running in tokai

I've started a new 21km training program 3 weeks ago, to try and improve my speed and endurance for orienteering a little. The program has all the usual sessions: hills, speed, long runs and tempo runs, which I've always been doing (or at least been trying to do) but it has given me a much better structure to follow.

In the past whenever work got too much, I'd start skipping quality sessions, and I think that's why I never really improve. So far it feels pretty good, tough, but not so hard that I can feel an injury coming on. Still hard enough to keep the legs tired though. Most of my orienteering races are around 10km long, so I am hoping that by focusing on a 21km program, it would make a very real difference to my performance at the 10km distance.

Anyway, this morning I went out for a 15km run in Tokai forest, and it was fantastic. It's a absolute perfect day outside, nice cool shade in the forest, big hills to make you work a little, lovely views and that fresh smell of pine everywhere. To me, it realy is the best thing on earth.