Cold, 0C to 2C, bright with some sunshine, frost everywhere and some dangerous icy stretches on the path around Rother Valley.  Did a detour via a postbox at the start, to post some letters.  Just tried to run at an easy pace and nurse my right calf around.  As usual it felt better later on and I had enough energy for an extra lap of RV at the end, taking it to 16 miles.  Only carried 3 gels, no drink.

I’ve read up on my calf niggle and think it may be achilles tendonitis, or a slight tear/stretch where the achilles tendon joins the calf muscles.  Weak calves can be a factor so I’ve been doing calf lifts on the stairs, avoiding aggressive calf stretching and getting a lot of cold water on it in the bath after a run.  I’ll try this for a few days and then go see a physio if it doesn’t show signs of improvement.

Distance:  26.66km
Time:  2:39:14
Avg HR:  147bpm
Avg pace:  5:58 min/km
Calories:  1806

3C, cold and very wet underfoot. Wrapped up well, including running tights, for my usual 7 mile run. Right calf played up as usual but eased later in the run. Felt ok otherwise and aimed to keep my HR in the mid-140s. Exiting RV at 10.5km I saw my time was good so put a spurt on up the hill and finished just outside my PB.

Distance: 11.47km
Time: 1:06:44
Avg HR: 145bpm
Avg pace: 5:49 min/km
Calories: 857

Cool 6C, very wet underfoot but not raining. Went for my usual 7 mile run around RV. Right calf felt better on second lap, managed to forget about it and get into an easy rhythm. Calf stiffened up later on at work.

Distance: 11.47km
Time: 1:08:22
Avg HR: 144bpm
Avg pace: 5:58 min/km
Calories: 847

Mild, 9C, breezy. Wet underfoot after lots of rain on Tuesday but not raining now. Went for usual 7 mile run around Rother Valley, setting off a bit early so I will be able to drive Emma to college. Right calf still a bit stiff but doing lots of stretching and towards the end of the run it isn’t noticeable.

On way into work I did a hamstring stretch in a car park and the different foot height stretched better right down into my calf and I think it did it good. So I will stretch at that height more often and see if it helps.

Distance: 11.46km
Time: 1:07:34
Avg HR: 145bpm
Avg pace: 5:54 min/km
Calories: 810

Fairly mild 10C, sunny but very strong wind.  Went for my usual 13 mile route with a detour to take in Woodall Services to drop off a package for Emma.  The run was dominated by the wind, in a few places I was running and seemingly getting nowhere like a cartoon character!  A good workout though and my legs felt like I’d done 20 miles not 13.  Slight niggle right calf still there.

Distance:  21.7km
Time:  2:10:13
Avg HR:  155bpm
Avg pace:  6:00 min/km
Calories:  1746

Cool 7C, overcast with a few spots of rain.  Puddles underfoot.  Went for usual 7 mile run.  Right calf still playing up but aimed to do a steady 6 min/km pace; easy.

Distance:  11.46km
Time:  1:08:46
Avg HR:  139bpm
Avg pace:  6:00 min/km
Calories:  841

About 6C, slight drizzle, cool and breezy.  Working in London and stayed overnight, so went for a run round Hyde Park  The hotel was at Victoria, 1km from that park so did 2 laps to make about 7.5 miles in total.  Right calf still niggling but got into a nice rhythm for lots of the run and really enjoyed the different location.

Distance:  12.62km
Time:  1:15:29
Avg HR:  139bpm
Avg pace:  5:59 min/km
Calories:  884

-3C, frosty but bright with glimpses of sunshine.  Heavy white frost on paths in Wales, otherwise not slippery and no ice affecting my route.  Did my usual 13 mile route; Garmin FR110 measured it less than FR60 with footpod, but I trust the GPS.   Carried just 3 gels in a new marathon gel belt, to try it out.  It kept them cool and it was easy to use.  Had 500ml SIS Rego shake at the finish.  In spite of the niggling stiffness in right calf I felt quite good throughout and parts of the route seemed easier than usual, such as the gentle climb into Harthill.  Knocked 71 seconds off my PB for this route, regardless what distance the technology measures it as, and I wasn’t trying or pushing hard

I got my calf under a cold shower head afterwards and I’m using compression calf guards and foam rollering to try to improve/remove the stiffness.  The cold shower head certainly chilled the affected area!

Distance:  21.03km
Time:  2:03:10
Avg HR:  148bpm
Avg pace:  5:51 min/km
Calories:  1555

A cold, dark morning, 3C but no signs of ice on my route. Did my usual 7 mile run, trying out a new Garmin FR110. It took a minute to find satellites for the GPS. A straightforward run, but with the usual right calf niggles. Got into a nice easy pace and enjoyed it. Had a couple of HR spikes early on, into the 160s and 170s for no reason, probably down to poor belt contact.

Distance: 11.49km
Time: 1:07:56
Avg HR: 143bpm
Avg pace: 5:55 min/km
Calories: 585

Fairly mild, 11C, but very windy and light rain was coming at me horizontally on and off – more on than off actually.  Another part of Sheffield reported gusts of 84mph, but it wasn’t quite as bad at Rother Valley.  Went for my usual 2 laps, 7 miles.  Took it steady, didn’t check splits and I’m pleased with the pace and HR bearing in mind the conditions.  Right calf still a bit stiff, this time it was more stiff afterwards.  A good run.  Garmin still seems a little short but hope to give a new FR110 a go tomorrow, and the GPS on that ought to be more accurate than my FR60 and footpod.

Distance:  11.39km
Time:  1:08:37
Avg HR: 142bpm
Avg pace:  6:01 min/km
Avg cadence:  87spm