Real recovery

Friday is normally rest day in the marathon training programme. Since we'll be driving back from the Alps tomorrow and we might not make it back before dusk, we decided that we'd go for an early morning run from the centre before we had breakfast and put the skis on. Laurence slept badly and was worried about running alone at this time in the morning so in a fit of gallantry and eager to take it easy, I volunteered to accompany her on her recovery run.

We followed the same route that I ran on Wednesday and ran up the back roads to Megevette higher up the valley. The morning was fabulous with not a cloud in sight and the views along the valley to Mont Blanc were beautiful. We took it easy up to Megevette and then admired the layer of mist lying in the valley bottom with the snow-covered hills towering above the valley on both sides.

I convinced Laurence that we should run beyond Megevette despite the fact that her programme only scheduled a 45 minute run and this route would take a little longer. Laurence agreed, returning the favour for running with me, and we ran up to Chaumety before running back down the main road. We both stretched out down here and Laurence and I ran the last 3 kilometres in under 5 minutes each in 3:49, 3:40 then 3:32.

11.5 km all up in 1:03 or an average pace of 5:34 over the distance. Lovely relaxing run and a great start to our last day on holiday here.