Making the most of 2020

I've always said that new year resolutions were a waste of time and most have been broken before the end of January.  Gyms are great evidence of that as every year the regular gym goers get cheesed off as they can't get near the equipment that for 11 months of the year is available.  But come the end of January the gyms get less busy.
2020 could be described as a "black swan" - a metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise and has a major effect. It's like the world has been turned upside down and the worst part is the cost of lives.  It has affected everyone's life and I am sure you will have reflected on what you now consider important.  I know I have and have amended my long term plans.
When it comes to training, the goals that were set have all changed.  The way in which you've trained will have changed with on line classes allowing people to train from the safety of their own home or virtual races which I have found very motivating.
What was inevitable was that my "A race" of the Ultra Race Romania, 250km 6 day staged race, has been cancelled.  I feel for the organisers as they have put so much into making this event happen but completely agree with their decision - safety first.  But being totally focused on the runners, they have launched a virtual version of the same race starting on 25th July.  Instead of 6 days they have extended it to 25 days which widens the audience who may wish to join in the fun.  Great idea and I was the first to sign up - my Bib number is No.1.  I'm already working with my coach to plan the best way of approaching the race.
This got me thinking, if in July / August I'm running 250 km then how can I take advantage of this fitness?  Why not run a long distance in Scotland in September, it's one of the best months weather wise, the kids should be back at school and hopefully the midgies will be less active.  This is still in the planning phase but I'm going to run from Inverness to Fort William down the Great Glen Way (125 kms) and then Fort William to Glasgow down The West Highland Way (152 kms) - I haven't decided yet on the total number of days it will take.  My wife has already agreed to be my crew and I expect others will join me for sections along the way.  I'll publish the details nearer the time.
I'm determined to make the most of 2020 and not be defeated by lockdown and restrictions.  I want to take advantage of the different type of training and events taking place, shake up the normal, and come out of it stronger and more experienced.  After all, I've still got Ultra Race Romania in 2021!

Me and technology!

My pals think I'm a dinosaur when it comes to technology.  I'm constantly having problems with it and it frustrates the life out of me.  I could write forever on the issues but I'm going to put it down to two things.
1 - I didn't grow up with technology and find it a bit like a foreign language (I'm "merde" with languages as well).  I think in English but have to convert to say French.  With technology I think in old language and then need to try and convert.  But that logic doesn't seem to work.
2 - Instructions are written poorly and assume a certain amount of knowledge.  There should always be an "idiots" guide.
This weekend proved another milestone in poorly written instructions or actually a total absence of guidance and certainly no help.  I was taking part in a virtual IM race this weekend and it involved a 40k bike ride.  But the weather was going to be wet and windy so an indoor bike ride was going to be in order.  Unfortunately my bike didn't have a  speed sensor so I decided to join zwift.  My club mates were all on it and enjoying the competition. How difficult could it be to set up?  1 hour on Friday night and a further 2 hours on Saturday morning and my coach was on the phone, sharing screens and my screens were different from hers and we were logging into the same account - WTF!

As I was running out of time my coach entered me in a 40km race which was the distance required for my IM VR8.  Only after entering did she comment "oh it's hilly" - I was trying for a fast time but said don't worry it's just a training session anyway.  Hilly!! 454m in 22km before the "wheels came off".  I had set the bike up in a room where the ventilation was poor and the sweat is pouring off me.  I can count on one hand the number of training sessions I've ditched in 12 years so I was really disappointed and annoyed with myself.  If I'd got the technology sorted I'd have had 40kms on a relatively flat route and completed the IM VR. 
Leaving that disappointment aside, my stats were good with some PBs so I'll take the positived out of it.  Zwift looks like it will be good but there support is non-existent.  Fortunately it now seems to be resolved as Gareth came to the rescue with an ant+stick (no mention of that on Zwift!). Looks like everything will be ok next time I log in but I'll need a fan in the room to keep me from flagging.
Today's run was also tough.  Wind and rain with tired legs and the voice in my head giving me a hard time because of yesterday's failure.  I had to give myself a "good talking to" when the thought of cutting the run short came into my head.  There was no need.  Yes I was tired and yes it was a longer run but your mind gives up before your body and I needed to get through this so I pressed on. 
I'm sharing these thoughts with you because I know we all have them.  And while we're existing in "ground hog day" it's important to keep those negative thoughts at bay.  Training is an escape from the routine of getting through the impact of this pandemic and every session is a privileged because I am fit and well.  Just a dinosaur when it comes to technology although I'd happily offer my services to them writing " instructions for nuls" - French for dummies!

