Extreme training

The title of this post may be slightly misleading but you'll get the point quickly.  It feels like the season "to be jolly" but that's like Black Friday, a bit early.  This week has been really busy from a work point of view and I've had 5 days (well 4 but the fifth is just about to start) of socialising!
On Wednesday I was at a conference in Harrogate which involved a long day and too many liquid carbs.  Early train to London and a dinner with clients and those liquid carbs reappeared.  Early start to fly back hope and dinner with friends, and you guessed it, excessive liquid carbs.
Early start on Saturday then off to Chatelherault for the usual run with my pals.  I may have improved my time by 50 secs to complete the lap in 45 min dead, but I was in no fit state to hold a conversation for at least 5 minutes.  I had to dig really hard and that's the point of this extreme training.  An 8k run can feel like an ultra marathon because my body was wrecked from the previous three days.
You'd think I'd learn.
I cooked a delicious rib eye steak on Saturday night so that had to be accompanied by some red wine - it would have been a waste of a steak if there was no wine!  This morning I had a wee bit of a lie in, I needed it, but then headed out in a crispy cold morning for a 10k run.  My time was down on last week and in part this was down to the icy conditions - I was like bambie on ice and couldn't push off too hard without slipping.  But my physical condition also slowed me down but I battled through it.  Feeling crap and out of breath is something that normally happens on longer runs but I got to deal with this on a short run.
It's not a training schedule I'd recommend but at this time of year the social events can mount up.  I'm now just heading out for what will probably turn into another carb loading session with some pals.  But after this one I'll behave more like an athlete and limit the carb loading on consecutive days (5 in a row!).  Just goes to show I'm not always well behaved although as I've tried to justify above, I was only trying to improve my endurance!

Life after grand 2 grand

I'm still trying to get over that something I'd planned for 2 years is over - but the "shockwaves continue".  I've never entered a major event before and managed to avoid the "after event blues" which you plummet into once the uphoria is over.  But G2G isn't your average event.
I crossed the finishline on 30th September and am still buzzing.  Facebook is a wonderful thing as the "family" are in touch on a regular basis.  Sharing the stories of what they have been up to and what the future holds. 2019 I hope to hook up with some of my running mates for another adventure.
But life back in the Scotland gets back to normal and having had my recovery period, training is starting.  But this is an interesting psychological phase.  Daylight hours are short.  The temperature has dropped and early morning is zero degrees at best so getting out of bed has proved difficult other than going to work.  My core strength is non-existent and I'm starting to put weight back on which was much needed - 5lbs on but the wrong type of weight.  I'll sort that over the next couple of months.
I've just started my core training and I can honestly say, my core is AWOL.  I'm being careful as my back gets twitchy - it really doesn't like core workouts!  But this is critical to my training and once I have a few sessions under my belt, I'll be ok.  Starting training is always a "ball ache" but I know that when I look back in three months time I'll be feeling the benefit of the core training.
On 2nd Dec I start back with my amazing coach Genevieve and she's already getting her ideas together.  We ran together on Saturday but with 3 km to go she dropped me and I had to dig in deep to finish.  My time was bang on target so I was happy although I'd had to work hard.
Today I went out for a 10km run in zero degrees and enjoyed every minute of it.  The pace was ok and I felt good after it.  I showered and then headed out to join some work colleagues in a 6 KM Santa Dash which was a laugh.  But the body and mind is holding up.
I've decided that the only way I am going to run in the morning is to drive into work early and then head out from the office for a run.  At least there are street lights so I don't have the problem of running in the dark and I have a shower back in the office before I start work.  A few weeks of that and I'll be back in the grove.
But what amazes me is that I have no post race blues and that is down to the fact I'm part of the G2G family and the feel good factor continues.  I'm happy to miss out the post race blues however am looking.forward to getting back in shape.  There is life after G2G but it's changed me, for the better.

Treading on thin ice

The biggest change in the last two weeks since my last report has been the weather.  Autumn/winter has definitely set in.  I was going to do some turbo training in the last two weeks but couldn't muster the mental strength to go outside into my "man cave" where it would be freezing and start spinning my legs.  There was also a slightly delicate part of my anatomy, a result of G2G, which wouldn't have appreciated it but I'm glad to say that has cleared up so I've no excuses now!
My back is still getting treated although it is getting better.  I've managed 3 runs in the last 2 weeks.  Last weekend I ran 4.5km with a stop at half way for a cup of tea and a scone, jam and cream - my coach did say to break myself in gently.
Yesterday I went back to my favourite winter training ground, Chatelherault.  I ran around on a brilliant autumn day but kept it to one lap.  I was a couple of minutes behind my friends but my lungs were struggling towards the end of the 8k.  I had no aches and pains when I woke up today so I went out for a 7km run around my local streets.  It was freezing and the roads and pavements were covered in ice so I considered myself luck no to end up on my bum.  A good reminder to be careful out there and also to wear gloves!
I'm hoping this will be my last visit to the physio for my back and I will be starting my swimming, core training and turbo training - honest.  Just knowing that I will be reporting back in 2 weeks on this blog means I can't be lazy.  The clock is ticking and my "A race" next year gets closer as each day passes.