and also wind in our faces, I am sure good for our complexion, up to the entrance to Ashridge Management College. I keep saying it but again great countryside with herds of deer and the odd fox, worth the effort of the run! It had been good underfoot so far as we were running on the roads mainly but as soon as we turned into Ashridge the road had not been gritted and grip was lost! It almost instantly caused me pain in my hip flexers and groin due to picking my legs up rather than push away with my feet! Can't be odds'd and the upside was no traffic and even better scenery. We ran past the College, deep snow everywhere, could have been in Scotland! We then met Jamie Marlow with a couple Dacorum runners Steve Shaw & Catherine Davis, running towards us, which was nice, quick hello isn't it great, see you next week and on we went. The road remained snow covered until we turned right down New road towards Berkhamsted Castle, better for my legs but now traffic! Down through Berko to the high street then left towards Hemel. All good, the conversation was non stop through to Bourne End, the Winkwell, along Chaulden lane, snow covered and hard on my legs, back through Boxmoor High street and the completion of another tough but very enjoyable snowy run, 26.13k (16.2 miles), 2'02"49 at the Steam Coach pub. Home, shower, breakfast, log fire and chill! Spot on.