Marathon des Sables revisited

April 2013

This is the closing chapter in a five year journey from non-athlete to Ironman and now multi-day endurance runner having just completed the 2013 MdS.  I only learned of this event when trying to find an event dafter than ironman which would make ironman seem more “sane”.  I never dreamed I’d enter the MdS but in the end I did.  Here’s my story of the MdS. 

Before I went to the Sahara I would have found it impossible to describe what the MdS is.  Yes it’s 5.5. marathons on 6 days across the Sahara carrying your own food and everything else you need in your rucksack.  The organisers supply you with 9 litres of water a day at various stages, medical treatment if required and your 8 man tent is erected at the camps for you along the way.  But it’s much more than that.  Most people, including me, think of marathons as road runs and the times accordingly but nothing could be further from the truth. 

I was told that if you run a 4 hour marathon on tarmac then your likely time for an MdS marathon would be between 6 – 8 hours.  That turned out to be spot on.  I've given distances and times below for those that are interested but in the end all that mattered was getting through this extreme endurance event.  Coming 565 out of 1,040 people meant nothing to me.  Hill walking, hill climbing and trail running turns out to be the most appropriate training with road running having no relevance what so ever.  The biggest factor that you must take into account is that you are living in tents, getting up at 5.30am, cooking your breakfast and dinner yourself and managing your water – every drop of it as any additional water is a time penalty.  5.5 marathons on its own would be tough enough – this was insane.

When I completed Lanza Ironman in May last year I swore I’d withdraw from MdS because of how I suffered in the heat with temperatures in the low 30’s, even with access to as much water and ice as I wanted during the marathon.  But I decided to see if I could push the limits. 

Once you arrive at the initial camp you have 2 days of “administration” including going through checks of your ECG to make sure your fit enough to run.  It’s queue after queue – food is supplied as you don’t become self-supporting until the morning the race starts but standing in queues of 1,000 people is a right pain but you need to be patient which was a theme for the whole event.  Shortly after arriving a sandstorm blew all our belongings out of our tent and on another occasion collapsed it – sand was everywhere. 

Day 1: 37km, 6hrs 2mins. The nerves were gangling as “Highway to Hell” blared out and the helicopter did low pass overs with camera men hanging out capturing the 1,040 runners living the dream.  I ran with a few of my mates for the first 12k when we reached the first checkpoint.  The temperature was heading for the 40’s and the 12.5 kg on my back was hurting.  As the day went on my feet started to burn and I realised that I had a blister on the ball of my right foot – this was not a good start.  Climbing sand dunes is like walking up an escalator which is going in the opposite direction.  Running in sand is a waste of energy for all but the fittest elite athletes.  End of day 1 then off to the medics tent to discover 3 big blisters – they treated them and taped my feet.  I cried in pain as I hobbled back to the tent.  My dream was in danger of becoming a nightmare.  I needed to change my race strategy.  Boil in the bag dinner and bed by 8.30am.  Just before bed an email was delivered for me – how unbelievably uplifting.  We all came to rely on that contact from the outside world. 

