21 miles

Months ago, I told Milly that I would help her with her training for the Rome marathon. Given that she lives in London, that's a promise that I've not been held to very often. A few weeks ago, when she was up in Kirkby Lonsdale, we did seventeen miles together, but that's about it recently.

But last week she was upset that she hadn't managed to get in the last of her long training runs before her taper* started. Since that deadline was only two days ago, I suggested to her that we might do the run today.

Twenty-one miles, though.

To be honest, it wasn't a prospect that filled me with much joy; I am at least  six kilos over a good running weight, and recently most of my runs have been around eight miles. But I had given my word. 

Anyway, Milly arrived at Mum's around half-two and twenty minutes later we were out on the road heading up to Richmond Park. It was a lovely day for running; sunny and clear, with a slight chill.

The park itself was beautiful, and we were very close to the deer in today's photo before we saw them. Great camouflage! 

We ran all the way around the park from the Ladderstile Gate to Richmond, at which point we left the park and made our way down to the river. It was somewhere between Richmond and Thames Ditton where I snatched the photo in today's Extra. 

It was getting dark as we left the river and the last few miles were less interesting, although they would have been in the daylight, to be honest. (Sorry, Tolworth.)

We made it back to Mum's in good spirits and with no discernible difficulties (or injuries), and after showering, we took Mum up to Pizza Express for a post-run bite to eat. I was already feeling it in my legs!

*Such that two weeks before a race you cut back on your training.