14 slow

This was the best run I've had in training for London and probably a fair bit before that too.

The miles flew in - 9.19mi average across the 14.1 and 8.12mi for the last one, which was up the side of Strathclyde Loch to the Boathouse.

I did have a familiar companion for part of the way, a grumpy right achilles, but it was no more than that and certainly not a huge hindrance.

Was today's feel-good factor a coincidence after yesterday's massage on both legs? I don't think so.

My legs were left feeling a whole lot looser, particularly the right one, and I had a very plausible explanation for the feeling of tightness and imminent cramp (which never happened) in my right calf.

The area I was feeling the muscle contraction is a myofascial trigger point and the condition can be relieved through a procedure called dry needling.

I'll see how it goes but I don't feel it's such a problem that I'm going to rush out and have needles stuck in me.

Murrayfield tomorrow for the France game, which is why this weekend's long run was done today. An easy four before I go to Edinburgh.

The web clip on this post is from today's Herald and came about as a result of a neighbour, who works for First Direct, asking if I'd be interviewed for a personal finance story about the faster payments system.

I'm anybody's for a £50 Marks & Spencer voucher,