After a busy weekend in Leicester, where I reminisced, found new things and went into space, it was time to get back to ultramarathon training – just 3 weeks to go until the London to Brighton Ultra.

It was a bit of a shock to my legs to get back to running again, although distances are now starting to come down a little bit for the final phase of training. Every mile has seemed that little bit tougher.

There were shorter runs from Tuesday to Friday, and I grumbled my way around but got them done.

And then it was weekend – two long runs to be completed.

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If I broke my run on Saturday into a list of pros and cons, there would be a lot of items in the negative column… I forgot my headphones, I was running on my own, I got a little bit lost, I was too hot, the sky was dark, my watch was beeping for low battery after just a few miles, there were a lot of hills, I got a blister, none of the snacks in my backpack were what I really wanted, but I didn’t really know what I wanted anyway.

I could go on….

But my inner Pollyanna won’t let me – almost ever since I’ve been running and blogging about it, I’ve tried to find the positives even on a tough day.

• A hilly route was probably just what I needed for race preparation this week.
• There were bluebells in Weston Woods.
• I found my way back to the main road when a footpath took me in a direction I wasn’t expecting.
• I found a supermarket just as I emptied my water bottle.
• All the dogs I met (and their owners) were friendly.
• I didn’t fall over – not always a given!
• I reached my target distance before my watch battery died.
• I judged my distance perfectly – no running round in circles to round up required.
• It didn’t rain.

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And the most important one of all – I did it. I got the miles in.

I made it home.

And I sat in my happy place on the balcony, looking at the bottle kilns, and enjoying the best post-run recovery meal you can imagine – sausage roll, donut, a bag of mini cheddars and a cup of tea.

I had a shower and taped up my battered toes.

And then an early night. Another run on the schedule for Sunday.

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50 for 50 #39: 50 posts for my 50th birthday to be posted before I’m 51.