After a tiring weekend of running last week I was shattered. But had a run on Monday that left me completely knackered for my fitness test on Tuesday. Before I went off to sleep I wasn't sure I'd be able to run on Tuesday never mind push the pace for 20 minutes - I smashed it and the results were encouraging. Then off to the pool for a workout - good double session which made my swim on Friday the best yet. The chiropractor diagnosed my shoulder problem and gave me some exercises to stablise it so here's hoping.
On Saturday a couple of laps of Chatelherault set me up for my first Munro of 2018 - Ben Lomond. You may remember that last year I climbed Ben Lomond five time and never once saw a clear summit. Today the forecast was good so when I picked up my pals we were all looking forward to a good day. This was Staurt's first Munro but Graham is an experienced mountaineer and it's just as well. The blue skies clouded over and the summit was above the snow line. At one stage we had to reverse back along a narrowing ridge as without crampons or ice axes, we couldn't continue in that direction. Graham's kept us safe but at one stage near the summit we got close to a shear drop which could easily have been missed.
At the top we were met with snow and hail and the temperature had plummeted with the visibility was getting worse. That's 6 in a row! We wasted no time and ran down the mountain. Difficult conditions but Stuart flew down the hill - it was a joy to see the smile on his face and he'll definitely be doing more of this training as he prepares for his 1st ultra.
Today was a good lesson on how quickly conditions can change and fortunately we were carrying the right gear with us. However, having an experienced climber with us meant the risk was reduced. It he hadn't have been there we'd have turned back at the snow line. By the time we got to the bottom and found a coffee stop, people we having coffee outside and the sun was shining! There's going to be a lot more of this type of training in the coming months. I just hope o have a view from the summits!
Sunday, 25 March 2018
Sunday, 18 March 2018
Re-tired!
The weather continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing anyone training out doors with high winds, extremely low temperatures and snow flurries. Apparently today is the last Sunday in winter and I bloody hope so. My cold is almost away, still a few lingering signs but this morning a sore throat started and I'm hoping that won't develop into anything - I can't afford any more time off as I try and build the miles.
My coach has rejigged my schedule cutting back the miles that were scheduled but trying to build them back up in a way my body can cope with. We've worked on heart rate this week but it's still not behaving which makes me thing the cold hasn't disappeared yet.
My swim went well and I actually enjoyed it. My shoulder was a wee bit uncomfortable afterwards but I'm getting an MOT from my chiropractor on Tuesday to make sure my alignment is correct before I start putting the heavy mileage in.
This week I got a flat tyre (in my car!) which knocked out my schedule for that day, but I still managed my run. Thanks to Audi Assist I was back on the road but unfortunately £460 lighter for 2 tyres. Then my daughter was home from University and I noticed some damage to her tyre. This dictated where I ran this morning and I lost some more pounds - £150 to be precise.
So it's been an expensive week while I try and get my runs in and stick to the schedule. I could have binned both of them due to the tyre problems but had to rearrange my runs to make sure they happened. The good news is I dropped 3 pounds in weight which shows the benefits of regular running.
For my last two runs I've had company which helped. Yesterday I ran with my nephew who is new to running but an absolute natural. He'll be kicking my ass in due course. We kept a sensible pace and the time passed easily. Today I was out in the howling wind with my running pal Stuart who made sure I finished the run. My heart rate was through the roof as I had a pace target to reach and I had to walk at a number of points. Not a good run but an important one and it was good to have someone encouraging me to finish it. The running is building which is needed so hopefully I'll stay healthy and injury free.
My coach has rejigged my schedule cutting back the miles that were scheduled but trying to build them back up in a way my body can cope with. We've worked on heart rate this week but it's still not behaving which makes me thing the cold hasn't disappeared yet.
My swim went well and I actually enjoyed it. My shoulder was a wee bit uncomfortable afterwards but I'm getting an MOT from my chiropractor on Tuesday to make sure my alignment is correct before I start putting the heavy mileage in.
This week I got a flat tyre (in my car!) which knocked out my schedule for that day, but I still managed my run. Thanks to Audi Assist I was back on the road but unfortunately £460 lighter for 2 tyres. Then my daughter was home from University and I noticed some damage to her tyre. This dictated where I ran this morning and I lost some more pounds - £150 to be precise.
So it's been an expensive week while I try and get my runs in and stick to the schedule. I could have binned both of them due to the tyre problems but had to rearrange my runs to make sure they happened. The good news is I dropped 3 pounds in weight which shows the benefits of regular running.
For my last two runs I've had company which helped. Yesterday I ran with my nephew who is new to running but an absolute natural. He'll be kicking my ass in due course. We kept a sensible pace and the time passed easily. Today I was out in the howling wind with my running pal Stuart who made sure I finished the run. My heart rate was through the roof as I had a pace target to reach and I had to walk at a number of points. Not a good run but an important one and it was good to have someone encouraging me to finish it. The running is building which is needed so hopefully I'll stay healthy and injury free.
Monday, 12 March 2018
Listen to your garmin
Man down. I've managed to avoid the cold that's been doing the rounds all winter but it eventually caught up with me. The signs started on Saturday a week ago when I found it difficult to settle my heart rate on a run. The same on the Sunday and on Monday when I attempted a slower run, my heart rate was way too high. The garmin doesn't lie and it was telling me I was coming down with something - a cold. We've all been through it and I tried the well tested remedies, even spent £22 on Manuka honey! But after a few days of that, lemon and ginger I switched to red wine! Felt better but it didn't cure the cold.
It's been a very frustrating week, doing nothing except coughing but today, a week after my last exercise I went on the scales and got a fright - 2.5 pounds heavier! I went out for a 6 km run and did it on feel. I ignored my garmin but recorded what was going on. No surprise I was slower than normal but towards the end I was really suffering and my form went out the window, just as my coach's husband cycled past so I got a critique sent to me. Turns out I had run too fast for my first time back in a week but I'm going to take a few more days to start to feel normal.
