Maintaining the momentum!

This is a hard one really.  I have good spells and bad spells.  This was one of the reasons I signed up with Ronnie Staton, not only for his insight to the really long stuff but to get some structure into my training and consistency.  Since January 1st I've really kicked on and pushed myself, lockdown has helped to be fair with time so no excuses there.  I was a bit reluctant to going to far to begin with so I focused just doing my 7 mile loop, I needed more.  I did this in the first lockdown which was great but I  burned myself out.  I decided to start using my time better, I had different responsibilities at home this time so therefore being clever with my training was key.  It started with using the virtual Hardmoors races really as they motivated me to get out for a long run to not waste my money really, then I've kind of just carried on.  I did another yesterday, 28 miles from the doorstep using a similar route to normal.  Although this time it was a bit of a struggle, my legs felt empty and I just felt generally drained.  I decided this was actually a good thing, uncomfortable yes but quite necessary as it replicates how I feel running over 100 miles.  It is never comfortable then either, I know I've shocked you there hey lol!!!!  Seriously though it's good to have to battle through training runs like this sometimes as it makes you remember it isn't that nice and it isn't comfortable and will most likely be done with aches and pains.  So why not give your body a little taste of things to come.

This takes me back to last year. I've mentioned previously that during the first lockdown I joined in a challenge that was occurring a little on facebook where people were running a marathon around there garden.  The problem was, once I'd done this, which by the way at the time was super tough and I was really pleased to just get it done, someone announced the next big thing. What?   I hear you scream.  Not another Garden Marathon, no, but a Garden Ultra ha ha! The challenge was set, no more than 100 feet in distance and continuous.  Er... red rag lol!!! Ok so I set the date and got a sponsorship page organised as thought it would be good to earn a bit for a good cause and set the route.  Boom! Numerous hours later and 52 miles smashed.  This was great for the confidence as was the marathon, mainly because I'd only been managing my 7 miler up till then. Completely and utterly bonkers but great memories and glad I've done it.  The problem is, I was disappointed with the total and feel I should have gone further lol!

I am now just trying to maintain good quality training for the next few weeks, waiting to see when I can get back to work but mainly to manage my knee niggles and hip flexor issue.  I'm going really put some effort into stretching over the next few weeks and strengthen my core and hamstrings/glutes.  Its only 4 weeks now till the Hardmoors 55, providing it goes ahead so I don't any injuries now.  I can't wait till we are allowed to get out any train properly on the Moors I'm busting for that but using my time wisely until that moment.

Since January 1st I've managed to drop 5kg which is great, it makes me feel so much better.  No drinking has helped and eating less with shake days thrown in with focus weeks.  I'm currently using Huel, it rally does help, I don't feel hungry after it so not tempted to snack.  £ or 4 more kg to go and I'll be at my lowest weight for over 25 years!  Its not what its about to me but I know it makes a difference and I'm prepared to use it as a tool to achieve my goals.  Makes me feel pretty good too.....:)

 The thing about training for these long events is that I just get so focused on it and fixated on what's going to make it a successful attempt.  I love the basic progression of the training, increasing strength and mileage, decreasing body weight and a focused approach to the event in question whether this be recce's of the route or hill training etc..  What I am focusing on at the moment for the Hardmoors 160 initially is mileage as this is something different to previous attempts, yes I got out there and got the miles in but it wasn't my focus where as this time I have the opportunity to get a series of long runs in and consistently hit good weekly total mileage.  So for instance in the last few weeks I've been hitting around 70 miles, gearing up for a big 100 mile week.  What I intend to do is use the Hardmoors 55 as my base for that week.  The changes that I've experienced so far in comparison to a number of years ago and even previous to just last year is the condition of my feet and body, during the run and post run.  Before my feet would be blistered and sore, aching and bruised, where as now they very rarely get any kind of blisters and the bruising is minimal and gone by the next day.  I used to suffer from leg soreness and lower back but these also seem to have reduced and I feel little discomfort the following days.  This I put down to consistent regular training and conditioning which have helped build this level of resilience.  In turn this strengthens the mental resilience and confidence.

