Running update

I now have a Garmin running watch (Forerunner 10) with built in GPS. It keeps a record of my running activity. A very clever device that cost about £70.

This is what it tells me about the week past. Between 22nd and 29th August I ran on 6 days totalling 28.38 miles. My fastest run was 4.1 miles at 9.48 minutes per mile. My longest run - 7.1 miles (cross country) took 1 hour 23 minutes and therefore 11.43 minutes per mile! The Garmin also tells me I burnt 3342 calories through my runs.

I did the long run yesterday late afternoon along bridleways and fields in the main. There were quite a few hills and no people. One hour 23 minutes of plodding running gives you plenty of time to think. This was my thought process.

Initially I was a reluctant runner. Excuses kept coming into my head. The main one was I am a fool. Am I making myself look a fool. Why start training for a half marathon after your 60th birthday. What are you trying to prove? What is the point giving yourself a hard time. Am I risking my health. Do others feel I am in denial about my age - trying to deny the years in a vain attempt to be young!

But I got going - a nice long uphill - Ferniclose - I felt better - positive. By counter thoughts - look you are doing this for yourself. Deep down you love the challenge. There will be a great feeling at the end of it. Actually you are beginning to move ok. Why not go for it - but don't put yourself under unnecessary pressure - just enjoy it for what it is.

So this is where I am now. I am training for this half marathon for me. It is my little challenge in my little head. Relax about times. Doing the training and getting round without stopping is the goal - it will be a personal achievement and something to be satisfied about. Hopefully there will be more times of joy during the actual running - I had a short period of it yesterday. Over half way through the run - crossing a massive open field - lovely springy turf - big sky - light drizzle - slight downhill and going ok - knowing I was doing it - hadn't bottled it. Great stuff!

The run up to my garden gate was a very satisfying feeling. Sat outside breathing heavily. From now on all pleasure. Pleased with myself. A hot bath. A long soak with a big mug of tea. Radio on. Smarten up - a couple of pints of Ruddles in Wetherspoons with James. Friday fish and chips from Nemos - feeling very relaxed. A good nights sleep. Excellent.

More curiously - I woke this morning and the first thing that came into my head was I wouldn't mind going for a run today - amazing!

Gaza - a very predictable outcome. Killing, destruction and hatred until both sides have had enough for the time being. Inevitably a political truce with both sides claiming victory. When will human kind ever learn?

REPORT BELOW - EXTRACT FROM THE GUARDIAN

The war in Gaza ended on Tuesday after Israel and the Palestinians agreed to halt fighting indefinitely, putting an end to seven weeks of catastrophic loss of life and destruction, but on terms which are likely to leave many on both sides of the conflict wondering what was achieved.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad – the main militant groups in Gaza – the Palestinian Authority and Israel agreed on an open-ended ceasefire beginning at 7pm on Tuesday evening, bringing relief to civilians on both sides of the border. The Israeli army said in a statement on Wednesday that there had been no reports of violence since the ceasefire began.

Rocket fire and air strikes had continued until the last moments, and sirens sounded across southern Israel past 7pm. Two Israelis were killed and several injured by a mortar shortly before the deadline, the Israel Defence Forces said. In Gaza two children were killed in an air strike in Khan Younis shortly before the ceasefire, and police reported that an Israeli air strike flattened a seven-storey building in Beit Lahiya, the sixth high-rise to be toppled since the weekend.

As the ceasefire came into effect Gaza echoed with celebratory gunfire and mosques announced victory through their loudspeakers. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in response to text messages sent by Hamas urging victory celebrations.

But the terms of the deal – brokered by the Egyptian government, and reached on the 50th day of the conflict – appeared to be almost identical to those agreed at the end of the previous war 21 months ago. Israel will open crossings on its border to allow humanitarian aid and construction materials to enter Gaza, and will extend the permitted fishing zone to six miles off the coast of Gaza. The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt is also to be opened.

More difficult issues will be deferred for further indirect talks between the two parties in a month. They include Hamas's demands for an airport and seaport in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel's insistence on the disarmament of militant groups and the return of the remains of two of its soldiers killed in the fighting.

