Mentally challenging

Last week wasn't my best training week with a dose of man flu but I stuck in at my yoga, until I tweaked my back and calf! Perhaps when my body is saying it needs a break to recover, I should listen!  So off for a sports massage to get me sorted and that was real fun. But it was another reminder how important it is to have a "maintenance programme" to keep the body in tip top condition.  So today I went out for Cross country run and make sure everything was in working order and....it was.
A question I am often asked is how can I run such long distances or keep going in an endurance event and this got me thinking when I was out the other day. I had just completed 13 miles and was feeling good. But in 6 months time I will be running 53 miles. So that means I need to repeat that run another three times!  Does it seem possible? Off course it is. But it's how I approach it mentally that makes the difference.  My way, and I stress it's mine so it may not work for you, is not to think of it as "could I do that another three times"?  I programme my mind on the end goal and set some milestones along the way. To give you an example, if I turn up at the pool with a set programme e.g. 4 x 500m with a target time, then that is what I do. But if I turned up with no plan and then think I'll go for 4 x 500 then my mind doesn't have time to prepare and it's generally a poor session.
For the 53 mile ultra I will have been over the total course before the event, split it into stages and anticipated where it will be tough. I will spend as much time preparing my mind, visualising my training and visualing the day. Posting my progress also keeps me motivated as I have to deliver what I've promised.
I've also decided on my 70.3 Ironman for 2014 and it's the Avenger triathlon in June.  Having decided that it's already got me more focused on what needs to happen before the Highland Fling, how long I need to recover and how to prepare for the 70.3 because the last one I did ended up as a DNF because of poor preparation - that won't happen again.
And just to top it all off, in 2015 I will be completing 160 miles in 4 days across the White desert in Egypt.  That just raises the stakes to a higher level but the preparation will be exactly the same. I hope you continue to follow my journey as your support means so much to me.  Thanks.