New Year Resolutions -don’t bother. No seriously don’t bother as you’ll only end beating yourself up especially if you only last a few weeks before ditching them. Let’s replace the word resolution, which has a negative connotation, with the word goal(s) and if you are going to set a goal - set the bar high. There’s nothing more disappointing than seeing someone set a low bar, and then achieving it! It just encourages mediocrity.
Set a goal you are passionate about. Write it down. Put a plan around it and have someone check your progress on a regular basis - someone you’re accountable to. Put it on Facebook. Link it to a charity so when the going gets tough you don’t want to let them down. Tell your friends and Blog about it - I promise it works and I’ve a 9 year track record to prove it.
If you keep your goals to yourself it’s easy to let them drop and may gyms will see this when they are packed in January and start to empty in February and back to the regulars by March. This approach can be life changing.
With my daily and weekly goals being monitored by my coach, I make sure I arrange my day / life around getting the session done and making it meaningful. It doesn’t always work but I’d say 97% of the time it does. Sometimes Tollcross Swimming let me down like yesterday when they didn’t open till 12 and I was standing outside at 11 (not shown on their website!). I didn’t have time in my schedule to wait as I was going to a family event which involved a few glasses of wine and food. I carefully paced myself so that the following day I was fit to run 1 hr 55 mins at Chatelherault in the morning. It would have been easy to have had a “session” yesterday and not be able to get out of my bed in the morning and to skip the run but reporting after every training session to my coach doesn’t give me that option.
This approach works for me so if you really want to achieve something special in 2019, you might want to consider it. Or you could let another year go by and find yourself heading up to the next year end thinking about New Year Resolutions. The power is in your hands - go on. You know you want to. All the best for 2019.
Saturday, 29 December 2018
Monday, 24 December 2018
It’s the season to be jolly
Where has the year gone? Blink and you’d have missed it. You plan a goal and before you know it you’re at the startline. My first startline next year will be the Highland Fling in 17 weeks time and there’s a lot of work to be done. Going from 5 miles to 53 miles in that timeframe won’t be easy, but it will happen as it’s only the warm up for the main event where I’ll repeat this mileage another 3 days and 40,000ft of climbing. As Muhammad Ali said, “if your goals don’t scare you then you haven’t set them high enough”.
This week my running mileage took a hike and it felt great. My heart rate is a bit high but that will be sorted in the next month as the consistent running starts to show in the results. The temperature certainly has an effect and today I was running in -3 degrees and trying to stay upright on the icy country roads. My heart was working hard but not hard enough to stop the pain with the cold in my fingers despite wearing gloves - it will be ski gloves next time!
But it’s not all hard training. On Saturday a large group of triathletes met at Chatelherault in fancy dress and to the amusement of the other walkers we did a slightly slower lap than normal. The highlight had to be our T-Rex who had dogs either attacking him or running for their lives. While we all work and train hard during the year, this is the season to be jolly so make the most of the time off if you are lucky enough to have some. I’m enjoying two weeks off and while I will continue training I’m looking forward to some wonderful food, plenty of rest, the odd glass of wine and time with the family. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for following my journey. Merry Christmas.
This week my running mileage took a hike and it felt great. My heart rate is a bit high but that will be sorted in the next month as the consistent running starts to show in the results. The temperature certainly has an effect and today I was running in -3 degrees and trying to stay upright on the icy country roads. My heart was working hard but not hard enough to stop the pain with the cold in my fingers despite wearing gloves - it will be ski gloves next time!
But it’s not all hard training. On Saturday a large group of triathletes met at Chatelherault in fancy dress and to the amusement of the other walkers we did a slightly slower lap than normal. The highlight had to be our T-Rex who had dogs either attacking him or running for their lives. While we all work and train hard during the year, this is the season to be jolly so make the most of the time off if you are lucky enough to have some. I’m enjoying two weeks off and while I will continue training I’m looking forward to some wonderful food, plenty of rest, the odd glass of wine and time with the family. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for following my journey. Merry Christmas.
Sunday, 9 December 2018
Maybe I, maybe naw
Maybe I, maybe naw won’t mean much to my friends from afar but its this time of year when a comedy show comes on telly and a “football character” uses the phrase when trying to make a decision (in Edinburgh they’d say “possibly darling, possibly not”!). Sadly the maybe I, maybe naw phrase has been over used this year with all the political talk of Brexit. I’ve heard there’s a significant vote taking place on Tuesday but maybe I, maybe naw - it’s doing my head in!
The solution however is simple. Pull on a pair of trainers and go out for a run. Ignore all the noise and hot air being spouted and go and enjoy the wonderful surrounding in your own back yard. My return to training has been gentle with runs restricted to between 5-8km. I’ve quickly built up my swimming to 1,500m but this is following drills or specific sets. I’m on week two of my strength training however some golfers elbow has restricted certain exercises. Going for some sports therapy tomorrow so hopefully that will get sorted.
And despite all my experience, yesterday I got caught up in a fast, was meant to be social, Chatelherault run. The first half was good but I realised the second half was going to hurt - and it did. My heart rate and breathing were out of sorts which continued today even though the pace was much more controlled. It’s either a lack of running or I’m coming down with something.
But it’s the “off season”. The sessions should continue to have a purpose but with a bit more chatting and a slower pace. We’ll get through December without having lost too much fitness so we can hit the ground running in January because it’s less than 4 months to the 53 mile Highland Fling Ultra!
Maybe I, maybe naw is not a phrased used when training - if it’s on the schedule, get it done. The only time I’ll be using that phrase in the coming weeks will be deciding if I want more sticky toffee pudding and undoubtably the answer will be I! Enjoy your offseason training folks....and the mince pies!
The solution however is simple. Pull on a pair of trainers and go out for a run. Ignore all the noise and hot air being spouted and go and enjoy the wonderful surrounding in your own back yard. My return to training has been gentle with runs restricted to between 5-8km. I’ve quickly built up my swimming to 1,500m but this is following drills or specific sets. I’m on week two of my strength training however some golfers elbow has restricted certain exercises. Going for some sports therapy tomorrow so hopefully that will get sorted.
And despite all my experience, yesterday I got caught up in a fast, was meant to be social, Chatelherault run. The first half was good but I realised the second half was going to hurt - and it did. My heart rate and breathing were out of sorts which continued today even though the pace was much more controlled. It’s either a lack of running or I’m coming down with something.
But it’s the “off season”. The sessions should continue to have a purpose but with a bit more chatting and a slower pace. We’ll get through December without having lost too much fitness so we can hit the ground running in January because it’s less than 4 months to the 53 mile Highland Fling Ultra!
Maybe I, maybe naw is not a phrased used when training - if it’s on the schedule, get it done. The only time I’ll be using that phrase in the coming weeks will be deciding if I want more sticky toffee pudding and undoubtably the answer will be I! Enjoy your offseason training folks....and the mince pies!
Sunday, 25 November 2018
Rest, recover and return
Having been in the hurt locker, Monday & Tuesday weren’t fun as I was visited but DOMS! Walking like John Wayne my legs didn’t like me and my body wasn’t too pleased either. But coming home to champagne and good food after the race and a hot bath was the start of my recover - I had a lot of hot baths last week!
With no training planned I was out celebrating on Tuesday night and come Thursday I was able to handle a massage and the message was that my legs were on the mend. I’ve been eating “like a horse” all week and am constantly craving food. Probably because I was 148 Lbs after the race and after a momentous effort I’m up to 152! Other than a dreadful sleep after the race I’ve been like “rip van winkle” taking every opportunity to nap.
Back out celebrating on Friday with a couple of hours of disco dancing, yes that’s what I said - disco dancing! Had a ball and no lycra or Garmin in sight. But of course I knew this rest period would be short lived.
Today I had a social 5km jog around the murals of Glasgow with friends which was great fun - no Garmin or heart rate monitor! I also received my training plan as I prepare for my first race of 2019 - The Highland Fling, a 53 mile ultra. I did the race 4 years ago and my coach has already set me a very ambitious target. This is all in the build up to my “A race” the Tahoe 200 in September.
I’m back to swimming on Tuesday and for this I may need armbands it’s been that long! After writing this blog I’m away to prepare / clean out my gym as my coach is coming round to sort out my strength training on Thursday - there may be tears and tantrums! My initial running will restricted to 5km which seems ridiculous when a week ago I ran 13 times that. However although I feel good I need to give my body the best chance to recover so we are building on a fresh rather than fatigued body.
The new training plan is exciting and as I’ve said so often, you have to enjoy the journey and the race is the “icing on to of the cake” as you don’t always get to eat the “cake”. A new chapter starts and I’ll be mixing my training with a social life over the next 5 weeks which in itself is a challenge but it’s the season to be jolly....la la la la la la la la la!
With no training planned I was out celebrating on Tuesday night and come Thursday I was able to handle a massage and the message was that my legs were on the mend. I’ve been eating “like a horse” all week and am constantly craving food. Probably because I was 148 Lbs after the race and after a momentous effort I’m up to 152! Other than a dreadful sleep after the race I’ve been like “rip van winkle” taking every opportunity to nap.
Back out celebrating on Friday with a couple of hours of disco dancing, yes that’s what I said - disco dancing! Had a ball and no lycra or Garmin in sight. But of course I knew this rest period would be short lived.
Today I had a social 5km jog around the murals of Glasgow with friends which was great fun - no Garmin or heart rate monitor! I also received my training plan as I prepare for my first race of 2019 - The Highland Fling, a 53 mile ultra. I did the race 4 years ago and my coach has already set me a very ambitious target. This is all in the build up to my “A race” the Tahoe 200 in September.
I’m back to swimming on Tuesday and for this I may need armbands it’s been that long! After writing this blog I’m away to prepare / clean out my gym as my coach is coming round to sort out my strength training on Thursday - there may be tears and tantrums! My initial running will restricted to 5km which seems ridiculous when a week ago I ran 13 times that. However although I feel good I need to give my body the best chance to recover so we are building on a fresh rather than fatigued body.
The new training plan is exciting and as I’ve said so often, you have to enjoy the journey and the race is the “icing on to of the cake” as you don’t always get to eat the “cake”. A new chapter starts and I’ll be mixing my training with a social life over the next 5 weeks which in itself is a challenge but it’s the season to be jolly....la la la la la la la la la!
Monday, 19 November 2018
The hurt locker
The Tweed Valley 65km ultra is done. It’s over and for a “B race” it provided me with huge rewards. After the success of the GGU this summer I had nothing else to train for except Tahoe 200 but that was 15 months away. The winter was approaching and I needed something to motivate me to build on my training in preparation for Tahoe. My coach put together an amazing plan considering the short time before the race which wasn’t helped by 3 weeks off due to a cruise and then catching a cold. But she delivered me to the start line in the best possible condition although we knew it was going to be tough.
One of the lessons I have learned along the way is that the distance, is the distance. Where ever that finish line is you pace yourself accordingly and as there were two races going on at the same time (50 km and 65km) you could see everyone going through the same challenges.
I had decided to race this race rather than just complete the race. I had nothing to lose as I know I can run further than 65km (GGU was 115 km). My coach set a pace plan which was ambitious but after all, I was racing. There were 4 climbs totalling 5,000 ft. The race starts with a reasonable climb and I ran to the top without stopping to walk. Flew down the other side and knew my quads wouldn’t be thanking me for that later - I wasn’t wrong. My biggest pre-race decision was whether to wear shorts or running tights. It was cold and I’m so glad I went for tights or I don’t think I’d have finished the race if I hadn’t. It was blue sky’s everywhere, except the race course. All the climbs were surrounded in fog so the promised views didn’t materialise - nothing knew for me there!
At the bottom of my second climb my support team were there screaming like daftys ! Genevieve my coach was shouting encouragement as was Colin and Michael who was there capturing it on camera - he’s an incredible photographer.
My only disappointment was that at CP3 my 1st drop bag should have been there with my custard and flat coke but it wasn’t. I didn’t let it bother me as I had spare nutrition and the organisers had coke but it was a valuable lesson - come prepared.
As happens on these runs you end up around a group of people who are about the same pace. I ran over half the race with Laura MacDonald, who ended up second woman, and chatting away passed the time but we were going at a great pace. The third hill was a big climb and the enevitable walking took over but we were still flying down the hills. In between the hills there is a lot of flat running and sadly much of this was on tarmac which is never pleasant in trail shoes but the off-road running was spectacular - I’ll be back on those hills over the winter.
Around 45km I was starting to feel the effect of the downhill running and my lack of hill training. The tarmac was taking it’s toll. When we got to the last CP I told Laura to head on as she was obviously stronger than me and I didn’t want to hold her back.
By this time I was in a lot of pain. My quads and hammies are screaming at me and I’m just trying not to injure myself and DNF. There was 15 km to go and 10km of that was on tarmac. My coach is telling me “no walking” so I was shuffling along at 6.30 pace. Running that slow is difficult when you are out for a training run, almost impossible but not when you have the distance and the hills in your legs.
As I slowed down I started to get cold and was now on my own. My running tops were damp with sweat and the temperature was dropping. I was overtaking the walkers most of whom were doing the 50km race and were struggling. I really felt for them as it meant they’d be facing the Glentress hill through the forrest in the dark. But I kept telling myself to run until I reached the hill. Then I had to walk. My legs were in bits but there was worse to come. The downhill! I couldn’t run downhill, much as I wanted. I rationalised that my time didn’t matter. What mattered was not pulling a muscle so I tenderly walked my way down the hill. The support team were at the bottom screaming encouragement and I did my best to smile and jog the last 300 m. The sharp right turn with a steep uphill 50 m finish was a relief to my quads. Crossed the line in 7hrs 21 mins. 40th overall out of 105 runners and most importantly 4th male over 50. I’d like to have been closer to 7 hours but I’ve gained so much from the race.
Your mind set is different when your racing as aposed to training no matter how hard you try in training because you really visit the hurt locker. This occurs when you are pushing yourself over a prolonged period of time. You’re hurting and having to dig deep to put one foot in front of another. You question why you are doing this and doubt you’ll ever do it again - even though the next event is booked! When you’re racing you just get it done - you can recover over the coming weeks.
But let me finish with the point about your distance being your distance. This race pushed me to my limits based on my current fitness yet in the summer I ran an extra 50km (115km total) so it can be done. And as for my 2019 “A race”, compared to yesterday it’s an extra 11.25 miles per day for 4 days non stop with 10,000 ft of climbing, not 5,000ft, and sleep deprivation. That’s a big step up but on 29th Nov my strength training starts and this will be designed around sorting out the weaknesses that keep creeping in when the going gets tough. This will be my biggest challenge to date but with the right approach and mind set I will get there. Why do I do it people ask - apart from how great I feel and how healthy I am, I want to make a difference and supporting Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres is important to me. In the meantime I’m on day 1 of my recovery, eating for Britain, aching all over but I’ll be fine by the end of the week. I’ll be taking a couple of weeks off from the blog until I’m back training and juggling that with a social life in the run up to Christmas!
One of the lessons I have learned along the way is that the distance, is the distance. Where ever that finish line is you pace yourself accordingly and as there were two races going on at the same time (50 km and 65km) you could see everyone going through the same challenges.
I had decided to race this race rather than just complete the race. I had nothing to lose as I know I can run further than 65km (GGU was 115 km). My coach set a pace plan which was ambitious but after all, I was racing. There were 4 climbs totalling 5,000 ft. The race starts with a reasonable climb and I ran to the top without stopping to walk. Flew down the other side and knew my quads wouldn’t be thanking me for that later - I wasn’t wrong. My biggest pre-race decision was whether to wear shorts or running tights. It was cold and I’m so glad I went for tights or I don’t think I’d have finished the race if I hadn’t. It was blue sky’s everywhere, except the race course. All the climbs were surrounded in fog so the promised views didn’t materialise - nothing knew for me there!
At the bottom of my second climb my support team were there screaming like daftys ! Genevieve my coach was shouting encouragement as was Colin and Michael who was there capturing it on camera - he’s an incredible photographer.
My only disappointment was that at CP3 my 1st drop bag should have been there with my custard and flat coke but it wasn’t. I didn’t let it bother me as I had spare nutrition and the organisers had coke but it was a valuable lesson - come prepared.
As happens on these runs you end up around a group of people who are about the same pace. I ran over half the race with Laura MacDonald, who ended up second woman, and chatting away passed the time but we were going at a great pace. The third hill was a big climb and the enevitable walking took over but we were still flying down the hills. In between the hills there is a lot of flat running and sadly much of this was on tarmac which is never pleasant in trail shoes but the off-road running was spectacular - I’ll be back on those hills over the winter.
Around 45km I was starting to feel the effect of the downhill running and my lack of hill training. The tarmac was taking it’s toll. When we got to the last CP I told Laura to head on as she was obviously stronger than me and I didn’t want to hold her back.
By this time I was in a lot of pain. My quads and hammies are screaming at me and I’m just trying not to injure myself and DNF. There was 15 km to go and 10km of that was on tarmac. My coach is telling me “no walking” so I was shuffling along at 6.30 pace. Running that slow is difficult when you are out for a training run, almost impossible but not when you have the distance and the hills in your legs.
