More than 3 months since I blogged - now that's disgraceful!
I was horrified to notice that my last entry was on January 18th, but as I sat here and read the last entry - wearing shorts at 9 am and looking out at another beautiful spring day - I realised how time had passed.
So this update will be in the form of bullet points to let me begin blogging again as I once again commit to some serious training.
- I kept going through January, posting my highest monthly total for about 20 years of 207 miles.
- In the first week of February we transferred enough money to Uganda to pay the secondary school fees for 125 HIV/Aids orphans for the opening term of the 2007 academic year in various schools in Iganga district.
- On February 11th I ran in the Stamford 30k. On an almost spring-like day I surprised myself by running the very undulating course in 2 hrs 32 mins 24 secs, an average pace of 8:11 miles and a predictor for a sub 3:40 marathon!
- The pleasure from this run was somewhat bitter sweet as it turned out to be the last day I saw my Mum alive, as she passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 16th. The cancer that she had contracted was far too much for a woman of 90, however tough was her constitution. Her ashes are interred next to her husband of 58 years in the roots of a Catalpa tree in Spalding St Mary & St Nicholas churchyard. This same tree was planted by my grandfather, Leonard Massey in memory of his wife, Jenny, at her passing. I miss my mum and the unconditional love she showed us all every day.
- Debbie and I flew off for 2 weeks in Costa Rica 2 days after the Stamford race and, happy with my achievement, I unconsciously decided to wind down on my running for a few weeks - not before some inspirational beachfront running and wildlife encounters in the tropics! What a beautiful country it is and with such friendly people - and great coffee!
- Since returning at the very end of February, it's been pretty much "maintenance running" for me, with no thoughts of racing. My half-baked idea of running the Rotterdam Marathon faded in the sun in Costa Rica, and (as usual) it has taken the London Marathon and a critical view of my online training diary to spur me back into action.
So I've re-committed myself to serious training even as I am writing this...
- There will be an autumn marathon this year, probably Dublin on October 29th. It will be a PB!
- As I start again properly I am 9 kgs lighter than at the same time last year and my comfortable training pace is around 40 secs per mile quicker.
- My work committments are just as heavy this year and this will disrupt attempts at really high mileage, but hopefully the base built up in the last 12 months will have a really beneficial effect.
- I will try very hard not to finish up in hospital.......
So off we go again - I'll try to get more photos up this year, particularly of the areas where I run. More later this week.
I love to get out and run offroad at least once a week and this also gives my dog, Bertie, a good workout too!. He is a 10 year old Cocker Spaniel and is still plenty fit enough to run up to 12 miles as my "trailblazer". 
He's now completely deaf so occasionally he gets to go off at tangents and only discovers his wrong turnings when he eventually decides to check that I'm behind him!
One of my favourite offroad running areas is up in the Chiltern Hills, about 6 miles from home, above the small village of Bledlow. 
This area of criss-crossing footpaths and bridleways is undulating and the Ridgeway path runs right through it. The land is very chalky so is relatively firm underfoot in all but the wettest weather. Parts are quite exposed and even on a hot day there is normally a pleasant breeze to keep you cool. 
Some of the views are stunning, particularly across Princes Risborough to Whiteleaf Cross and to the north over the Vale of Aylesbury. And there are safe places to park the car and leave a cold drink before the short drive home!