It's a set back as I've only 116 days before I'm running 71 miles in under 22 hours. Losing a weeks training and starting back on shorter runs is difficult but my coach has restructured the training to take account of my health and the impact on my immediate fitness. Hopefully by taking the rest I'll come back quicker than if I'd tried to train through the illness. Tomorrow I have an early morning swim session so fingers crossed my shoulder copes with it. Again I'll be wearing my garmin and there's no hiding from the data it will be sending back for my coach to analyse! I'll be listening to it that's for sure.
It's been a very frustrating week, doing nothing except coughing but today, a week after my last exercise I went on the scales and got a fright - 2.5 pounds heavier! I went out for a 6 km run and did it on feel. I ignored my garmin but recorded what was going on. No surprise I was slower than normal but towards the end I was really suffering and my form went out the window, just as my coach's husband cycled past so I got a critique sent to me. Turns out I had run too fast for my first time back in a week but I'm going to take a few more days to start to feel normal.
It's a set back as I've only 116 days before I'm running 71 miles in under 22 hours. Losing a weeks training and starting back on shorter runs is difficult but my coach has restructured the training to take account of my health and the impact on my immediate fitness. Hopefully by taking the rest I'll come back quicker than if I'd tried to train through the illness. Tomorrow I have an early morning swim session so fingers crossed my shoulder copes with it. Again I'll be wearing my garmin and there's no hiding from the data it will be sending back for my coach to analyse! I'll be listening to it that's for sure.
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Blind inspiration
Every day that I am out running or driving down the road I see loads of people out pounding the streets. All shapes and sizes. Some fast, some slow and some holding onto a lamp post trying to get their breath. I often wonder why they are doing it and what their goal is? It could be getting ready for a 5km parkrun (that's a tough one) or a 10km or half marathon. It doesn't really matter as long as you have a goal and longer doesn't mean more difficult - I struggle where speed is concerned but can go on for a long time. Your target and time is relative to you, nobody else.
As you know my weekend training ground is Chatelherault Country Park. A hilly, tough circa 5 mile lap is a good test and some people like running it anti-clockwise and others clockwise (my favourite). I see many runners training for something but it's not often I get to speak to complete strangers and find out what they are up to - yesterday I was totally blown away.
On Saturday I was running round with my running partner Stuart. It was snowy underfoot and you had to be careful so when we met a blind man with his guide dog we stopped for a chat - basically to make sure he was ok because the trail can be narrow and steep and slippy. It turnes out he's a runner and will be taking part in the Manchester Marathon as a led runner this year. OMG how amazing is that. My mind went into overdrive, how can he run round Chatelherault with its uneven ground. He was walking with his guide dog because his running companion was injured but he will be back and running round the trails. He was up to 20 miles and asked if we'd help him. Absolutely. So I hope in future blogs I will report on supporting Scott, a blind marathon runner. It shows what's possible when you have a purpose.
My theme this week is inspirational people and it was sad to hear that Roger Bannister who broke the 4 minute mile in 1954 has died. Back then, doctors were saying it wasn't physically possible to break 4 minutes and that he was risking death but he ignored that and smashed the record opening the door for many others to follow very shortly. RIP Roger.
Back to the physio this week for some shoulder work and a massage on my aching legs - 4 days of DOMS was extremely uncomfortable but as my coach said, that just shows I need more hill work! I also had the pleasure of running with someone today who will be running the MdS in 5 weeks time. As we ran we chatted through all the important questions about equipment, nutrition, running strategy and the mental side of it all. It brought back so many good memories and when we finished the run I realised Bobby hadn't broken sweat - a good sign of someone who is peaking at the right time for the adventure of a lifetime. Have a great race Bobby. A week full of inspirational people. The world is full of super heroes we just need to look around.
As you know my weekend training ground is Chatelherault Country Park. A hilly, tough circa 5 mile lap is a good test and some people like running it anti-clockwise and others clockwise (my favourite). I see many runners training for something but it's not often I get to speak to complete strangers and find out what they are up to - yesterday I was totally blown away.
On Saturday I was running round with my running partner Stuart. It was snowy underfoot and you had to be careful so when we met a blind man with his guide dog we stopped for a chat - basically to make sure he was ok because the trail can be narrow and steep and slippy. It turnes out he's a runner and will be taking part in the Manchester Marathon as a led runner this year. OMG how amazing is that. My mind went into overdrive, how can he run round Chatelherault with its uneven ground. He was walking with his guide dog because his running companion was injured but he will be back and running round the trails. He was up to 20 miles and asked if we'd help him. Absolutely. So I hope in future blogs I will report on supporting Scott, a blind marathon runner. It shows what's possible when you have a purpose.
My theme this week is inspirational people and it was sad to hear that Roger Bannister who broke the 4 minute mile in 1954 has died. Back then, doctors were saying it wasn't physically possible to break 4 minutes and that he was risking death but he ignored that and smashed the record opening the door for many others to follow very shortly. RIP Roger.
Back to the physio this week for some shoulder work and a massage on my aching legs - 4 days of DOMS was extremely uncomfortable but as my coach said, that just shows I need more hill work! I also had the pleasure of running with someone today who will be running the MdS in 5 weeks time. As we ran we chatted through all the important questions about equipment, nutrition, running strategy and the mental side of it all. It brought back so many good memories and when we finished the run I realised Bobby hadn't broken sweat - a good sign of someone who is peaking at the right time for the adventure of a lifetime. Have a great race Bobby. A week full of inspirational people. The world is full of super heroes we just need to look around.
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