Time flies

Having passed a significant birthday recently I have been thinking about time.  Where does it go?  It seems to disappear quicker the older you get.  One theory is that as you approach your own "exit", time speeds up so make the most of the time we have.  Sadly Meatloaf exited stage left this week like a bat out of hell but he left behind music that millions of people around the world know the words to every hit.  I wonder what I'll leave behind?  I don't think my blog will ever feature in the British Library or any library for that matter, but it's purpose is to act as my journal which records this adventure of a lifetime that I am on.  If that inspires or helps anyone raise the bar, reach for the stars or achieve something they though was impossible then that is a bonus which makes me happy.  I do get some lovely feedback from time to time and it always gives me a warm feeling.
Sticking with the subject of time.  There are 168 hours in a week.  If you sleep 60 and work 40 then you have 68 hours left.  What do you do with them?  As we can't expand time, we need to make the most of time and that requires planning.  You don't just sleep and work but where is the time "carved out" for you to improve yourself?  This could be a training plan for a race or it could be extra study you are doing to progress your career.  As far as I'm concerned every day is a learning day and when you stop learning, you start going backwards and ageing faster, like a bat out of hell!
This weekend I got to run with my coach Genevieve which is always a pleasure.  I know she's listening to my breath and checking out my form.  You can only read so much into the data but being up close you get a much better idea.  After today's run we took some time out for coffee, cake and a review of where we are in relation to my next race in 14 weeks time.  We'd like to vary the training plan to incorporate swimming and some indoor cycling but my training schedule is full as it is.  So whilst it would be nice to swim, my body would get a better return from adding in a speed run session and two indoor bike sessions.  We also need to up the Stair Master sessions building from 20 mins to an hour plus adding in a weighted rucksack in time.  This all takes time so my daily schedule is going to be tightly managed to get the balance between family life, work, training and rest.  That last one is very important as I don't want to burn out or get injured.
Thoughts of Ultra Race Romania are starting to come into my head and with only 199 days to go I'm starting to get excited.  On Friday I was speaking to Professor Chris Easton of West of Scotland University and I'll soon be working with his 4th year students as they put me through my paces in their heat chamber.  I'm hoping to be able to help them understand the stresses and strains that an ultra runner goes through in a 250 km race and will be looking to them for some nutrition and hydration strategies based on the results from their tests.  As I said, every day's a learning day.  I'll work on my running and cycling but leave out the swimming after all as Meatloaf said, "2 out of 3 ain't bad"! (sorry I couldn't resist)