In a televised address the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, thanked the Egyptians, Qataris and US secretary of state John Kerry for their efforts to secure a ceasefire. He added: "The question is now 'What's next?' Gaza suffered three wars and are we expecting another one? We will consult friends and the international community, and we can't continue with cloudy negotiations."

At a press conference at the Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Hamas is grateful to the people of Gaza who sacrificed their homes, children and money. We announce the victory today after achieving our goals."

He added: "[Israeli prime minister Binyamin] Netanyahu has failed to force Gaza to surrender. Yes, we defeated them by our standing and our resistance. We will stand by our people and we won't leave them."

The deal follows at least eight temporary ceasefires during the course of the conflict. In Gaza more than 2,100 people have been killed, most of them civilians, including about 500 children, in the past seven weeks. At least 11,000 people were injured and more than 17,000 homes destroyed or badly damaged. Around a third of Gaza's 1.8 million people have been displaced, many now living in United Nations shelters. Schools, hospitals, factories, farms, mosques and infrastructure such as power and water plants were hit. Reconstruction could take up to 10 years, say analysts. On the Israeli side 64 soldiers died along with six civilians including a four-year-old boy. Hundreds of families relocated from homes near the Gaza border to safer areas further north.

The Israeli military estimates that the weapons stocks of Hamas and other militant groups have fallen to less than a third of their pre-war levels, by being fired or destroyed in air strikes.

Three of Hamas's top military commanders were killed last week and the fate of its military chief , is still unknown after his wife and two children were killed in a massive air strike last Tuesday. However the organisation claims to have won respect among Palestinians for putting up strong resistance against Israel's military onslaught.

Israeli leaders are expected to claim to have severely weakened Hamas over the past seven weeks, and restored "quiet" to areas within rocket range.

The Gaza conflict began on 8 July following weeks of tension after the abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, and the subsequent revenge killing of a Palestinian youth. Israel responded with a wave of arrests of Hamas members, which triggered intensified rocket fire from Gaza.

The Three Tenners - episodes 2,3,4 and up to date 5

After Brecon we decided to do some more serious hiking. Dartmoor is home territory for us being Devon lads and for my brothers still on their doorstep. For those that don't know it - Dartmoor is 365 square miles of National Park- one of the England's largest areas of exposed granite outcrop. It is  mixed in with sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and shale and slate. It is a dramatic empty moorland prone to rapid changes in weather as prevailing south westerly's dump the weather from the Atlantic on the first high ground it hits. Dartmoor can be bleak, fog and mist a frequent factor and the open, sometimes boggy terrain can be challenging to navigation

We started off with day walks - including 1)  Haytor, 2)Easdon Tor and Bowerman's Nose, 3)Hound Tor, Saddle Tor and Top Tor and 4) Mardon Down and Blackingstone Rock.

Our last trek was different. It was just a week ago - so August. It was never really cold but it certainly became wet. It seemed we had the whole moor to ourselves - apart from ponies and sheep and occasional cattle. We set out from Meldon Reservoir and walked up Red-a-ven Brook to the high moor. We eventually got to the highest point on the moor High Willhays and then Yes Tor - apparently 7 feet lower but seemed higher throughout.

We descended to the West Oakment River to camp overnight and then walked out via the wonderful and mysterious Black-a tor copse the next day.

It was particularly different because we wild camped. We each had our own tent, cooked our own food etc etc and loved it. We each discovered deficiencies in our gear and preparation which we have agreed we will strive to put right for the more challenging walks we have agreed we want to do through the autumn and winter. I need a better tent certainly. On the equipment front there is a balance to be struck between weight and strength and of course price so research to be done and funds to find.

The last point - navigation. I use an OS map and compass. Rob and Mike have bought hand held GPS's. Initially they struggled with them - but they are now coming good and a great sense of security can come from the confirmation they can offer. I was sceptical. I am now glad they have them.

Below are a load of photos that give a pretty good idea of what we have been up to.

Approaching High Willhay's

High Willhay's

Tumble 1

At the start - too tidy to be the finish?

Mike's entry for the Nigella award!

Yes Tor

Tumble 2

Tumble 3

Rob trying to end it all

Mike reflective at the end