As I slowed down I started to get cold and was now on my own. My running tops were damp with sweat and the temperature was dropping. I was overtaking the walkers most of whom were doing the 50km race and were struggling. I really felt for them as it meant they’d be facing the Glentress hill through the forrest in the dark. But I kept telling myself to run until I reached the hill. Then I had to walk. My legs were in bits but there was worse to come. The downhill! I couldn’t run downhill, much as I wanted. I rationalised that my time didn’t matter. What mattered was not pulling a muscle so I tenderly walked my way down the hill. The support team were at the bottom screaming encouragement and I did my best to smile and jog the last 300 m. The sharp right turn with a steep uphill 50 m finish was a relief to my quads. Crossed the line in 7hrs 21 mins. 40th overall out of 105 runners and most importantly 4th male over 50. I’d like to have been closer to 7 hours but I’ve gained so much from the race.
Your mind set is different when your racing as aposed to training no matter how hard you try in training because you really visit the hurt locker. This occurs when you are pushing yourself over a prolonged period of time. You’re hurting and having to dig deep to put one foot in front of another. You question why you are doing this and doubt you’ll ever do it again - even though the next event is booked! When you’re racing you just get it done - you can recover over the coming weeks.
But let me finish with the point about your distance being your distance. This race pushed me to my limits based on my current fitness yet in the summer I ran an extra 50km (115km total) so it can be done. And as for my 2019 “A race”, compared to yesterday it’s an extra 11.25 miles per day for 4 days non stop with 10,000 ft of climbing, not 5,000ft, and sleep deprivation. That’s a big step up but on 29th Nov my strength training starts and this will be designed around sorting out the weaknesses that keep creeping in when the going gets tough. This will be my biggest challenge to date but with the right approach and mind set I will get there. Why do I do it people ask - apart from how great I feel and how healthy I am, I want to make a difference and supporting Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres is important to me. In the meantime I’m on day 1 of my recovery, eating for Britain, aching all over but I’ll be fine by the end of the week. I’ll be taking a couple of weeks off from the blog until I’m back training and juggling that with a social life in the run up to Christmas!
Sunday, 11 November 2018
Long shadows
This week I was two days in Belfast with no ability to run, so every remaining day was running; steady run, tempo run and a hill run. And of course this weekend was back to back runs but only 90 minutes each. I’ve met with my coach and we’ve gone over most of the route - unfortunately the O/S map didn’t cover about 10 km of the race but the race plan is in place. I’m in good condition but not as fit as I was for the GGU but that’s fine as this race was to give me a focus to train hard in the run up to winter - it certainly has.
On Saturday Stuart came out for a recovery run following his successful 33 mile ultra the week before and we got a lap of Chatelherault in before the others arrived - 43 minutes was faster than anticipated. The second lap had me “digging in” as my coach had taken position behind me just to make sure I kept my running form as the run went on. When I needed to dig in I could see her long shadow behind me formed by the winter sun. It’s given me a good image for when it get tough in the race to think she will be there, in spirit at least, encouraging me to ignore the pain and get on with it. We ended up completing the 2nd lap in 42 mins! This is a good indicator of where my running is.
Today I was hoping to avoid the rain as I went out for another 90 minute run. I know this might sound daft, but 90 minutes feels like a warm up based on the training I’ve been doing and today was a nice steady run - I did 17.5 km and 16km of it was the 2nd fastest of the year. As I ran back into town on my way home in the rain I heard the sound of bagpipes as the band warmed up for the 100 year commemoration of WW1. It made me think of the long shadows of the graves where our war heroes are buried. I salute you all. I’m reminded of the song that I walked onto the boxing ring on 10 years ago which started this crazy journey, Edwin Star and War - “...what is it good for, absolutely nothing” - says it all really.
The rest of today will be spent planning my race logistics, getting my kit together because it will be here before I know it. Next weeks tapering means running 4 days Tue - Fri but not for too long. Just keeping the body ticking over. I have a massage to look forward to on Thursday as my final “tune up”. The start line is almost in sight and when I have my toe on it, then I will have completed the first goal - it’s been hard work but great fun getting here.
One last update which I will go into more detail on a later blog, need to keep the focus on next Sunday’s race, Tahoe 200 is booked www.tahoe200.com - 305 days to go.
On Saturday Stuart came out for a recovery run following his successful 33 mile ultra the week before and we got a lap of Chatelherault in before the others arrived - 43 minutes was faster than anticipated. The second lap had me “digging in” as my coach had taken position behind me just to make sure I kept my running form as the run went on. When I needed to dig in I could see her long shadow behind me formed by the winter sun. It’s given me a good image for when it get tough in the race to think she will be there, in spirit at least, encouraging me to ignore the pain and get on with it. We ended up completing the 2nd lap in 42 mins! This is a good indicator of where my running is.
Today I was hoping to avoid the rain as I went out for another 90 minute run. I know this might sound daft, but 90 minutes feels like a warm up based on the training I’ve been doing and today was a nice steady run - I did 17.5 km and 16km of it was the 2nd fastest of the year. As I ran back into town on my way home in the rain I heard the sound of bagpipes as the band warmed up for the 100 year commemoration of WW1. It made me think of the long shadows of the graves where our war heroes are buried. I salute you all. I’m reminded of the song that I walked onto the boxing ring on 10 years ago which started this crazy journey, Edwin Star and War - “...what is it good for, absolutely nothing” - says it all really.
The rest of today will be spent planning my race logistics, getting my kit together because it will be here before I know it. Next weeks tapering means running 4 days Tue - Fri but not for too long. Just keeping the body ticking over. I have a massage to look forward to on Thursday as my final “tune up”. The start line is almost in sight and when I have my toe on it, then I will have completed the first goal - it’s been hard work but great fun getting here.
One last update which I will go into more detail on a later blog, need to keep the focus on next Sunday’s race, Tahoe 200 is booked www.tahoe200.com - 305 days to go.
Sunday, 4 November 2018
Zombie running
Last week was a great weeks training despite missing an easy slow run as work made it impossible, even with my planning. But I got a surprise on Thursday when I headed out early from my office for my hill run. My coach was running past so joined me for a few hill reps before heading off. Surprisingly it turned out to be my fastest hill rep session ever! Thanks coach.
In two weeks time I’ll be typing this post having completed my 65km Ultra. My training is at an interesting stage as it’s reaching its peak with back to back runs this weekend. Saturday the weather forecast was horrendous. 45 mph winds with rain and I had 3 hours and 10mins to run. My coach said to wear my running gear that I’d be wearing in the race so I did. Unfortunately the temperature despite the wind and rain was 13 degrees - not ideal as I overheated.
I met with Callum at David Lloyd at Hamilton and we ran the 25 mins to Chatelherault where a group of fellow athletes including my coach were going to join me for a lap. But remember, that was a lap. I had three to do and then run back to Hamilton so I was always going to be pacing myself. My coach stayed with me as the other, 1lapers, sped off. My legs felt heavy as I headed round and if I knew that, I knew my coach knew it. She stayed at my pace and we finished the first lap and met up with the rest. It wasn’t a slow lap but it wasn’t fast. But I knew I had 2 more laps to go and then head back, all on my own. And that’s where the inner voice comes in. We had a good chat but I made sure that he knew we were finishing this come what may. When I got to the car, I dried off and got into new clothes. Headed home quickly and stuffed my face with food before taking a snooze. Good recovery as I felt busted. I had run like a zombie from the 1st lap. Staring into the space in front and barely acknowledging anything around me - in the end it was a 3hr 17minute run. In my experience that’s the place I get to when I’m getting close to tapering. I’m knackered but have miles still to run so “man up” and get on with it I tell myself.
But the secret is back to back long runs so today I had a 2hr run. Despite the curry I had last night which was “sorted” before I departed, fortunately, I felt great. Heart rate was steady and I ran on feel. Two good back to back runs and tomorrow I have another 1hr 12 min Run and on Tuesday a 1hr and 1 min - this is tapering. Not a rest but less stress on my body. I love this stage because I know where it’s heading, the startline where I’ll be raring to go. But to get there you need to get through the zombie phase and that was accomplished this weekend! Good times.
In two weeks time I’ll be typing this post having completed my 65km Ultra. My training is at an interesting stage as it’s reaching its peak with back to back runs this weekend. Saturday the weather forecast was horrendous. 45 mph winds with rain and I had 3 hours and 10mins to run. My coach said to wear my running gear that I’d be wearing in the race so I did. Unfortunately the temperature despite the wind and rain was 13 degrees - not ideal as I overheated.
I met with Callum at David Lloyd at Hamilton and we ran the 25 mins to Chatelherault where a group of fellow athletes including my coach were going to join me for a lap. But remember, that was a lap. I had three to do and then run back to Hamilton so I was always going to be pacing myself. My coach stayed with me as the other, 1lapers, sped off. My legs felt heavy as I headed round and if I knew that, I knew my coach knew it. She stayed at my pace and we finished the first lap and met up with the rest. It wasn’t a slow lap but it wasn’t fast. But I knew I had 2 more laps to go and then head back, all on my own. And that’s where the inner voice comes in. We had a good chat but I made sure that he knew we were finishing this come what may. When I got to the car, I dried off and got into new clothes. Headed home quickly and stuffed my face with food before taking a snooze. Good recovery as I felt busted. I had run like a zombie from the 1st lap. Staring into the space in front and barely acknowledging anything around me - in the end it was a 3hr 17minute run. In my experience that’s the place I get to when I’m getting close to tapering. I’m knackered but have miles still to run so “man up” and get on with it I tell myself.
But the secret is back to back long runs so today I had a 2hr run. Despite the curry I had last night which was “sorted” before I departed, fortunately, I felt great. Heart rate was steady and I ran on feel. Two good back to back runs and tomorrow I have another 1hr 12 min Run and on Tuesday a 1hr and 1 min - this is tapering. Not a rest but less stress on my body. I love this stage because I know where it’s heading, the startline where I’ll be raring to go. But to get there you need to get through the zombie phase and that was accomplished this weekend! Good times.
Sunday, 28 October 2018
Ice station zebra!
There has been a distinct change in temperature this week. From wet and windy to traffic reports that the snow gates were closed in the highlands. Winter has definitely arrived and that means changing what I wear and how I recover from a run.
It’s always difficult to know how many layers to wear as you do become hot when running. But depending on where you are running, whether you will be sheltered from the wind or not will determine the number of layers and the types of layers.
Following my hard week of running I had Monday off so went for a massage. Ouch, ouch, ouch. My quads were in bits and while they were left to last, eventually I was told they weren’t for relaxing! Better luck this week when I won’t be going after 3 tough days of running. My Tuesday run I thought would be a recovery run but I should have known better - a tempo run where after 15 minutes you increase the pace every 10 minute until you’ve completed an hour. To my surprise, I shouldn’t really be surprise as my coach knows what she is doing, my legs felt a lot better after that run. Then the weather got all wintery!
On Saturday I had 2hrs 40 minutes to complete and did an extended Chatelherault run. 2 friends joined me on the run to Chatelherault and three more joined in at Chatelherault. Everyone stayed for 1 lap and the banter was good - you need to be thick skinned around this lot! With everyone at different stages in their training it was down to 2 of us for the last lap. It’s great having company as it makes the time pass quicker. However it left me with 50 minutes to complete on my own. I was a lonely 50 minutes but I was determined to make sure the quality of the run continued. I mentioned at the beginning about the recovery after the run. Here’s how not to do it.
You’re tired, cold and your sweat makes you uncomfortable. You get a call to “swing by Sainsbury’s” and pick up shopping on the way home. Hobbling round Sainsbury’s as you’ve stiffened up wishing I’d got a trolley instead of a basket which was heavy and bulging. I get back to the house and now I’m shivering - it’s been almost an hour since my run and I need food, a shower and dry clothes. Lesson learned.
Today I ran up and down Tinto Hill twice. It was bitterly cold with snow on the ground. The wind was light but as you get higher the cold really starts to get to you. No hanging around at the summit other than a quick FB live broadcast to show I have a view - a very rare occasion for me as was the case the week before. As soon as we were finished it was into the cafe next to the hill and some cafine and hot soup. What a difference that makes. The period immediately after a training session is critical especially in “ice station zebra” conditions. As soon as I got home, without shopping, it was into the shower and then food - lots of food and some rest. I felt a lot better.
I’m at my lightest weight as expected with this amount of training which will peak next weekend. Then my tapering will start and hopefully I’ll put on a couple of pounds to give me something to burn off on 18 Nov!
It’s always difficult to know how many layers to wear as you do become hot when running. But depending on where you are running, whether you will be sheltered from the wind or not will determine the number of layers and the types of layers.
Following my hard week of running I had Monday off so went for a massage. Ouch, ouch, ouch. My quads were in bits and while they were left to last, eventually I was told they weren’t for relaxing! Better luck this week when I won’t be going after 3 tough days of running. My Tuesday run I thought would be a recovery run but I should have known better - a tempo run where after 15 minutes you increase the pace every 10 minute until you’ve completed an hour. To my surprise, I shouldn’t really be surprise as my coach knows what she is doing, my legs felt a lot better after that run. Then the weather got all wintery!
On Saturday I had 2hrs 40 minutes to complete and did an extended Chatelherault run. 2 friends joined me on the run to Chatelherault and three more joined in at Chatelherault. Everyone stayed for 1 lap and the banter was good - you need to be thick skinned around this lot! With everyone at different stages in their training it was down to 2 of us for the last lap. It’s great having company as it makes the time pass quicker. However it left me with 50 minutes to complete on my own. I was a lonely 50 minutes but I was determined to make sure the quality of the run continued. I mentioned at the beginning about the recovery after the run. Here’s how not to do it.
You’re tired, cold and your sweat makes you uncomfortable. You get a call to “swing by Sainsbury’s” and pick up shopping on the way home. Hobbling round Sainsbury’s as you’ve stiffened up wishing I’d got a trolley instead of a basket which was heavy and bulging. I get back to the house and now I’m shivering - it’s been almost an hour since my run and I need food, a shower and dry clothes. Lesson learned.
Today I ran up and down Tinto Hill twice. It was bitterly cold with snow on the ground. The wind was light but as you get higher the cold really starts to get to you. No hanging around at the summit other than a quick FB live broadcast to show I have a view - a very rare occasion for me as was the case the week before. As soon as we were finished it was into the cafe next to the hill and some cafine and hot soup. What a difference that makes. The period immediately after a training session is critical especially in “ice station zebra” conditions. As soon as I got home, without shopping, it was into the shower and then food - lots of food and some rest. I felt a lot better.
I’m at my lightest weight as expected with this amount of training which will peak next weekend. Then my tapering will start and hopefully I’ll put on a couple of pounds to give me something to burn off on 18 Nov!
Sunday, 21 October 2018
The voice in my head
Four weeks today, I will have completed the Tweed Valley Ultra and be starting my recovery with lots of food. It has been great having a late season event as I think it unlikely I’d be training this hard if it wasn’t in the calendar.
This week has been a big week for hills as I prepare my body for the 40 mile/65 km race which has 5,164 feet of climbing. My coach is making sure I’ll be ready and not only increasing the mileage but also the ascent.
With the weather forecast allegedly better on Saturday than Sunday, I switched my planned runs. I’m not sure if following a 90 minute run on Friday, a 4 hr 20min run on Saturday would be better as I still had 2hr 20 mins to run on Sunday or the other way round - but it had to be done.
I was either going to climb up Ben Lomond twice or Tinto 4 times. The voice in my head was debating which would be better - certainly Ben Lomond would be more interesting. But the weather forecast made the decision. Tinto would be gray, dry and 15 mph winds so that made the decision easy as I didn’t feel like getting wet on Ben Lomond. I arrived at the car park at 8.30am to find myself in cloud base! And it was raining with a high wind meaning up the climb was into wind. Knowing that I was repeating this four times I paced myself. I run the first 5-7 minutes then power walk up the rest and run down. The voice in my head was telling me how boring this was however it’s a bit tricky underfoot so you have to concentrate or you could be getting carried off the hill. The way down was fun but with the wind blowing so strong I had to use the brakes more than normal. I was pleased with the effort put in having climbed 6,197 feet in a lot less distance than the Tweed Valley. Unfortunately I was wet and never saw a view from the summit - happens to me all the time!
Today the voice in my head was saying “this is going to hurt” but I had a conversation with it to say, behave. In 4 weeks time I’ll be going through a much tougher test so MTFU! Half an through my run I realised I had a blister on my big toe but I didn’t stop and sort it. I just pressed on. Looking at my stats afterwards it showed that I favoured my right foot and this was a reminder that if I get a blister I should stop and treat it immediately. Again I had to convince the voice in my head that this was bareable and that I should concentrate on my run. Three consecutive days of tough runs with plenty of hills means it was a fantastic week for me and takes me closer to my goal. I think we all have a voice in our head and the trick is either blocking it out or convincing the voice that you are perfectly capable of what you are trying to achieve so “jog on”!
The compression tights are on and I’m away for a slap up late lunch with the family. I may even partake in a few libations as a treat. Next week is meant to be an easier training week but it will still be intense. Every session counts.
This week has been a big week for hills as I prepare my body for the 40 mile/65 km race which has 5,164 feet of climbing. My coach is making sure I’ll be ready and not only increasing the mileage but also the ascent.
With the weather forecast allegedly better on Saturday than Sunday, I switched my planned runs. I’m not sure if following a 90 minute run on Friday, a 4 hr 20min run on Saturday would be better as I still had 2hr 20 mins to run on Sunday or the other way round - but it had to be done.
