Storm Ciara

This week was a planned light week after 4 weeks of building up the training.  I had the luxury of two days in a row off training and I, or should I say my body, loved every minute of it.  I ate for Britain and enjoyed long lies in bed (6.30am!).  But that doesn't mean it was a lazy week; Monday 1hr run; Tue Run 27 mins, Swim 40 mins, Core/gym 30 min; Fri 50 min run, 30 min gym, 34 min swim; Sat 1hr 2 min run; Sun 53 min run and 30 min core workout.  In order to squeeze in the triple session on Friday I had to get up at 4:50 and was running by 5:40.  So for a light week, it was busy.
It's important to build in lighter training and I think I really benefited from it although today I'm feeling tired.  That could be down to gutting my office as part of getting the house ready for sale!
On Saturday I had the usual Chatelherault run with my club mates and what's becoming evident is that it takes me half way round to warm up because my second half is faster.  Part of this could be to do with the terrain but some of my pals are slowing down in the second half, or maybe it's just me getting quicker?  However as I get fitter and start building the miles I notice it does take me a while to settle into my stride and when I do, assuming it's a sensible pace, I can keep it going a long time.  That's just as well as my first race is the Keider Ultra (50km) and it's only 54 days away!  A lot of hard work to be done between now and then.
Last night storm Ciara arrived and it was a blustery night.  Lying in bed in the morning I listened to the wind battering our house, it was reported as 60mph, and I made the decision it would be safer to run indoors on a treadmill at the gym.  However when I headed out to my car the wind seemed to have died down and it wasn't raining so I changed my plan and took to the road.  50 metres into the run the rain and wind came back.  At times I was almost knocked over by the wind and at one stage was running straight into a headwind and I felt I was hardly moving.  Not great conditions when the objective of the session is to run quicker than the day before and yesterday was quick, for a trail run - but I managed it!  I was up to my ankles in water but fortunately avoided the hailstones that came on shortly after I finished.  Fair to say it blew away any cobwebs and when I got back I was straight into a core session.
I've said this before, but it's worth repeating, that it's the consistency of training that helps me stay injury free and allows me to prepare my body (and mind) for the tough miles ahead.
But my highlight of the week was on Thursday night when I was presenting to a group of Maggie's supporters to inspire them to sign up for challenges to raise money.  It was supposed to be me inspiring them but when I spoke to them and heard their stories, the challenges some of them had over come with cancer or a heart attack, it was me that left more inspired than when I'd arrived!  I'm lucky to have my health and fitness but people are doing challenges and are not necessarily in that position.  Others may doubt their ability to take on certain challenges but they won't know unless they try.  They already have the important part, the WHY, so the rest is about making a plan, building in controls to ensure they stick to it and then going and enjoying the journey.  I wish them all well.  I know when I started this journey in 2008 I had no idea the adventures that I'd get involved in and the amazing friends I'd meet along the way across the world.  These activities aren't in addition to my life, they are very much part of my life, part of who I am.  Go on.  Take on a challenge for Maggie's.  It can be life affirming.