The above picture is where I found myself about three miles into a ten mile run I completed today. Deciding to take the road less often travelled lead me to a whole new set of trails and a new target for training runs.

The map below shows the route I took but doesn't tell the whole story.

The ten miles was done in a steady pace, with rests for water and with no intention of setting a blistering pace or beating a record. And it was awesome. Just being out there, in the sun and being part of  the environment gave that feeling of adventure that I've been craving.

The route started on road for about two k before taking a turning onto a public footpath which was single track but pretty smooth. When I emerged onto a busy road, I figured I was in for a couple of  miles of exhaust fumes and roadkill but along the way I saw a small gap in a hedge and another public footpath sign. The sign indicated a narrow track through some farmland and over the horizon (see image above) and pointed towards the target of my next decent run. The beacon hill in Ivinghoe. I reckon the round trip on trails will be about13 miles and very hilly.

I decided it was too far to go on this trip so found an alternative and equally rambling route to get home, finishing the last 2 k over the bottom of the Chiltern Downs.

A great run that made me realise that a lot of what I love about running is the sense of exploration and discovery.

I think I shall entitle my memoirs "The road less taken".....


On the subject of weight loss, as this blog was supposed to be about that as well), my new diet continues wto work with weight currently coming in at 12st 4lbs, the least I've been in eight years.

My diet works and has introduced me to new foods, but sucks for the very reasons it work..
* No bread
* No sugar
* No pasta
* No rice
* No alcohol.

Hard work but working, so I guess it's worth it.

The metaphorical crossroads

Over the last few weeks I've put in some good runs, but my mind has been elsewhere

I had a great 10 miler last Sunday out in the countryside which I completed in 1hr 20mins, which is faster than my half-marathon pb.

As well as a few smaller runs and a forty minute Fartlek session this morning, I can happily say that I'm in the best shape for running I have ever been. An injury I got at work has slowed me this week, but I'm well on the mend.

On top of this my new diet, inspred by a guy who competed in Marathon-des-Sable this year has seen the weight really shift off me. I'm down twenty pounds from new year and have passed my original target weight. I've lost 5% body fat as well.

While all of these things should make me happy I can't help but feel like I've plateau'd.


I have entered the VLM2012 ballot and have applied to run Thunder24 with MenRunning. I have a ten k in two weeks in Whipsnade and I have runs planned for September October and November.

I'm reading a great book at the moment called Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, a truly inpsirational book about the sinmple joys, pleasures and human need to run.

But it has left me wanting to push the boundaries of my running, to go further and on different trails.

It's taken me eighteen months to get competent at running and now I find myself at a crossroads.

How good could I be if I really pushed myself? What could I accomplish if I dedicated myself to running? And where could running take me if I'm good?

While the running continues, my mission for now is to answer these questions.

Last week on a my ten-miler I reached a (literal, not metaphorical) crossroads and took the path less taken, I added distance to my journey, quickened my pace and loved every minute. I pushed myself to achieve what I knew I could if I tried and I set a better pace than usual and finished feeling like a million dollars.

I wonder, if I take the same attitude with life in general, and running in particular, what could I accomplish?