Hardmoors 60 (to be or not to be?)

So my first attempt at the Hardmoors 60!  It wasn't the ending I had hoped for but all is not lost.  In losses or failures we find truths and answers.  I knew going into this event I hadn't trained enough, I'm no leading race challenging whippet, but I can usually slog it out and get myself over the line in time.  On this occasion it wasn't to be, I had trained enough and my body wasn't prepared for the extreme levels I put it through.  Physically I think I was strong enough I would just have liked to have had more running in my legs and more training where your body has to go through the mill a bit.  The positives are all there though, in my journey to the 160 next May have now started with a 57 mile training with no side effects or injuries.  I have remembered what it is going to take to achieve this monumental feat.  Am I defeated by my 'DNF' no, deflated a little but not defeated, if anything I'm inspired, challenged and have the desire to improve.  I'm happy with not necessarily being the best at this sport, I like having something where I can just do what I can and that's enough.  I am always trying to get better at it, and after a long summer off post MdS I am relatively happy with how I did.  Obviously I hate not completing and I found it very difficult to accept at the time as my inner self just wanted to carry on to prove I could do it, but where's the benefit from that, sometimes you have to let go.  The difference between a 64 mile training run and a 57 mile training is nothing really as they are  both ridiculous distances and therefore its a win win situation!

So how do I move forward from here?  Easily!  I need to have some regular runs, some scheduled trail runs or/and ultra's and build my endurance up towards the date of the 160.  I'm determined to complete it so the preparation is important to my success.  I still don't want it to take over my life as I have other priorites now but if I can get the right training in and enough of it with some reccies then the game is on.  I need a bit of new kit but not much, might also look into a handheld gpx device which will minimise any navigational errors.  If anything my DNF on Saturday has done exactly what was intended, its given me a bit of a kick up the bum and reminded me to respect the distance and course.  Its brutal, and punishing, and will take every last bit out of you to get round it.  I can not afford to underestimate the size of this challenge, everything I have done up till now only counts in experience and knowledge, it does not allow you any freebies.  Its accepting the hardwork that lies ahead and then putting it in.

A lot of time has past but I've been super busy with work and holidays.  The clock is ticking for Hardmoors 60 on the 16th Sept so just under two weeks to go eeeek!  Hows my training going? Badly!  I have done some but no where near enough but the idea is that this race gives me a kick in the backside and reminds me that these races are ridiculously hard.  This the beginning really of the HM160 training plan so its all starting to get very real.  Current small targets are, keep up base level fitness, hill training, lose half stone by Christmas followed by another half stone after Christmas, stop or reduce drinking (it does help!) and start increasing long run distance.  So quite a few chunks to go at there but all necessary to achieving my new goal. I'd like to do the Spine Challenger in Jan again but not sure if the budget will allow for it.

So its time to knuckle down to this challenge, I wish I had a couple of extra weeks for the 60 but hey ho that's life.  I feel I have been training so not completely off it but I haven't done enough strength work or distance.  So whats the plan over the next week and a half?  I want to get out for a few runs, short distance and a couple of 10 milers with hills, I want to do a bit of gym work this week but nothing killer like and do some stretching.

I need to find a 30-40 miler for October as part of my training so I will begin looking now.  This is now all about mind set and discipline.  Its about getting out there and training when I don't want to as I know those runs are sometimes the most beneficial.  Its about confidence and belief, its not that I'm doubting myself anymore its just the reality of knowing what's coming.  So believing in what I know I can do but putting the hard work in to make it less difficult than I know it will be.  Its the pain game!