Reflecting on the Week - 21st December

Distance: 29 km
Time: 3:00
Elevation: 248 m
Fastest pace: 4:00/km
Max HR: 169 bpm

This was very much a recovery week. Daytona is still in my legs and, if I am honest, in my head too. I felt that sort of tired where you are fine on paper, but the body quietly says, “Absolutely not thank you,” every time you move.

The main outing was the Christmas fun run and combined birthday celebration for a mate. Basil ran the whole way, Delilah joined for a bit including a water section, and Allegra brought us home. Twenty three kilometres of jogging, meeting new people, pub stops and not looking at the splits. It felt good to just enjoy being outside with them. The knee deep flood water was bracing and my road shoes were a bad choice, next time I will check!

The other little highlight was the Dads’ Dawn Dawdle with Pete and Si. Just six kilometres before the day kicked off, legs grumbling from the start, but exactly what I needed. The recovery theme has been simple: shorter, gentler runs, more sleep, and not pretending I am invincible.

Learning when to back off, how to absorb a big effort like Daytona, and come out ready to build again is not that easy, but it’s a bit easier after 100 miles. For now, though, the priority is to let the system reset, enjoy some festive miles, and come into the new year ready to do the harder work.