Middle Aged and Middle Class?

With the new house has come a series of new items:0

• A gas BBQ
• A Trailer
• A sit on mower

Does that finally make me middle aged and middle class - As Tom Hughes accused me of 15 years ago. I feel it is now true.

But it does not make my running quicker (well unless I am sitting on the mower). Nor does it make my sense of direction perfect. Yesterday, I went out for a quick 3km run but I got disorientated and arrived at the lawn mower shop - 3km from where I thought I was. So I ended up running 6km not 3. Maybe it was Owen playing voodoo with me - he wants me to buy a trailer for the mower.

Todays run was a bit tougher though. It was my first attempt up Mt July. Slow, but fun with great views. 250m climb in 2km (about 16 minutes)

A number of firsts.

Yesterday I did my first run in Montagnat as a resident. 9.5km in 45 minutes. This distance is also a first past my 6km comfort zone of Dardilly running. Today, another first. I managed to get lost on one of the hills here - Mount July. It was cold and wet so I wanted to do something not to flat (So I would not have to pound out too many miles) This run by contrast was 6km and took 41 minutes.

Quite a nice run today though. Too steep/long for me to run the whole way. At the same time not too long. The trails seem to be some form of limestone. I did not do the ominously sounding "Black Mountain" because there was no easy parking. Will revisit that soon just for the name.

Nearly all clear

After an MRI scan this morning the doctor gave me the nearly all clear - Everything seems fine and repairing well.I need to give him a call some time in September just to say I am fine.

From my point of view there are still some weird things. Looking from high on my abdomen I have a funny valley running down from my belly button. It's as if the doctor tucked the fat that would have been under the scar tissue into the sides. See snap shot from the MRI:

In the interest of marital harmony

The family traveled en masse to Montagnat today to talk to the old owners of the new house to see how things worked (there was some interesting features including an sophisticated alarm system and tractor to review)

I also managed to time the trip so I could slip in a race organized in the village - using the excuse that it would be an ideal time to meet people and to get to know the area. But it was hot and wifey was not best pleased. I opted for the 5km (not 10) to keep things on an even keel in the marital stakes. Probably a prudent move too in terms of fitness.

As normal I went out too quick, stupidly keeping up with the chasing group. Until that is they dropped me after the shortest of 1.5km's Then I trotted around pretty much at my own pace until close to the end where Owen and Joanne where waiting to run with me through the finish line. I think they said I came in 21st, probably putting me in top 10 vets.... but then again, there may have only been 15 veterans in the race?

It was pretty flat, but was happy with an average 4:20 per km and an absolutely flat cadence. I still have a way to go before fitness returns, as it was hard work getting these stats