Ice station zebra!

There has been a distinct change in temperature this week.  From wet and windy to traffic reports that the snow gates were closed in the highlands.  Winter has definitely arrived and that means changing what I wear and how I recover from a run.
It’s always difficult to know how many layers to wear as you do become hot when running.  But depending on where you are running, whether you will be sheltered from the wind or not will determine the number of layers and the types of layers.
Following my hard week of running I had Monday off so went for a massage.  Ouch, ouch, ouch.  My quads were in bits and while they were left to last, eventually I was told they weren’t for relaxing!  Better luck this week when I won’t be going after 3 tough days of running.  My Tuesday run I thought would be a recovery run but I should have known better - a tempo run where after 15 minutes you increase the pace every 10 minute until you’ve completed an hour.  To my surprise, I shouldn’t really be surprise as my coach knows what she is doing, my legs felt a lot better after that run.  Then the weather got all wintery!
On Saturday I had 2hrs 40 minutes to complete and did an extended Chatelherault run.  2 friends joined me on the run to Chatelherault and three more joined in at Chatelherault.  Everyone stayed for 1 lap and the banter was good - you need to be thick skinned around this lot! With everyone at different stages in their training it was down to 2 of us for the last lap.  It’s great having company as it makes the time pass quicker.  However it left me with 50 minutes to complete on my own.  I was a lonely 50 minutes but I was determined to make sure the quality of the run continued.  I mentioned at the beginning about the recovery after the run.  Here’s how not to do it.
You’re tired, cold and your sweat makes you uncomfortable.  You get a call to “swing by Sainsbury’s” and pick up shopping on the way home.  Hobbling round Sainsbury’s as you’ve stiffened up wishing I’d got a trolley instead of a basket which was heavy and bulging.  I get back to the house and now I’m shivering - it’s been almost an hour since my run and I need food, a shower and dry clothes.  Lesson learned.
Today I ran up and down Tinto Hill twice.  It was bitterly cold with snow on the ground.  The wind was light but as you get higher the cold really starts to get to you.  No hanging around at the summit other than a quick FB live broadcast to show I have a view - a very rare occasion for me as was the case the week before.  As soon as we were finished it was into the cafe next to the hill and some cafine and hot soup.  What a difference that makes.  The period immediately after a training session is critical especially in “ice station zebra” conditions.  As soon as I got home, without shopping, it was into the shower and then food - lots of food and some rest.  I felt a lot better.
I’m at my lightest weight as expected with this amount of training which will peak next weekend.  Then my tapering will start and hopefully I’ll put on a couple of pounds to give me something to burn off on 18 Nov!