With just 5 weeks to go till Hardmoors 55  my training is going well. The gym work is paying off I'm getting stronger, my whole body feels it has developed since The Marathon de Sables.  I have started putting in the miles now too which is important for muscle memory and preparing your body for the challenge ahead. My weight has dropped through a very disciplined January by 4.5kg but this is still not enough I want 3kg more off by the 55.  Its hard as once you slip and relax by allowing yourself the odd treat it feels like that's it, the discipline is gone.  Its now Feb and I have to be mentally strong again to get the extra weight off.

Last week I had a little trek up to Bolton Abbey for the 'Its Grim Up North' Ultra.  The weather was actually quite good I thought, but we did encounter some snow and sleet at times.  I was signed up for the Ultra which was going to be around the 30ish mark which I was looking forward to as needed the miles and to test myself.  Once I'd parked up I headed over to the registration tent, queuing with all the very excited and giddy group of people which is great as gives the race a certain social side which keeps it relaxed but there was a few that were like Tigger lol!  I was still waking up and getting used to chilly bite in the air.  I walked over to where the race brief was being help, I couldnt hear a word of it as they had positioned themselves right next to a generater ha ha! I then turned around as I was trying to have a sneaky look to see if I recognised anyone, and who was next to me, but Joe who I'd done the MdS with.  I knew he was going to be there but hadn't actually arranged to meet up.  He was with a couple of his running mates so it was nice to meet them too, they'd done some of the Hardmoors stuff so we were having a chat about that.

The run itself was pretty tough, it was great running around the actual Abbey and the scenery was brill.  The trail was hard at times though, it was just so muddy it really slowed me down and tired my legs out.  Good training though that's all I could keep saying to myself, good training!  I felt strong with the inclines they weren't big hills or anything so I felt I should be trying to run up them for training and to get a better mentality about it. I was slowing down rapidly, I got the first lap done and feared I wasn't going to have enough time for the whole Ultra.  After my second lap which was torture as by now I was just thinking about going home especially as I saw Joe nearly finishing.  I asked if could drop down to the marathon which they said was fine, otherwise I wasn't going to get home till late and after all is was meant as a training run so why kill myself for it.

So what can I say, great training!  This was definitely a mental training day, and I passed!!

Time for more training and the build up for the Hardmoors 55!