31 May – 100 Runs Down

And a mere 145 more runs to do. So not quite half way there yet, but the 123rd run is scheduled for 30 June and that would be the 50% run rate done. Distance a different matter of course, but I am confident I’ll be ahead of the magic 1009 kms.

This really is a numbers game, each and every time I go out, I try and squeeze just a little more of a run out of my legs. It can’t always be done of course, but I give it a go in the hope that the extra metres will allow me some rest when my body or mind is too tired to do the running. And this has worked in May – a combination of migraines and the infamous sore toe, has meant I’ve taken 4 extra rest days than I had originally planned. The upside is I had the kms in the bank to do it, the downside is that I had hoped to be just that little bit further ahead than I am. Nonetheless I haven’t lost ground, and now face a ‘cooler’ three weeks in London, where hopefully the temperatures will make it easier for me to get out and for sure the lack of hills will help too.

Today’s route – a rehash of an old one, because GPS  errors had me completing 35km in a staggering 2 minutes per km. Therefore I chose a known route from my phone and just monitored my timing. Today is molto scorchio and at just before nine, the temperature was over 23 degrees. I tootled along Mill Lane and to Lovers’ Lane – no sign of Albino or Anouska today, I must have missed them. Back down the Hill That Kills – mercifully all in shade and down to the bendy, scary road.

My legs felt quite perky so I was making good pace until I saw in the distance my nemesis, a molto chic podista, running up the hill. Tall, lithe, blond, Nike swoosh ponytail and golden earrings. Blimey, they were making short shrift of that hill, I felt exhausted just watching. On I pootled, seeking shade where I could and just before the fish shop turn, I was overtaken by the molto chic podista. He had run up that bloody hill and back down and still beat me, oh the shame of being a slow snail runner!

Nothing was going to upset me on my 100th outing however and an old cyclist in his Bahrain cycling top, went past me and said bella è brava. I’ll take that as a compliment, as I didn’t really feel bella at all.

And that was my 100th run, just a shade over 10km and pro-rata I’m 86kms ahead of schedule, those extra few steps and metres each time start to add up. Oh and I found out I run in perfect time to Tigerfeet. Any other suggestions for the Dad Dancing playlist are welcome…

Playlist

My inaugural outing for my new ‘Dad Dancing’ inspired playlist

Tigerfeet – Mud

It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones

Rasputin – Boney M

YMCA – Village People

The Can Can – Bad Manners

New York, New York – Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett

Dizzy – Vic Reeves

You Can’t Hurry Love (twice) – Phil Collins

Come On Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Ballroom Blitz – The Sweet

Sit Down – James

Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones

Money For Nothing – Dire Straits

This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us – Sparks

School’s Out – Alice Cooper

Eye Of the Tiger – Survivor

Jump Around – House of Pain

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – BTO

Stats

Distance 10.28km

Time 1:12:30

Average Pace 7:03 (mins/km)

Elevation Gain 41 metres

Alzheimer’s Challenge

Kms Run 938.40

Kms to be Done 1079.60