Time is moving fast now, when you think you have ages to train and prepare the reality is the clock doesn't stop, tick tock tick tock!  There isn't long left now, 8 weeks till Hardmoors 55, I've booked in a cheeky run on Feb 4th as part of my training.  The organisers are called 'Its Grim Up North' which I thought sounded great and perfect for me.  Since the 'Frostbite 30' was cancelled I needed something else just to get mentally in the game,  its all part of the master plan for Hardmoors 160.  I'm not going to fail at it as want to succeed at it more than ever, training has been good and I'm well rested.  I want to learn more though and the only way to learn more is to get out there.  I'm excited about the 160 but its one run at a time with the build up, to me this key, the 55 is enough of a build up as it will allow me to test my physical improvements and any strategies I want to practice.  I've also decided I want to just get better at this endurance lark, the long distance stuff really drives me.

Back to the age old problem of fitting things in.  I have new commitments in my life that as much as my running and endurance events are important to me, my new life is more.  I still want to do the endurance events but will cut back on the other races now and start being more selective.  Once I get in to the Hardmoors 1000 club I will re-assess my challenges.  My training has really started to show its worth now and the benefits are starting to show.  My main test will be the HM 55 this is where I will be pushing to do my best at this race as part of my preparation for the 160.

Small goals - big gains!

How do we keep moving forward?  How do we re-motivate constantly to keep the dream alive?  These are the questions I have now.  Once upon a time my motivations were different, it was a completely different game altogether. I once gained strength from negative things in my life that helped motivate me to be better, stronger and to want new adventures that would change how I felt.  I was used to negative experiences and turned them into positive feelings and outcomes.  What was once my cleansing process is now something else!  What I am now learning to do is to use positive experiences in my life to help motivate me in my Ultra running and challenges.  What I am learning is that being able to use happy positive thoughts can be just as powerful as the negative ones that I once used.   My desire to achieve great feats is now greater than ever, I have pride in what I want to do and a real sense of adventure surrounds it.

Everything I read up on and investigate just seems to inspire me to do more, I get excited when reading about ridiculous challenges and great feats of endurance.  I just think wow, wish I could do that!  Then I think back a couple of years, and this was exactly the sort of thing that got me into all this but now its different as I have done a few things.  Only the tip of the iceburg ha ha!

What lays ahead!

I think its important to have a bit of a long term challenge/plan, then a semi-ridiculous challenge as warm up and then smaller interim stupid challenges to build your strength and character in preparation.  I love the process, I love the training once you know what your plan is and I love working towards it.  This is what it is all about for me, not just the race itself but the process of getting you there, the build up.

How do I see the next few years?  My plans are simple really.  I want to keep building on the distance and difficulty but with a process in mind.  I have the Hardmoors 160 booked in for this May and looking for another 100 miler towards mid to end of the year.  I have set myself the challenge of joining the Hardmoors 1000 mile club which will take me to May 2019 and completing the Hardmoors 200 which will be massive for me.  In build up to this I intend to complete the Spine Challenger with the intention of completing the full Spine which is 268 miles along the Pennine Way the year after so 2020! This is all part of my process and build up to entering the Yukon Artic Ultra.  Inspired, understatement, excited absolutely.  Ready for the challenge of a lifetime, yes will love every second of how difficult it will be.

What is different now?  I have someone in my life who loves me and wants me to do these things as crazy as they are she backs me and wants to be there for me.  This makes a massive difference, its a game changer!  Negative into positive! If you want something bad enough find a way!

I found my way! :)

Its been a while...... I have now officially entered the Hardmoors 160!!! I'm actually quite excited about it, and slightly nervous but no time for worrying about it.  My training now has a purpose so I suddenly feel invigorated and desperate to move on and keep improving.  My work with Jake at Unit 17c is going well and I'm very pleased with my progress and how I'm feeling.  I am definitely becoming stronger all round, legs, core and upper body.  I'm finding it difficult fitting it in with tennis and squash at the moment but just have to keep focused and disciplined and do what I can.

Last weekend I ran the Hardmoor's half marathon at Roseberry Topping.  This was like going back to see an old friend, I wasn't able to do it last year so I made sure I was booked on for this.  My trail running and Hardmoor's adventure began with Roseberry 4 years ago in 2013 so now I've done it 4 times.  I love it, its the toughest one I do but the best, I hated missing out last year but I was back this time and did my best time so a PB!!!