With every ankle and calf compression sleeve and sock I could find making my new look rather Nora Batty like ha ha!  I decided that after a weeks rest it was time for a gentle run.   After spending 6 hours on the tennis court I felt I was ok to go for a bit of training.  Its been an interesting week seeing how my ankle was developing, from thinking my heel was going to be my problem to experiencing a pain gravitating up from the underside of my foot up the outside of my ankle and up my shin.  I had a massage on the Wednesday and spent the rest of the day excited as was moving about well and not feeling any discomfort, this is it I am free of the pain.  As ever it sneaked up on me and revealed itself yet again the day after.  Although it was much better and I definitely felt like my heel problem had become even less of a hindrance maybe it was the distraction of the ankle issue.  It is all on the mend and resting is not easy, I am allowing myself to do some running but it is limited at the moment.  I am setting myself a new interim challenge with swimming so that I am still getting my cardio and also I will start developing my skills ready for....wait for it....... yes a triathlon!  Its definitely the right decision at the moment to ease up on the running so this should help my motivation to keep working hard even though not out running.

I am now truly loving this adventure racing and Ultra experience and for see my future being around this environment and going beyond the normal and going to extraordinary places to achieve my goals.  A few injuries definitely does not put me off what I have set out to do, if anything it is just educating me further and teaching me how to cope better.  My motivation is very strong but the more I read and experience the more I want to get out there and make these goals and dreams real! 

My only fear is not making my time count, there is so much to do and look forward to having a go at.  Can't wait!

Wow what a great run yesterday!  Well I call it a run but it was more like the Millington Hobble for me, where as Chris was using it as a mere warm up for a later event.   Fresh early start, unlike my mental preparation where I envisioned getting up early, getting a good breakfast in me and heading off to the gym for a gentle warm up and stretch, it was more exactly the opposite ha ha!  Last minute, rushed and zero preparation.  So after numerous attempts at ignoring the forever reoccurring damn alarm ringing out I summoned some reserve energy and sat up weary of my sore ankle from the squash match from the previous evening.  Unfortunately it was much worse than I had originally perceived.  I couldn't even half stand on it, let alone hobble to the bathroom, this wasn't a great start, this wasn't what I wanted after looking forward to my mornings adventures all week! Bugger, was all that came to mind!  After a quick search in the draw with numerous different strapping in I discovered the ankle and foot thermal stretchy sleeve.  Perfect I thought lets see if that helps, well after even just struggling to even put it on I knew it wasn't going to be a good day, this was going to hurt.  Do I run, or do I cancel and let my mate down????

Off we went after a quick detour back to Chris's house, after spending his well deserved restful evening preparing his kit and charging his watch we had to quickly call back and pick it up from its resting place on the kitchen sill ha ha!  It was a cracking morning, crispy white ground with small evidence of remaining snow and ice everywhere.  I climbed out of the van and pretty much collapsed into a crumpled mess on the floor.  My ankle had already given way, Chris just looked at me with raised eyebrows and some words along the lines of 'oh dear!'.   We got kitted up and head off into the wilderness with my knowledge of the inevitable eventually catching up with me at some point, I just hoped to myself I could last as long as possible and not damage it any more than I had obviously already had.

It was a beautiful morning and I battled round with minimal moaning, there was sporadic moments where my ankle turned on the hard bumpy icy ground which was expressed with the odd swear word or screech that bellowed around the valleys.  It was great to be out and like Chris said its miles under the belt, I was still training even if it was a bit slow.  It just kept reiterating the importance of similar training where it mimics or resembles the terrain on which I will be running.

Great day, after crawling back to the van and a pleasant ride back to the car I got home and relaxed in the bath before picking up my daughter from school and limping around like I'd been shot in the leg.  I then spent an hour stretching out my legs while she had her tennis lesson.  Once the initial swelling went done with a little icing that night I felt considerably better and more positive about it.  Although there was the panic text to Helen the miracle physio! Help!!!!

