Oh wow what a day!

Firstly before I say any more I need to say how much I love my wife Sarah! If she didn't give up her greatly earnt time then I wouldn't be able to do most of this stuff, plus she puts up with me training and facilitates it.  My running definitely makes me a better person or even a happier person so making the effort to do it even when its a chore or awkward timing wise I know I'll be better for it.  Sarah comes out in the middle of the night, sleeps in the car, exhausts herself and looks after me which I am eternally grateful. I am very lucky!

So on to my run, loved it! Even the early start, the anticipation, the preparation, the learning outcomes, the glorious weather, the team work, the amazing route, the pain, the pleasure, the lows and the highs!  Since the Hardmoors 55 race had to be postponed due to Coronavirus I decided I wasn't going to let this stop me.  I knew I needed a long run done pre-160 and this was it.  I needed this not only to see how I faired physically but mentally I needed the confidence and reassurance that I was going to be able to cope ok on the route.  I know the route fairly well but its been a couple of years so a little recap is always good plus I wanted to learn a bit more in the first section where I was going to have to work harder and where I was just going to have to give it my best effort and try not to lose too much time.  From previous races the section coming from Slapewath Pub going into Guisborough woods is going to be a crucial point for me, so a little preparation is important here.  So my plan will be to get to get to Sarah who'll be waiting in the pub carpark for me after seeing me at Saltburn.  I intend to get a good feed here and refuel with a little sleep.  Then I'm going to attack the next section that mentally held me back last time, but not this time!

Saturday morning came and I was up at 4.30am to let Bertie the family dog out into the garden.  I was to get myself sorted and packed whilst having some breakfast and make Sarah her coffee, ready!! I woke her at 4.50am as was the plan so we could leave at 5.15 to allow me a 6am start.  As per normal I wasn't ready and we were behind schedule.  Once we arrived and I got myself sorted I headed off all keen and excited for my adventure that lay ahead.  I said my goodbyes and and Sarah waved me off still half asleep I think and off she drove.  That was it, I was on my own.  The sun was just up and it was nice and fresh, I felt good and got focused on the job in hand. The plan was to get a good overview of the route in the next couple of sections and workout how fast I need to go to get through it.  I wanted to see why I'd build it up in my head to be so hard, yet the reality was yes it was tough going but not nearly like I'd built it up in my head.  It was 2 miles of slogging it up hill to High Cliff Nab, now that I know that I can push myself that little bit harder as its not far and I know it will be over soon 30 mins worst case scenario remembering I'd have already done 105 miles by this point so fuel and salts will be important before this section. Power up here then its a section I have to push on with to get across to Roseberry Topping, ok I won't be racing up it but I can try and get across to it a little quicker than walking.  Then it will just be a matter of getting up and Roseberry without taking forever or falling and back up little Roseberry before heading to Gribdale and Captain Cooks Monument a few miles away.  Again very runnable once up little Roseberry so I have to make myself try harder here again so as to make up a little time.   Once I'd got over to Kildale I new I'd done the section that bothered me and that I wanted to learn more about.  I wanted a mental boost that allows me to look at it and not think this will be where I break, whereas now I'm thinking "it won't be there, that is not so bad and its not going to break me".  I went on to Blowarth Crossing and over the Wainstones but realised I was running out of water fast.  The sun was now beating down and yet again I was ill prepared for this and allowed it to bake one side of my head.  I was starting to worry about the water situation with being mindful about savering each drop.  I had a little plan or hope that I'd be able to refill my reserves at Lordstones camping park where I knew there was a toilet block, for residents, but I just preyed I'd get a top up.  Luckily as I staggered up to it I spyed an outdoor tap which by now was going to save my life.  I filled all the bottles and poured some over my sun baked head, wow it was hot.  Off I went towards scarth moor woods with Osmotherly in my sights.. This was another section I was weary of and keep building up in my head so again I wanted quash all the negativity around these areas.  The best way to deal with this is to just be prepared for them and have little stratergies.  It works, its still hard but you break them down from being monsters and making them more not necessarily happy places but nicer and achievable and undemonise them if that's a word lol!

 I made it through to Osmotherly in fairly decent shape and time was ok. Sarah was there after I eventually found her, hiding round a corner out of the way.  As ever she had everything there for me tending to my needs and Bertie the dog was with her and very excited to find me there.  It was a great  chance to just have a break and refocus, refuel and then head up the hill to Square corner.  Again this was a little section that I have built up in my head and making it horrific.  The reality is, its not that bad I've just got to get it done but allowing myself enough time to struggle up it rather than race against the clock as this is a cut-off check point and if I'm getting this far then I'm finishing.  I've been there before on the 110 and been timed out.  Its not a nice feeling and its not going to happen again!!!!  Once up the hill and another mini catch up with Sarah and Bertie I pushed to get the last 22/23 miles done.  In theory this is the easy bit as you've done the hard work and its just a matter of running down the miles.  It definitely felt good being able to run for long sections and feel like your getting somewhere, so the time and the miles were flying by.  Unfortunately I had still done 32 tough hilly miles beforehand so fatigue was creeping in what felt quick to me was actually not that fast lol!  What pleased me though was the desire to be running and the bodies willing to keep going.  It would be easy to feel broken at this point and to just plod out the remaining miles, but I wanted more, I wanted to push myself at this point because in the 160 I will sill have a 100 miles to go :)

