Endurance training

In training for Ironman events, Marathon des Sables and now other ultra marathons I have trained my mind to put up with a lot.  Exhaustion, pain, freezing conditions, extreme heat, dehydration and long periods of boredom.
Over the last few days, such is my dedication to the cause that I have completed a back to back endurance training session that has included all of the above. It started on Friday at 4pm and my first mistake was getting the pace wrong. I went off too fast with the hydration plan forgetting the importance of food - I suffered for that later.  The one advantage of the mistake was how quickly the event passed and I shed a lot of pounds, hundreds in fact. Outside it had been freezing but inside the layers were coming off to keep my core temperature down. The boredom of waiting for the carriage home while listening to people who had obviously missed their feed stations eventually passed.
But this was a back to back training session so last nigh I repeated the training. But like all good athletes I had learned. I paced myself. Got the balance right between hydration and food. This was a better experience which enhanced my performance.
Fortunately I only undertake this dangerous training once a year. If you're motivated to try this over the next few weeks then be careful but enjoy yourself. Normal training resumes on Thursday. Have a wonderful Xmas and thank you for taking the time to follow my adventures. Knowing that you are following me keeps me motivated at the most difficult times. Like now when I have a hangover! Merry Xmas.