Tough conditions

It's been a good but tough weekend for training. Yesterday was a confidence booster as I went out with 2 mega experienced ultra runners, Rosie Bell and Craig Hamilton, to run 16 miles of the West Highland Way staring at Drymen. "Dry" it certainly wasn't and on climbing up Conic Hill in the howling wind and rain we reached the snow line. In conditions like this I was inside "my bubble" that protects me from the elements. I had my buff pulled up over my ears and baseball cap and going down the other side it was over my mouth as the conditions deteriated.
We ran at a proper ultra pace and I felt I could have gone on for a long time which is reassuring. However after 16 miles we decided that was enough for the day. I had got to see the terrain I'll be running in just over 2 months and it's going to be a challenge. Between now and the event I will have visited the trail so I know what to expect.
This morning I went out for another 15 miles of trail running with some friends, in the wind and rain again.  I was hoping to do 20 but my body was telling me it was hurting and if pushed much further could cause an injury, so I stopped.  Also as the miles build up I need to carry more fluids and I had become thirsty which means you are dehydrated and it's too late. So that will be my next purchase so I can carry more water when running as it's essential.
It's still a mental challenge thinking how I will run 53 very challenging miles in about 75 days time when I've struggled with the mileage today.  But there are a lot of training miles between now and then and that is what I will be focusing on.  I just need to be patient and keep up the training. Finally my weight has dropped to 11 and a half stone so I'm not having to cart so much around - that makes me happy!

Benefits of group training

If you've followed my blog over the years you'll know how I've struggled with swimming. Not an uncommon problem with triathletes! However it's a great way of keeping fit and it gives my legs a break from running. An essential aspect of my swimming is group training. Tonight after a 200m warm up (not much I know but I knew we'd be having a tough session) we did 250m of drills, 14 x 25m alternating between slow 25m followed by 25m sprint and repeat. The main set was 800m with a 60 sec rest, 400m with a 40 sec rest, 200m /20sec rest, 100m/10 sec rest, 50m finish.
That is a set I wouldn't like to do on my own. Swimming with others encourages you to stay up with the swimmer in front and you end up going faster as a result. We all take turns at the front where the hard work is done.
Triathletes usually find swimming their weakness so we're all in the same boat. But working together as a group we get the job done. Tomorrow a smaller group will be back in the pool by 7am for another session. The months of hard work is starting to pay off which is just as well with a 70.3 ironman in June and a 10km river swim in September. Bring it on!

Round 2 with the chimp!

After yesterday's battle at Chatelherault, I was planning an revisiting the sight of my misery to bury the chattering chimp!  My compression gear had done it's job yesterday and I felt good when I got up. I made sure I had plenty of "fuel" on board and headed out into very blustery wind.
I met up with a group of friends and we worked our way round the course for two laps. One of my pals who is a very experience ultra runner completed the third lap with me. My legs were feeling heavy from the 15 miles yesterday so we practised the ultra run / walk method. This allows you to recover and go further. At least this time having someone with you who has used this on many long runs, the chimp was silenced!🙊 part of preparing for an ultra is getting your head right and today was a step towards my goal in that regard.  I've still got many miles to put in over the next few and hopefully the chimp will get back in its cage!
Recovery is important so coffee, carrot cake with cream, a hot shower, tuna pasta and eggs washed down with orange juice coffee and chocolate. Now in my compression gear to speed up the recovery with my feet up. Oh and the rugby is just about to come on - happy days. Still have some chores to do including shopping and cooking dinner - just in case you thought I got away with murder at home!

Battling with the "chimp"

I've been writing my blog for four years and part of the motivation is so I can look back and remember parts of the journey, especially when I'm struggling.  Today was a really tough session and I was battling the "chimp" in my brain which was telling me to quit. It was constantly shouting you're not fit enough, you're too old, go play golf as it's less effort etc etc.  You'll be familiar with the inner chimp whether you are training for an event or trying to improve yourself.
The "scene of the crime" was Chatelherault Country Park where I run on a regular basis. A five mile loop has 425 feet of climbing and it's tough. But fortunately it is sheltered as the wind was up and it was mixed with rain and sleet.  A friend of mine who is a good ultra runner accompanied me on the first two laps. On the second lap I asked for a breather for a minute as I wasn't feeling great. By the end of the second lap I new it was going to be a tough 3rd lap as I was doing it on my own and the weather was getting worse.
The chimp went into overtime and suddenly I was walking every hill which is a first for me. I tried to make use of that time by eating an energy bar and rehydrating but it seemed to make no difference. My body temperature dropped as I wasn't running on the hills and had I been in the wilderness I'd have been in trouble.  Trying to take a positive out of the situation I remembered some of my longest runs where you reach a very dark place at various stages.  So this was my opportunity to practice getting through it. By the time I got home I was a shivering wreck so straight into a hot bath, compression tights on and food in. Now to rest because tomorrow I'll be doing the same again but hope for better performance. The chimp may have reduced me to walking today but I made the most out of the situation. I'm looking forward to looking back at this post as I believe this was an important session where I might not have performed as well as I wanted to, but I achieved what I set out to do.

Sports massage

In my last few years I have learned the importance of sports massage.  The training pushes my body hard so every month I need a sports massage. Now before you start to think I am going soft and getting pampered, a sports massage is painful. 45 mins to an hour of being "tenderised" like a piece of steak.  But without it my legs would seize up with the training as would my hips, my back - you get the message!
So I'm sure to get a great sleep tonight which I need following a hard day. My HRV monitor was amber today and I am hoping tomorrow I won't get a red light. I need to put in some big miles over the weekend and I need to be ready for it. If your training hard then make sure you get a regular sports massage - your body deserves it!

Sugar v fat

Just watched a fascinating programme on healthy diet comparing sugar v fat. The twins who were doctors certainly gained new knowledge which surprised them. The conclusion is that processed food containing 50/50 combinations of sugar and fat is the dangerous food that our brains crave. Sadly some of the deserts I like (e.g ice cream and chocolate brownies) are going to be missed as I try and shed half a stone. I'm not over weight but I don't like the waistline getting bigger and also having to carry this weight with me as I run. Plus I'd like to get back to something resembling a six pack!
Yesterday and today's swims will certainly help. Both were tough sessions pushing my fitness level as I try and improve at the most difficult element in triathlon. I'm getting to the stage of enjoying swimming again but I've a long way to in order to be fit enough to swim a 10km race in September. And by then I hope to have lost my excess weight and be back to my slim, lean self! Watch this space!

Structural alignment

Do you ever feel your body is out of balance or alignment?  Many years ago I played or coached tennis 6 days a week. This was long before the expertise and knowledge that exists today where players have a team of experts working on them.  The right side of my body was bigger than the left by quiet some margin. The result of this is my body always struggles to be aligned as the muscles on the right side are bigger than the left and this pulls my spine out of line or my pelvis isn't sitting properly.  This can create all sorts of problems.
Every 6/12 months I go visit my chiropractor, Gill Dingwall in Blafron and Kirkintilloch - she's a real professional and very thorough! But I had let this slip recently so today was the day. Recently I hadn't felt good when running anything over 13 miles. My hips and lower back didn't seem right and it wasn't comfortable.  My yoga was a big help but this was a structural problem and I needed some realignment from Gill. 20 minutes later I walked out her practice at least an inch taller! It's critical that if you are putting your body through a lot of training that you get it checked to make sure you are not building up a long term problem. My yoga and regular sports massage will keep me going but an "MOT" every six months is essential. So I listened to my body and it was creaking!  This will improve my swimming, cycling and running. If in doubt, get is checked!