We've done it!

We've done it!!

Hampton Court - 32km

It was a slightly shorter run and this time I felt much more confident. We did rather a lot more running in built up areas this time, though a good part of the run was still in the green. Although the weather wasn't as perfect as it was when we ran to Boxhill, the beauty of the Thames more than made up for this. In all, after a busy couple of weeks it was good to feel the ache in my legs and the rain in my face.

Boxhill 3 March - 36kms

This was my first longer distance run so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. We had been doing four kilometre runs most weekday mornings, but I still wasn't sure whether I could go all the way to Boxhill.

The truth of the matter was that it was actually very easy. We managed to do it in about four hours, despite frequent walking breaks which made me feel like we were cheating, though they were definitely necessary.

The scenery on the way to Boxhill was made even more beautiful by the sunny weather over us. It was the British countryside at its best. I kept expecting to see people from period dramas walking around talking posh nonsense and having picnics.

Through the winter months

Eric is nearly always game to go out for a run, he just needs someone to prompt him - this is where I come in.

Towards the end of summer I was in need of making better use of my time; I find going for an early morning run is a good way of getting everything flowing in the right direction.

In the end we kept this morning routine up in September at the start of the new school year (2011). I would wake Eric up at 06:15 and he would then drag me out the front door. We became so familiar with our 3.9km route through Horton Country Park that we could run it when the dark of winter descended on us. It has helped us considerably that we've had a very dry winter; we seldom had to slosh through muddy patches and we only cancelled one run due to rain!!

Monday to Friday, week after week, we have kept up our 3.9km routine. It has been a blessing doing something positive together, and it has helped restore my rocky relationship with Esther's unflattering scale.