Day 2:  31km, 6hrs 39 mins. Started at 5.40am as I watched the sunrise.  My plan was to survive day 2 as I was now carrying 11.8k.  I knew that there were 3 massive climbs.  According to the winner afterwards he said it was the toughest stage in the history of the MdS.  I found it fine as I power walked it but it included rock climbing.  Got some great photos but one of my tent mates required 4 litres of fluid from the medics – people were dropping like flies in the heat which had reached 52 degrees at its peak.  Another visit to the medical tent and more blister treatment – it seems that walking creates different pressure points and now every step I took hurt so pain management became essential. 

Day 3:  38km, 6hrs 38mins.  The objective was to ensure I would be in shape for the double marathon the following day so this dictated how fast I could move.  You needed to calculate whether running was good as it was painful and increased your core body temperature which put you in the danger zone.  However it got you out of the blistering sun quicker.  In the end I never ran in the heat of the day but my power walking was quicker than other peoples running.  The banter back at the tent with the “tartan army” was unbelievable – you needed a thick skin and a wicked sense of humour.  No washing facilities existed and shitting in a brown bag meant you had to be careful with hygiene.  One set of running gear also meant we all smelled rotten but nobody noticed although by the end I was objecting to my own smell! 

Day 4/5:  76km, 17hrs 9mins. The long day arrived. The strategy was to get through it and not stop for a sleep.  We ended up in trouble when one of my tent mates fell ill in the middle of nowhere.  He was 3.7 km from a check point and in serious trouble vomiting everywhere – I realised that if he was in trouble then we all were.  Fortunately I spotted 2 medics just about to drive off and I got their attention.  They treated him for 45 minutes and we sat in the shade created by the car.  It was only when we started running that we realised the damage this had done to us as we hadn’t enough water to have stayed out that length of time.  At the same time the previous years female winner went past suffering heat exhaustion – she was given 4 litres of fluid through an IV drip but later pulled out. 

The next couple of check points were a blur as I fought off the horrible feeling of wanting to throw up knowing that this would lead to medical treatment and a possible withdrawal.  At half way I stopped for soup and a rest in the shade.  Darkness settled in and we tackled 8km of sand dunes in the dark.  A green laser at the next checkpoint pointed to the sky and we followed small luminous green markers in the most amazing star lit sky I have ever seen.  Every so often a local would appear in the darkness and said hello – I have no idea where they came from. 

The second last stage in the night we were moving very fast and were never overtaken.  At the last checkpoint our colleague was sick again and told us to go ahead.  We picked up the pace again and finished in just over 17 hours.  On getting back to my tent the medical team were there again because someone had collapsed outside our tent and was being treated – in my bloody space!  I just wanted to collapse.  We’d done it, completed the double marathon in one go but the pain in my feet and my shoulders from the rucksack was incredible.  I couldn’t take anti-inflammatory tablets as it was too high a risk with the lack of hydration so I just had to put up with the swollen ankles and feet.  In the morning I had spaghetti bolognaise for breakfast which was the dinner I had skipped the night before to save time.  A day of rest and stretching prepared me for the next day.  Strangely I could not only touch my toes but get my fingers under my toes which was due to the muscles being more flexible in the heat.  

Day 6:  42km, 6hrs 45mins.  When we woke up for the final day there was only a marathon to go – did I just say only?  It’s funny but that is how we all felt.  It was a tough stage with huge salt planes to go across where you thought you were walking on a conveyor belt going the wrong way for hours.  I ran while it was cool (up to 35 degrees) and left enough energy in the tank for the end.  But all the time I was calculating just how fast I could go without collapsing with heat exhaustion – it dictated everything.  The finishing line was a bit of a blur but I’d made it – the hardest footrace on earth was done.  There was a party in the evening with a rock band but I stayed in the tent with my feet raised as I was hurting.  Everyone in the tent had completed the MdS and we were so proud. 

Charity run: 8km, 2hrs 15mins.  The following morning we had to take part in a UNICEF charity stage over one of the most beautiful dunes in the Sahara.  All I wanted to do was get to the end and get on the coach for the 6 hour journey back to the hotel.  So I power walked it with a pal and overtook the winner, Mohamed Ahansal, 300 yards before the line.  Stopped for a picture with him and then blocked out the TV cameras with our Scotland flag as we went across the finish line.  It was over, thank god for that.  