I was either going to climb up Ben Lomond twice or Tinto 4 times. The voice in my head was debating which would be better - certainly Ben Lomond would be more interesting. But the weather forecast made the decision. Tinto would be gray, dry and 15 mph winds so that made the decision easy as I didn’t feel like getting wet on Ben Lomond. I arrived at the car park at 8.30am to find myself in cloud base! And it was raining with a high wind meaning up the climb was into wind. Knowing that I was repeating this four times I paced myself. I run the first 5-7 minutes then power walk up the rest and run down. The voice in my head was telling me how boring this was however it’s a bit tricky underfoot so you have to concentrate or you could be getting carried off the hill. The way down was fun but with the wind blowing so strong I had to use the brakes more than normal. I was pleased with the effort put in having climbed 6,197 feet in a lot less distance than the Tweed Valley. Unfortunately I was wet and never saw a view from the summit - happens to me all the time!
Today the voice in my head was saying “this is going to hurt” but I had a conversation with it to say, behave. In 4 weeks time I’ll be going through a much tougher test so MTFU! Half an through my run I realised I had a blister on my big toe but I didn’t stop and sort it. I just pressed on. Looking at my stats afterwards it showed that I favoured my right foot and this was a reminder that if I get a blister I should stop and treat it immediately. Again I had to convince the voice in my head that this was bareable and that I should concentrate on my run. Three consecutive days of tough runs with plenty of hills means it was a fantastic week for me and takes me closer to my goal. I think we all have a voice in our head and the trick is either blocking it out or convincing the voice that you are perfectly capable of what you are trying to achieve so “jog on”!
The compression tights are on and I’m away for a slap up late lunch with the family. I may even partake in a few libations as a treat. Next week is meant to be an easier training week but it will still be intense. Every session counts.
Monday, 15 October 2018
Six degrees of separation
For 10 years I have been on a journey. A journey of discovering just what is possible when I operate out of my comfort zone with a focused plan. Starting with a 10km and moving onto ultra marathons and multi-staged races I couldn’t possibly of have imagined at the beginning. But other than the satisfaction of raising money for Maggies Cancer Caring Centres (which was as much a benefit for me as it is for them) and the feeling of getting as fit as I’ve ever been in my life, I have met some unbelievable people along the way who are now great friends. People from all around the world, from all backgrounds who have something in common. They love life.
With my race just under 5 weeks away and every training session vitally important as I’m 3 weeks behind, due to illness and holidays, I was away this weekend (not good for training) visiting a friend that I’d met on MdS in 2013. The chances of me meeting one of the UK’s leading chefs was highly unlikely, six degrees of separation, but I had the great pleasure of sharing a tent with him even although he couldn’t do anything with my boil in the bag food! Why am I talking about this? Simple. It’s to do with having a why, having laser focus and exceptionally high professional standards. Steve Drake opened a new restaurant 1 year ago and last week was voted the top restaurant in England and also a Mitchelin Star! We ate at his restaurant and it was world class - Sorrell in Dorking is amazing but good luck in trying to get a table.
But aside from the fine food and wine, I needed to train. The Surrey Hills were calling and on Saturday I was running through a vine yard on a very steep hill in beautiful sunshine. This was perfect and it got some miles in. Sunday was a day off after a stunning meal and too much wine but these opportunities don’t come up too often.
This morning I headed off with Steve to what was supposed to be amazing views from the Surrey Hills however the curse I have with “hills with a view” followed me to Surrey - the mist meant no view - I thought I was back at Ben Lomond! Steve and I ran through the most beautiful countryside with some nasty hills but although there was no view, it was great.
So although people question my sanity from time to time for all this running, the adventure I am on means I get to meet wonderful people from interesting backgrounds that I’d gladly spent days with them running through deserts or glens. It’s amazing who you meet when you pull on a pair of running shoes. Go enjoy your own adventure.
With my race just under 5 weeks away and every training session vitally important as I’m 3 weeks behind, due to illness and holidays, I was away this weekend (not good for training) visiting a friend that I’d met on MdS in 2013. The chances of me meeting one of the UK’s leading chefs was highly unlikely, six degrees of separation, but I had the great pleasure of sharing a tent with him even although he couldn’t do anything with my boil in the bag food! Why am I talking about this? Simple. It’s to do with having a why, having laser focus and exceptionally high professional standards. Steve Drake opened a new restaurant 1 year ago and last week was voted the top restaurant in England and also a Mitchelin Star! We ate at his restaurant and it was world class - Sorrell in Dorking is amazing but good luck in trying to get a table.
But aside from the fine food and wine, I needed to train. The Surrey Hills were calling and on Saturday I was running through a vine yard on a very steep hill in beautiful sunshine. This was perfect and it got some miles in. Sunday was a day off after a stunning meal and too much wine but these opportunities don’t come up too often.
This morning I headed off with Steve to what was supposed to be amazing views from the Surrey Hills however the curse I have with “hills with a view” followed me to Surrey - the mist meant no view - I thought I was back at Ben Lomond! Steve and I ran through the most beautiful countryside with some nasty hills but although there was no view, it was great.
So although people question my sanity from time to time for all this running, the adventure I am on means I get to meet wonderful people from interesting backgrounds that I’d gladly spent days with them running through deserts or glens. It’s amazing who you meet when you pull on a pair of running shoes. Go enjoy your own adventure.
Sunday, 7 October 2018
Lung busting
Balancing training with work isn’t easy at the moment and two days in Birmingham this week didn’t help but once again we worked my training schedule around it. The running sessions are all different. A negative split session, a tempo run and a hill run. Friday was 90 minutes, Saturday was 2 hours and Sunday 1 hour 35 minutes. That’s a good block of training especially the hill climb on Saturday. Tinto hill is the biggest hills in easy reach of my house. So being time short it’s ideal. Up and down two times is 974 metres and I manage to run up the first kilometre both times but it’s a lung buster - my heart rate reached 173! I was flying on the downhill sections - total run 14km. I know I’m getting fitter because there are no signs of DOMS today and no signs of fatigue when completing another hard 16.5km at Chatelherault. It was good to have company on both runs as it helps with a little competitive edge where we push ourselves.
Today a few pals are competing in Ironman Barcelona. They have both trained really hard and were expecting good results. Unfortunately one of them didn’t complete the swim and DNF’d. It happens occasionally and reminds us of the importance of “enjoying the journey”. When you train 6 days a week you’ve got to enjoy it as DNF’s happen. The race should be the icing on the cake because so many things can go wrong. A kick in the face in the swim, a mechanical on the bike or an ankle twist on the run. But at least he wasn’t hurt and will live to fight another day. In the meantime Wilson Kane is flying on the bike as I type this blog and I’m hoping he’s in for a PB - he’s sure worked for it.
As I was struggling with another lung busting run today I remembered a phrase I’d picked up along the way: “life begins outside the comfort zone”. The only way for me to achieve the goals I’ve set is to train outside the comfort zone - this is where the improvement happens. So another week over, another week closer to the race and the results are starting to show. I’m loving the journey.
Today a few pals are competing in Ironman Barcelona. They have both trained really hard and were expecting good results. Unfortunately one of them didn’t complete the swim and DNF’d. It happens occasionally and reminds us of the importance of “enjoying the journey”. When you train 6 days a week you’ve got to enjoy it as DNF’s happen. The race should be the icing on the cake because so many things can go wrong. A kick in the face in the swim, a mechanical on the bike or an ankle twist on the run. But at least he wasn’t hurt and will live to fight another day. In the meantime Wilson Kane is flying on the bike as I type this blog and I’m hoping he’s in for a PB - he’s sure worked for it.
As I was struggling with another lung busting run today I remembered a phrase I’d picked up along the way: “life begins outside the comfort zone”. The only way for me to achieve the goals I’ve set is to train outside the comfort zone - this is where the improvement happens. So another week over, another week closer to the race and the results are starting to show. I’m loving the journey.
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Inspiration from Muhammad Ali
Inspiration all around this weekend with friends competing in Glasgow 10km, Glasgow half marathon, Grand 2 Grand Ultra and I’m sure many others. Athletes competing or completing, it doesn’t matter. They set themselves a target and have turned up and delivered. Congratulations to you all. At the other end of the spectrum Europe win the Ryder Cup which was an amazing spectical and each player trained to get in the team and then delivered an amazing result under immense pressure.
My target is fast approaching with 7 weeks to go. It’s been a good weeks training, my heart rate is coming down, my legs feel strong and I’m enjoying being back running after my time off to get over a cold. Those two weeks were definitely a set back but I will arrive at the start line in the best condition possible having followed an amazing training plan which my coach has adapted depending on my health and getting the work life balance right. My focus is getting tighter and every session really matters, every session has a purpose.
The other day I came across a quotation from Muhammad Ali which really inspired me: “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough”. WOW doesn’t that make you think? What should I be aiming for?
I have big plans for 2019 that do scare me but after reading Ali’s quote I now understand that fear means I’m aiming at the right level. Bring it on, after the Tweed Valley 65km Ultra on Nov 18th.
My target is fast approaching with 7 weeks to go. It’s been a good weeks training, my heart rate is coming down, my legs feel strong and I’m enjoying being back running after my time off to get over a cold. Those two weeks were definitely a set back but I will arrive at the start line in the best condition possible having followed an amazing training plan which my coach has adapted depending on my health and getting the work life balance right. My focus is getting tighter and every session really matters, every session has a purpose.
The other day I came across a quotation from Muhammad Ali which really inspired me: “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough”. WOW doesn’t that make you think? What should I be aiming for?
I have big plans for 2019 that do scare me but after reading Ali’s quote I now understand that fear means I’m aiming at the right level. Bring it on, after the Tweed Valley 65km Ultra on Nov 18th.
Monday, 24 September 2018
Slowly but surely
After been laid low with a cold, on Monday I started my gradual come back - only 8 weeks to go! I went out for a 35 minute slow run. My legs wondered what the hell I was doing. I ran slowly as instructed but it took them a couple of kilometres before they began to realise this was normal activity. My heart rate was high but that was to be expected. It felt good to be back running and helped by some new shoes.
One more run and a couple of core work outs and my body and mind were starting to get the message - I’m back!
On Saturday I had a 1 hour run up a local hill - Tinto. I ran the first third and power walked the rest in 36 minutes. Heart rate was high but I was loving being out in a blustery wind taking in the marvellous scenery- it’s good to be alive and able to be out and about I thought. At the top it was really windy and I decided to head straight back down the hill at full speed - 18 minute descent. My legs felt good and the following day there were no DOMS which was a relief.
I then drove up to Aberdeen for a family get together and my coach gave me the Sunday off from running although I had a core session to complete. I’m not a huge fan of core sessions but I can’t ignore the benefit which is obvious as I am feeling much stronger since starting these sessions. Much more strength work required over the winter.
Building up the time/distance has to be taken in stages so tomorrow I have an hour and five minutes to complete building up to one and a half hours on Saturday. It will mean a 5.45am start so I can get my run in before I need to head off on business so it’s an early night for me. I’m looking forward to my training partner being back from holiday as on the longer runs it sure helps to have company.
One more run and a couple of core work outs and my body and mind were starting to get the message - I’m back!
On Saturday I had a 1 hour run up a local hill - Tinto. I ran the first third and power walked the rest in 36 minutes. Heart rate was high but I was loving being out in a blustery wind taking in the marvellous scenery- it’s good to be alive and able to be out and about I thought. At the top it was really windy and I decided to head straight back down the hill at full speed - 18 minute descent. My legs felt good and the following day there were no DOMS which was a relief.
I then drove up to Aberdeen for a family get together and my coach gave me the Sunday off from running although I had a core session to complete. I’m not a huge fan of core sessions but I can’t ignore the benefit which is obvious as I am feeling much stronger since starting these sessions. Much more strength work required over the winter.
Building up the time/distance has to be taken in stages so tomorrow I have an hour and five minutes to complete building up to one and a half hours on Saturday. It will mean a 5.45am start so I can get my run in before I need to head off on business so it’s an early night for me. I’m looking forward to my training partner being back from holiday as on the longer runs it sure helps to have company.
Sunday, 16 September 2018
Bear alert!
We all look forward to our holidays. Usually we arrive there frazzled but some rest, relaxation and sun does the trick. It was all going so well till I started to get a sore throat. Training stopped as it went through the normal stages of a cold. I’ve been struggling since returning but am hoping the “green lurgy” will disappear next week but I haven’t ran once in 10 days which isn’t good.
There are 9 weeks to go before my 65km ultra and although I may have accomplished 115 km 2 months ago, it’s still a very significant distance. And I was aiming to push it i.e. see just how fast I could complete it in, even if it meant “blowing up” in the race. It’s still my intention on doing that but I’ve a tough 9 weeks ahead to get ready in time.
While not being able to train I’ve been looking at my “A race” next year which I hope will be the Tahoe 200 - it’s subject to planning the family holidays. It’s a 205 mile non-stop race climbing 40,000 ft over 4 days. If you sleep the clock doesn’t stop. I read a race report this morning that clearly outlined the challenges; altitude, impact on quads and knees, shredded feet, navigation, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, bears (yes bloody bears!) plus the 205 miles. Sounds like an amazing challenge that will take a year to prepare for it (Sept 2019) and quite different from any challenge so far. However at feed stations they serve cheese burgers and beer so what’s not to like?
I wouldn’t normally be looking at the detail of my next race but as I’m laid low there’s not much else to do. But this week the focus will return to the task of my 65km ultra. It’s going to require my full attention and every effort will be made to deliver the best result possible. At least there won’t be any bears to worry about!
There are 9 weeks to go before my 65km ultra and although I may have accomplished 115 km 2 months ago, it’s still a very significant distance. And I was aiming to push it i.e. see just how fast I could complete it in, even if it meant “blowing up” in the race. It’s still my intention on doing that but I’ve a tough 9 weeks ahead to get ready in time.
While not being able to train I’ve been looking at my “A race” next year which I hope will be the Tahoe 200 - it’s subject to planning the family holidays. It’s a 205 mile non-stop race climbing 40,000 ft over 4 days. If you sleep the clock doesn’t stop. I read a race report this morning that clearly outlined the challenges; altitude, impact on quads and knees, shredded feet, navigation, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, bears (yes bloody bears!) plus the 205 miles. Sounds like an amazing challenge that will take a year to prepare for it (Sept 2019) and quite different from any challenge so far. However at feed stations they serve cheese burgers and beer so what’s not to like?
I wouldn’t normally be looking at the detail of my next race but as I’m laid low there’s not much else to do. But this week the focus will return to the task of my 65km ultra. It’s going to require my full attention and every effort will be made to deliver the best result possible. At least there won’t be any bears to worry about!
Wednesday, 5 September 2018
Cruising - the new endurance event!
Life is about balance. There are 52 weeks in a year and most of us work between 45-48 weeks with the time off referred to as holidays. But if I am a good example I normally turn up at my holiday so tired that it takes a few days to de stress as the week prior to going is usually frantic as I try and cram everything in before going away.
Leaving work aside, which was manic as always, I still had to squeeze my training in as the 18th November will come around quick enough and I want to give the 65km ultra my best shot - finish the season on a high. So knowing I was going to be on holiday my coach gave me some serious back to back running before I went off and combined with work and trying to pack a suit case, it meant early morning runs.
While I have no training scheduled when away, I can’t just let my fitness slide as I try and avoid coming off this cruise ship as cargo! This is a serious endurance event, I’m not looking for sympathy. Your daily routine is planned around food, the quality of which is staggering. Then there’s the fine wine that accompanies it - be rude not to. So I’m trying to be a good boy and choose my food every carefully, drink the wine in moderation, hydrate with water, take the stairs every time (there are a serious amount of stairs) and run 30 minutes most days with yoga every other day.
But running on a cruise ship isn’t easy. There is a running track on it but it’s also a walk way full of people meandering all over the place. 1 lap takes 50 seconds so it gets boring. The treadmill is ok except for when the sea is rough. At first I thought I was drunk staggering to the front of the treadmill then almost falling off the back. In 30 minutes without using elevation on the treadmill my Garmin reported I had ascended 20 metres - big waves!
So between the lobster, steak, puddings to die for (literally) and fine wine I’m treating my body with plenty of rest, sleep and a few massages. I think I’ll be lucky to get away with 7 added pounds when I step on the scales but I know it will be back to beans on toast and my coach will ramp up the training again. It’s good to get a break away from the routine and stress but this cruise could be described as a new endurance event. Got to go, dinner beckons!
Leaving work aside, which was manic as always, I still had to squeeze my training in as the 18th November will come around quick enough and I want to give the 65km ultra my best shot - finish the season on a high. So knowing I was going to be on holiday my coach gave me some serious back to back running before I went off and combined with work and trying to pack a suit case, it meant early morning runs.
While I have no training scheduled when away, I can’t just let my fitness slide as I try and avoid coming off this cruise ship as cargo! This is a serious endurance event, I’m not looking for sympathy. Your daily routine is planned around food, the quality of which is staggering. Then there’s the fine wine that accompanies it - be rude not to. So I’m trying to be a good boy and choose my food every carefully, drink the wine in moderation, hydrate with water, take the stairs every time (there are a serious amount of stairs) and run 30 minutes most days with yoga every other day.
