Do it without a HR monitor! For the last 12 weeks I’ve been diligently using my HR monitor to make sure I’ve been running at 75% HR for my long steady runs, training for The Coastal Challenge Costal Rica this February with coach Rory Coleman. So now I’m roughly aware of my heart rate through my breathing level so I can pretty much control my effort level through that. It was so nice to run my usual Burghley route without being fixated on glancing down every few minutes at my watch and thinking about my pace.

Happy to be outside in the fields around Barnack on Saturday’s steady 10 miler without a HR monitor

The sun shone over the yellow fields, green trees surrounding them under a blue sky. It was a beautiful day and I just really enjoyed running. How lucky I am to be able to run in the first place. After a really stressful press week with four 9:30pm finishes and not managing to fit in my Wed and Thurs sessions it was just great to be outside breathing in the fresh air and feeling my legs moving rather than crossed under a desk.

I also very much enjoyed not going eyes out like at the Great Eastern Run half marathon last Sunday and realised I was really looking forward to running a new path, the Ridgeway on The Druid Challenge 7-9 November. I’m wondering if I should wear my super bouncy Hoka maximal shoes. Quick lacing systems don’t suit my feet, so I’m going to try some normal laces and see if I think they’d fit my feet properly without blistering for 26 miles. They are fine for 10, but others are more comfy for further…

My amazingly bouncy Hokas, just wish my feet suited their quick lacing system, I can never get the fit quite right unless I use traditional laces.