The tartan army set me up at the alternative awards dinner the following night when I was introduced to the race organiser, and the 315 Brits, as the “legendary Scottish runner” who had over taken Mohamed Ahansal the event winner just short of the line on the charity run – to a standing ovation I accepted Patrick’s hug and thought, the bastards – what a great bunch of mates I had the privilege of completing this unbelievable race with’ friends for life. 

The whole race was about ensuring I survived and completed it while raising money for Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres - currently around £5,000.  Every step hurt after the first day and staying conscious so I remained in control of my destiny dictated my every move.  I’ve reflected on whether I could have gone faster or not.  Possibly, but then it could have been a different ending and not a happy one.  This is a “mental” race.  You have a voice in your head for the whole event telling you about the pain, the heat and how the finish line seems never to get closer.  Physically it’s tough but mentally it’s ridiculous. 

Pushing myself to the limit has taught me so much and fortunately I have support from my family and so many friends who have all encouraged me to keep going.  Thank you for believing me.  Now for a well-earned rest.

Ultra Race Romania Lockdown

Yes I'm blogging on a Friday.  What's happening?  Yesterday I finished the URR Lockdown race; a 70km 6 staged virtual race with 384 runners from around the world taking part.  The race was so special, in many ways I thought it deserved a "race report" and not get mixed in with my other ramblings!
This race was a follow on from a virtual 10km race the organisers had put on a couple of weeks before.  I was surprised how hard I pushed myself in that race and my coach agreed it would be good to maintain my training focus to enter the staged race - she wasn't wrong!  But with just over a weeks notice to get "some speed in my legs", it was a tough weeks training.
Stage 1 - 10km / 47min 28sec pace 4:44- It was a hot day for Scotland and I went out in my running vest (unheard of!).  Where I live is hilly so I selected my route carefully to try and avoid them - 54m of elevation.  My usual training has me doing 10kms in 54mins as I'm not training for speed so this was a step up for me physically and mentally.  I had a number of club mates running so in the evening I poured over the Strava stats to see how I was doing and it looked good.  Then I checked on my friends I'd met on Grand 2 Grand a few years back.  From Canada to South Africa and the UK they were all racing with me in very different conditions, so it was fascinating to see how they were doing and there was the usual "banter" on FB - a community was starting to form.
Made sure I took a picture at CP1 to post to my race pals - I did this every day.  I skipped sleeping in a tent, no showers and boil in the bag food.  I exchanged that for a hot bath, normal food with a glass of wine and my own bed!
Stage 2 - 12km / 59min 10 sec pace 4:56- The weather changed.  It was bloody freezing with a strong wind blowing.  I changed my route to get some shelter from the wind but this meant my elevation increased to 92m.  I was still delighted with my pace and that there was only one youngster in the club ahead of me, but he's a flying machine so I discounted that.  I had a couple of blisters from the previous week so made sure they were taped up - brought back memories of running with multiple blisters in the MdS.
Stage 3 - 11km / 54min 2 sec pace 4:54- bang on target as I was yesterday but my legs were starting to feel the pressure from running at this relentless pace on tarmac.  Again it was a nice sunny day and I was pushing myself as I knew my pals were catching up.  In most races you have a visual target with people all around you or in the distance.  You can focus on them and "hunt them down" but in a virtual race you're out there running against the clock and continually asking for more from yourself while keeping the voice in your head under control.  When the results came in I had lost some time but hoped I could make it up on "the long day".
The organiser asked if I'd make a 20 sec video about the race which I was delighted to do.
Stage 4 - 20km / 1hr 44 min pace 5:14- In every staged race I have done they always have a "long day" and it's what most of the competitors fear.  My long days have been 80km after 3 marathons on the previous 3 days, so why was I nervous going into a 20km race?  It's funny how your mind works especially as 8 weeks ago I was running 4 hours on the Saturday and 3 hours on the Sunday - but that was slow!
Everybody knew this was going to be a tough run as we were all on tired legs.  But we had to push on.  I chose a route near my office as I couldn't get 20km near my home that wouldn't have set me back due to the elevation.  As it was the elevation was 116m.  I started off fast hoping to get some time "in the bank" and was going well till 16km - I actually passed by my coach going in the opposite direction at 15km and that gave me a lift.  I had taken a couple of jels to help with my energy levels but at 16km I had some steady climbing and my legs were done.  I tried my best to push on after the climb but I was knackered.  Still an ok time I said to myself considering it was day 4 but I slipped a place with my club mates.  There were 3 youngsters that were still behind me so that kept me focused.
My pals around the world  were posting pictures and I really felt we were all pulling together in this race which was as much about giving people a positive experience during lockdown than anything else.
The video was posted on the site and featured runners from Australia, South Africa, Canada, Japan, Brazil and of course Scotland.  It showed like minded people completing a staged race virtually could be a really rewarding activity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8q68jz-Dac 