So after a killer day on the tennis courts yesterday I opted for rest afterwards with the promise of some good training on the Sunday.  I made plans to get up early before work and get a good run in then do a stretching session after.  The alarm sounded and I promptly executed the snooze routine, which lasted about 2 hours ha ha!  So with a court booked for an hour pre-work I decided I could use this to my advantage and make up for my recuperation (laziness) from earlier.  What I decided to do was first of all get 5k done on a bike as a good warm up with 10 mins stretching before assembling the circuit training kit out on the court.  This involved ladder routines, various sized hurdles and different exercises, a step board, a skipping rope and a weighted sand bag.  After a few laps of the court and some dynamic stretches I proceeded to carry out a number of routines for a good 40 minutes.  I worked mainly on legs, balance and core with minimal cardio.  I was saving that pleasure for after work.

Once I'd completed a few hours of work I got my winter running kit on and did a little stretching before heading out on a 4 mile run in the chilly afternoon air.  It was great I do enjoy running when its a fresh cool air, which isn't ideal since I have just signed up for the Sahara Desert aarrgghhh! So back to my training thoughts, I could have done a much further run but I am sticking to plan of consistency.  I will be looking at improving the distance next week and building my base level around the occasional long run.  Back to Body Balance tomorrow which will assist me with a good stretching session.

My entry went in last night for the Endurance Life Northumberland 35 miler at the end of Feb which I am really looking forward to as its across beaches and sand dunes.  Great training for MdS 2017, so I can test it out ready for next year if I feel I benefit from it.

So the Spine Race has finished, I finished my book on the Yukon Artic Adventure Race so need to find something else to follow or read now!  Inspiration from others helps motivate your own ventures.  Who motivates or inspires you?

Really pleased with my current decision to improve my base fitness, basically get out for a short run so 5k ish ( but regularly so 4 - 5 times a week.  I have also as before included a PT session focusing on my weak areas which are currently my left ankle and calf and my glutes which haven't been firing probably and recently been causing me some discomfort.  I have also managed my body balance class this last two weeks which is now brilliant as it is a new routine which is focusing on lower back and hips which for me is perfect.  Combined with a massage on Tuesday I am feeling really good, the shorter distance and overall care for me body is paying off as feeling good.  There is a renewed confidence in my body, in the way of feeling that I can manage completing a run and not feeling injured or sore to the point that puts me off another run in the near future.

I am incorporating a regular stretch, which is a short 20 min routine but as often as possible.  This usually occurs during my daughters tennis lessons, so whilst she trains I stretch which is a great way of doing it because I can still watch her and I can make myself do a good hour of stretching.  I then make sure that some of my groups do a thorough warm up session including stretches therefore I can do them also.


Mega enthused at the moment as watching the reports constantly for The Spine race which covers the entire Pennine Way (268 miles).  Such inspiration watching these guys battle the elements and conquer this incredible route.  Yes you guessed it, this is now on my list for future races.  Already excited by the challenge ha ha!

Back to my current training though, next week I will increase the distance slightly and start using the stepper in the gym with a structured method to increase the resistance.  I may also try a spin class just up my cardio.  My main concern at the moment though is my problematic feet, not blisters or toe nails as normal but the overall flexibility within the foot.  Since my heel problem my left foot seems to feel very tight around the sides and moving up into the ankle and then calf. Massage is the only thing I can think of at the moment alongside stretching.

So where to from here?  mmmm steady increase in training load, continued weight loss which I haven't mentioned yet I am down to 95.4kg from 98.6kg the going is good.  Start adding a little variety to the training i.e. spin and swimming!

So the various challenges I have coming up are, Northumberland 35 in Feb, Hardmoors 55 in March and the big one The Hardmoors 110 by which time I'm sure they will be sick of the sight of me.  I have decided on a few new aspects to add to my training through experience which I can now say I have, knowledge of what is needed, and necessity (either weaknesses or from injury take your pick) and future challenges.  What I want to add at the moment alongside good mileage, hill reps and trail runs is core work and Yoga (or flexibility) work.  Some of this is what is specific to my nearest challenges and some of it is looking forwards and planning for the longeavity of my enjoyment in this sport and for my work.

Key areas being:

Calves
Quads
Hamstrings
Hip Flexors
Lower Back
Core
Upper Body Strength
Flexibility
Balance
Recovery

Running on tired legs
Stamina
Running with a pack
Night running
Power walking uphill
Long days (endurance)
Lung capacity


So next job is to find a way to link or tie some of these things together and incorporate them into the skeleton plan I have made.

