Inspired by strangers

It's been a week of highs, lows and highs but you'd expect that in any journey in life.  But before we get into that I was inspired by strangers this week.  Strangers who swim with me but we don't often get the chance to talk while doing sets.  On Friday an elderly gentleman (late 60s?) asked me how far I was swimming.  He then went on to explain he used to do two miles but through health issues he'd cut it down to one - in his late 60s this guy is swimming a mile 4 times a week!  Amazing and he's hoping once he gets "sorted" to get the mileage up.  I was also chatting to a lady who it turns out won an ironman event 15 years ago in the UK - not an age grouper, but the whole race.  Another girl has just swam the north channel and all of these people are in the same pool as me.  It just shows that everyone has a story and goals they are still pushing for so never judge a book by its cover as they say.
On Tuesday the physio was pleased with my hammy which was great news.  On Wednesday I went for a short run - pulled up after 3 minutes. Back to physio on Thursday and it turns out to be a different part of the hammy and that my glute is in need of some pounding!  The secret is knowing how far you can push a muscle that is sending out distress signals because it still needs to be worked. Inactivity could set it back.
The first test was on Saturday - a walk up Tinto hill, 711 metres high using walking poles for the first time.  The poles were like having a 4 wheel drive.  I power walked to the top which was in cloud base so no views to be seen.  The rain was heavy on the way down but I tested my hammy and glute with a couple of runs over 200m - I could feel the hammy but it was ok.
Rather than go out running today, with only 62 days to go I need to spend more time on the hills as there is 18,000 ft of climbing and 14,500 ft of descending in G2G.  So I headed off early morning with my coach Genevieve to go up Ben Ledi which is 879 metres high.  We started off by going the wrong way which added 50 minutes to our time.  But it warmed up my hammy and glute which was just as well as it's a steep start.  My hammy was fine on the way up and when we got to the top, yes you guessed it, we were in cloud base!  I chose to really test the hammy and glute by running down the mountain and managed this with no adverse affect.  That's a real confidence booster but I'm not getting carried away as it's still work in progress.  This week I've got the physio, a massage and yoga exercises and the chiropractor!  I've got to make it to that startline uninjured so a lot of time will be spent "nursing" my injuries.  I'm going to be spending a lot of time up mountains before heading to the Caynon.  I just hope there will be a view from some of them!

Lost in London

It's been a hectic week as I have increased my training with double sessions and having a busy work schedule.  Two runs were before 6am and while I was treated to a the birds singing I also had the pleasure on a blue sky with no clouds and an almost full moon while the sun was blazing in the sky.  That's what makes getting up early worthwhile and I feel I have a head start on the world!
On Tuesday the hammy got a good report from my miracle worker Pamela Lock but the calf muscles were re-taped as they were showing signs of being overworked in a way they shouldn't be - this is all connected with my foot instability.
On Friday me and the boss headed off on business in London so Friday was my rest day.  A nice lunch with clients helped me towards my weight target followed by a concert and an after show party.  We got in about 1am but I was up at 6.45 to go for a run in Hyde Park.  It's a big park and it took me a while to navigate my way round it but 1hr and 20 minutes passed with only one person acknowledging me - "hello cock" he said.  I did have a quick check in case there was a wardrobe malfunction but fortunately everything was in order!
This morning I was meant to be running for 1 hr 50 minutes as I build up my mileage.  I was in a different hotel and checked the map before heading out to run in Hyde Park, Green Park and St James Park.  Took a wrong turning and it was about 20 minutes before I reached Green Park.  What a stunning park.  I wish I'd more time and I'd have happily spent the day wandering around and stopping to read a book under the shade of the massive old oak trees.  The same could be said for St James Park and I waved to the Queen a few times as I did my laps - even saw the soldiers practicing for a parade.  I was enjoying the sticky heat when I became aware that my hammy was talking to me. I was 1 hour and 8 mins in and it had tightened up.  I stretched it off but it didn't improve so I walked back to the hotel - more physio on Tuesday.  I'm confident this will be fixed but don't want to risk making it worse.
I've really enjoyed being lost in London and feeling energised by the trees and the beautiful plants and it's hard to believe that such beauty is in the middle of a busy contrete jungle.  Tomorrow's a rest day and we'll start all over again on Tuesday.  Seems the title of my previous blog will apply before as well as during the race.  Failure isn't an option!

