Alastair Reynolds's Blog, page 4

Day 16 of RED January

 Yesterday's run:

I'm getting on well with the challenge, so thanks again to all who have supported me so far with RED January and Mind Over Mountains. For those who haven't been following, RED January is a mental health initiative aimed at getting some physical movement done on every day of the month, to boost mood and wellbeing. We all set our own goals, mine being to run between 3 and 5 K each day. Any movement is beneficial, even just a little exercise around the house or a walk around the bl...

Day 15 of RED January

 We're nearing the middle of the challenge today, and as it was a beautiful crisp clear afternoon, I went for a longer run. For the last year and a half or so, one of my preferred runs has been blocked by the closure of a pedestrian railway crossing due to electrification work on the valleys lines, but a new footbridge has been put in allowing me to pick up the route again.

Today's musical accompaniment included Ladytron's most recent album, "Time's Arrow". Jolly good!

Day 14 of RED January

 There's a welcome hint of lighter evenings to come now that we're into mid-January. One of my preferred running routes has a few unlit stretches and only a few weeks ago I would have had to set off a fair bit earlier than I was able to this afternoon. This is a really nice run which affords opportunities to spot kingfishers, although I haven't seen one for a few months. Always worth a look-out though.

Today's musical accompaniment was Editors, with their second album. I feel I need to give their...

Day 12 and 13 of RED January

 Many thanks for the support so far, it has really helped motivate me. I did a slow 5K yesterday, then a gentle 4K treadmill run today. Thank you all!

Today's musical accompaniment was "Chrome", the 1993 album by Catherine Wheel. This is a really stonking record which I haven't really tired of hearing over three decades. "Crank" was the first single off it and still sounds exciting and epic (I reckon). It's definitely a good running record as the album as a whole is pretty up-tempo.

Cheers,

Al

RED J...

Day 11 of RED January

 Parkrun day!

RED January

Day 10 of RED January

 I needed some motivation today, so this is by way of thanks to Eric, Justin, Niall and Barry for their very kind donations to the RED January cause. Thank you very much for your generosity, it really helped me put my shoes on and get out there. 

Today's musical accompaniment was the splendid Veruca Salt, with their 1994 album "American Thighs". A post-grunge classic that should be in every discerning record collection.

Days 8 and 9 of RED January

 My bid to run every day of the month is continuing. I did a treadmill run yesterday as my wife and I were leaving the house soon after to see Hamilton, and I followed up with a road run today. The weather was bitterly cold, and the ground slippery, so it was a slow run wearing multiple layers, including woolly gloves, hat and hoodie. In some respects I don't mind running in cold weather, though. You can always get warmer, but there are limits to how cool you can keep yourself in the summer. On ...

Day 7 of RED January

 That's the first week done!

This afternoon's musical accompaniment was from Swiss industrialists Young Gods, courtesy of their 1995 album "Only Heaven". It's a jolly good record!

Cheers, Al

Day 6 of RED January

 Onward!

The snow was completely gone today, leaving just puddles and mud, although there's more cold weather on its way. I contented myself with a slightly shorter run, not helped by forgetting to start my Garmin until I'd already gone some way. My musical accompaniment was Antiphon, the fourth album by the splendid Midlake, which came out in 2013. I've been listening to this record on and off for over a decade and it's really been a grower, gradually settling into my consciousness as a piece of...

Days 4 and 5 of RED January

 I was up ready for parkrun, but we had a number of cancellations in the volunteer group due to the weather, so I took over one of the timekeeping positions instead. Later in the day I went out for my own run:

It started snowing not long after I got back, followed by rain today, so rather than brave the slush and ice, I hopped on the treadmill for a shorter recovery run this afternoon.

That takes us about a sixth of the way into the challenge. So far so good, but one mustn't get cocky. There'll be...