A few good things... including a trip to Ethiopia!

18M double; recovery runs x2 & core strength exercises
10M am recovery run at ~7.30min/M
8M pm recovery run at ~7.00min/M
Core strength exercises (four cycles)

The week isn't over and had a bit of a wobbly start, but I think my training is beginning to come good. My runs today were GENTLE. My legs were pleasingly achy after yesterday's speed session.

A few good things have happened this week. Firstly, I behaved well when I felt the niggle on Tuesday and missed some training. Secondly, my longer tempo run felt really good on Wednesday - this was the sort of run that I felt suffered (or didn't happen) during my high mileage weeks last year. Thirdly, I started my core strength work again today. I haven't done this since mid-October. One of my anxieties had been how to add it in given that I've been upping the mileage and intensity over the last few weeks.

Also, I've now pretty much sorted my trip to altitude - to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia - in late February and March. I'm going to go for four weeks and will be running with an Ethiopian group called Running Across Borders.

I'm sure there are pros and cons to going to Ethiopia over other altitude destinations, but it'll be a once in a lifetime experience and could be really beneficial come April. I leave the day after the National Cross-country champs.