Windy running

I went for a run along Southsea seafront tonight. I made it from Eastney swimming baths at one end to South Parade Pier, and back. It was 3 miles exactly and I did it in 33 minutes and 35 seconds. I felt I could have kept going for longer - perhaps even done the distance again, after a good stretch, as per my program - but it was starting to get dark and the wind was relentless!

I remember doing a sponsored walk of some 6 miles along the seafront when I was a pre-teen, and crying most of the way back because the wind was whipping the spray and rain into my face. It wasn't raining tonight, and I didn't cry, but the wind was full against me all the way out. My pace was quite slow! Also I couldn't hear my MP3 player too well because of the whistling wind.

Then I got to the pier and turned, and it was like something had enclosed me and I felt no wind at all. This was good because I really picked up the pace on the way back. It made for some quite spectacular breakers and a very cool run (though not too cold, once I'd got going); however, the bit I ran from the pool to the pier is the final leg of the Great South Run, so I will have to save something for the last mile and a half on the day.

When I got in I mapped my run with Map My Run. Unlike the one I have used before, this one allows me to put in my time, weight and height and calculates my calorie count and average pace in minutes per mile, and miles per hour. I am impressed! Tonight's run...
* I burned 431 calories
* I averaged a mile every 11 minutes and 9 seconds
* I was running an average speed of 5.38 miles per hour

Impressive stuff!

I am coming back to Portsmouth for my 10 year school reunion in June, so I will aim to go a bit further then.

Sally xx