I had been given strict instructions to call Sarah at 6pm and give an indication of what time I'll be finishing.  As always I'm very optimistic with this so Sarah has learnt to just add a bit more on to whatever I say so in this case an extra 30 to 45 mins.  I got myself finally to Sutton Bank and on to the White Horse car park where it was just starting to get dark which was going to change everything.  The fun was disappearing gradually as was the sun.  On to Cold Kirby and Rivaulx which now was just a going through the motions exercise and trying to keep pushing right to the end not letting up and walking it out.  This was not acceptable.  I ran down the hill into Helmsley feeling tired and exhausted but not totally spent, there was reserves and I knew I'd run with in myself therefore I'd have been ok to continue.  Sarah was there waiting as ever and off we went straight away as it was after 8pm now and we were both shattered.  Bath and food was calling me and bed for Sarah.  Job done, what's next!!!!

 I'm feeling very inspired at the moment and my running ambitions are probably getting a bit carried away but why not hey its not hurting anyone and its making me fitter and healthier than I've ever been.  I just can't get enough of that feeling of trying something that seems so impossible (for me) that its actually mega appealing.   Crazy I know! I love the idea of extreme training for an extreme event. The harder it is the more I want to do it and enjoy the process.  Whilst in lockdown I've really tried to basically do as much as I can do with everything else.  I've honestly pushed myself to the extreme I feel, and anymore would have resulted in injury without being able to get massages etc. There is something about testing myself and setting that ridiculously early alarm and forcing myself to get up and prepared for a long run.  In my head they're like my mini-adventures.  I might not ever be able to climb up Everest or trek to the North Pole but I can have my own mini-adventures that push me to exhaustion and achieve things that others wouldn't even dream of trying.  I read constantly books on people achieving this, and that, running the length of Great Britain, across America, The Yukon, Badwater and treks across the artic, and all I can think about is why not me? So all I'm trying to do is have a go and get as close to what they've achieved as I can.  Preparing for an event is great, deciding on what kind of training I'm going to try and see how hard I can push myself physically and mentally and how determined I am at getting my body in the best shape possible for the attempt.  I'm now at the lowest weight I have ever been, or at least since I was about 14 lol!  I've dropped down from once bordering 16 stone, to hovering at 14.5 stone to now being not just under 14 but under 13.5 and heading towards the target of under 13.  This isn't me trying to be skinny and look better in clothes as I've never been motivated like that, its about me getting fitter and better prepared for long distance Ultra events.  I seriously want to achieve greater things and I've always been held back a little by my weight.  I never let it stop me don't get me wrong, but its now at the point where its one of the things I can do something about. I'm not a naturally fast runner so I have to work with what I've got and my theory is that I have to deal with the things I can do something about and not worry about the rest.

Along side these long runs I've been boshing out over the past 6-7 weeks which has been great but taken its toll on my body somewhat, I've been doing small workouts at home using bits of kit I've either bought or made.  This would be along the lines of doing a bit of a warm up so running on the spot incorporating star jumps and jumping split steps.  This would then progress to a routine of skipping say 100 jumps, 10 press-ups, 10 air squats followed by 10 burpees and sometimes adding a couple of laps of the garden or kettlebell swings or dumb bells or bar bell.   This has worked well in improving my overall fitness and calorie burning but also my mindset of running while tired or drained.  I've also used the stairs quite a lot as I think this really helps with cardio training and continuous effort for climbing those long drawn out inclines.  A new part to my training has arisen from getting Bertie the dog.  We head out for our walks with me car a ruck sack weighing 19kg.  The funny story to this is that for at least 3 months I thought it weighed more like 15kg, then one day I weighed myself wearing it and it turns out it is 19kg!!! Great for the legs and core muscles I've decided.

What's next? What's my plans for training and races oooo I'll let you know next time :)

 Push, push, push!  Its easy to just get into the mindset of unrelenting training and constant pushing.  Once I get into a routine, for example running 7 miles every day, I find it difficult to either stop or change it.  What I've found in having the training plan from Ronnie is that I get the variety needed, but I still get carried away and currently due to covid I'm definitely over training or at least in danger of over training if I don't reign it in. The Myzone heart rate training app is great and really helped me through this period but it's dangerous too as I get addicted and carried away.  It means I have to keep going every day so as not to miss out on the bloody points.  What I notice in the training, if say a run, the effort level stays the same or at least I mean I'm still trying as hard as possible but it becomes more and more difficult to get the desired heart rate.  So for the same run its a lot lower and therefore the points total is less so actually a little disappointing.  Throw in an odd rest day and boom, its straight back up there.  So is this the body saving energy knowing that this is now the daily routine therefore it needs to preserve reserves, and when its less regular it allows more fuel/energy to be used and allows it to deplete knowing its not every day???

