Saturmonday

Today started a little like a Saturday. Normally I'd walk both dogs with the monkey on my back but this morning I decided to give the legs a little rest and wait until Sal arose then take just Rowlf for his long walk. As it happens Sal was having a restless sleep so decided to get up and she, me and AJ went through to Maisy's in Neutral Bay for breakfast, I do like Maisy's. Sure the menu has not changed in millennia and is pretty simple, the prices are maybe a little high, BUT...it is open 24hours. That rocks, always has.

The day had started kinda cool and overcast so I was in no great hurry to get back as it didn't look like the day would be dog-cooking hot. As it happens Rowlf and I hit the road at a little after 8am and Sal took AJ. Rumpole stayed in the garden with the in-laws poch Oscar, who is staying with us. I was in no great rush. The walk was our typical long-loop which ends up as 10k. We head straight down to the Harbour and Rowlf had his swim. High tide this morning, so we had about 2ft of beach and a foot of that was covered in washed up leaves and branches. The big fella doesn't care, and the water was warm, no rain was falling, so all good. A few kayakers passed us by, but other than that it was pretty quiet.

From Clive Park we head over to Northbridge Park and take a bush track around the back of the golf course where I stopped to take a few pics, Rowlf jumped into various small streams and a good time was had by all. Both. Then it was up the hill for a coffee break and through to the St Thomas Rest Park where I drag as many knots out of Rowlf as he'll let me. He's looking pretty handsome right now.

Back home and I've got another 10k of movement on the board, but walking and not running, so I decided to take a look at the scores on the Janathon doors. My plan for today was to have another gentle-ish run, aware that the legs were still somewhat achey. That went out of the window when I saw that LocalAdventures had put 10k on me. Bugger it, that meant I needed to add at least 10k today. OK, I didn't *need* to, but, well, y'know. So, plan B was to run down to the bridge, under the northside and back for a shade over 10k.

As I ran along I got thinking. First I was thinking that my legs felt OK and maybe running more was actually a good thing. If you want to run a lot you need to run a lot. So if you rest you get used to resting. Which isn't running. So run more, get over the achey hump and all's good. Of course there is no science there, just my own justificational (new word?!) musing. Another thought was that I was now at a Janathon disadvantage. I started 11hours early and that means I finish 11hours earlier than most others. So that gives them an advantage; I finish and they can hit the road. So, my inevitable next thought was that 10k would put me back at the top by a whisker that will inevitably be hammered while I'm asleep tonight. Hence the longer loop than I'd planned, ending on a 10miler. Legs still ache, but no more than before. Did a few stretches, made sure I've eaten enough and wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Right off to read a few blogs. Think I'll tell Gary (LocalAdventures) that the BBC are reporting that a pack of hungry wolves are prowling the valleys of Surrey. I've heard they are attracted to the sound of regular footfalls, the sort made by joggers. Advice is to stay indoors until, oh I dunno, February...

And for the unnecessarily literal, that is a joke.

Or is it?