Sleep: Fantastic

Night Sweats: What's a night sweat?

Headache: Uh?

Felt very fresh from yesterdays run (once I defrosted) and joined the other Cross Country Club members for an annual 10 mile loop of West Basin. The weather forecast had been for 90km winds and rain, which sounded pretty miserable. Spots of a fluorescent light blue sky was visible under the white cloud cover, which only heightened the effect of the snow cover on the mountains. There had certainly been a big dump last night. I had no intention of going hard today, and was pleased to trot along with Aki as we established a manageable pace. On the first bridge my Cool Running Cap was lifted by it's brim by a sudden gust and flew onto Parkes Way. Thankfully this multi-lane freeway was quiet on a Sunday morning, and I could climb over the barriers to retrieve it.

It took a bit of energy to catch up with Aki, who once again was running easily, with a strong and easy style. She laughed at Hospital Hill, which once proved a barrier, and the rain continued to hold off. Gusts continued at the usual places, over Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and along the lake foreshore, and by Lennox Gardens we were largely running on our own without company visible in front or behind. The aim was to maintain around five minute pace for as long as possible; and up until about 5k, we were remarkable steady in our pace and on track. I stopped for the first of four toilet breaks here though, and despite feeling that I was running quite well and without undue effort, I never caught Aki again, only glimpsing her in the distance in front of me.

'Unfit' Bob did 73 minutes for the 10 miles, Aki a solid 82 minutes, and I was happy with my 84:12 elapsed 'gun time.