But running on a cruise ship isn’t easy. There is a running track on it but it’s also a walk way full of people meandering all over the place. 1 lap takes 50 seconds so it gets boring. The treadmill is ok except for when the sea is rough. At first I thought I was drunk staggering to the front of the treadmill then almost falling off the back. In 30 minutes without using elevation on the treadmill my Garmin reported I had ascended 20 metres - big waves!
So between the lobster, steak, puddings to die for (literally) and fine wine I’m treating my body with plenty of rest, sleep and a few massages. I think I’ll be lucky to get away with 7 added pounds when I step on the scales but I know it will be back to beans on toast and my coach will ramp up the training again. It’s good to get a break away from the routine and stress but this cruise could be described as a new endurance event. Got to go, dinner beckons!
Sunday, 26 August 2018
Real trail running!
There’s trail running and there is real trail running as I discovered yesterday. We all know what road running is, that’s easily defined. But the GGU was more tarmac than trails which was my only disappointment about what I thought was a fantastic race. As you know I do my trail running at Chatelherault but recently the trail have been “sanitised” and it’s really disappointing.
Nearer to home there’s is a tough trail known as Dungavel and with a two mile uphill start it’s not one I particularly enjoy but I know it’s good for me. It’s a mix of forrest fire tracks which I regard as better than tarmac but not ideal. But yesterday a local runner Donald MacLean (who is on a 1,700 day running streak!) decided to show me the real trails around Dungavel. I lost count of the number of times I was up to my knees in water crossing a river and as for running through heather that’s up to your knees - that’s tiring. My economical running style isn’t suited to getting your feet off the ground and knees up so I was knackered. The sun illuminated the massive spiders webs that glistened and there were hundreds of them but I didn’t see any spiders.
Going through forrests was like something from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A completely different trail experience and one I will return to, but only with my trusted guide. Local knowledge is important re the conditions underfoot and it was boggy in places so you had to be careful. I also don’t think I could find the trail as a lot of it is covered with heather with no clear path.
Today I was back to Chatelherault for a very wet and cold run on my own. It’s been a good weekends training and I was inspired by 4 ATHelite members who were taking part in Vichy IM 70.3. 3 speedy results and 1 super speedy result - my coach Genevieve was 2nd in her age category and qualifies for the World Championships! I am so pleased for her as she has worked so hard to get into shape for this race. Results like this don’t just happen, they require dedication and perseverance and those 4 results are just the boost I need when I’m tired and it’s wet and cold like today. Thanks guys.
Nearer to home there’s is a tough trail known as Dungavel and with a two mile uphill start it’s not one I particularly enjoy but I know it’s good for me. It’s a mix of forrest fire tracks which I regard as better than tarmac but not ideal. But yesterday a local runner Donald MacLean (who is on a 1,700 day running streak!) decided to show me the real trails around Dungavel. I lost count of the number of times I was up to my knees in water crossing a river and as for running through heather that’s up to your knees - that’s tiring. My economical running style isn’t suited to getting your feet off the ground and knees up so I was knackered. The sun illuminated the massive spiders webs that glistened and there were hundreds of them but I didn’t see any spiders.
Going through forrests was like something from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. A completely different trail experience and one I will return to, but only with my trusted guide. Local knowledge is important re the conditions underfoot and it was boggy in places so you had to be careful. I also don’t think I could find the trail as a lot of it is covered with heather with no clear path.
Today I was back to Chatelherault for a very wet and cold run on my own. It’s been a good weekends training and I was inspired by 4 ATHelite members who were taking part in Vichy IM 70.3. 3 speedy results and 1 super speedy result - my coach Genevieve was 2nd in her age category and qualifies for the World Championships! I am so pleased for her as she has worked so hard to get into shape for this race. Results like this don’t just happen, they require dedication and perseverance and those 4 results are just the boost I need when I’m tired and it’s wet and cold like today. Thanks guys.
Sunday, 19 August 2018
Scientific experiment
I’ve been on a journey for the last 10 years. It all started with a charity white collar boxing match and the rest is history. But as I’ve taken on new challenges, each with it’s own unique difficulty, my body has adapted and got stronger. I’m treating it almost like a scientific experiment. During the journey I have monitored my heart rate during every training session except when swimming and core workouts. It’s a good indicator, amongst others, as to how I’m feeling at any particular time and many of my sessions have a target heart rate range. But when I’m pushing it hard it just a case of let’s see where it goes.
I mention this because as I’ve been getting faster recently, I’m able to hold a higher heart rate for longer and maintain the fast pace. While that might be an obvious sign of improving fitness it’s fascinating to watch and also requires me to mentally adjust. 2 years ago while running with my coach my heart rate was all over the place - no consistency. We noticed that when it reached 163 my performance fell and I either had to slow down or even walk to get it back under control. Yesterday my heart rate was 165 for 10 mins, 163 for 20 mins and 160 for 60mins and during those periods my performance didn’t fall - but I was working bloody hard. Today on the mountains I topped out at 179 bpm for 5 seconds. Sure I was tired but I kept going and finished strong.
This “experiment” will continue and my coach keeps a very close eye on every training sessions results so I’m not taking unnecessary risks. At the same time I am enjoying my training and what lies ahead. I don’t want to limit my potential but at the same time realise I am doing this for fun. But I also believe “we are all capable of so much more” so hopefully my story may persuade you to push the boundaries. Have fun.
I mention this because as I’ve been getting faster recently, I’m able to hold a higher heart rate for longer and maintain the fast pace. While that might be an obvious sign of improving fitness it’s fascinating to watch and also requires me to mentally adjust. 2 years ago while running with my coach my heart rate was all over the place - no consistency. We noticed that when it reached 163 my performance fell and I either had to slow down or even walk to get it back under control. Yesterday my heart rate was 165 for 10 mins, 163 for 20 mins and 160 for 60mins and during those periods my performance didn’t fall - but I was working bloody hard. Today on the mountains I topped out at 179 bpm for 5 seconds. Sure I was tired but I kept going and finished strong.
This “experiment” will continue and my coach keeps a very close eye on every training sessions results so I’m not taking unnecessary risks. At the same time I am enjoying my training and what lies ahead. I don’t want to limit my potential but at the same time realise I am doing this for fun. But I also believe “we are all capable of so much more” so hopefully my story may persuade you to push the boundaries. Have fun.
Sunday, 12 August 2018
Returning to the core
As someone who doesn’t enjoy the gym or weight lifting, when I return to core training it isn’t with an expression of joy, especially at the beginning but I know it needs to be done. It’s only a 30 minute session but those side planks are tough. My coach has also added in an additional 15 minutes of Swiss ball exercises which has me falling off the ball on a regular basis. Every part of my core is screaming at me and I feel like I’ve been in the boxing ring doing 12 rounds! But I know the importance of it as next year if I am going to have a successful season with my biggest ever challenge, I’ll need to have greater core strength that I do currently. So rule 5 is being applied!
My aches and pains last week were attended to and a painful hour on the physio table where she worked my achillies and groin were anything but pleasant. Although sensitive to the touch I’ve had another good weekends training and once again fast!
On Saturday I was given a target pace of 5:10ks and without looking at my watch I ran 4:55ks and didn’t feel I’d pushed it. That was followed up today with a longer run on target and no aches or pains from my achillies or groin. Result!
Today was also the Strathaven 50 run and I passed a number of runners at the 20 mile stage. It was raining hard and their stare told me everything I needed to know. They were completely focused on the race and running in their “bubble” where they were ignoring everything other than the road ahead. That’s a great place to be and it inspired me to work harder and get on with my core training with a smile rather than grimace on my face. My 65km Ultra on 18 November is fast approaching and I’m really wanting to finish the season on a high and then build my core strength for 2019. How’s your training going? I hope you are formulating your plans for next year.
My aches and pains last week were attended to and a painful hour on the physio table where she worked my achillies and groin were anything but pleasant. Although sensitive to the touch I’ve had another good weekends training and once again fast!
On Saturday I was given a target pace of 5:10ks and without looking at my watch I ran 4:55ks and didn’t feel I’d pushed it. That was followed up today with a longer run on target and no aches or pains from my achillies or groin. Result!
Today was also the Strathaven 50 run and I passed a number of runners at the 20 mile stage. It was raining hard and their stare told me everything I needed to know. They were completely focused on the race and running in their “bubble” where they were ignoring everything other than the road ahead. That’s a great place to be and it inspired me to work harder and get on with my core training with a smile rather than grimace on my face. My 65km Ultra on 18 November is fast approaching and I’m really wanting to finish the season on a high and then build my core strength for 2019. How’s your training going? I hope you are formulating your plans for next year.
Sunday, 5 August 2018
Back to basics
This is my first week on my training plan as I prepare for a 65km ultra on November 18th. My coaches instructions were simple - run on feel. 36 mins on Tuesday, 56 mins on Thursday, 1hr 24 min on Saturday and 51 minutes today. On Thursday’s run I decided to push myself to see how my recovery was going - I got 3 peak performances related to my heart rate over 5/10 and 20 mins on that run. That’s a good start I thought.
On Saturday I was running on my own at Chatelherault and decided again to see what would happen if I pushed the pace. Normally I aim to get around in 45 mins which is a reasonable pace if doing 2 laps. I finished the first lap in 42 minutes, my quickest time ever so as I started the second lap thinking this was going to be tough. Much to my surprise I repeated the 42 min lap. For me that’s a big achievement especially as I am “recovering from the exertion of my ultra.
I had a massage during the week and my Achilles on both legs are tight as is my groin. It’s vital that I make sure this doesn’t get worse so I have a massage tomorrow and when I can get booked in, will have my physio check me out. Running faster means I have increased my stride length by 7 cm so perhaps this is causing the groin problem or it may be the fatigue from 4 weeks ago.
Today I had a 10km to run and the target time set was challenging. I didn’t look at my Garmin for the first 7km and then checked to see how I was doing. I needed to pick the pace up slightly which I did and got in just under the target setting a new threshold target. It will be interesting to see how this continues. If I can stay injury free and keep up this consistent training I might surprise myself on Nov 18th.
On Saturday I was running on my own at Chatelherault and decided again to see what would happen if I pushed the pace. Normally I aim to get around in 45 mins which is a reasonable pace if doing 2 laps. I finished the first lap in 42 minutes, my quickest time ever so as I started the second lap thinking this was going to be tough. Much to my surprise I repeated the 42 min lap. For me that’s a big achievement especially as I am “recovering from the exertion of my ultra.
I had a massage during the week and my Achilles on both legs are tight as is my groin. It’s vital that I make sure this doesn’t get worse so I have a massage tomorrow and when I can get booked in, will have my physio check me out. Running faster means I have increased my stride length by 7 cm so perhaps this is causing the groin problem or it may be the fatigue from 4 weeks ago.
Today I had a 10km to run and the target time set was challenging. I didn’t look at my Garmin for the first 7km and then checked to see how I was doing. I needed to pick the pace up slightly which I did and got in just under the target setting a new threshold target. It will be interesting to see how this continues. If I can stay injury free and keep up this consistent training I might surprise myself on Nov 18th.
Sunday, 29 July 2018
One more ultra for 2018
A very busy week as I returned from holiday on Monday and played catch up before heading off to London for 3 days. The weather was extremely hot topping 34 degrees so I made sure I got a couple of gentle runs in first thing in the morning. Friday was a day off as I headed for Elie to spend time with friends and I got my first game of golf of the season. My foot hasn’t always enjoyed golf and forgetting my orthotics wasn’t a good start but unbelievably I had no pain - an added bonus was I came second!
On Friday my friend Kay took me out for a 8 km run around the beautiful costal town of Elie. Lovely trails though forests, past a loch, through countryside and down the beach. It was great,
Today was an early Chatelherault run, a couple of laps. I went out with a fellow ironman, Derek, for company and it was relatively leisurely. Instead of rays of sun which we have been basking in all summer, I was enjoying the cooler “liquid sunshine”. Think I might have to get used to this change in climate.
I said last week that I’d be announcing another race. On Sunday 18th November I will be taking part in the Tweed Valley Ultra. 65km through some beautiful countryside with 5,164 ft of climbing. My formal training starts this week with Genevieve putting together a 16 week plan to build on my form from the GGU. What will be interesting is to see my fitness level that I arrive at the startline with and how I can build on my pace on the GGU. I’m really excited about this race and it will keep my focus as I enter into winter training. All of this is part of a bigger plan as I contemplate my biggest race ever for 2019. But more of that when it’s finalised. In the meantime, back to training!
On Friday my friend Kay took me out for a 8 km run around the beautiful costal town of Elie. Lovely trails though forests, past a loch, through countryside and down the beach. It was great,
Today was an early Chatelherault run, a couple of laps. I went out with a fellow ironman, Derek, for company and it was relatively leisurely. Instead of rays of sun which we have been basking in all summer, I was enjoying the cooler “liquid sunshine”. Think I might have to get used to this change in climate.
I said last week that I’d be announcing another race. On Sunday 18th November I will be taking part in the Tweed Valley Ultra. 65km through some beautiful countryside with 5,164 ft of climbing. My formal training starts this week with Genevieve putting together a 16 week plan to build on my form from the GGU. What will be interesting is to see my fitness level that I arrive at the startline with and how I can build on my pace on the GGU. I’m really excited about this race and it will keep my focus as I enter into winter training. All of this is part of a bigger plan as I contemplate my biggest race ever for 2019. But more of that when it’s finalised. In the meantime, back to training!
Sunday, 22 July 2018
Free running
Two weeks ago I had just finished running the Great Glen Ultra. A 73 mile unsupported race from Fort William to Inverness. The race is detailed in the previous two blogs however I am still trying to understand how when I was aiming for a target time of 18 hours I managed 14 hours and 40 minutes. Obviously it was because I ran faster and I put lots of “time in the bank” before I hit the big climbs around half way but the mystery continues.
Normally after any race you are in discomfort after the race and it gets worse for the next two days. It’s know as DOMS - delayed onset muscle soreness. The day after the race I was in discomfort as expected. The next day it was gone! And it never resurfaced which is a mystery. Having run much faster than anticipated I really expected the DOMS to last a minimum of 3 days. When I completed my fastest every 10km race a few years ago I had DOMS for 5 days and it wasn’t nice. The problem was I was heading off to Philadelphia and I wasn’t looking forward to sitting in “cattle class” (it was American Airlines after all). But despite the discomfort of the seats in cattle class I suffered no pain - result.
The timing of my holiday was perfect as it gave my body a proper chance to recover without the stress of work or training. Long lies, no deadlines, good weather and lots of food to help put some weight back on went down well - along with the odd glass/bottle of wine. My wife and I attended a wedding of our friends daughter and that was a wonderful occasion where the Scots were present in numbers in our kilts - a bit of a sweat fest in those temperatures but I had a hydration strategy!
The later part of the holiday was at Stone Harbour at Jersey Shore so having had a week off running I had 3 runs along the stunning beach. It was amazing. I had no targets to reach, wasn’t wearing my Garmin or heart rate monitor and if I wanted to stop and take a picture, then I did. It was liberating and I felt complete freedom as I listened to the waves crashing into the shore. It had to be early as it was very warm but the surfers were already out so I had some company.
Now I’m back home I headed off to Chatelherault for one lap and again it was very enjoyable. At this stage I haven’t sat down with my coach yet and worked out what happened in the race. We also have to look at my future events for 2019 and what the training schedule will look like. I’ve got a couple of niggles to sort out with my physio before the training builds again - best to be sure and not turn a niggle into a problem. My last 7 months of training has been consistent which is probably the biggest reason behind my fast time but during that period whenever I had a niggle, I got it attended to immediately. I’ve never forgotten one of the best tips I received when I started this journey and it was to “listen to your body”. I’ll continue to do that while I enjoy my “free running” before the new training schedule is in place. Next week I’ll confirm another race this year to keep me focused!
Normally after any race you are in discomfort after the race and it gets worse for the next two days. It’s know as DOMS - delayed onset muscle soreness. The day after the race I was in discomfort as expected. The next day it was gone! And it never resurfaced which is a mystery. Having run much faster than anticipated I really expected the DOMS to last a minimum of 3 days. When I completed my fastest every 10km race a few years ago I had DOMS for 5 days and it wasn’t nice. The problem was I was heading off to Philadelphia and I wasn’t looking forward to sitting in “cattle class” (it was American Airlines after all). But despite the discomfort of the seats in cattle class I suffered no pain - result.
The timing of my holiday was perfect as it gave my body a proper chance to recover without the stress of work or training. Long lies, no deadlines, good weather and lots of food to help put some weight back on went down well - along with the odd glass/bottle of wine. My wife and I attended a wedding of our friends daughter and that was a wonderful occasion where the Scots were present in numbers in our kilts - a bit of a sweat fest in those temperatures but I had a hydration strategy!
The later part of the holiday was at Stone Harbour at Jersey Shore so having had a week off running I had 3 runs along the stunning beach. It was amazing. I had no targets to reach, wasn’t wearing my Garmin or heart rate monitor and if I wanted to stop and take a picture, then I did. It was liberating and I felt complete freedom as I listened to the waves crashing into the shore. It had to be early as it was very warm but the surfers were already out so I had some company.
