The 55 done, had an amazing week in Wales, maintained training and weight balanced!  I'll take that, but ready to go again.  I'm now trying to build my overall body strength and keep the mileage.  Yet again I'm back to my same issue of weight.  I'm trying to focus on 'Body Fat %' so my efforts are going to be towards increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat.  Ideally I want to get my weight down to 82kg and presently I'm 84.5kg so just a little bit of focus and effort will get me there.

So in Wales on a family holiday, what better to do but use my time there to build strength and endurance.  In a very close proximity of our site, which was as good as a valley, we had a superb hill with a trail traversing across it towards Abersoch.  The hill was steep enough to make you work and get your heart rate up but nothing to silly, I could even run a good part of it. So I did!  I made it my goal to do it every morning and evening whilst we were there so I could maintain my fitness training without going overboard on holiday.  This turned in to a morning run/walk up the hill and to the outskirts of Abersoch, join the road and head back to the site which was 3.5 miles, then in the evening I just went up the hill and back totallying 1 mile but I got the hill done!!

Whats my plan now?

I'm starting to get my plan together for the Hardmoors 160, timings and locations almost are done but now I'm starting my mental strength planning! Love this stuff, makes me feel alive and striving forward trying to achieve something that very few other people have ever done.  I'm trying push myself to the edge and find out if I've got enough!

 Great few weeks with the Hardmoors 55 ticked off and training going well.  The 160 is only round the corner now with 9 weeks to go.  So its full steam ahead, back to the training and focusing on getting more fat off the body weight to reduce by another 3kg. During the 55 my legs felt amazing as I was pushing on and trying to get as near to the 134 hour mark as possible.  I rocked up at 13 and half hours which is definitely respectable as it was 1 and a half hours quicker than last year so I now know where I'm at which was the idea.

The plan now is to keep up good mileage and build a bit more strength physically and mentally.  I need to start planning my mental strategy for the race providing insights to what tactics I'm going to use to get the job done!  I'm going to attack it, and finish this beast.

I've started adding some pack training and weighted vest work to build more stamina in my legs and core.  I also want to increase upper body strength and mid body strength.  I've got back to my Dalby Forest training runs and feel like they are really benefiting with the long hills, I'm really loving these runs they make me feel like I'm really getting somewhere.

In my post today I talked about the 'Power of Now', this is related to not putting this off, not letting things roll on to the next day, not letting up.  Get it done NOW!!!

 What a week!

Up and down as ever.  From feeling great to suffering from blood sugar crash.  Since Thursdays disaster run of approximately 2.5 miles then a blood sugar crash which ultimately left my legs feeling weak and heavy, slightly dizzy and just generally terrible and made me choose to go back rather than carry on.  This made me feel liked I'd failed, I'd looked forward to this so was a bit gutted.  So... spent the day trying to gee myself up again doing stretches and some weights so it didn't feel like too much of a right off.  The plan was to go big on Sunday with a 20 miler so prep was the key, making sure I had the food right before I went and then making sure I took easy access sweets and a few bits of more substantial stuff in the pack.  

I've just started on the Huel Daily Greens drink, which if I'm honest, doesn't taste that great but I'm pushing through and trying to be consistent. Have I noticed any difference yet, nope! but lets hope I'm getting healthier and my body is becoming more efficient!

 Back to feeling good again on Saturday so feeling a little excited again about my long run.  The plan was a route that takes me about 20 miles give or take which was enough for this.  I set the alarm for 4am and got up ready to go.  Making sure I had my porridge as normally then a piece of toast with peanut butter as my extra fuel! I needed this to work!  Got my kit ready and out the door for 4.45am with about 3.5-4 hours of running ahead of me.  I started off a bit nervous which made feel a bit off but I soon settled down by taking it steady and not pushing too hard.  I was just going to have to tough it out and work with it as my body needs to get used to the struggle.

Once I hit the 10 mile mark I was feeling more comfortable, sounds odd I know but you get settled and more of a rhythm. Legs were feeling good so no reason to be complaining as I'm not running at break neck speed or anything so its all about convincing the brain that there is absolutely no reason to stop or slow down.  Once I hit the last stage which is about 3.5 miles I was actually pushing on and feeling quite good.  Strangely I still had my head torch on my head even though the sun was up and daylight was upon us, but basically I didn't was to stop or change anything so it was staying put!