Stage 5 - 9km / 42min 48sec pace 4:45-  At the start the sun was shining but it was freezing which gives you the usual clothes dilemma - I went with a tee shirt, uncomfortable to start but I was drenched in sweat by the time I finished.  I gave this everything.  I was 2.5 mins behind my pal Michael and wanted to narrow the gap.  I kept pushing and pushing and was absolutely delighted with my time.  But he was "in the zone" and took more time off me with one of the youngsters creeping past me.  My legs were sore, but a good sore not an injury sore.  I made sure I carb loaded, had an epsom salt bath and an early night.

Stage 6 - 8km / 36min 33sec pace 4:34- It's amazing how a finish line can spur you on especially when you have pals withing touching distance that you want to beat.  Anyone out walking were looking at me in horror as I'm a heavy breather at the best of times but I think they thought I was going to collapse!  The only place I was collapsing on was my chair the other side of the finish line.  This was my fastest section.  The finish was on a down hill and my legs couldn't go any faster.  I couldn't have been happier with that finishing time and while I lost one place, I was competing with guys 20 years younger than me and still had a couple behind me!

Out of 384 athletes I came 67th and nobody older than me finished ahead of me!  I'm delighted with my time and considering that short distance isn't my thing, I'm especially pleased.  However far more important was the fact that 384 athletes ran a virtual race raising money and awareness for "autism voice", an amazing charity.  We ran as a "family" and there are 383 other stories out there as to what they experienced but I'm sure the messages will be positive.

Even if you didn't finish, the important thing is you tried.  We can't always guarantee outcomes in life but setting a goal and having a reason "why" that's your goal is the best possible start.

My final word is to the organisers.  Andrei you and your team have created something very special in a very short space of time in a time of lockdown which is new to us all. It has been uplifting and I'm sure the other runners would agree.  I hope many of those who took part will join us for the 250km 6 day stage race in August.  Thank you my friend.

We'll meet again, don't know where don't know when...