Now I’m back home I headed off to Chatelherault for one lap and again it was very enjoyable. At this stage I haven’t sat down with my coach yet and worked out what happened in the race. We also have to look at my future events for 2019 and what the training schedule will look like. I’ve got a couple of niggles to sort out with my physio before the training builds again - best to be sure and not turn a niggle into a problem. My last 7 months of training has been consistent which is probably the biggest reason behind my fast time but during that period whenever I had a niggle, I got it attended to immediately. I’ve never forgotten one of the best tips I received when I started this journey and it was to “listen to your body”. I’ll continue to do that while I enjoy my “free running” before the new training schedule is in place. Next week I’ll confirm another race this year to keep me focused!
Thursday, 12 July 2018
Dipping my dobber - The Great Glen Way
This is my race report for those who are interested in some more detail following my last post.
Friday 6th July at 11pm a taxi picks me up from Faulty Towers in Fort William, that’s a story in itself, and takes me to the community centre in Carpach. The taxi driver looks at my outfit and thinks I must be going to a fancy dress party but from his expression it’s obvious he can’t tell what I am – an ultra runner I tell him. I’m running from Fort William to Inverness along the Great Glen Way. 71 miles and 9,000 ft of climbing, He shakes his head in disbelief, he’ll be used to fairytales from drunks late on a Friday night but the only thing I am drunk on is the anticipation of an amazing adventure that will push me to the limit that I’m yet to find in my short ultra journey to this point.
The day had started earlier when I drove to Inverness, parked my car and caught the bus back to Fort William (that’s a long journey by bus I thought!). I had ran the course in reverse order over 2 days in January 2013 when preparing for the Marathon des Sables so this was going to be different. And the hot weather was also going to make it challenging. I had dinner with a fellow runner Lorna and my pal, training partner and for today photographer Michael. Then I headed off to Faulty Towers for 3.5 hours sleep as the race started at 1am Saturday and I was aiming to be on my feet for 18 hours. I originally thought I’d aim for the cut off at 22 miles but my training went well and I thought 20 but my utterly amazing coach Genevieve thought 19 possibility 18!
The community centre was full of “racing snakes” and you could tell the contenders as they gathered together looking confident. The racing brief gave me one shock, the course was now 2 miles longer! In the end those 2 miles made a real difference. They explained about dipping our dobber at the checkpoint and to make it easy the marshalls grabbed your dobber which was attached to your wrist and dipped it for you so you were checked in.
Standing in the dark at the canal with almost 90 runners with only head torches and moonlight to show us the way was quite surreal and before we knew it we were off. The route goes along the canal and in the first 50km its relatively flat except for a few lumps and undulations. After my tapering I was feeling amazing and despite trying to stay slow at 7 min per km I was averaging 5.45’s. I tried slowing down but it felt laboured. My decision on pace was decided when I started running beside and talking to Oriol from Barcelona. So happens in these races if your lucky, you find yourself running beside someone for a while and then realise you can help each other as you are a similar pace. So we agreed to run together at 5.45s and I reprogrammed my head along the lines of “get the time in the bank, you’ll slow down on the big hills anyway and it was always going to hurt so MTFU”. I also noticed the running snakes had disappeared into the night and we were ahead of the next pack of runners.
Running at night next to a large stretch of water, through trees as the orange crescent moon reflected across the water was one of the highlights of the race and makes me want to do more of that type of running. It was helped by being dry and warm enough only to need one layer – perfect.
CP 1 (Time for stage 1:51:54 – stage distance 16.8km) Clunes was a learning experience. Dobber dipped I was handed my food bag. There wasn’t a lot in it but by the time I had filled a bottle and picked up some jelly babies and nuts Oriol was telling me to hurry up. I knew a lot of time could be wasted in check points but I also knew I needed to take enough food to get me through the race so before the next CP I rehearsed in my head what I’d do to not waste time but to get the food and hydration I needed.
We were still clipping along at 5.45s but there was the odd lump and I didn’t want to burn out but pushed on with Oriol because I felt strong. We were sharing running experiences and he’d done UTMB and was a sub 3 hour marathon runner – the alarm bell started going off in my head. This guy is faster, younger and fitter so don’t ruin your race trying to keep up with him I was telling myself.
CP 2 (1:33:57 – 16km) Lagan Locks. I managed the routine better and someone had left a small bottle of coke so I scoffed that (any food left can be taken) and ran off eating a pork pie and some grapes. We were running towards the sun rise and had taken our head torches off around 3.30am – the red sky ahead made me feel grateful to be alive. There was a hill and I signalled to Oriol we should walk it while we ate. I had already indicated to Oriol that he should run ahead but he was obviously enjoying the company as was I. But after another walked hill he agreed he should run on. At the time I thought I’d link up with another runner but it turned out I was on my own for the rest of the race but with Michael popping up taking photos and shouting the odd word of encouragement I was fine and made sure I took in the amazing scenery. However the finish of this stage was along and never ending canal path which stretched on as far as the eye could see which was sole destroying.
CP 3 (2:05:14 -17.6 km) Fort Augustus. I had my first tub of custard and was this followed with a flap jack and topped up the bottles, one with high 5. This was where the climbing started and it was a beautiful climb through a forrest. Unfortunately a tree had fallen down blocking the path leaving head room of 3 feet. 1st attempt and my abductor muscles went into spasm. 2nd attempt I dropped onto my staved finger and with the pain jumped up and banged my head. So crawling through on all fours was the only way through. When I go to the top of the hill I came across the most specular view of the race right looking right down Loch Ness and as this was the high route you could see everything. I just wanted to sit down and take this in but I was in a race and well ahead on time so I pushed on. In definitely going to revisit that view but I’ll be in walking boots with a picnic!
The downhill to CP4 was steep and technical but that’s been my training so I was comfortable and over took a few runners who looked like they were struggling with the downhill section.
CP 4 (1:48:45 - 14.4km) Invermoriston. This is where the race begins. I knew that was the case so took some more time at the CP to take on food and change into my running vest as the temperature was definitely rising. I slapped on sun cream and downed a bottle of coke while Michael took some pictures. The climb out is ridiculous. While up till then you might have got away with road shoes, the trail shoes help me claw my way up – it is just relentless and then the downhill really starts to take its toll on your quads as you are breaking on the way down – you don’t want to pick up too much speed or you could end up being stretched off the hill with a DNF. I wish I’d reccied the course from this point on, it really would have helped.
There is a water stop 14.4km in at Grotaig and I topped up and guzzled some coke and just as I was about to leave my coach Genevieve and Colin pulled up on their bikes. I knew they were coming up to offer some support and it was wonderful to see them. They told me how ahead of schedule I was, I was just focusing on one CP to the next, and that lifted my spirits which was well timed as this is where it started to become really hard. I pushed on with this encouragement and the temperature now must have been about 23 degrees, I could feel my skin beginning to cook! This section seemed to go on forever and it had another long downhill section to the CP which was beginning to tell on my feet as I could feel a couple of blisters starting. I decided not to treat them and just leave them alone as I’d probably not be able to bend down and take my shoes off without cramping up. My right hammy had a few cramp twinges so I had to take that into consideration in my gate and speed. I had hydrated well but kept hearing the medics words at the briefing, drink to thirst. But my philosophy, especially in the heat, was sip and sip regularly – don’t get thirsty. This was all going through my head.
CP5 (3:01:01 – 23.2km) Drumnadrochit. If I thought the last stage was hard, then this one really hurt. A never ending climb which was OK when in the shelter of the trees but when you were exposed to the sun with no protection it was brutal. I’ve ran in the Sahara and the Grand Canyon but this was tough and I was on my own. Only me and my thoughts which sometimes isn’t a good thing. I was paranoid about running out of water (there were no streams to fill your bottles from as it was bone dry) while trying to eat and not end up with a stomach problem. I knew I’d finish but the times were slowing, as predicted, and I really just wanted this to be over. The problem was my Garmin was showing a message “low battery” which covered the screen and as a result I had no idea how far I had to go. I’d worn another watch just to tell me the time but my brain was so frazzled I couldn’t work it out. The piece of paper I had with all my timings written down was wet right through with sweat and as I was so far ahead of the plan, I was beyond doing the maths.
The top section to the next CP was a slog and I was walking more now as I was in what I call “survival mode” – trying to stay upright and in control of myself. My mind was playing games so when I saw someone walking towards me in a high viz vest I thought it was a forestry worker. But then she started shouting encouragement and taking pictures – I’d arrived at the last CP. The marshalls have a great sense of humour. There was an inviting chair which I was just about to sit on until they pointed to the sign – “only for wimps and princesses” and apparently nobody had sat on it so far. I grimaced and took the hint.
CP6 (1:47:43 – 12km) Loch Laide. The marshalls said it was all downhill from here – they were right on two counts! With legs that were wanting to disown me I headed off. Had I reccied this section I would have done better here. My mind kept looking for the view down to Inverness and it never came. Just more of the narrow downhill through trees which under normal circumstances would have been great. For the first time since CP2 I was passed by some runners, actually 2 might have passed me in the previous section but it’s all merges into a blur.
I was feeling sorry for myself and questioning why I put myself through it. I normally do these mad things to raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres but you can only ask your friends so many times and they have been very generous over the years. I had decided to do this one for me to prove to me what I’m capable of – no other reason but I was not wondering if this was reason enough to go through this pain. But this stage is only 16km so MTFU I said to myself.
The path went on forever but at the bottom I could see Michael with his camera, Genevieve and Colin – there were screaming their heads off at me, I could hardly muster a jog but I was so pleased to see them.
Only 3km to go screamed Genevieve. I staggered in the direction of the finish and increased my pace. Coming into Inverness Athletic Stadium was a picture I’d carried in my head. My fan base of 3 were waiting for me and suggesting I get a PB for 1 lap of the stadium – they have a good sense of humour. The softness of the track was welcome on my feet and on the finishing straight I decided to exaggerate a sprinting style putting at risk my hammies but I was past caring. Crossing the line I dipped my dobber for the last time. As my Garmin had retired I had no idea what my time was. I just needed some water and a seat that wasn’t for a wimp or a princess. I was handed my goodie bag and a slip of paper showing the last 16km had taken 2:32:25. I was 21st runner in and 1st male vet over 50 in a time of 14:40:18.
After thoughts
How did that happen? Almost a week after the event I still haven’t worked it out but with my coach, we will. Based on my training I think 18 was realistic and she was angling for 17 hours but some sort of a break through took place. The next day I was stiff but then the next miracle happened. No DOMS on day 2 when normally I’d be walking like the Tin Man. It must have been all the power walking the hills and running down them hard in training that helped.
This has been an amazing journey, so far, and I want to thank BAM for such an incredible event and all the volunteers and marshalls who kept smiling at the CPs and kicking my arse when it was required. As for my coach and support team on the day, you guys rocked and I know you took over 100 pictures for the other competitors and shouted encouragement to them as well. Ultra running is such a friendly supportive community. Back home my training buddies and medical team - physio, chiropractor, poditrist (and perhaps in the future psychiatrist) kept my body together which at 56 isn’t that easy! My long suffering wife and kids all put up with the social occasions I missed including an important party on the day of the race so thank you for allowing me to see just how far I can go. I hope this race report gives you an insight into what’s possible if your really want it. And despite the pain, tears and snotters dipping my dobber’s a lot better than sitting on my arse watching Love Island! Till the next time.
Friday 6th July at 11pm a taxi picks me up from Faulty Towers in Fort William, that’s a story in itself, and takes me to the community centre in Carpach. The taxi driver looks at my outfit and thinks I must be going to a fancy dress party but from his expression it’s obvious he can’t tell what I am – an ultra runner I tell him. I’m running from Fort William to Inverness along the Great Glen Way. 71 miles and 9,000 ft of climbing, He shakes his head in disbelief, he’ll be used to fairytales from drunks late on a Friday night but the only thing I am drunk on is the anticipation of an amazing adventure that will push me to the limit that I’m yet to find in my short ultra journey to this point.
The day had started earlier when I drove to Inverness, parked my car and caught the bus back to Fort William (that’s a long journey by bus I thought!). I had ran the course in reverse order over 2 days in January 2013 when preparing for the Marathon des Sables so this was going to be different. And the hot weather was also going to make it challenging. I had dinner with a fellow runner Lorna and my pal, training partner and for today photographer Michael. Then I headed off to Faulty Towers for 3.5 hours sleep as the race started at 1am Saturday and I was aiming to be on my feet for 18 hours. I originally thought I’d aim for the cut off at 22 miles but my training went well and I thought 20 but my utterly amazing coach Genevieve thought 19 possibility 18!
The community centre was full of “racing snakes” and you could tell the contenders as they gathered together looking confident. The racing brief gave me one shock, the course was now 2 miles longer! In the end those 2 miles made a real difference. They explained about dipping our dobber at the checkpoint and to make it easy the marshalls grabbed your dobber which was attached to your wrist and dipped it for you so you were checked in.
Standing in the dark at the canal with almost 90 runners with only head torches and moonlight to show us the way was quite surreal and before we knew it we were off. The route goes along the canal and in the first 50km its relatively flat except for a few lumps and undulations. After my tapering I was feeling amazing and despite trying to stay slow at 7 min per km I was averaging 5.45’s. I tried slowing down but it felt laboured. My decision on pace was decided when I started running beside and talking to Oriol from Barcelona. So happens in these races if your lucky, you find yourself running beside someone for a while and then realise you can help each other as you are a similar pace. So we agreed to run together at 5.45s and I reprogrammed my head along the lines of “get the time in the bank, you’ll slow down on the big hills anyway and it was always going to hurt so MTFU”. I also noticed the running snakes had disappeared into the night and we were ahead of the next pack of runners.
Running at night next to a large stretch of water, through trees as the orange crescent moon reflected across the water was one of the highlights of the race and makes me want to do more of that type of running. It was helped by being dry and warm enough only to need one layer – perfect.
CP 1 (Time for stage 1:51:54 – stage distance 16.8km) Clunes was a learning experience. Dobber dipped I was handed my food bag. There wasn’t a lot in it but by the time I had filled a bottle and picked up some jelly babies and nuts Oriol was telling me to hurry up. I knew a lot of time could be wasted in check points but I also knew I needed to take enough food to get me through the race so before the next CP I rehearsed in my head what I’d do to not waste time but to get the food and hydration I needed.
We were still clipping along at 5.45s but there was the odd lump and I didn’t want to burn out but pushed on with Oriol because I felt strong. We were sharing running experiences and he’d done UTMB and was a sub 3 hour marathon runner – the alarm bell started going off in my head. This guy is faster, younger and fitter so don’t ruin your race trying to keep up with him I was telling myself.
CP 2 (1:33:57 – 16km) Lagan Locks. I managed the routine better and someone had left a small bottle of coke so I scoffed that (any food left can be taken) and ran off eating a pork pie and some grapes. We were running towards the sun rise and had taken our head torches off around 3.30am – the red sky ahead made me feel grateful to be alive. There was a hill and I signalled to Oriol we should walk it while we ate. I had already indicated to Oriol that he should run ahead but he was obviously enjoying the company as was I. But after another walked hill he agreed he should run on. At the time I thought I’d link up with another runner but it turned out I was on my own for the rest of the race but with Michael popping up taking photos and shouting the odd word of encouragement I was fine and made sure I took in the amazing scenery. However the finish of this stage was along and never ending canal path which stretched on as far as the eye could see which was sole destroying.
CP 3 (2:05:14 -17.6 km) Fort Augustus. I had my first tub of custard and was this followed with a flap jack and topped up the bottles, one with high 5. This was where the climbing started and it was a beautiful climb through a forrest. Unfortunately a tree had fallen down blocking the path leaving head room of 3 feet. 1st attempt and my abductor muscles went into spasm. 2nd attempt I dropped onto my staved finger and with the pain jumped up and banged my head. So crawling through on all fours was the only way through. When I go to the top of the hill I came across the most specular view of the race right looking right down Loch Ness and as this was the high route you could see everything. I just wanted to sit down and take this in but I was in a race and well ahead on time so I pushed on. In definitely going to revisit that view but I’ll be in walking boots with a picnic!
The downhill to CP4 was steep and technical but that’s been my training so I was comfortable and over took a few runners who looked like they were struggling with the downhill section.
CP 4 (1:48:45 - 14.4km) Invermoriston. This is where the race begins. I knew that was the case so took some more time at the CP to take on food and change into my running vest as the temperature was definitely rising. I slapped on sun cream and downed a bottle of coke while Michael took some pictures. The climb out is ridiculous. While up till then you might have got away with road shoes, the trail shoes help me claw my way up – it is just relentless and then the downhill really starts to take its toll on your quads as you are breaking on the way down – you don’t want to pick up too much speed or you could end up being stretched off the hill with a DNF. I wish I’d reccied the course from this point on, it really would have helped.
There is a water stop 14.4km in at Grotaig and I topped up and guzzled some coke and just as I was about to leave my coach Genevieve and Colin pulled up on their bikes. I knew they were coming up to offer some support and it was wonderful to see them. They told me how ahead of schedule I was, I was just focusing on one CP to the next, and that lifted my spirits which was well timed as this is where it started to become really hard. I pushed on with this encouragement and the temperature now must have been about 23 degrees, I could feel my skin beginning to cook! This section seemed to go on forever and it had another long downhill section to the CP which was beginning to tell on my feet as I could feel a couple of blisters starting. I decided not to treat them and just leave them alone as I’d probably not be able to bend down and take my shoes off without cramping up. My right hammy had a few cramp twinges so I had to take that into consideration in my gate and speed. I had hydrated well but kept hearing the medics words at the briefing, drink to thirst. But my philosophy, especially in the heat, was sip and sip regularly – don’t get thirsty. This was all going through my head.
