Happy New Year! After taking a short break from running, I’m finally back at it this week. I’ve signed up of the January Great Run Solo Accumulator, which calls for 21 days of exercise. I know I said I wasn’t going to do a January challenge but I can’t help myself!🤣 I think it’s been made easier by the weather, as it’s been dry and sunny but incredibly icy! ❄️

I’ve also started my new year training to get ready for the Kintyre Way Ultra Relay in the hopes that it might go ahead. Here’s how the New Year so far has shaped up:

New Year’s Day:

We went for a walk around the harbour, taking our time as we met others doing the same, so we enjoyed a couple of distanced chats too. That was lovely! 4.1 miles in glorious sunshine.

2nd January:

We decided to dig the trail shoes out and headed up to the Cairn for today’s fresh air. The views really are incredible looking over the village. 4.3 miles and 715ft of elevation.

Monday:

It’s a new week, and it’s high time to dig the trainers out again- they’ve been in hibernation since 23rd December. It felt good to run so the break was definitely the right call. I only did around the harbour but it was still tricky and icy in places.

Distance: 4 miles

Time: 44m 27s

Pace: 11.06/m

Elevation: 36ft

Tuesday:

Back to work, so we went for an evening walk around the harbour. After a busy day I completely forgot to take a photo!

Distance: 2.9m

Wednesday:

Working from home has its benefits, including being able to fit in the occasional lunchtime run. That’s what I managed to do here, with a short harbour run again. It’s repetitive and I really want to be in a trail, but it’s just to slippery underfoot and I don’t fancy driving in icy roads if I can avoid it!

Distance: 3m

Time: 32m 4s

Pace: 10.35/m

Elevation: 43ft

Friday:

Another lunchtime run, and I had two meetings cancelled meaning I had a little extra time available than usual. I thought I’d get my longer run done and set out to do 5 or 6 miles. My first plan was to run the Castle loop but when I got to the kissing gate at the orchard it was just too icy for me, and no one knew I was heading out there. So I abandoned that plan and headed back to the harbour. I fitted in some extra hills, though, just for good measure, and ran my first 10k of the year. Woo hoo!

Distance: 6.2m

Time: 1h 11m 27s

Pace: 11.30/m

Elevation: 328ft

Saturday:

Since I managed my longer run yesterday, today was a wee shake out run. After an incredibly cold night I knew it would be icy- and it was. But then it started to rain mod way through the run, which was certainly a change!

Distance: 3.1m

Time: 33m 3s

Pace: 10.38/m

Elevation: 46ft

It’s been a pretty solid start to running in 2021, though I do want to get back on the trails as soon as I can. 7/21 days done of my January Accumulator too. Yay!