I have been running everyday since my last blog on Day 11. Promise! Two miles each day. Today, I did Cambridge parkrun (5K). Spookily, I have completed the last three parkruns in exactly the same time – 24 minutes 14 seconds. I don’t look at my stopwatch or run to achieve a particular speed per K. Perhaps my races are being remotely supervised by an all powerful Running Deity. Anyway, it’s definitely odd. My partner got a PB despite being treated for an ankle inflammation by a physio the previous day.

Today, I had random thoughts about power walking a marathon. I don’t know where this will take me. It’s the sport that dare not speak its name.

Today was Strimming Day! I strimmed and strimmed and strimmed. Each year I wait until the sea of nettles  is chest high and full of seed. Then I attack! It takes a lot of effort to cut it down and this process ensures that millions of seeds are distributed around, guaranteeing new generations of nettles in the future. I got stung a numerous times. I was still itching and scratching when I went to the running club. We did interval training and ran about 5.5 miles.

Overcast day in Cambridge and chilly. Sun came out briefly at 8.45 pm before going down in a now cloudless sky! The day started at 7 am when I found an enormous queen hornet (yes, HORNET) flying around the kitchen sounding very grumpy.

Ran two miles after supper on a rather full stomach.

My birthday today. I went for a very enjoyable 8.5 mile run with my partner Lorna along the River Cam and through Milton Country Park. I’ve been running for over 30 years and it’s been a solitary activity in the main. It was just over a year ago that I joined Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club and was in the company of other runners for the first time apart from races. Despite my previous misgivings about joining a club, it’s been a positive experience.

I hope to go running in various locations with Lorna – hill and trails in Derbyshire, the London parks, along the Thames in London and anywhere on the coast.

Running along a narrow foot/bicycle path by the river, you pass people in close proximity and it’s natural to acknowledge or greet them. Most are friendly and responsive but it still comes as a surprise the number of people who do not want to have any contact or avert their eyes or stare ahead. This often includes other runners, particularly the faster ones.

Ran Milton Parkrun, Cambridge 5K this morning. It was hard work! I’m not used to running every day. Although I usually do 8-10K training distances, I have  a recovery day or days. I think the absence of a rest day is making me tired despite my prediction that 2-3 miles daily would be easy. Hopefully my body will adjust.

Ran for two miles at 8.30 pm after my evening meal. Legs aching slightly after last night’s sprinting exercises. I usually go for longer runs during a typical week but have more rest days. Running for 30 days straight is new to me and feels quite different. At the moment I’m obliging myself to run each day rather than substitute another form of activity.

Might be buying a pair of  trail shoes later this week. Unsure which brand; might be dependent on price.

Today I listened to Radio 4’s  podcast of Open Book with Mariella Frostrup. She was discussing the presentation of mental health issues with two authors including Clare Allan who apparently has a borderline personality diagnosis (BPD).I managed to miss her Radio 4  programme On the Borderline on 28.5.2013 which explores the history, science and future of BPD. Hopefully I can catch up with it on Radio iPlayer. Also well worth catching is All in the Mind with Claudia Hammond.

Tuesday evenings means running with Cambridge and Coleridge Running Club. We ran continuous relays with short recovery periods. It felt good sprinting hard.

Another two mile run, in the late afternoon. I had a poor night’s sleep and felt tired but I was wide awake at the finish. Running always puts me in a different gear. It’s a mistake for me to not make the effort because I invariably feel better.

Such a beautiful weather today. I’m currently digging out an old raised pond in our garden and hacking back an overgrown fig tree which hangs over it. The fig tree is covered by  honeysuckle and also needs to be severely pruned. Despite tramping about in the dry pond as I cut, clip,saw and rake over a couple of days, it is only this afternoon that I manage to upset a bees nest between the pond liner and stone surround. I withdraw sharpishly! I marvel that they were not provoked to attack me like wasps. I guess I am blessed with tolerant, civilised bees. What am I going to do? Postphone rebuilding the pond to the Autumn. I’ll just have to bee patient.

Anyway, after the bee incident, I went for my run and then cooked  curry. I’m mildly obsessional about creating a ring of naan and poppodum pieces with a dollop of mint yogurt around the edge of the plate. I then sprinkle chopped raw onion over the yogurt. Yummy! (Picture taken before addition of onion)