CP5 (3:01:01 – 23.2km) Drumnadrochit. If I thought the last stage was hard, then this one really hurt. A never ending climb which was OK when in the shelter of the trees but when you were exposed to the sun with no protection it was brutal. I’ve ran in the Sahara and the Grand Canyon but this was tough and I was on my own. Only me and my thoughts which sometimes isn’t a good thing. I was paranoid about running out of water (there were no streams to fill your bottles from as it was bone dry) while trying to eat and not end up with a stomach problem. I knew I’d finish but the times were slowing, as predicted, and I really just wanted this to be over. The problem was my Garmin was showing a message “low battery” which covered the screen and as a result I had no idea how far I had to go. I’d worn another watch just to tell me the time but my brain was so frazzled I couldn’t work it out. The piece of paper I had with all my timings written down was wet right through with sweat and as I was so far ahead of the plan, I was beyond doing the maths.
The top section to the next CP was a slog and I was walking more now as I was in what I call “survival mode” – trying to stay upright and in control of myself. My mind was playing games so when I saw someone walking towards me in a high viz vest I thought it was a forestry worker. But then she started shouting encouragement and taking pictures – I’d arrived at the last CP. The marshalls have a great sense of humour. There was an inviting chair which I was just about to sit on until they pointed to the sign – “only for wimps and princesses” and apparently nobody had sat on it so far. I grimaced and took the hint.
CP6 (1:47:43 – 12km) Loch Laide. The marshalls said it was all downhill from here – they were right on two counts! With legs that were wanting to disown me I headed off. Had I reccied this section I would have done better here. My mind kept looking for the view down to Inverness and it never came. Just more of the narrow downhill through trees which under normal circumstances would have been great. For the first time since CP2 I was passed by some runners, actually 2 might have passed me in the previous section but it’s all merges into a blur.
I was feeling sorry for myself and questioning why I put myself through it. I normally do these mad things to raise money for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres but you can only ask your friends so many times and they have been very generous over the years. I had decided to do this one for me to prove to me what I’m capable of – no other reason but I was not wondering if this was reason enough to go through this pain. But this stage is only 16km so MTFU I said to myself.
The path went on forever but at the bottom I could see Michael with his camera, Genevieve and Colin – there were screaming their heads off at me, I could hardly muster a jog but I was so pleased to see them.
Only 3km to go screamed Genevieve. I staggered in the direction of the finish and increased my pace. Coming into Inverness Athletic Stadium was a picture I’d carried in my head. My fan base of 3 were waiting for me and suggesting I get a PB for 1 lap of the stadium – they have a good sense of humour. The softness of the track was welcome on my feet and on the finishing straight I decided to exaggerate a sprinting style putting at risk my hammies but I was past caring. Crossing the line I dipped my dobber for the last time. As my Garmin had retired I had no idea what my time was. I just needed some water and a seat that wasn’t for a wimp or a princess. I was handed my goodie bag and a slip of paper showing the last 16km had taken 2:32:25. I was 21st runner in and 1st male vet over 50 in a time of 14:40:18.
After thoughts
How did that happen? Almost a week after the event I still haven’t worked it out but with my coach, we will. Based on my training I think 18 was realistic and she was angling for 17 hours but some sort of a break through took place. The next day I was stiff but then the next miracle happened. No DOMS on day 2 when normally I’d be walking like the Tin Man. It must have been all the power walking the hills and running down them hard in training that helped.
This has been an amazing journey, so far, and I want to thank BAM for such an incredible event and all the volunteers and marshalls who kept smiling at the CPs and kicking my arse when it was required. As for my coach and support team on the day, you guys rocked and I know you took over 100 pictures for the other competitors and shouted encouragement to them as well. Ultra running is such a friendly supportive community. Back home my training buddies and medical team - physio, chiropractor, poditrist (and perhaps in the future psychiatrist) kept my body together which at 56 isn’t that easy! My long suffering wife and kids all put up with the social occasions I missed including an important party on the day of the race so thank you for allowing me to see just how far I can go. I hope this race report gives you an insight into what’s possible if your really want it. And despite the pain, tears and snotters dipping my dobber’s a lot better than sitting on my arse watching Love Island! Till the next time.
Sunday, 8 July 2018
The Great Glen Ultra
It’s done. If you have followed my journey over the last 6 months you’ll have seen the ups and downs of my 6 days a week training and my preparation for the biggest one day challenge. 72 miles from Fort William to Inverness in under 22 hours. I entered the race to test my foot for a bigger challenge in 2019 - my foot injury is debatably permanent but with regular treatment I get by. After entering the race I looked at the profile and got a bit of a fright. 9,000 feet of climbing and the majority of it in the second half. This made me realise the 22 hour cut off could be a challenge.
In my training I did a lot of hill walking where I power walked up the hills and ran down the hills, hard and fast. At first this shredded my quads but they soon got over it. This was all part of the master plan set up by my amazing coach Genevieve Freeman. When we discussed a target time for GGU I had got my head around maybe 20 hours and she thought 18-19 hours with the emphasis on 18 hours - when the spreadsheet of times came through from her it was nearer to 17 but that didn’t allow for food and water stops.
My training has been mainly running with a little swimming. My longest run was 38km which took 3hrs 45 mins so one thing to get my head around was how do you go from a run of that distance and time to 115 km over some severe terrain? Even the Arrochar Alps trip of 4 hours didn’t really measure up to it. But with back to back long runs at the weekend with faster shorter runs during the week, it became a possibility.
The race started at 1pm on Saturday morning at Carpach, Fort William. The plan was to set a pace of 7 min per km for the first 32 km. One of the affects of tapering is just how good you feel at the start line. As I headed off into the darkness with only a quarter moon and a head torch for light I felt great. I was going along at 5.45 min per km and felt like I was floating on air. I tried to slow down a few times but it didn’t feel natural so I kept going. 5km in I met Oriel from Barcelona and we agreed that we were running at the same pace so we’d stick together. Then I found out he was a sub 3 hour marathon runner so by check point 2 I told him to go on. I spent the rest of the race on my own, well back from the fast guys and ahead of the middle pack.
I was well ahead of target time wise and had the support of Michael Martin who was taking photos of any athlete in my vicinity (they are very strict on supporters and I didn’t want disqualified!).
The first big climb was out of Fort Augustus which slowed everyone down. But when I got to the top the view was absolutely stunning. I just wanted to sit down and soak in the most amazing view - but I had a target to achieve so I headed on. The temperature was rising and I was keeping myself hydrated but my food bags at the check point were “cooking” the contents. The cheese became inedible and my Jaffa cakes melted. My jelly baby’s smelt of nuts which they were next to and my custard was warm. For the later stages I had bottles of flat coke and I downed each one on the spot. I’d certainly change my food next time I do an event like this - my preparation could have been better here but every event is a learning opportunity. I got away with 3 gels as if I’d taken the 4th one I think my race would have finished - it would have sent my stomach over the edge. Getting the balance right is always a challenge.
I didn’t reckie the course and it almost cost me the race. I should have run the second half of the course which was brutal. I’d read about the climb out of Invermoriston but didn’t appreciate just how challenging it was. And once you managed the climb you were totally exposed to the elements. The sun was baking hot (25 degrees) and no wind. I was frazzled and the track seemed to go on forever. I was still well ahead of schedule and when I got to the next waterpoint Genevieve and Colin turned up just as I was about to leave. It’s amazing how your spirits can be instantly lifted and your energy levels follow. They stayed with me for a while encouraging me and I really appreciated it knowing they’d be further on in the course.
The heat had taken it’s toll and my time was slowing down but this had been a calculated gamble. I had decided that if I’d started off slowly then I would have slowed down anyway so it would be better to get time in the bank, but I knew it was going to hurt towards the end - I wasn’t wrong.
By CP6 nobody had come past me since CP2 but I was starting to walk more as I was making sure I stayed upright, didn’t pass out and finished the run however 4 youngsters passed my in the last 15km. I knew from past experience that running in extreme heat you had to stay in control of yourself and not pass out. I was starting to get cramp on my right hamstring and that could have been the end of my race due to the challenging down hill terrain so I altered my speed to keep it away. Fortunately one Marshall had some salt and that seemed to do the trick but I knew I wouldn’t get a second chance and the hammy would just go boom! I was starting to fall to bits. Then my Garmin decide to tell me it had a low battery but that message blocked my screen so I couldn’t see how far I had to go. That was a major problem as I was waiting to reach the final down hill section which never seemed to come. And when it did, it never seemed to end. I wasn’t a happy camper. I would never have quit but it didn’t help me push on as I was in survival mode and just wanted this over and done with. I didn’t want to think too much about the finish line as I had to concentrate on each step, literally as it would be easy to fall as I had the other week.
At the bottom of the never ending hill my team were waiting to cajole me on and pointed me in the direction of the last few km. This lifted my spirits and I picked my pace up and by now I was beginning to picture running into Inverness Athletics Stadium. When I got there my amazing support team were screaming their heads off so 1 lap with a stylish sprint down the final straight and it was over. 14 hours and 40 minutes - I couldn’t believe it. I had completely blown even the most optimistic target. I was 21st in the race and the fastest in the plus 50 category. That’s a first for me. I felt really emotional as I reflected on the journey over the last 6 months. But once again it proves to me that we’re all capable of so much more - we just need to believe in ourselves.
Thank you for following my journey. I’m now going to take some recovery time as my body aches and I’m not looking forward to tomorrow which will be worse. But considering what it's been through I think it has come out remarkably well and at no stage did I have a problem with my foot. Unbelievable. Thank you for following my adventure and I’ll be back soon with details of what’s next. I’ll leave you with my favourite Nelson Mandela quote - “It always seems impossible until it’s done” - so true.
In my training I did a lot of hill walking where I power walked up the hills and ran down the hills, hard and fast. At first this shredded my quads but they soon got over it. This was all part of the master plan set up by my amazing coach Genevieve Freeman. When we discussed a target time for GGU I had got my head around maybe 20 hours and she thought 18-19 hours with the emphasis on 18 hours - when the spreadsheet of times came through from her it was nearer to 17 but that didn’t allow for food and water stops.
My training has been mainly running with a little swimming. My longest run was 38km which took 3hrs 45 mins so one thing to get my head around was how do you go from a run of that distance and time to 115 km over some severe terrain? Even the Arrochar Alps trip of 4 hours didn’t really measure up to it. But with back to back long runs at the weekend with faster shorter runs during the week, it became a possibility.
The race started at 1pm on Saturday morning at Carpach, Fort William. The plan was to set a pace of 7 min per km for the first 32 km. One of the affects of tapering is just how good you feel at the start line. As I headed off into the darkness with only a quarter moon and a head torch for light I felt great. I was going along at 5.45 min per km and felt like I was floating on air. I tried to slow down a few times but it didn’t feel natural so I kept going. 5km in I met Oriel from Barcelona and we agreed that we were running at the same pace so we’d stick together. Then I found out he was a sub 3 hour marathon runner so by check point 2 I told him to go on. I spent the rest of the race on my own, well back from the fast guys and ahead of the middle pack.
I was well ahead of target time wise and had the support of Michael Martin who was taking photos of any athlete in my vicinity (they are very strict on supporters and I didn’t want disqualified!).
The first big climb was out of Fort Augustus which slowed everyone down. But when I got to the top the view was absolutely stunning. I just wanted to sit down and soak in the most amazing view - but I had a target to achieve so I headed on. The temperature was rising and I was keeping myself hydrated but my food bags at the check point were “cooking” the contents. The cheese became inedible and my Jaffa cakes melted. My jelly baby’s smelt of nuts which they were next to and my custard was warm. For the later stages I had bottles of flat coke and I downed each one on the spot. I’d certainly change my food next time I do an event like this - my preparation could have been better here but every event is a learning opportunity. I got away with 3 gels as if I’d taken the 4th one I think my race would have finished - it would have sent my stomach over the edge. Getting the balance right is always a challenge.
I didn’t reckie the course and it almost cost me the race. I should have run the second half of the course which was brutal. I’d read about the climb out of Invermoriston but didn’t appreciate just how challenging it was. And once you managed the climb you were totally exposed to the elements. The sun was baking hot (25 degrees) and no wind. I was frazzled and the track seemed to go on forever. I was still well ahead of schedule and when I got to the next waterpoint Genevieve and Colin turned up just as I was about to leave. It’s amazing how your spirits can be instantly lifted and your energy levels follow. They stayed with me for a while encouraging me and I really appreciated it knowing they’d be further on in the course.
The heat had taken it’s toll and my time was slowing down but this had been a calculated gamble. I had decided that if I’d started off slowly then I would have slowed down anyway so it would be better to get time in the bank, but I knew it was going to hurt towards the end - I wasn’t wrong.
By CP6 nobody had come past me since CP2 but I was starting to walk more as I was making sure I stayed upright, didn’t pass out and finished the run however 4 youngsters passed my in the last 15km. I knew from past experience that running in extreme heat you had to stay in control of yourself and not pass out. I was starting to get cramp on my right hamstring and that could have been the end of my race due to the challenging down hill terrain so I altered my speed to keep it away. Fortunately one Marshall had some salt and that seemed to do the trick but I knew I wouldn’t get a second chance and the hammy would just go boom! I was starting to fall to bits. Then my Garmin decide to tell me it had a low battery but that message blocked my screen so I couldn’t see how far I had to go. That was a major problem as I was waiting to reach the final down hill section which never seemed to come. And when it did, it never seemed to end. I wasn’t a happy camper. I would never have quit but it didn’t help me push on as I was in survival mode and just wanted this over and done with. I didn’t want to think too much about the finish line as I had to concentrate on each step, literally as it would be easy to fall as I had the other week.
At the bottom of the never ending hill my team were waiting to cajole me on and pointed me in the direction of the last few km. This lifted my spirits and I picked my pace up and by now I was beginning to picture running into Inverness Athletics Stadium. When I got there my amazing support team were screaming their heads off so 1 lap with a stylish sprint down the final straight and it was over. 14 hours and 40 minutes - I couldn’t believe it. I had completely blown even the most optimistic target. I was 21st in the race and the fastest in the plus 50 category. That’s a first for me. I felt really emotional as I reflected on the journey over the last 6 months. But once again it proves to me that we’re all capable of so much more - we just need to believe in ourselves.
Thank you for following my journey. I’m now going to take some recovery time as my body aches and I’m not looking forward to tomorrow which will be worse. But considering what it's been through I think it has come out remarkably well and at no stage did I have a problem with my foot. Unbelievable. Thank you for following my adventure and I’ll be back soon with details of what’s next. I’ll leave you with my favourite Nelson Mandela quote - “It always seems impossible until it’s done” - so true.
Sunday, 1 July 2018
I get by with a little help from my friends
I can't believe I'm almost there. My total focus for 2018 has been the Great Glen Ultra which is on 7th July, starting at 1am. I will have 22 hours to complete 71 miles and the last 6 months have been working towards this goal. It been tough at times but I've managed my body with help from Pamela Loch who on Thursday will be taping my leg to see me through the race. Sam Williams will also be giving me pre-race massage to make sure all my muscles are in good shape and ready for the pounding they will be taking 48 hours later.
The hot weather has meant where possible I've trained early in the morning but even then, it's been warmer than normal. It gives me a good chance to practise my hydration which will be vital on the day - especially if this heat wave continues. That is also beginning to influence my race strategy. Starting at 1am it will be dark so I need to take care in not tripping over a stone or worse, falling into the canal! But making up early miles in the coolest temperatures seems like a good idea but I need to balance that against it being a very long day. Way longer than I've been on my feet for since Grand 2 Grand.
Today I am going over the logistics of travelling to Inverness, dropping my car off and then heading back down to Fort William for food and rest before the start. My equipment is chosen and tested but I need to decide what to carry while running and what to have in my drop bags. Pork pies, custard, baby bells, mixed nuts and raisins. Carb drinks and flat coke. There are some mandatory items such a space blanket and the weather and temperature will determine what, if any, additional clothes I require. There is no support allowed in the race however my coach Genevieve and her husband Colin are going to the three checkpoints where there is access to cheer me on. Even knowing that they will be at those checkpoints will get me through the dark moments.
Another ultra runner Michael Martin, who also happens to be a fantastic photographer, has volunteered to photograph the whole event from registration to the finish line (and hopefully not the medical tent). Having a record of the event will be special and allow me to show what's involved in such an amazing event; the highs, the lows and the really lows.
Training my body for this challenge has been tough but during that time I've been training my mind. My longest run has been just short of a marathon, but back to back training days simulate the tiredness I'll be feeling, but the most important factor is controlling my mind. It's like any target, you just need to dial the number into your subconscious. I remember 2 years ago that running 2km was tough due to injury and every increase in distance seemed a challenge. But as Nelson Mandela once said, it always seems impossible until it's done. GGU will be over soon enough but I intend to enjoy it. It's a stepping stone to the next adventure but I've got to treat it with respect (it's a tough enough challenge on its own) as I don't want to fall off that stone and not get to my 2019 challenge!
