Christmas is cancelled!

Normally at this time of year, I'd be looking forward to the odd Xmas party, a few extra beers and some time off training. Even last year with Lanza Ironman in May I enjoyed a few days break but MdS is 6 weeks earlier and I've had 4 weeks off running so I'm way behind. Therefore Xmas is cancelled, well sort of! I am going out for my first run on Friday and hopefully the foot and ankle injury should cope with the strain - if not then Xmas is back on and the Mds is cancelled! But that can't happen. Every effort will be made and I'm heading home for another turbo training session to get the base level fitness back. At least my heart rate is back to normal now I'm over my cold. I've got a target of running the Great Glen, 79 miles, over 2 days at the end of January and as long as the pace is right then I should make it. Then I've got an Mds training camp in Morocco at the end of Feb and before I know it I'll be standing at the start line for the biggest adventure of my life (so far!). Fingers crossed!

Ice station zebra

Last night the temperature plummeted and when I dropped my daughter off at dancing in the morning the roads were glistening with ice. Although it was a sunny day I decided on the turbo trainer indoors rather than risk it on the roads. It turns out to be a wise choice as several of my club mates ended up kissing the tarmac by the time they reached the end of the road. So 75 minutes of turbo torture. Music blaring and the TV on, with the sound down, anything really to take my mind of the boredom. Being indoors the temperature quickly rose and the sweat started dripping off me. As I am coming back from a layoff and being unwell I paid close attention to my heart rate. I made sure that it was steady but at the same time increased the intensity slightly. I followed this with a short yoga session and it's going to take me some time to get my breathing in order. I need to be patient and ignore the other athletes who are at a different stage in their training cycle.

Early visit to Morocco!

Xmas has come early for me. I have been looking at going abroad to train in heat and desert conditions but didn't fancy going out on my own. The challenge is not just the heat and the sand but hydration in the desert when you don't have any support. Perhaps been captured and held for ramsom might be another but that would be unlikely. So yesterday I received an invitation to train with a three time MDS winner in Morroco for four days at the end of February. It covers all the preparation I'd require including night running and obviously there will be a support team. This is where the family support comes in because permission was given as it will end up a six day trip and a month later I will be away for the best part of 2 weeks. I got their blessing as they know how much preparation is required to be ready for this challenge and having laid out a small fortune, I don't want to mess it up through either lack of training or knowledge. Remember I live my life by the 7 P's (piss poor preparation precipitates piss poor performance)! I think this 4 day excursion will be a fabulous opportunity to learn from the experts. Can't wait.

Getting there

This morning I increased my turbo time by 50% to 45 minutes and although I felt a bit sluggish a the beginning I soon got into the rhythm. My garmin gave me a few scary readings on heart rate jumping from 145 to 155 up to 175 within a matter of seconds but I ignored that as I was still breathing easily. Time on the turbo allowed me to reflect on last nights MdS lecture and how Martin had given himself a whole year to get ready whereas I won't be. His first pair of running shoes were bought was after he entered the race - there was a 3 year waiting list back in 2008. So were starting in a different place. He talked of sub 3 hour marathon runners and ironman bringing up the rear and said that was down to their lack of appropriate training. In particular hill training, hill walking (time on feet) and back to back long runs (20 mile plus - each!). Good advice and as soon as I'm back to base level fitness and injury free I'll be putting it into practise. Have a great day!

Meeting my MdS mates

I am determined to "catch up" although the theory goes you never do. But at 6am I climbed on my turbo trainer and put in a steady 30 minutes. When I got off I had to lie down as I felt dizzy and sick but my heart rate recovered quickly so that was a good sign. This evening I went to a talk on the MdS in Edinburgh and met three of my tent mates who will be on the journey with me. It's interesting seeing the different backgrounds and approaches to training for the event. We've organised to meet up for some runs and I think it was important to establish these relationships before going to Morocco. The talk was interesting with lots of useful tips. The speaker was very laid back and it just got me one step closer to the desert. So when I'm up tomorrow for my 45 minute turbo session I'll be more focused and hopefully will feel better at the end than I did today.

Starting again

If I thought the MdS was going to be a challenge, having 3.5 weeks off training has made it even harder. I've got 20 weeks to go but woke up this morning feeling "normal". So I started slowly with 5 sun salutations and a head stand. Hardly a workout but a start. Tonight I visited my physio and he is pleased with the progress with my achilles but says that the jury's out on the stress fracture. So I've got some tests to do over the next few weeks to check it out. In the meantime I will be on the turbo trainer and swimming. I'm also checking out pool running in order to get my fitness up without putting too much strain on my foot or achilles. So today was a small but not painful step so here's to more of that, after all there is only 20 weeks to go!

Spectating, again!

Today I had the pleasure of watching my son Ali get a PB on his 800m race - currently unofficially 2 min 11 sec. For his age group if he'd got under 2:10 he would have got a UK ranking. He could hardly walk after it but recovered over the next hour to take part in the long jump followed by a 400m. I almost had to carry him out after that as he'd given it everything - nothing was left on the track. Spectating gives you a different perspective on events but it makes me all the more determined to "get better". But watching athletes,and their parents, at the start of their careers learning their trade. It's great to see so many kids taking part and trying their best. Not sitting on a couch getting fat while they play on the xbox! So the rest continues but I am hoping to start light training next week. I'm not convinced about my foot but time will tell.