Books, I love books! What running books have you read, I will list mine next time.

Post Hardmoors 30 run yesterday with Pistol Pete and the youngster Freddie 'Tigger' B-C.  After spending my morning working on the tennis court then racing around some chores at home I managed to get to the club for a run with these boys.  Which was great, always good to get out in a small group and mix your training up.  It was Freddies debut or should I say 'Tiggers' due to his energy levels and youthfulness bounding down the path holding up every now and again for us to catch up, or at least that's how it felt ha ha!  It was meant to be from my perspective to be a recovery run and to test the vulnerable areas that have been bothering me recently.  So short distance but keeping it comfortable so as not aggravate anything.  Apart from the continual moaning on my part and the conversation orientating around where I'm injured or struggling and how I'm trying to overcome my decrepidness it was a very enjoyable run lol!  Freddie didn't really get a word in as Pete and I had that much going on he couldn't say much.

My next bit of this weeks training moved me into the gym.  Not sure if this is now to develop new aspects of my training or rehabilitating the old areas and injuries.  We are focusing now on my weaknesses which are causing me problems before developing other areas to move on.  So alongside my training I am backing it up with better diet and as much as it pains me 'dry January'! Yes it has eventually come to this.

One of the best aspects of all this training and challenges is the kit.  Constant changes and improvements and different ideas.  Love looking for new kit, and unfortunately I have stumbled across a problem, it doesn't matter what kit I get I seem to always find something else that's better and does more for you (except run unfortunately).  Better technologies, better materials, more comfort and better aesthetics.  It doesn't change how I run or how fast I am but it does feel great getting new stuff ha ha !

What's next?

Keeping injury free and being consistent with short runs and gym work.

A year has past and my journey is well on the way now.  Things booked in and plans been made for completion of this first part of my challenge which was to run 100 miles.  I managed to crawl out of bed on New Years Day for the second year running and attempt a Hardmoors run.    Any day where you find yourself having to get up at a ridiculous time is hard enough, but on New Years Day that's a special kind of madness.  Luckily for me there were quite a few of us heading out from Fylingdales Village Hall.  It was the coldest morning for a while as had to scrape the ice from the windscreen and get the car heated up.  The roads were gleaming with treacherous black ice ready to catch you out if you were still a bit sleepy.  There was a crispness about the air and with a hint of sun rising in the east it looked to be a great morning for a run.
That wasn't to be ha ha!  Whitby and Robinhoods bay were deep mud!  We set off down the Cinder track heading to Whitby Abbey which, really, is a nice run its easy on the foot with a steady incline before the descent in to Whitby itself.  This is where it lures you in, it really starts at the foot of the Abbey and the beginning of the stairway of pain 'You have to run the steps!' the race description said, well I couldn't stop laughing all morning ha ha.....ha ha ha....ha ha ha ha!  Funny guy I thought!  I managed to get to the top holding a lung in each hand it felt like and gasping for some crisp sea air, the Marshal at the top didn't look worried in fact he asked me if I was doing the 15 or the 30, if I was doing the 15 I would have been doing bloody well since they'd only set off 20 mins beforehand so I took this as a complement to my fresh athletic look lol!  Round the corner we went and there it was, the mud bath!  It stayed like that for the majority of the course apart from when you come out of the village hall and head off towards Ravenscar as this is back on the Cinder Track.  The mud in places was 2 to 3 inches deep and no where to run either side, so the only option most of the time was to just go through it and hope for the best.


 I felt ok after the first section which was about 13 miles, it was the second section that seemed to break me physically and mentally, I allowed myself to start doubting my ability and reasoning for being there.  Looking back now I know the mental training side of this challenge is equal to the physical conditioning because once doubt gets into your thoughts its tough to break away from and bounce back.  I didn't just doubt myself for that run I doubted myself for everything I had planned in the future.  Its amazing how this can also soon turn around, after the disappointment I felt I soon started using my failings as positives to how I will overcome this, how I will make sure this won't happen again, which you can't guarantee of course, but I believe there is only failure if no lessons learnt.  I learnt plenty that day!