But the reason I've got to the start line is the support from my friends and most importantly my family. The ones who put up with the missed social events (GGU clashes with a 21st party, G2G clashed with a 60th!) and the constant pile of sweaty lycra. So thank you to each and every one of you who have encouraged and supported me along the way. It sure makes it easier.
The hot weather has meant where possible I've trained early in the morning but even then, it's been warmer than normal. It gives me a good chance to practise my hydration which will be vital on the day - especially if this heat wave continues. That is also beginning to influence my race strategy. Starting at 1am it will be dark so I need to take care in not tripping over a stone or worse, falling into the canal! But making up early miles in the coolest temperatures seems like a good idea but I need to balance that against it being a very long day. Way longer than I've been on my feet for since Grand 2 Grand.
Today I am going over the logistics of travelling to Inverness, dropping my car off and then heading back down to Fort William for food and rest before the start. My equipment is chosen and tested but I need to decide what to carry while running and what to have in my drop bags. Pork pies, custard, baby bells, mixed nuts and raisins. Carb drinks and flat coke. There are some mandatory items such a space blanket and the weather and temperature will determine what, if any, additional clothes I require. There is no support allowed in the race however my coach Genevieve and her husband Colin are going to the three checkpoints where there is access to cheer me on. Even knowing that they will be at those checkpoints will get me through the dark moments.
Another ultra runner Michael Martin, who also happens to be a fantastic photographer, has volunteered to photograph the whole event from registration to the finish line (and hopefully not the medical tent). Having a record of the event will be special and allow me to show what's involved in such an amazing event; the highs, the lows and the really lows.
Training my body for this challenge has been tough but during that time I've been training my mind. My longest run has been just short of a marathon, but back to back training days simulate the tiredness I'll be feeling, but the most important factor is controlling my mind. It's like any target, you just need to dial the number into your subconscious. I remember 2 years ago that running 2km was tough due to injury and every increase in distance seemed a challenge. But as Nelson Mandela once said, it always seems impossible until it's done. GGU will be over soon enough but I intend to enjoy it. It's a stepping stone to the next adventure but I've got to treat it with respect (it's a tough enough challenge on its own) as I don't want to fall off that stone and not get to my 2019 challenge!
But the reason I've got to the start line is the support from my friends and most importantly my family. The ones who put up with the missed social events (GGU clashes with a 21st party, G2G clashed with a 60th!) and the constant pile of sweaty lycra. So thank you to each and every one of you who have encouraged and supported me along the way. It sure makes it easier.
Sunday, 24 June 2018
Stiff little fingers
For those of you old enough, stiff little fingers was a punk group in the 80's. I was more a soul man myself so they wouldn't be my idea of a fun time but I'll get back to that shortly.
This was my last big week of training and as usual I was juggling my work/life balance around it. All the stats on my Garmin are good and my coach and I were saying how I hadn't had such a good consistent run, without injury, of training so I was really happy running into this weekend.
However I did have a night out with my best friend on Wednesday. 2 pints and a pizza was on the agenda, that was the agenda that went out the window! Thursday was a tough day as I postponed my morning run and binned my core session. I headed out for my run in the evening but the hills rep at the end were abandoned as my heart rate was through the roof. Friday wasn't much better although the morning session went ahead - I was in bed for 9.30pm!
Saturday was a 3hr 10min run and up till the last minute I had no takers - then my coach stepped up and said she'd join me for the last 2 hours. It was a fantastic run and I was trying out my new trail shoes that would work on tarmac and they passed the test. I also checked out my new shorts and again they passed. The total kms was 32 but with 6km to go we came across the first runners we'd seen that day. I stepped off the trail to left them past and my foot caught an old fence post which had been cut down to 4 inches. Then everything went into slow motion. My left knee hit he ground first. My left hand reached out and I saw all 4 fingers bend backwards. My face was going to be next but I managed to get my right arm down and the elbow took the hit - face saved. Genevieve and the runners crowded round. Come on guys I said, if you were real runners you'd have stopped my Garmin!
My hand was throbbing and I had a couple of bloody knees and a bloody elbow. 6km to go - let's do it. The adrenaline kicked in and it was a fast finish. Back home and got cleaned up. Taped up the two fingers which were fatter than before and put a bandage on to support my hand which was also swelling. Then off to lunch and a few beers with the family which was a long standing arrangement. It didn't help the now stiff little fingers!
Today was a 2 hours, 21km run with Stuart. The temperature had risen significantly and it was a hot sweaty run on tired legs. But it was done and now the road to the Great Glen Ultra on 7th July looks a lot easier - I've even got my race number 78! Can't wait.
However I think the stiff little fingers may need an x-ray based on the bruising. It just goes to show that you're only one step/trip away from a DNS or a DNF and in ultra races where you are going for say 20 hours I'll need to be extra careful. But I've now got two days off exercise and my body is looking forward to it although it may be spent in A&E!
This was my last big week of training and as usual I was juggling my work/life balance around it. All the stats on my Garmin are good and my coach and I were saying how I hadn't had such a good consistent run, without injury, of training so I was really happy running into this weekend.
However I did have a night out with my best friend on Wednesday. 2 pints and a pizza was on the agenda, that was the agenda that went out the window! Thursday was a tough day as I postponed my morning run and binned my core session. I headed out for my run in the evening but the hills rep at the end were abandoned as my heart rate was through the roof. Friday wasn't much better although the morning session went ahead - I was in bed for 9.30pm!
Saturday was a 3hr 10min run and up till the last minute I had no takers - then my coach stepped up and said she'd join me for the last 2 hours. It was a fantastic run and I was trying out my new trail shoes that would work on tarmac and they passed the test. I also checked out my new shorts and again they passed. The total kms was 32 but with 6km to go we came across the first runners we'd seen that day. I stepped off the trail to left them past and my foot caught an old fence post which had been cut down to 4 inches. Then everything went into slow motion. My left knee hit he ground first. My left hand reached out and I saw all 4 fingers bend backwards. My face was going to be next but I managed to get my right arm down and the elbow took the hit - face saved. Genevieve and the runners crowded round. Come on guys I said, if you were real runners you'd have stopped my Garmin!
My hand was throbbing and I had a couple of bloody knees and a bloody elbow. 6km to go - let's do it. The adrenaline kicked in and it was a fast finish. Back home and got cleaned up. Taped up the two fingers which were fatter than before and put a bandage on to support my hand which was also swelling. Then off to lunch and a few beers with the family which was a long standing arrangement. It didn't help the now stiff little fingers!
Today was a 2 hours, 21km run with Stuart. The temperature had risen significantly and it was a hot sweaty run on tired legs. But it was done and now the road to the Great Glen Ultra on 7th July looks a lot easier - I've even got my race number 78! Can't wait.
However I think the stiff little fingers may need an x-ray based on the bruising. It just goes to show that you're only one step/trip away from a DNS or a DNF and in ultra races where you are going for say 20 hours I'll need to be extra careful. But I've now got two days off exercise and my body is looking forward to it although it may be spent in A&E!
Sunday, 17 June 2018
Testing, testing
In 3 weeks time I will be travelling down the A9 with the cruise control on as I expect I'll have popped a few paracetamol and drinking Red Bull to get me through the journey home. I'll have completed (hopefully!) the Great Glen Ultra, my "A race" for 2018 and possibly only race as I spend the rest of the year catching up with life after training. As I sit here recovering from a weekends hard training I wonder what it will be like - 71 miles is a long way and plenty of time to go to some dark places. Although it won't seem like it at the time, it will be over all to quickly. A journey that started 9 months ago will have come to an end but then it will be the start of another adventure, to be decided.
It's the height of the race season and a lot of my friends are involved in races from 10km to to ironman to extreme ironman - yes that's right, tougher than an ironman and she will be running with me on the Great Glen Ultra! I keep some bad company where what I do is considered normal. Their adventures have all involved a lot of dedication and hours of training and once finished they will be focusing on a new target I'm sure.
This week meant a lot of juggling as I try to train, work and live. At one stage it involved a 6.15am taxi to the office so I could squeeze in a run before an 8am tele meeting and not have to worry about going out for a night with my team. Fortunately I wasn't training the next day! In a weeks time I have a 4am run so that I can make a flight at 6.45am.
On Saturday I was taken on a mystery tour by Michael Martin and my coach Genevieve. I'd never gone this route before and I don't think I could find my way back round without getting lost, but it was great. An unexpected bonus was that although the majority of the run was off road there was a few miles on tarmac. I was wearing my trail shoes but my calves didn't enjoy the tarmac with those shoes - they are too aggressive for tarmac. Better to find out now as there are some roads on the Great Glen Ultra and this could make the difference between finishing and getting injured. Testing your equipment is essential because when you are out on the run it's too late. I know that you can run the GGU in road shoes but having kicked a few stone on trail runs, I don't want to take that risk - that could finish your race. The 29km was a good way of setting up for Sunday's run.
Back to back runs are important when training for an ultra. You need to learn to run on tired legs. It may have been Father's Day but there was no breakfast in bed for me. I headed out with my regular running pal Stuart and the target was 1 hour 50 mins. At the beginning of the run we got attacked by a chihuahua - it may be small but those teeth got close to my ankle before I squirted it with my water bottle. This is a regular occurance and much as I love dogs it's on it's last warning. My legs were tired and my heart rate increased from yesterday's fatigue however it settled down and we had a good run. Again following the run I rested and stuffed my face with food. My body is craving food as I try to replace the calories burned.
Other than writing my blog, watching the footie and shopping online for new trail shoes I'll be sitting with my feet up resting like a proper athlete! I've got another two days running before I get a rest despite this being the "taper period" before the race. Next week will be the last big weekend of running. Tick tock, where did the time go?
It's the height of the race season and a lot of my friends are involved in races from 10km to to ironman to extreme ironman - yes that's right, tougher than an ironman and she will be running with me on the Great Glen Ultra! I keep some bad company where what I do is considered normal. Their adventures have all involved a lot of dedication and hours of training and once finished they will be focusing on a new target I'm sure.
This week meant a lot of juggling as I try to train, work and live. At one stage it involved a 6.15am taxi to the office so I could squeeze in a run before an 8am tele meeting and not have to worry about going out for a night with my team. Fortunately I wasn't training the next day! In a weeks time I have a 4am run so that I can make a flight at 6.45am.
On Saturday I was taken on a mystery tour by Michael Martin and my coach Genevieve. I'd never gone this route before and I don't think I could find my way back round without getting lost, but it was great. An unexpected bonus was that although the majority of the run was off road there was a few miles on tarmac. I was wearing my trail shoes but my calves didn't enjoy the tarmac with those shoes - they are too aggressive for tarmac. Better to find out now as there are some roads on the Great Glen Ultra and this could make the difference between finishing and getting injured. Testing your equipment is essential because when you are out on the run it's too late. I know that you can run the GGU in road shoes but having kicked a few stone on trail runs, I don't want to take that risk - that could finish your race. The 29km was a good way of setting up for Sunday's run.
Back to back runs are important when training for an ultra. You need to learn to run on tired legs. It may have been Father's Day but there was no breakfast in bed for me. I headed out with my regular running pal Stuart and the target was 1 hour 50 mins. At the beginning of the run we got attacked by a chihuahua - it may be small but those teeth got close to my ankle before I squirted it with my water bottle. This is a regular occurance and much as I love dogs it's on it's last warning. My legs were tired and my heart rate increased from yesterday's fatigue however it settled down and we had a good run. Again following the run I rested and stuffed my face with food. My body is craving food as I try to replace the calories burned.
Other than writing my blog, watching the footie and shopping online for new trail shoes I'll be sitting with my feet up resting like a proper athlete! I've got another two days running before I get a rest despite this being the "taper period" before the race. Next week will be the last big weekend of running. Tick tock, where did the time go?
Sunday, 10 June 2018
The lost boys
I know I know. There is a bit of recurring theme here but I'll explain it all in due course.
I can't believe how quickly the weeks are flying in as I head to my "A race" in 26 days time. There's a lot of planning still to do so that when I turn up I know exactly what is going to happen - I don't want to waste any energy worrying about things that can be taken care of in advance.
It's been a good week's training, missing only one swim session - I'd taken my goggles/nose clip to Marrakesh but they somehow got lost in the suitcase on the way back. 4 days later I found them so I'll be back swimming this week.
I had a special treat on Friday which was to listen to my friend Roddy Riddle address 160 podiatrists in Glasgow about how he "controls/rules his T1 diabetes". I ran with Roddy in the MdS and apart from being a top athlete he is such an inspiration for anyone with T1. I even got a mention in his presentation. The picture is of me lying on my back in the tent with my feet in the air, both almost completely covered in bandages as I have 7 blisters at the end of day 2. He refers to me as the hypochondriac! He's given this talk all over the world - thanks Roddy, don't let the truth get in the way of a good story! Don't tell him but he is amazing. While I am focusing on the Great Glen run cut off of 22 hours and would be delighted to get closer to 20 hours, he ran it a few years ago in 13 hours and came 3rd! T1 doesn't stand a chance in his body.
Saturday was 1.5 hours at Chatelherault which I hadn't visited in some time. Sadly the council have "sanitised" the paths will fine stones and even tarmaced the big stairs which takes away the trail element. I may have to find a new training ground.
Today I was meant to be in the hills for 5 hours. A friend suggested The Shiehallion, an iconic Munro which according to the guide was a 4-6 hour climb. Having got lost the other week I studied the maps and downloaded an OS map of the area. Sadly it didn't show the approach road but I had google maps, or at least I had it until there was no signal. So Stuart and I ended up in the wrong glen, again! Eventually we found our way which when we were coming home seemed so simple to navigate except like a couple of numpties we got it wrong - we were eventually helped by someone with an atlas!
I was really looking forward to this climb and had read about the false summits and also the bolder field near the summit. We set off running up the track till it got too steep and we then reverted to power walking. The summit is covered in cloud but I was hoping it would burn off. I was surprised how busy the hill was and how early we reached the boulder field. My dodgy foot didn't appreciate the hopping from one rock to another and it took us over 20 minutes to get through it as there is no path at that stage. Despite the low cloud, my summit curse, we knew we'd reached the top because these must have been 20 people up there having their lunch - not my idea of climbing in Scotland. We had some food and water and quickly headed back down. Every step in the boulder field was a possible ankle break for me.
Once out of it we let the brakes off and speedy Stuart left me for dust. At one stage I looked up to see how to navigate my way past some walkers and tripped. They have no idea how close I was to wiping them out but fortunately I regained my footing and continued down the mountainside. When we got to the bottom I checked my watch - a total of 2 hours! I wasn't in the frame of mind to repeat it so took the positives out of the run i.e. Practising on similar terrain and building my quads before heading off for fish and chips and a 99.
On the way home I bought a Schiehallion beer and came to the conclusion, the beer is better than the mountain!
This week will be a busy running week and I will start to get together my plans for the event. Based on me getting lost in the last 2 runs I think studying the course will be vital as part of it is in the dark and I need to organise my drop bags with the food that will keep me fuelled during the race.
Tick tock - it will be over before I know it but in the meantime, plenty of preparation to be done.
I can't believe how quickly the weeks are flying in as I head to my "A race" in 26 days time. There's a lot of planning still to do so that when I turn up I know exactly what is going to happen - I don't want to waste any energy worrying about things that can be taken care of in advance.
It's been a good week's training, missing only one swim session - I'd taken my goggles/nose clip to Marrakesh but they somehow got lost in the suitcase on the way back. 4 days later I found them so I'll be back swimming this week.
I had a special treat on Friday which was to listen to my friend Roddy Riddle address 160 podiatrists in Glasgow about how he "controls/rules his T1 diabetes". I ran with Roddy in the MdS and apart from being a top athlete he is such an inspiration for anyone with T1. I even got a mention in his presentation. The picture is of me lying on my back in the tent with my feet in the air, both almost completely covered in bandages as I have 7 blisters at the end of day 2. He refers to me as the hypochondriac! He's given this talk all over the world - thanks Roddy, don't let the truth get in the way of a good story! Don't tell him but he is amazing. While I am focusing on the Great Glen run cut off of 22 hours and would be delighted to get closer to 20 hours, he ran it a few years ago in 13 hours and came 3rd! T1 doesn't stand a chance in his body.
Saturday was 1.5 hours at Chatelherault which I hadn't visited in some time. Sadly the council have "sanitised" the paths will fine stones and even tarmaced the big stairs which takes away the trail element. I may have to find a new training ground.
Today I was meant to be in the hills for 5 hours. A friend suggested The Shiehallion, an iconic Munro which according to the guide was a 4-6 hour climb. Having got lost the other week I studied the maps and downloaded an OS map of the area. Sadly it didn't show the approach road but I had google maps, or at least I had it until there was no signal. So Stuart and I ended up in the wrong glen, again! Eventually we found our way which when we were coming home seemed so simple to navigate except like a couple of numpties we got it wrong - we were eventually helped by someone with an atlas!
I was really looking forward to this climb and had read about the false summits and also the bolder field near the summit. We set off running up the track till it got too steep and we then reverted to power walking. The summit is covered in cloud but I was hoping it would burn off. I was surprised how busy the hill was and how early we reached the boulder field. My dodgy foot didn't appreciate the hopping from one rock to another and it took us over 20 minutes to get through it as there is no path at that stage. Despite the low cloud, my summit curse, we knew we'd reached the top because these must have been 20 people up there having their lunch - not my idea of climbing in Scotland. We had some food and water and quickly headed back down. Every step in the boulder field was a possible ankle break for me.
