31 days and counting

In 31 days I’ll be running day 2 of the 125 X Ultra England in the Peak District.  I’m only doing 50km, the fun run, on day 2 having supported my partner Beth who takes on the biggest race of her life, so far, with a 75km warm up on day 1.  As covered earlier this year as I prepared for the Scottish 125 X, how do you step up the training for an event of that distance?  Especially if your training has been set back with illness or injury.  Speak to any athlete and the most common worry is “ have I done enough training”?  Let’s not waste any nervous energy worrying about that.  It’s normal to feel nervous or have doubts before a big race.
You don’t enter long distance events without having a lot of “miles (or KMs) in your legs”.  You’ll have worked in the gym to strengthen your body, hopefully will have trained on the stair master if it’s a hilly course (which this one certainly is) or been in the mountains.  You’ll have practiced yoga to strengthen your core, stretch your tired muscles, provide greater movement and improve your breathing.  It’s not like you just rock up and pull on your trainers.  All of this preparation will also get your mindset ready for the pain you will definitely go through, and lots of it.  I welcome the pain when it arrives because it means I’m getting closer to the end.  Any other thought would be negative and my race would end soon after as you can destroy your race with negative thoughts.  To distract my mind I take in the scenery whilst thinking about others less fortunate that couldn’t take part in such an event.  It’s only when you’re injured that you appreciate what it’s like to be fit and healthy which we can take for granted.  But in 31 days I will be running 50km and my longest run so far is 17km plus I haven’t had as much time in the mountains as I would have liked.  Tinto is a poor substitute for 4-8 hours in the mountains but if due to time or weather that’s all that is available, then so be it.
But what a difference 31 days will make to me.  My running training is starting to ramp up as I’m injury free, I’ll continue with my strength work in the gym and also my yoga.  I’ve got four hard weeks ahead and I can’t wait to see the transformation because I’m building on years of this type of training.
I’ve always said having a WHY makes a difference and if you’re raising money for a charity this certainly helps.  When you’re feeling tired and sore you just need to think about all the people who have supported you in raising money for an amazing cause.  However, this year my WHY is not for the charity that is close to my heart.  It’s for me.  Missing out on Ultra Race Romania hurt almost as much as not completing it last year.  It wasn’t for the want of trying but when your stomach shuts down and can’t take on fluids or food then “the game’s a boggy” as we say in Glasgow.  I need to get another race under my belt this year otherwise only having completed one is a “poor season”.  I need to be winning again so that 50km race for me is significant and I am going to be putting in the best preparation possible in the time left.  I already have the finish line picture in my head and that will be on repeat for the next 31 days.
It’s possible because you think it is and the opposite is also true.  Mohammed Ali once said “if your goals don’t scare you then you haven’t set them high enough”.  I’m looking forward to pushing beyond my comfort zone and thank you for following me.  Knowing you will hold me accountable makes me push harder.