Wednesday saw my second run since illness and this time I did take it easy. I don't want to end up back on the sicklist so I will also be taking it easy on my long run this week keeping it at the half marathon distance and taking a couple of weeks to get back where I was with the 20 milers. Despite taking it easy on Wednesday I still managed to get around the 11 kilometers in 8 min 11 mile pace so it was still reasonably quick. I can only assume that it was my legs were still feeling fresh from the break. It will therefore be interesting to see how much easier it will be able to run after a two week taper in April. After some of my runs I have been thinking I don't know how I will be able to keep this pace up for the full distance but after this recent enforced taper I am starting to think maybe I can. Even illness can have a silver lining.

Im back in the saddle again. It seems like ages, I had only expected to be off the road for a couple of days, in the end it was a whole nine. I expect I have been pushing myself a little too hard in my training combined with my job and my wifes cold it was enough to push me over the edge. My wages are a combination of a basic wage and a piece work style bonus. Being the way I am I tend to push for the higher pay, it can make the difference of an extra 2 pounds an hour which soon adds up. With the carrot of a house dangling in front of my eyes slowing down doesn't seem like the right choice to make. I think I probably ended up burning myself out.

So today was my first run since the bugs struck. It was also the first run in my new shoes that are now being broken in for the big day. In my absence the ice has more or less all gone and we are back to running on dry tarmac which is wonderful. Well at the moment it is gravel that was used as grit on dry tarmac, but the point is that it is no longer slippery. I had promised myself that I would take it easy and ease back into things. I kept to my promise for the first half of the route. By half distance I realised I was making good time even though I didn't feel like I was overly trying. I managed to hold back until the last quarter but that I couldn't help but push on. In the end I ran my 10.73km route, yes I know its an odd distance but that do you suggest I move our apartment or the lake?, in a time of 49.29 which is 4.37 per km or 7.25 per mile.

I am going to have to watch myself otherwise I can see myself over doing it again, but its good to be back.