After I'd return to the house and did some stretching my plan was to get a bath which is my usually routine as makes me feel good and relaxed after, but first and foremost I need a cup of tea ha ha!  My planned breakfast, which I'd been deciding on for about 4 hours was going to be steak, bacon, 3 eggs maybe 4 lol, black pudding and a slice of sourdough bread (breakfast of champions)!!

No harm in eating well if training well!!

 The difference is incredible! One week ago I felt drained, exhausted and run down with heavy legs and motivation waning.

We had the weekend booked away in Filey for a family break.  This was just what I needed, a rest!  I had originally thought of using the weekend away to get some good training runs in along the coastal path but the decision was easy.  Rest was best, recharge and prepare to go again for the final stint before the HM55.  I was still fairly strict with what I was eating and drinking, kids had pizza on Friday night but I stuck to rice leftovers and a bit of meat.  On the Saturday we planned to have Fish and Chips so I again measured my days food to allow for this so I could just enjoy it as I'd been thinking about it all week.  My weight is still dropping, but had a little plateau last week resuming weight loss though now but just slightly slower which is fine.

How am I feeling at the moment?  Monday, I decided to just get out on the road and do my comfort run which was the route from my house being 6.85 miles.  The idea being, using this a confidence booster and a restart entry run.  Started off a little bit sluggish so I just took it steady dropping back as and when needed and just weighted for the feeling to push on.  It came after approximately 3 miles which was very welcome, nothing crazy but it gave me a chance to increase the pace and feel like I hadn't gone backwards at all.  Tuesday at work was long and steady but nothing too demanding, followed by a padel match in the evening.  I felt good until a little twist which I instantly felt in my groin and inner thigh.  I knew it wasn't serious so carried on.  Wednesday morning came and my glute and groin were very sore, I was struggling and felt a little down because of it but I persevered and stayed positive.  I decided I was still ok for the run I'd planned so stretched and took some paracetamol and went.  I was a bit tentative to begin with but as it eased I began to feel good so pushed on.  

This was it I was back in the game!  After doing some more stretches and light weights I took the dog for a walk carry a 10kg weighted pack.  Again I was feeling really good and the sense of I'm getting in the zone for first event was upon me.  This is it, we are on!

Its time to begin my Over the Line work!  This is mindset and mental toughness training.

 Interesting week so far.  I feel mentally focused and on point, even researching all sorts of foods, training and races.  Physically I feel a bit drained and heavy legged.  I feel zoned in on what I'm trying to achieve but I'm running through treacle constantly or dragging a heavy tyre like sled pulling.  So, how do I get back at it? Keep the focus, keep eating well and re-creating the menu and rest a bit or change it up.  What I find when I'm engrossed in the training like at the moment is how deep mentally I get involved lol!  I'm now exploring 'Mindset', mental strength conditioning.  I already feel this is one of my strengths but how do I tap into it even more to give me what I need to achieve my goal.  Process.....this is the key!  Setting out small individual targets and challenges that are going to build towards the bigger goal.  Look for the key elements I need to succeed, then develop or focus on them separately before fitting them together.

Progress report on weight loss - currently I've plateaued at a good low weight for me and approximately half a stone or 3Kg off my target weight.  This is fine I am happy with where I currently am as my body adjusts.  I will have another push starting next Monday to hit another benchmark.  My mindset on this is very clear, I've done the initial hard work I now have to refocus my efforts on going the extra mile.  I need the calories and energy to be able to keep pushing my training to the next level but I also need to keep dropping the excess weight.  What do I do to get this working, I still need a calorie deficit but I need to be able to train harder.  So,  I've kept up the increased protein level, introducing Whey protein, I have also ordered some Creatine which will help muscle growth after training, help recovery through the increased growth which should allow the muscles to cope with a greater training load.  

Remember - Growth Mindset, don't get stuck doing only what you know.  Look to learn more, new things and add something more to help get the best you.  I feel like I'm really out of my comfort zone with nutrition, supplements and different styles of training.  My desire to succeed allows me to want to learn anything that's going to help me.

The greatest ingredient is still - HARDWORK!!!

 Just as I thought I was getting somewhere, boom! oh no....