Run, Trek, Walk, Crawl - whatever it takes

I think the title of this blog sums up my mindset and I am sure I will be repeating it to myself over the next 76 days when I'll be standing on the startline of the Grand 2 Grand 170 mile race.  But early on Monday morning, 1am, I was awake wondering if I should postpone the race for a year as I won't be reaching the startline with the mileage in my legs.  This race is going to be tougher than MdS.  It's 35 miles longer, has more ascending and descending, variable weather conditions and let's not forget I'm 4 years older.  I needed to make a decision before booking flights and accommodation so I decided to wait till I'd had my physio on Tuesday and see how my running went this week.  The good news is I have no more hamstring pain and all my running this week has gone well.
As a result today I committed by booking the flights and the accommodation - ouch £££!  In total I'll be away for 3 weeks and once the race is finished my wife will join me on a luxury holiday in the area finishing up in Las Vegas.  Just the thought of that alone should get me through the pain I will undoubtably suffer during the race.  If it's anything like MdS then I'll experience "heaven and hell" on the same day!
Now some serious planning is required.  The training plan is in place and I'm going to be having regular physio to make sure the chance of injury is reduced.  I'm upping my food intake as I could do with a few extra pounds.  I've been researching rucksacks as it is such an important item that could make or break your run as I'll be carrying in the region of 12 kilos. On MdS my rucksac's shoulder straps were too narrow and cut into my shoulders causing a lot of pain.  I need to buy a lot of equipment and also test out my freeze dried food.  Unfortunately the company that I used last time have gone bust which is a shame because their food was good.  So some tasting to be done To be confident that I like the food and that it has the  right calories and mix of carbs, protein and fat.
My focus is definitely beginning to narrow as the time ticks away.  I will be blocking out any negative thoughts or doubts because in the end this will be done whether I need to Run, Trek, Walk or Crawl!

DNS

Three simple letters but behind them always lies a story - DNS = did not start.  When the Edinburgh 70.3 Ironman was announced I got over excited.  An Ironman (half) event on my door stop and it would have been my second of the year and good motivation to continue cross training which would reduce my chance of injury.  Well that was the plan which would have worked had I not had an injury earlier in the year which set me back and meant my training plan had to change.
Today was the day of the 70.3 and I wasn't at the start line.  I made my decision after completing the Swashbuckler 70.3 back in May but as Edinburgh was approaching I was beginning to get "withdrawal symptoms".  Could I do it?  Could I just rock up and surprise everyone?  Those thoughts were going through my head this week but that was just stupid because my hammy is still not 100% and a 70.3 requires you to be fully fit and I haven't been on a bike for over a month.
While my pals were all battling the waves at Gullane and the jelly fish, I was at Tollcross knocking out 3,200m followed by a 6km run.  Except with 300m to go on the run my hammy began grumbling so I walked to the finish.
But hats off to all of those who made the start line and braved the elements.  And congratulations to all who finished.  To those who didn't, it will make you all the more determined to come back stronger.  There is a story behind everyone's training and the races are the icing on the cake.  I'm working hard to make sure that it's extra thick icing come September, but I need to get the body sorted first!

Speed bumps

The last few weeks have been great for training as my stats are all going in the right direction.  Despite my bruised knees for my falls last weekend my running during the week had gone well.  I was tired and want to eat my body weight but that's just an outcome of the training.  My legs felt tired and tight so I had booked in a massage at the end of the day on Friday as I had a big weekends training coming up.
On Saturday I headed out for a three hour trail run and had prepared well for it with my hydration and  carb loading the night before.  15 minutes into the run my right hamstring tightened up so much so I stopped and stretched it off - very unusual especially my right leg.  5 minutes later I stopped again,  It was really tight and I knew that if I continued I was going to injure myself so I walked back.  Going up the hills I could feel the muscle straining.  I couldn't believe I had a problem especially with me running so well.  But in any journey like this you need to expect speed bumps.  Something to slow you down.  So running is off the agenda for a few days.
An increase in swimming looks like it's on the cards.  This morning I swam 3,300m which was 700 more than on my plan but as I wasn't running after it, the extra effort was required.  Since coming home all I've done is rest my leg, apply hot and cold and stuff my face with food.  I'll be speaking with my coach during the week and assessing this small set back - before it becomes a big set back.  As always, getting to the start line is the no. 1 priority especially when I've laid out a small fortune and haven't booked my flights or accommodation, yet!