About a month ago I came across a new phrase; race to train not train to race.  If this lockdown has demonstrated anything to me it's how true that phrase is.  Yesterday I started the Ultra Race Romania Lockdown - a 6 stage 70 km race.  I entered it two weeks ago and my coach changed my training schedule so I could be ready for it.  I've been so focused on this virtual race that my stats have gradually improved before I "toed the virtual start line" on Saturday.  Stage 1 was a 10k and I was under instructions to race it, no pacing myself.  Delighted with the 47min 28 seconds especially in the heat.  Today was a 12km run but the conditions couldn't have been more different, cold with a very strong wind.  Again I was to race it - 59min 10 secs, bang on target and I had to work hard in those conditions to achieve this time.  Would I have pushed myself so hard in training or in the race itself if it wasn't a race?  Definitely not.  Having a race, even a virtual one, creates focus and motivation so thank you to Andrei Gligor and his team for putting on this event.  Not only is it bringing people together from around the world, it's raising money and awareness for the charity Autism Voice.
For many this will be the first time they have competed 6 days in a row, imitating a staged race such as the one due to take place in Romania between 10-18th August over 250km.  The athletes will experience racing on tired limbs, running on blisters day after day and trying to pace themselves over six days just like the real event.  However they will be spared carrying their own gear, sleeping in tents, not being able to shower before and after the days run, eating boil in the bag food and running in dirty smelly gear.  Tough as that may sound, the friendships made in these races last a lifetime and I have made so many from all over the world with a number of them in this virtual race.
I'm loving checking out how they have done.  It can be difficult to compare times as much will depend on the terrain and climate.  It's difficult to compare against someone running in say Canada in the snow and mountainous terrain but just knowing you are taking part together in the same event gives me the feeling we're all one big "ultra family".  I look forward to reporting on the rest of the race next Sunday.
While we are social distancing, running with my usual training buddies has been a non starter.  But at least with the virtual races we feel part of something and can catch up over a coffee / beer on zoom to have a chat about how we're getting on.  I long for the days of a Saturday run at Chatelherault or up a Scottish mountain where it's so peaceful.
The title of this blog is my way of saying thank you to those that gave so much as we celebrated the 75th anniversary of VE Day this week.  Let's not forget what they sacrificed as we work our way through the greatest danger to humanity since the war.  Stay safe out there as this is just a period in time.  As Vera Lynn sang  "we'll meet again, don't know where don't know when...

Rookie error

Last weekend's 10 k which I commented on in last weeks blog turned out to be a real success.  Out of 2,100 athletes I came 49th and 4th in the UK (out of about 38 runner).  It wasn't a real race in that we were all running different courses, in different countries & different temperatures so comparing times isn't really relevant.  What's important was the focus it gave all the athletes and the fact we felt part of something special.
The organisers of the 10 k came up with a brilliant idea.  Let's do a 6 day virtual staged race.  70 km over 6 days to replicate a staged race such as the one scheduled for August this year in Romania, except it's 250 km.  I spoke with my coach and she put a training plan together to get me ready for Saturday 9th May.
I'm going through a pair of shoes every month and it's a costly affair.  Shoes are so personal, what's right for one runner may be no good for another one.  So with some help from my coach we chose a different brand hoping that they would last longer.  Unfortunately they didn't have my size but I went for a half size smaller as I felt the size I was running in was marginally big.  The shoes arrived the next day and I had 18 k to do so off I went.  The shoes had a 10 mm drop at the heel instead of the 8mm drop I was used to.  They felt great.  More supportive and as I suffer from time to time of plantar fasciitis, my arch felt great.  13 km into the run and I could feel a heat spot on my right big toe.  The remaining 5 km we uncomfortable as I knew what was happening to my big toe. 
Turned out I have a 1 inch blister on the inside of my right big toe and a half inch blister on the outside of my left toe.  Conclusion; squashed toes due to smaller toe box.
Now if we hadn't been in lock down, I would have gone to a specialist sports shop and got my feet measured for the new shoes.  But I went for the half size smaller and paid the price - rookie error.  Changing shoes is such a major decision that it's not to be taken lightly.
Today I had a 14 km run to follow the 18 km run so I went back to my "old faithfuls" and taped my toes up.  They didn't feel as comfy but at least my toes had more space.  The plantar fasciitis didn't feel so great but that's another problem with lock down, I can't visit my sports therapist.
Equipment is so critical to what we do.  Changing socks or shorts can make or break a race with chaffing or blisters and I need to make sure I don't make another rookie error.  Come Saturday I'll have six tough days of training but as it's a race, I'll have a smile on my face.
Another week of lock down is over and these virtual races are keeping me motivated.  If you haven't signed up for one then please do.  It creates a focus that really elevates your training.  Enjoy.