348km / 216 miles on the clock for this interminably looooooong month!
I ran just one race – the Championnat Départemental de cross (like Country Championships in the UK) – which suffered from a low rate of participation (only 24 women in all the junior, senior and masters categories combined). But I ran fairly well I think and came home with a medal and the departmental cross country title in my category (what they call “Masters 1” here)… even if I was the only athlete in my age group!
Instead, I’ve been focusing on consistency in training. I’ve been going to the track regularly for proper speed workouts (which were deliberately lacking from my buggy marathon preparation at the end of last year) and also incorporated some swimming in the fabulous 50m (outdoor!!) pool that’s just down the road.
Needless to say, we’ve had ALL the weather this January… I have run layered up in sub-zero temperatures, in shorts and T-shirt in glorious sunshine, in driving rain and even in a light snow flurry!
I’ve been gradually increasing my mileage, with my longest run this month clocking in at 30km. Ostensibly I’m “only” getting ready for the Blagnac half marathon, but it won’t surprise you to hear that I secretly have my eye on a spring marathon… watch this space!
