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!

Mental toughness

Over the years this blog has been running I have covered the important topic of mental toughness. In Ironman and MdS it was as much mental as it was physical. This morning when I woke to the sound of the wind whistling past the house with sheets of rain battering the windows, I though what nutter would want to go out in this weather?  I was meeting up with my ultra pals but I knew they might do a shorter (10-15 miles) but faster run.  That didn't really suit me and the fact they were going out on the roads therefore being fully exposed to the elements didn't appeal either.
So I headed off to run 15 miles on my own on a forrest trail to get some protection from the wind and rain.  It was very wet and cold and as I approached the end of the first lap I was considering giving up.  My feet were soaking wet and I was past trying to avoid puddles as they were every where. Some company would have helped but feeling sorry for yourself doesn't help.  Then I remembered I'd be writing this blog and what would my excuse have been? I needed to toughen up and just get on with it, so I did. When I got home I has to hose the mud off my running tights, while wearing them, before I was allowed in the house. Does that count as an ice bath?
Preparing for a 53 mile ultra isn't easy and there will be lots of dark moments as there were today.  But you need to put yourself in these positions where doubt, pain, discomfort and fatigue are in abundance so you can work your way through it. The more you do that the better your results. Having you read my blog also makes me "man up" when required so thank you. Mental toughness is required in all aspects of life but it's something you continually need to work at as I found out today!

Burns night and the day after the day after

It's true. As you get older it takes longer to recover from a few (bottles!) too many! It was a long day yesterday followed by a Burns Supper.  Knackered I headed out in my dinner suit - there was no way I was getting in my kilt.  Too much faffing about.  A night on water did me the world of good, pleasant company and a risky comedian made the night pass. I cut lose before the raffle and headed home for bed as I really needed a good nights sleep.
I was wakened by the sky falling onto my house.  Where is all the water coming from these days? So off to the stables with my daughter but I certainly wasn't going to run in the torrential rain. I'll go on the turbo I thought. But then I fell asleep on the couch and after giving an impromptu yoga lesson in the golf pro shop to the assistant pro (he had some tight muscles) I went for coffee and cake with my wife.
On the way home snow started to fall! That was my que to call a pal and go out for a shorter, faster run. We did a 6 km cross country run. Water and mud up to our ankles and some tasty hills - too slippy for my off road shoes as I found out!  Ironically the rain didn't fall while running but I was wet enough anyway. Good workout and it has prepared me nicely for a long one tomorrow.  That should be fun as the weather is meant to be worse!