Once out of it we let the brakes off and speedy Stuart left me for dust. At one stage I looked up to see how to navigate my way past some walkers and tripped. They have no idea how close I was to wiping them out but fortunately I regained my footing and continued down the mountainside. When we got to the bottom I checked my watch - a total of 2 hours! I wasn't in the frame of mind to repeat it so took the positives out of the run i.e. Practising on similar terrain and building my quads before heading off for fish and chips and a 99.
On the way home I bought a Schiehallion beer and came to the conclusion, the beer is better than the mountain!
This week will be a busy running week and I will start to get together my plans for the event. Based on me getting lost in the last 2 runs I think studying the course will be vital as part of it is in the dark and I need to organise my drop bags with the food that will keep me fuelled during the race.
Tick tock - it will be over before I know it but in the meantime, plenty of preparation to be done.
Sunday, 3 June 2018
Double shift
Last week was a light weeks training, apart from this weekend. The reason was that I was attending a wedding in Marrakesh,with my wife, of a good friend. Sometimes life takes over, which isn't a bad thing, and with my coach we had known about this for some time so planned accordingly. While it was scheduled as an easy week, Monday was spent travelling all day as we had a couple of flights. That was tiring but the following day I was up at 6.30am and out for a 1 hour run before it got too hot. It was hot enough but my focus was on trying not to go over on my ankle ofn the rubble that was meant to be the footpath or wiped out by the moped riders who had "livestock" on their back/saddle and were texting on their phone at the same time!
Tuesday was the wedding which was amazing. Plenty of fizz and we called it a night at 12.30 having danced the night away - should have been wearing my Garmin and I could have claimed it was training. Wednesday continued the celebrations and Thursday we left the hotel at 7am and got home at 12.30am on Friday - knackered. I had a 40 minute recovery run on Friday in Z1 & Z2 which felt like a gentle massage but this was the "calm before the storm".
I had to run 38km on Saturday and had nobody interested in joining me. But I got a last minute offer from a real ultra nutter, Craig Hamilton and Donald MacLean. They had a 38km planned for me but what I didn't realise was that after 11km we headed off-road to a very tough 16km route with some very big climbs. I don't like, although know it's good for me, this track due to the big climbs but we walked some of the hills which is what you do in ultras. The terrain was perfect as it will be similar to the Great Glen Ultra. On the way back the heavens opened so I got to test my running gear in monsoon conditions - important to know there isn't any chaffing when running in wet shorts. In total it was 39km and I spent the rest of the day eating like a horse and resting. I'd lost over 4 lbs in weight and burned 2,700 calories. But this was a double shift and the real test was Sunday - running on tired legs.
Having almost run a marathon, when I woke up on Sunday I felt reasonably good but I had a wee niggle behind my right knee coming off the calf. I took precautions with extra mineral hydration before I went out and compression socks to help support my calf. My trusty running mate Stuart joined me and the start of the 29km run involves a hill - calf felt tight and legs were tired. In fact the first 41 minutes are uphill so it's a tough start. After that I settled into a good rhythm walking the occasional hill and hydrating and eating at the same time - good practise.
It didn't help that I took the wrong road which added another 3km onto our route but we just had to get on with it. We finished strong with the last 3km getting faster.
As soon as we stopped I could feel the stiffness setting in so hydration and protein drink were consumed followed by a bath and food. The rest of the day will be rest and recovery but I'm pleased with my stats over the weekend. Tomorrow is a rest day before it all starts again. It's amazing what your body can do when you train it, and your mind, properly. Double shifts do have benefits.
Tuesday was the wedding which was amazing. Plenty of fizz and we called it a night at 12.30 having danced the night away - should have been wearing my Garmin and I could have claimed it was training. Wednesday continued the celebrations and Thursday we left the hotel at 7am and got home at 12.30am on Friday - knackered. I had a 40 minute recovery run on Friday in Z1 & Z2 which felt like a gentle massage but this was the "calm before the storm".
I had to run 38km on Saturday and had nobody interested in joining me. But I got a last minute offer from a real ultra nutter, Craig Hamilton and Donald MacLean. They had a 38km planned for me but what I didn't realise was that after 11km we headed off-road to a very tough 16km route with some very big climbs. I don't like, although know it's good for me, this track due to the big climbs but we walked some of the hills which is what you do in ultras. The terrain was perfect as it will be similar to the Great Glen Ultra. On the way back the heavens opened so I got to test my running gear in monsoon conditions - important to know there isn't any chaffing when running in wet shorts. In total it was 39km and I spent the rest of the day eating like a horse and resting. I'd lost over 4 lbs in weight and burned 2,700 calories. But this was a double shift and the real test was Sunday - running on tired legs.
Having almost run a marathon, when I woke up on Sunday I felt reasonably good but I had a wee niggle behind my right knee coming off the calf. I took precautions with extra mineral hydration before I went out and compression socks to help support my calf. My trusty running mate Stuart joined me and the start of the 29km run involves a hill - calf felt tight and legs were tired. In fact the first 41 minutes are uphill so it's a tough start. After that I settled into a good rhythm walking the occasional hill and hydrating and eating at the same time - good practise.
It didn't help that I took the wrong road which added another 3km onto our route but we just had to get on with it. We finished strong with the last 3km getting faster.
As soon as we stopped I could feel the stiffness setting in so hydration and protein drink were consumed followed by a bath and food. The rest of the day will be rest and recovery but I'm pleased with my stats over the weekend. Tomorrow is a rest day before it all starts again. It's amazing what your body can do when you train it, and your mind, properly. Double shifts do have benefits.
Tuesday, 29 May 2018
7 Ps - lost in Glen Tilt
How can you get lost in a glen someone said. Well more of that later but believe me you can.
After the previous weeks hard running at the weekend I was given two days off and that recovery was exactly what I needed. My quads were tired and a massage from the wonderful Sam Williams got them sorted. But that wee rest meant I ran the next 5 days in a row with the big back to back runs at the weekend.
That brings me to getting lost in a glen! A pal had sent me a potentially 5 hour hill walk which looked good for the Saturday. Unfortunately I didn't spend time studying the map until we were almost there. Stuart & I ended up a dirt track at a farm with no clue where we were in relation to the map which we couldn't view properly as we had no signal. I had an idea this might happen and taken a picture of the map but that was useless. Fortunately we bumped into a guy who was heading off to the "orienteering championships". He looked at my picture and led us to a parking spot and pointed us in the right direction - or so we thought! Hope he got on ok in his event, if he ever reached it!
The scenery was beautiful and we aimed for the biggest hill around. We'd been told there was a track right to the top which I'm sure is true but not if you're in the wrong bloody glen! I'm sure I could hear the banjo's playing as we approached a house in the middle of nowhere and asked directions. There was no way we could make it over to the right glen in the time we had so we decided to make the best of it and do an out and back instead. The terrain was perfect practise for my ultra so I decided just to enjoy it. The heat was extremely warm and water supplies were getting low but we had this wonderful flowing river beside us. We took a break at half way and refilled our bottles from the river. On the way back we had 8 km to go and I decided we should cool down so we stood up to our thighs in the river - sheer bliss. The only thing missing was a cold beer. After that chill out my feet felt brand new and the rest of the run was easy - 28km done.
The following day I had a 2 hour pacy run which I new I'd be doing on my own. I wasn't looking forward to it but plugged the earphones in and headed out. As often happens, the sessions you aren't looking forward to are usually the best and I smashed the pace over 22.5km in 1hr 57.
According to my amazing coach Genevieve it's all going to plan. I'm getting fitter and stronger - the stats confirm it. We went over the plan for the next 6 weeks so that I have a good idea of what lies ahead and can plan my diary around it. Next weekend is going to be the peak of my distance running with 38km on Saturday followed by 26km on Sunday. It's also at a reasonable pace so it won't be a "walk in the park". This week is an easier week as I rest and get ready for the weekend with a reduced training schedule.
Getting lost in some ways was liberating as it seemed like an adventure but it won't happen again as I remember my 7 Ps (piss poor preparation precipitates piss poor performance). Hopefully on Sunday night I'll have the energy to write my blog!
After the previous weeks hard running at the weekend I was given two days off and that recovery was exactly what I needed. My quads were tired and a massage from the wonderful Sam Williams got them sorted. But that wee rest meant I ran the next 5 days in a row with the big back to back runs at the weekend.
That brings me to getting lost in a glen! A pal had sent me a potentially 5 hour hill walk which looked good for the Saturday. Unfortunately I didn't spend time studying the map until we were almost there. Stuart & I ended up a dirt track at a farm with no clue where we were in relation to the map which we couldn't view properly as we had no signal. I had an idea this might happen and taken a picture of the map but that was useless. Fortunately we bumped into a guy who was heading off to the "orienteering championships". He looked at my picture and led us to a parking spot and pointed us in the right direction - or so we thought! Hope he got on ok in his event, if he ever reached it!
The scenery was beautiful and we aimed for the biggest hill around. We'd been told there was a track right to the top which I'm sure is true but not if you're in the wrong bloody glen! I'm sure I could hear the banjo's playing as we approached a house in the middle of nowhere and asked directions. There was no way we could make it over to the right glen in the time we had so we decided to make the best of it and do an out and back instead. The terrain was perfect practise for my ultra so I decided just to enjoy it. The heat was extremely warm and water supplies were getting low but we had this wonderful flowing river beside us. We took a break at half way and refilled our bottles from the river. On the way back we had 8 km to go and I decided we should cool down so we stood up to our thighs in the river - sheer bliss. The only thing missing was a cold beer. After that chill out my feet felt brand new and the rest of the run was easy - 28km done.
The following day I had a 2 hour pacy run which I new I'd be doing on my own. I wasn't looking forward to it but plugged the earphones in and headed out. As often happens, the sessions you aren't looking forward to are usually the best and I smashed the pace over 22.5km in 1hr 57.
According to my amazing coach Genevieve it's all going to plan. I'm getting fitter and stronger - the stats confirm it. We went over the plan for the next 6 weeks so that I have a good idea of what lies ahead and can plan my diary around it. Next weekend is going to be the peak of my distance running with 38km on Saturday followed by 26km on Sunday. It's also at a reasonable pace so it won't be a "walk in the park". This week is an easier week as I rest and get ready for the weekend with a reduced training schedule.
Getting lost in some ways was liberating as it seemed like an adventure but it won't happen again as I remember my 7 Ps (piss poor preparation precipitates piss poor performance). Hopefully on Sunday night I'll have the energy to write my blog!
Sunday, 20 May 2018
Mental running
The weeks seem to be flying in and this week I had 2 days off during the week - luxury. This was much appreciated by my body and helped as I visited the physio and had my calf taped up. That was after an hour of eye watering massage on my calf. I've got other appointments booked to make sure my calf behaves to help stabilise my foot which was sore after this weekends efforts.
Yesterday I headed up to the Arrochar Alps with Stuart and we tackle 3 mountains including the Cobbler. At the top of the mountain there is a stack - in the stack is a hole called the "eye of the needle". You have to climb through this onto a ledge and work your way around the stack and climb up on top. There is a sheer drop of I'd guess at least 1,000 ft but I didn't have the bottle to do it. Maybe one day. We then headed off to conquer another couple of summits. From the top of the last summit to the carpark at the bottom was a 55 minute downhill run. Tricky conditions and every footstep was a potential ankle break so I had to be careful, especially with an unstable foot. No running poles to help steady me as the race doesn't allow them and I have to practise without them.
As we headed down the trail at pace some of the walkers passed comments such as "respect" and "well done" but the best was "you boys are mental" - said in a positive way of course.
So we are mental runners but that really isn't news when I consider what we put ourselves through. It was 4 hours of hard work and as I was only meant to do 3 and it should have been on the Sunday but I switched sessions due to the weather forecast.
Having completed such a hard session I knew my schedule was to run fast for an hour but hoped my coach would change that to a recovery run. To my surprise this morning, she'd switched it to 2 hour run! This was a test of my resolve. I had to immediately reset my goal for the session.
As I was running alone I plugged in some music to keep me company. I knew my quads would be complaining and hoped I'd make it round without too much discomfort. I ran 22km on feel, rather than pace or heart rate, and felt strong. My Garmin told me that I'd completed my fastest half marathon this year in I hr 54 min, despite having shredded quads! Result.
The back to back long runs are essential to building the strength, both physical and mental, and it just shows that if I "dial in the mileage" to my head my body will deliver. A big 7 weeks of training to go but this weekend was definitely some mental running!
Yesterday I headed up to the Arrochar Alps with Stuart and we tackle 3 mountains including the Cobbler. At the top of the mountain there is a stack - in the stack is a hole called the "eye of the needle". You have to climb through this onto a ledge and work your way around the stack and climb up on top. There is a sheer drop of I'd guess at least 1,000 ft but I didn't have the bottle to do it. Maybe one day. We then headed off to conquer another couple of summits. From the top of the last summit to the carpark at the bottom was a 55 minute downhill run. Tricky conditions and every footstep was a potential ankle break so I had to be careful, especially with an unstable foot. No running poles to help steady me as the race doesn't allow them and I have to practise without them.
As we headed down the trail at pace some of the walkers passed comments such as "respect" and "well done" but the best was "you boys are mental" - said in a positive way of course.
So we are mental runners but that really isn't news when I consider what we put ourselves through. It was 4 hours of hard work and as I was only meant to do 3 and it should have been on the Sunday but I switched sessions due to the weather forecast.
Having completed such a hard session I knew my schedule was to run fast for an hour but hoped my coach would change that to a recovery run. To my surprise this morning, she'd switched it to 2 hour run! This was a test of my resolve. I had to immediately reset my goal for the session.
As I was running alone I plugged in some music to keep me company. I knew my quads would be complaining and hoped I'd make it round without too much discomfort. I ran 22km on feel, rather than pace or heart rate, and felt strong. My Garmin told me that I'd completed my fastest half marathon this year in I hr 54 min, despite having shredded quads! Result.
The back to back long runs are essential to building the strength, both physical and mental, and it just shows that if I "dial in the mileage" to my head my body will deliver. A big 7 weeks of training to go but this weekend was definitely some mental running!
Sunday, 13 May 2018
Bring on the blue bells
This is my favourite time of the year, when the blue bells come out. Yesterday was my first run at Chatelherault with them in full bloom and what a sight it was. It was extra special because for the last two years I have been injured at this stage and didn't get to see them. Being able to enjoy some sun on my back while running through the forest admiring the blue bells and listening to the birds definitely makes me faster. It's not all about blood, sweat and tears you know!
On Thursday I also had the pleasure in running in Sutton Coldfield. I arrived at midnight at my hotel but was up and running at 6am before my meeting and then straight back to the airport so I made sure I savoured every minute of it. Even at that time in the morning it was shorts and a tee shirt and by the end of the run I was soaked with sweat. Beautiful countryside and a nice hilly route to make me work hard but it really set me up for the day.
This weekend has involved two back to back runs at Chatelherault and yesterday my pal Johnny joined me for the 2nd and 3rd lap. What a difference having company makes and we held a good pace all the way round without my heart rate going too high - shows the training is paying off. Today I was out for two laps and Jack kept me company for the first - probably my fastest lap which meant I had to dig deep in the second. But the blue bells worked their wonder and kept me distracted.
Unfortunately my foot hasn't enjoyed the runs but I'm seeing the physio on Tuesday so hopefully she will sort it out. There is no way of telling how it will behave in a 71 mile run but I'm already booked in 2 days before the race to have my foot, ankle and calf taped as this seems to ease some of the pressure.
Summer is definitely here so get out there and enjoy the magnificent colours and fragrances. I'm so glad to have a mid-summer race where the big training miles can be done in the summer. And finally my pal Stuart Auld successfully completed his first Ultra marathon. I met him after my run today and he was "buzzing" following his success. He's now raising his sights which is what happens when you keep "bad company"! Aim high is what I say.
On Thursday I also had the pleasure in running in Sutton Coldfield. I arrived at midnight at my hotel but was up and running at 6am before my meeting and then straight back to the airport so I made sure I savoured every minute of it. Even at that time in the morning it was shorts and a tee shirt and by the end of the run I was soaked with sweat. Beautiful countryside and a nice hilly route to make me work hard but it really set me up for the day.
This weekend has involved two back to back runs at Chatelherault and yesterday my pal Johnny joined me for the 2nd and 3rd lap. What a difference having company makes and we held a good pace all the way round without my heart rate going too high - shows the training is paying off. Today I was out for two laps and Jack kept me company for the first - probably my fastest lap which meant I had to dig deep in the second. But the blue bells worked their wonder and kept me distracted.
Unfortunately my foot hasn't enjoyed the runs but I'm seeing the physio on Tuesday so hopefully she will sort it out. There is no way of telling how it will behave in a 71 mile run but I'm already booked in 2 days before the race to have my foot, ankle and calf taped as this seems to ease some of the pressure.
Summer is definitely here so get out there and enjoy the magnificent colours and fragrances. I'm so glad to have a mid-summer race where the big training miles can be done in the summer. And finally my pal Stuart Auld successfully completed his first Ultra marathon. I met him after my run today and he was "buzzing" following his success. He's now raising his sights which is what happens when you keep "bad company"! Aim high is what I say.
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