Gate crashing a race

Multitasking helps with my time management so after I dropped my son off at his football match I went for a run. Is would allow me to get a workout and be at the sideline for the start of his match. I ran into Strathclyde Park and immediately realised I had gate crashed a triathlon. However as a public park you can still run, walk your dog etc even in the middle of a race. So I had people cheering me on, thanks for that, offering me drinks and eventually argueing with me as to the right direction! The fact I was in the race made me run harder so when I checked my stats at the end it was the fastest I have run in over a month. So the balance of my training has shifted to running but I will continue swimming to relax my legs and cycling / turbo training for my stamina. Now to put my feet up to watch the Grand Prix!

Barriers to success

Today is the first day in a 30 run challenge that I have taken up. Run a minimum of 20 minutes a day for 30 days. The theory is that at the end of the month your running will have improved significantly. However in this part of my fitness cycle, coming back from having peaked 4 months ago, it will be hard work. This morning I was out in the wind and fine rain covering 6.2 miles around a hilly course. My heart rate is too high but I don't want to slow down as it's only a short run so you just feel awful as you climb the hills. At this point you could easily walk or just give up as nobody knows you are out there - but I do. Despite feeling sick I push on because I know every step is a step closer to my goal and every run is "miles in the bank". I know that on the Marathon des Sables I will probably overdraw that bank account but the more I have in it at the start, the less the debt if you get my drift. So my current lack of fitness is a potential barrier to success but only if I allow my mind to believe that and that is not going to happen. As I said to my daughter this morning "it's the things you work hard for that you appreciate the most".

Autumn blows in

There has been a distinct change in the weather in the last week. On Wednesday we had hailstones and I had to put an extra layer on when I went out for my run tonight. Call me a pessimist but I can't see the promised "Indian summer" that we're promised every year and it's now dark by 8.30 pm which limits when you can train. So I face training 6 days a week in inclement weather conditions for the next 7 months as I prepare for the toughest foot race on the planet - Marathon des Sables. One particularly difficult challenge will be trying to acclimatise myself for 40 degrees when training in freezing conditions. So I'll be layering up to run hot. Sounds much more fun than I'm sure it will be but I'll do whatever it takes to be prepared for this "mother of all challenges"! After all, the money raised will be for a fantastic cause - Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.

Blister care

I have spent the last 2 days in London and due to my schedule no training took place so these will count as rest days - hardly a rest! But walking round town yesterday resulted in a nasty blister on top of my big toe. So I limped around until I found a chemist and got hold of a blister pad. As was in a rush and managed to stick it to on to two toes and when removing it from one I ripped all the hair off my toe - ouch. I realise I'm a wimp and will reflect on this when in the Sahara Desert treating the odd (I hope) blister - I'll probably laugh at how my pain threshold will have increased! So tomorrow back to training with a run in the morning and some cycling and running over the weekend. I've missed my training over the last 2 days and am looking forward to getting back to my normal routine.

Oh the pain!

I'll come back to the pain later but this morning I was easing off my legs following two days running by training in the pool. 4 x 500m timed was a good session and my legs always feel better after it. Swimming is so precise in that every stroke counts. I know that seems obvious but if the balance is out on my left arm stroke it affects the kick on the right side which creates additional drag and therefore requires more effort. Not only can I feel the ineffeciency but when I download the results from my watch it confirms it - no hiding place. As for the pain, this was financial. Today I received the 2nd invoice from MDS. The initial payment was £500 just to confirm you had money as well as being mental. Now they want £1,575 and before the event they will want another £1,575. I am also setting up my insurance which will cost £100 and that's before I start buying the specialised equipment! Ouch! Well it will be the trip of a lifetime and one I intend to enjoy and raise lots of money for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres.

On your marks, get set.........

I stated yesterday that today was the official start of my MDS training. So as I looked out the window on the bank holiday Monday, the trees were swaying in a way that told me it was very windy. I was surprised I could see them for the rain was chucking it down. Only an idiot would go out in that I thought, so I delayed my run. By 4pm I was starting to get worried as I had made a commitment on this blog yesterday and didn't want to wimp out at the first step. I made an executive decision to run when my son was at training and that way wouldn't eat into family time. I dressed for the worst and the sun came out, the rain stopped and the wind died down. I managed to convince myself that the heat I was experiencing was good but it would be a lot hotter in the Sahara Desert! I was also trying out some new shorts - compression shorts. This was to help my hamstring and I can report that at this stage they feel fine. But tomorrow I will loosen them off in the pool. My heart rate in the last 2 runs is higher than average signifying my fitness has a bit to go to get back to where I was in May but I need to be patient. I'm building this up gradually and my objective is to be Marathon fit by November before the more specific MDS training starts with the weighted rucksack - that should be fun! But my yoga and weights will start in the next 2 weeks as I build my strength and flexibility. This transformation will take the full 7 months I have available to me.

Motivation

This was going to be my last weekend off before starting 7 months of consentrated training to get me ready for the Marathon des Sables in April 2013. Since Lanzarote Ironman in May my training has been half hearted and not focused but starting tomorrow it becomes serious. However yesterday I was watching the James Cracknell dvd where he tackles the MDS and becomes the highest ranked UK athlete ever by finshing 12th. It had been a while since I had watched it but it reminded me of how hard a challenge this will be. A friend of mine also watched it and by the end was convinced I'm nuts to attempt anything so difficult. But other than give me a reality check, it motivated me to go out running today and put in a hard session to see how my hamstring was. The run was fast and I had no difficulty on the run although am now beginning to stiffen up. To be expected really. Motivation can be generated in many different ways but this morning my son was playing football in an extremenly competitive match. He was feeling good because he had new football boots and also a friend had gone to watch him. He scored a hatrick! So I'm now motivated to get back to serious training and I want to feel the way I did prior to Ironman but this will take at least a month as I build back my fitness. Can't wait!