So based on the theory above I've mixed it up a bit.  In February I really tried to put a big effort in, not only trying to lose a bit of weight which I did, and I tried to put in as many miles as possible with some big efforts every Sunday.  Pushing myself hard over the month actually led to a couple of niggly injuries that I knew weren't major but needed managing.  Knee's and hip were the main areas that needed constant stretching and focus.  What pleased me the most was being able to work through these longer distances such as 28,30 and 35 miles while slightly impeded by these injuries.  Not always advisable but I looked after them and I was able to rest in between runs as I'm not working at the moment.  This week I'm doing a few different things whilst allowing a bit of recovery, such as when I'm walking the dog I'm carrying a 15kg back pack so I'm still putting in a shift.  I did short sprints and hill repeats yesterday over a 4 mile distance, and back out with the dog this morning.  I intend to do a short workout this afternoon before long run tomorrow of 22 miles and 30 on Saturday or Sunday. 

I actually like this periods because I become a little more inventive with my training which gives me an extra edge.  What I've gained from the last few months apart from a greater fitness and weight loss, is stronger resilience and confidence from being able to just get out my back door and run.  

So my message today is, like the Nike logo says, "Just do it!" ..........

No excuse :)

Love this as it reminds me of something very important.  Once you get to the point of wanting to quit, that's when the journey really begins!!!

 On and on, it never ends! Ha ha that's how the training feels sometimes but its getting through those days or runs which help you to become not only physically stronger but mentally more resilient.  February was a big month for me in my training, not necessarily what my program said but it had to be then.  Its about making it work for you, if I didn't strike whilst the iron was hot I'd potentially miss my chance of doing something new or at least different, in this case that was mileage.  I don't think I have ever ran as many miles as this especially over a period of a month.  The consistency factor is what was important here, I maintained a focus on being steady and not necessarily pushing myself too hard as long as I got the miles in or time on my feet.  I have had a few niggly injuries to contend with, my left knee is almost better and my right hip flexor is almost better.  So with these in mind I just wanted to get the miles in without making anything worse or making any more injuries.   Yes I probably would have recovered quicker if I'd just rested but my confidence now is much greater, I have no issues with just going out the door and running 30 miles which actually sounds completely bonkers lol! I've now managed to do it for 6 weeks in a row and kept up the mileage mid-week.  I wouldn't advise this for everyone, and I'm no sure if I could do it when I'm back working either.

I think with all this time off work its given me the opportunity to get more training in than ever before which I won't ever be able to replicate again I don't think.  For that I feel very lucky as its been my saviour through these tough times mentally and physically.  Its enabled be me to be more focused on my training and diet.  Basically there's no excuse! I've now managed to lose over 5kg so I'm actually only a few kg's of my target weight for the race.  I'm now getting quite excited about the event and really believe I can do it this time.

What's on the horizon?  In the next few weeks I'll be looking to complete the virtual Hardmoors 55.  I'm going to use the actual route and go from Slapeworth Pub carpark so I can use the experience as a recce for the 160.  This is where it is going to be crucial in my race as it was the place I began to breakdown last time.  Its maybe just a mental think but I'm focused on giving myself a confidence boost for this section so I can mentally overcome the challenge.  I know its where I lose time so I want to learn a bit more about that section so I know where I have to push harder and when its ok to just plod uphill. I truly believe if I can just get passed Roseberry Topping with a bit of time in the bank still then get over to Osmotherly Square Corner in time then I can do it.  Yes its hard work all the way round but I've learnt is there are sections that if I make it a concentrated effort then I can come out of that section successful. This is how I approach it, in sections, I know the weak spots and where I just need to dig in and put in an effort and I know the sections where I can cruise a little.  Love it!!! Unfortunately this is the easy bit, training.  Yes I know I hear you, its not that easy getting out the door, getting the time, feeling tired all the time, aching all the time, managing injuries, I know I know!! But it is, since I don't go out and run 160 miles in training its difficult to replicate how it feels, but if your training hard and feeling tired, aching, and mentally drained then you're preparing yourself the best you can! I do think I should do a 100 mile training run beforehand, I would do an event in February or early March if there was one. Its mindset!  Preparing your mind for being uncomfortable constantly for 50 hours basically. So in your training its important to take this in to account, so for me its not just about pace its about being uncomfortable and still getting the job done.  David Goggins book is very good on this he talks about it quite a lot. He believes in making his training uncomfortable so he's ready to smash it!