There was no repeat of the thunderstorms yesterday so me and my running buddy went out for our first run together, covering 5K. It was as far as she'd run before, and it made for what seemed like an easier run for me. It rained pleasantly throughout - contrary to the impression I might have given in early blogs, I do quite like running in the rain (assuming it's not too cold).

As an easy run, all it served to do was to whet my appetite for something a bit more strenuous. Tonight I went out for another run, at a quicker pace. It didn't feel comfortable. After a break from running, perhaps I was just being a bit keen to go running on consecutive days so soon. I could quite get my mind in the right place either, and I really should have gone a bit further. Thing is, I'm back at the just-get-out-and-run stage, so I shouldn't worry about these things so much. I'm just glad I'm getting out again.

As I've written about before, there are several things that drive my running. Losing weight is probably the most important driver at the moment. Running obviously isn't the only thing influencing success with this objective - what I'm eating probably has the biggest say there.

Up until a few years ago, my diet wasn't that good. As someone who never really did much cooking or really had the motivation or patience for it, I tended to eat a lot of pre-prepared meals and takeaways and didn't get much in the way of fruit or veg. I'd usually skip breakfast, have a large lunch and an even larger dinner - with random snacking in between. It was all wrong really. In the last few years it's all changed. I get cereal for breakfast, have soup for lunch, and benefit from some proper cooking for dinner - with snacking in between under control, usually fruit and cereal bars.

Up until a few months ago, all the cooking was done for me and I'm know in the position of doing it myself. To my surprise, I'm enjoying getting to grips with it. I'm getting some confidence and the results are good. I really hadn't done any cooking of any significance before, so it might not sound like a big deal but I assure you it is! I've got what I feel is a good balanced diet, and this is a good place to start.

Since I started cooking for myself though, I'm not getting the portions right for dinner. I'm making this really tasty food, following recipes that tend to serve four. I'm either eating half and taking half to work for lunch the following day, or I'm just eating as much as I want. Neither is ideal. This evening was the later, and there wasn't really much wild rice pilaf left.

My diet can be perfectly balanced, but if I'm going nuts on the amount I'm eating for dinner then I'm in danger of getting nowhere with my objectives. Right now I'm focusing on getting out and getting some kilometres into the training log, but I've done this before and I know I can do it. Sorting this other thing out is arguably as important, but I feel as though it's a bit more of a challenge right now.

Physical and mental. I need to focus on both.