Father's Day

When out running this morning I needed something to deflect my mind from the sweat dripping in my eyes and  the occasional protest from my bruised knees - more about that later.  It was my last session of the week and second of the day.  The session was a 1hr 23 mins run following a 2.6km swim earlier.  I was tired from the long (2hr 45 min) run the day before and it was the hottest conditions I'd run in this year - good prep for the Canyon.  And then I remembered it was Fathers Day.
A day to think about your Dad and if you are lucky enough, one for your children to make a fuss over you.  My Dad passed away almost 30 years ago and would have been 103 if he was still alive today.  He had the physique of a long distance runner but his sport was tennis through which he met my Mum. I began to think, what would he have made of this "madness", as some people refer to it.  I concluded that he would have been proud of me pushing myself while raising money for a good cause - Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.  But back then this mid-life craze of ultra multi-day running events hadn't taken off.
Now onto the knees.  Saturday was a big run, 26km at Chatelherault.  I had no company so there was plenty of "head chatter" going on.  On the first lap I caught my foot on a tree root and rather than pull a hamstring fighting gravity, I picked my spot and performed the perfect shoulder roll.  No damage done so I continued.  On the third lap I wasn't so lucky.  Down like a sack of potatoes with two grazed, bruised knees.  That kind of fallin the Canyon may have worse consequences I thought!  I dusted myself down and finished off the run but I realised that I had fallen due to being tired and not lifting my feet.  When I got home I spend the rest of the day eating and resting as I really don't want to lose any more weight. - I'll need some fat to burn off in the Caynon.
Today's run was one of those that you know is going to hurt but one that you need to get through.  They're the important sessions and while it was slower than planned, it's done.  Tomorrow is a rest day although I will be playing golf!
As for my Father's Day, 2 of our kids are on holiday but our eldest came home and we had a special lunch which made my day.  They say "the best things in life are free" and a simple lunch with loved ones made me one happy Dad.  Let's close the day thinking of our Dad and the lifetime of memories that makes us who we are.  Happy Fathers Day.

The return of my running legs

If you go back to my posts at the start of the year, I was struggling with my running.  My heart rate was through the roof, I was the heaviest I'd ever been (it's all relative) and I was getting dropped faster than a "hot jobbie" by the group when running.  That wasn't a nice time but 6 months of hard work and my running legs (and lungs) have returned.  My coach has had me running up to a max heart rate since then.  At first it meant I had to walk to get my heart rate under control rather than run.  But as time went on I've not had to walk and my pace has picked up almost to the point of where I was pre-ironman last year.
This emphasised the need for a proper plan of action.  In the 70.3 three weeks ago I backed off on the run rather than push myself as this would have led to injury and me not feeling the way I do now.  It did identify some weaknesses such as my core and my training was changed this week to address this aspect.  After the first session I had the DOMS for three days which wasn't fun but the next session wasn't so bad.
It all came together on Saturday when I ran 24km at Chatelherault with my pals.  The run was 3.25 laps and different friends joined in at different times which was great in keeping me company.  But with "fresher legs" coming on during the run I wanted to maintain a decent pace and not get dropped. I set off at the front of the group and maintained that right to the end while one of the late comers pushed hard.  My last 4 km were much quicker as I wanted to stay ahead and although my heart rate exceeded my normal training limit I knew this was doing me good and that my running legs were back - as was a big blister on my toe!
Later on that day I went out for a boozy lunch and a concert with my best friend.  We had a great night "dad dancing" to Chic - I'm sure Niall Rogers saw some new moves!  It was a late night but at the next morning at 9am I headed out for a 10km run.  The wind was strong but this helped blow the cobwebs away.  My pace was marginally slower than normal but faster than the goal that had been set.  My toe didn't enjoy the run but this was good practice for the Caynon where you have to block out the pain and if I get away with just one blister I'll be very fortunate.  This afternoon I've had a long cat nap as my body recovers from the training and the over indulgence of yesterday.
I have the next two days off training but the rest of the week is a heavy training schedule which I'm looking forward to.  When you start to feel the results of the hard work it just makes you want to do more.  There's 105 days to go and I'll need all of that time to get myself to the level of physical and mental fitness required.  Thanks to everyone who is encouraging me and pushing me on my training.