Starting again is never easy! Well when I say starting again, I don't mean from scratch but it does mentally and to start with physically feel like that. Since my attempt at the Hardmoors 160 I have been a little of it and wondering if that's it, the journey is over. I still get the buzz and excitement from these challenges so I hope not. I have signed up for something ridiculous again, and yet again I feel completely in awe of anyone who's completed one of these races. My new 'A' race is Cockbain Events 'The Viking Way'. Now this run starts at the Humber Bridge in Hull and follows the Viking Way which concludes in Oakham, Leicester. Coincidentally this is where a good friend of mine has just bought a hotel, which makes for a great party at the end ha ha!
Whats happening at the moment then? Well next week I have put myself right back in it at the deep end. I am running the Hardmoors 60 which goes from Guisborough down the coast to Filey. This will be a big challenge since I haven't been hammering my training and last year I came up short in the event. The good thing is I'm confident I have this race in me, so this year I'm having it. This is basically the start of me cranking up the miles for the big one in January.
What training have |I been doing? So far over the summer I have been continuing with my gym work with Jake at 'Old School Strength and Conditioning' and have been doing training runs with Sarah my girlfriend as we are running York Marathon together in October. This has been great, helping her work towards her goal of first marathon. This is a massive undertaking for her having two young children to look after and a high pressured job to do full time, and me to deal with lol! We have managed to keep upping the mileage and she is doing great I'm incredible proud of her. Although I don't think I'm a great running partner for by the way I get told off for one thing or another each time we do a long run ha ha! I'm just glad to be there and hopefully helping not hindering. I have complete faith in her mental strength to get through the marathon, it may not be pretty at times but she'll be there at the end!
So what's my message, what am I learning? That new goals and challenges may require a break or a rest or some time away, this doesn't mean you've given up it just means your going to come back stronger, keener, and more ready!
The Viking Way for me is a ridiculously hard, almost an impossible challenge, but that's what makes it all the more appealing to have a go at. Why just keep entering events or distances that we know we can do, that's not what I'm about and I don't want my daughter to ever think I wasn't prepared to fail to achieve something great!
Tuesday, 4 September 2018
Monday, 14 May 2018
I have a lot of catching up to do but that won't be done now maybe after the 160. My training has been going really, gym work has really paid off and made me much stronger and more able to deal with the work load and stresses of the training and the event itself. I've managed to get out and do some good hill runs recently including the Yorkshire Three Peaks which was amazing, I love it, wish I did it more. Then also just been trying to cover as much of the Tabular Hills section as possible before the event. I have a few minor niggles that aren't worrying me at the moment but I want them to clear up asap.
Now I'm preparing the schedule and planning what food I intend to have on route. My main concern is sleep, am I going to allow myself any or just plough on????? I will have to write 3 scenarios I think allowing for different options and how I feel, part of me just wants to crack on with no sleep and just get it done but I have two night sections to get through eek!
The planning of he race is crucial as this might be what decides whether you finish it or fail!
Now I'm preparing the schedule and planning what food I intend to have on route. My main concern is sleep, am I going to allow myself any or just plough on????? I will have to write 3 scenarios I think allowing for different options and how I feel, part of me just wants to crack on with no sleep and just get it done but I have two night sections to get through eek!
The planning of he race is crucial as this might be what decides whether you finish it or fail!
Thursday, 8 March 2018
Whats new!!!
Well, not long to go now till HM55, infact its next week eeeek!! How's my training being going, well I was starting to get a bit worried, I know I have been putting the training in over the last 3-4 months but felt like I was lacking actual running. So what I've done over the last 6 weeks has been to incorporate more short runs and a few longer runs. My confidence is quite high at the moment, this scares me lol! What are my goals? What am I trying to achieve by doing the 55? My goal from doing the HM55 is to have used it as a stepping stone to the 160 in May, Ive found in the past it is a good indicator for where my training is at and it leaves me enough time to up it if I need to. I am trying this time to get a PB time which will be a sub-14hrs which may not seem great but it will show progress to me and that is what is key plus the confidence boost I will get from this. I am now starting to consider a 55 mile race as short so I want to really start improving on my time. What have done to try and improve this? I have firstly been trying to get some weight off, as I think as long as its something that is appropriate to you, which it is in my case as I know I'm carrying a bit extra, then to lose a bit will definitely make my job easier. I have also been doing a lot of strength training, not just in my legs but my core and my upper body. This is now starting to show more and the benefits are really starting to show and its paying off. Go's to show like I always say, 'its process, not always outcome' believe in the process and work at it. This has now inspired me to push on with my training and weight loss to the point where I can achieve my potential at this mallarky and enjoy it even more. This has now become a 2/3 year project of fitness and weight reduction.
Its a sad day when you look outside the window and the weather is awful and the first thing you think is "oh wow, good training day today!" Happy training folks, set goals beyond your comfort zone because one day they will become your comfort zone :)
Well, not long to go now till HM55, infact its next week eeeek!! How's my training being going, well I was starting to get a bit worried, I know I have been putting the training in over the last 3-4 months but felt like I was lacking actual running. So what I've done over the last 6 weeks has been to incorporate more short runs and a few longer runs. My confidence is quite high at the moment, this scares me lol! What are my goals? What am I trying to achieve by doing the 55? My goal from doing the HM55 is to have used it as a stepping stone to the 160 in May, Ive found in the past it is a good indicator for where my training is at and it leaves me enough time to up it if I need to. I am trying this time to get a PB time which will be a sub-14hrs which may not seem great but it will show progress to me and that is what is key plus the confidence boost I will get from this. I am now starting to consider a 55 mile race as short so I want to really start improving on my time. What have done to try and improve this? I have firstly been trying to get some weight off, as I think as long as its something that is appropriate to you, which it is in my case as I know I'm carrying a bit extra, then to lose a bit will definitely make my job easier. I have also been doing a lot of strength training, not just in my legs but my core and my upper body. This is now starting to show more and the benefits are really starting to show and its paying off. Go's to show like I always say, 'its process, not always outcome' believe in the process and work at it. This has now inspired me to push on with my training and weight loss to the point where I can achieve my potential at this mallarky and enjoy it even more. This has now become a 2/3 year project of fitness and weight reduction.
Monday, 12 February 2018
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.
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!
Wednesday, 17 January 2018
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!
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!
Sunday, 7 January 2018
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! :)
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! :)
Friday, 5 January 2018
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!!!
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!!!
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