So yet again I was all up for a long run on Thursday and it didn't go quite as planned, not through any physical issues but more through tiredness and exhaustion.  So my intention was, after our weekend away in the van to head out on Monday morning and smash 18 miles. Yet again I was getting excited about getting out for a long run as this is what I always crave and why I do the other stuff.  The weekend adventure in the van just to the coast was our first trip out in it.  More on that in a bit, but I think the bed makeup didn't suit my back because on Sunday morning I could barely walk or stand up straight.  I felt like I had 6 months ago, I was mega scared that it I'd reversed all the hard work I'd done. We'd set off on our walk from Boggle Hole heading towards Robin Hoods Bay initially then on a bit more which turned out to be as far as Bay Ness along the Cinder Track and then back on the Cleveland Way.  It took what felt like forever before my back eased and hip flexors stretched out, it had been awful, the pain brought back the months of agony I'd already been through.  I thought that was going to be it and it would be fine Monday morning again.  Oh no how wrong could I be, back to square is it? I hope not.  Plans for long run put on hold again till Thursday.  Straight back to my stretches and off I went on a dog walk to see how bad.  Just like before I could barely move down the street but again it eased and felt better.  I decided after the food shop I was going to head out for what was on my schedule which was an 8 mile run.  More stretching and thorough warm up first though!

The Van!  Or should I say the BW Van (not VW), this was going to be our future adventures away together.  We'd opted for a basic shell of a van so we could renovate it as we go, learning what we wanted and needed.  Off we went on Saturday afternoon after packing everything we needed and more, Sarah packing for an artic adventure with blankets, duvets and yes hot water bottles. I packed my shorts lol!  We headed off to 'Falling Foss' a carpark that was known as a campervan overnight parking spot.  We arrived and got set up and took the dog for a walk down the stream to the falls and back.  Wow this was awesome, we'd finally done it. The adventure has now begun and we are now writing our own future. The places we'll go, the times we'll have, the memories we'll make together are just beginning.

Ok so back the job in hand.  The training!  What areas do I need to improve?  I'm looking at working on my upper body strength including core and arms. Overall body strength is key to the endurance factor.  I'm also looking into better nutrition during training and during the event.  More research required.  I feel my weight has stabilised or plateaued at the moment but I feel I've only just got myself to a weight that I should be at anyway so the next phase is to get under this and start edging towards to my race weight but no rush as I need the calories with the training I'm doing.  Keeping it steady and not gaining any is the key now.  I've just ordered a new book on Hill running which shall be interesting and I hope very helpful.

Relentless Forward Progress!!

STRONG MIND STRONG BODY

 After Sundays entertainment I decided I needed to get back out on the road so I don't lose the advantage of hard work.  So Monday morning came, nice early alarm but I still wasn't feeling confident of getting a decent run in without interruption so my plan was, take the kids to school and do the food shop and then see where I'm at.  This is all worked out fine and I headed out the door feeling good and up for it.  I can always tell when I've had a long period without drinking alcohol because my legs just feel indestructible.  My intention was to not get carried away and to maintain a consistent pace and include 5x1k interval efforts. It felt great now with my weight getting nearer and nearer to my goal, a bounce reappearing in my step that I briefly once had a long time ago.  

My training, what am I going to do to achieve running a 160 miles?

I've spent the last few months basically starting again, which is never a negative, its a realistic approach to achieving great things.  My injuries have held me back and hampered my training over the past two years really.  I am now really getting myself into a strong position to be able to do this thing.  I know it might seem I'm obsessed with my weight but it such a big catalyst to being able to go harder and further. My theory this time is to get the weight off as quickly as possible whilst still training but have that as the main focus, once its down to within a few KG like it is now then I can start adding the load and intensity.  If I weigh less, its easier on my body all round, its not like I'm popping out to do a 10k its a long long way!  I now feel my base level is in a good solid place so I can start not just increase the running load but I can work on my overall fitness too.  I need my whole body strength improving to cope with the event.

So what am I going to do to make me the greater than the 1%?

I'm going to need endurance skills that you don't just get from a bit of running or popping in the gym.  No ,no, I'm going to be going out in weather that looks horrendous, I'm going to carry big heavy packs, I'm going to train my legs and then try go for a run.  Weighted vest stair training is a really good one you can learn to love. What I'm basically doing is looking how to make it as uncomfortable as possible to make it as realistic as possible! I will start some hill work, trudging up and down the moors with weighted packs.

How do we achieve great things?

Discipline, hardwork, and relentless forward progress!