full return to training..

6m at 7:00. the full, round Hyde Park route. it initially looked like it was going to rain, but a few drops later, it gave up on the idea and backed off, so we could have a nice run in the cool shade of full cloud cover, but not so cool that it was unpleasant. probably up near 18C. the run went smoothly, didn't feel the knee hardly at all once warm. managed to pick it up a little at the end and certainly sprinted it in down the Mall at the end. just like you'd want it. my running mate's knee is still troubling him, but he thinks it's just ITB trouble and is intent to go mind over matter on it and stretch enough to make it back off eventually.

now to settle into a simple, challenging routine that i can fit into the regular work week without too much hassle. will probably go for - in the week - one 6miler at a steady rate (Tue), a speed routine of some description - a fartlek or intervals (Wed or Thu), one 7.5miler a little slower (Thu) and a 5m recovery run (Fri); then either another fast 6miler or a long run or even hill training on Sunday morning. i think that's probably enough to be too much, but better to be optimistic about what i'm gonna achieve. also need to get these damn extra runs sorted out.. my lazy fault altogether.

watched a show the other night about the changing face of British music through the eighties. reliving my youth and watching how bands like Soft Cell, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and the Smiths emerged, it made me think what i should be searching for on Spotify to make my afternoons more bearable! still can't get much enthusiasm for compiling playlists for the ipod to take running. i think i generally prefer no music, but every once in a while it seems like a nice idea. will have to consider buying some of this old stuff and putting it together for a test run. there's a deeper connection to that music - the music you listen to a hundred times over in your bedroom when your fifteen - and maybe that will fit in better with the way i am when i run, which itself is another state to normal.

we did go on to watch one of those pointless top 50 best ever music videos shows after that succinct historical documentary. it culminated in me finding out that Polly had never seen the Thriller video - that was inevitably number 1 - and making her watch the whole of it at midnight. nice.