I’ve had a relatively gentle start to my training for the London to Brighton Ultra Challenge, boosted by the warmer weather and extra daylight in Cyprus.

Running in circles has helped me build up my miles, but I’ve started to feel a shift over the last couple of weeks.

The pressure is there to keep up with the plan; weekly mileage is creeping upwards and weekend long runs are getting longer. I’m juggling busy days at work, dark nights and what seems like relentless rain. And there’s a lot of washing!

I’m off on a work trip next week – with a six hour journey likely tomorrow – so I needed to do some juggling to get in my weekend miles and be ready for next week’s miles too.

So Sunday’s run moved to Friday – and I was very happy to have some company for the run. The miles went by in a flurry of catching-up conversation, despite being told we weren’t running fast enough by some “friendly” fisherman. (My response might not have been entirely polite!).

But what about the longer of my two scheduled “weekend runs”. When could I fit that in? And would I have the motivation?

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Saturday morning was starting with parkrun – I was back in the run director blue hi-viz. With lots of fantastic volunteers on the roster, all went well soon and there was plenty of time for chatting, mainly about training and my need to complete the next run on my plan after parkrun (sometime today).

We were soon packing away and heading to Park Church for post-parkrun refreshments – and more chatting. Advice about recovery between runs. Hints for getting out of the door when the rain comes. Fuelling ideas – eat well, run well.

Oatcakes and cheese were on the menu – what amazing cafe volunteers we have. Eat well, run well, remember!

Soon, parkrun results were processed and volunteers added to the roster. My tasks as run director were complete.

I had another oatcake – and another coffee.

But time was ticking. Was this the best window for me to run? It wasn’t raining. I was already out of the house. I was dressed for running. I had words of encouragement still buzzing around my head.

I was fuelled by oatcakes.

Turn left, head home. Turn right, get running.

And so I turned right… heading eventually along the canal towards Westport Lake, then on to the Harecastle Tunnel, a loop and out-on-back along a busy road and then only turning back towards home only when I was past half way for my target distance.

It wasn’t easy – miles 10 and 11 were particularly challenging and I wondered whether one more oatcake would have made a difference.

I might try that next time. Fuelled by oatcakes could be the secret to my training.

And now it’s on to the next run.

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50 for 50 #26: 50 posts for my 50th birthday to be posted before I’m 51.