I have allowed myself a rest day after Sundays 28 miler which was hard because I always feel the need to keep pushing and trying for more but the reality is the rest will do me good and actually my body needs it to recover a bit from the niggles that I've been running with over the last few weeks. I'm going to for the next few weeks try to double up on my training which will involve either a run or workout in the morning then the same again in the afternoon.  I'd like to fit half an stretching in at lunchtime if possible too! It might prove too much and I don't have the time, the trick will be to plan my days and not to make excuses.  I can't stand being lazy, resting because you've exerted yourself is different and much needed but lounging around doing nothing is not me. 

Reluctantly I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy some more road trainers and eventually trail shoes because I have literally worn the current ones out.  It was only last year during the first lockdown that I got my Hoka's as they were a birthday present from my Mum.  I think that is the first time ever I've worn a pair out through mileage or use rather than age or the MdS.  This just shows me how much I'm running at the moment and how far I have come over the past few years.  My training really has evolved in cycles.  I've tried to give it different focuses over the years to try and gain new things and work on my weaknesses and to my strengths.  I've had guys helping me who have worked on my cardio, my functional strength and conditioning, power and strength and now a more running focused training which was inevitable in the end and has been incredibly beneficial and motivating.  They have all had positives and I've gained so much from each individuals input as I have from the Sports Massages I receive. Starting from when I used to get Hot Stones massages showing me the benefits of such therapies.   I never really thought about adding this sort of thing to my journey but once I started  I instantly realised the benefits in recovery and body maintenance.  Its something we should all do really as the body needs that release from its daily stresses.  My running journey has come so far and its easy to forget where it actually started, mine was as a youngster really 10 years old and running fun runs accomplishing my first ever 10k.  What I didn't realise then was, running down the cycle track with my Dad on his bike, getting me out there and training (probably unwillingly ha ha), was the beginning of my journey.  The seed was being planted and my Ultra journey was a foot!

Thanks Dad :)

 So yesterday I awoke at the crack of dawn with the intention of running 28 miles.  This is a great feeling knowing that I can do this after last week doing 34 and the week before that doing a 30. This finally feels like the training after all these years is coming in to fruition.  The work I've done over various distances and terrains.  The different trainers I've had with differing ideas on how to prepare me has payed off as have learnt so much physically and mentally from all these guys.  I haven't stuck to my plan necessarily over the last few weeks but I have stuck to the structure of it and done the different elements to the workouts as required.  What lockdown has enabled me to do is have the time to get some extra miles in and long miles.  What I have tried to do over the past few weeks is incorporate Ronnie's training program for me with long runs and the virtual races that I entered.  The virtual races were from the Hardmoors series which have acted brilliantly as motivators over the past 3 or 4 months helping me get out for longer. The Hardmoors 1000 club isn't over yet!

The last few weeks has given me the opportunity to go further and for longer.  My first effort of 32 miles was on the back of doing 16.5 miles a few weeks ago.  What motivated me further was the fact that I'd entered the Hardmoors Virtual Saltburn marathon and Roseberry Topping marathon and desperately needed to fit these in before the deadline.  The first of these was Saltburn hence 32 miles.  This was a cold wet miserable morning, rising at the crack of dawn as per usual to get the dog walked and out of the door early enough to be back by lunchtime. I was a little setting off but only a few minutes so all was good.  I comfortable chugged my way through the first 14 miles before my hip started getting tight and being an issue.  I pulled over to the side to stretch and try to walk it off for a few mins.  What I thought was going to be a problem was my knee as I'd a niggle over the last few weeks which wasn't enough to stop me from doing anything but enough to keep bothering me.  It wasn't going, it was going to be decision time soon as all I could manage was half a mile running before stopping and stretching again and a walk.  This does not bode well at the half way point.  I pushed on to the last point of no return, the opportunity to go home doing 3 miles or carry on and do another 12.  I decided it was great but ok to carry on I would just take it easy and get the mileage done trying not to injure myself to much.  This proved just about ok with no lasting injury or additional suffering, just a few days of soreness which I'd expect from a 32 mile run anyway.  I spent the rest of the week trying to monitor my hip flexor and my knee stretching and managing them constantly.  I put a few short runs after a few days of walking before contemplating another long run the Sunday after.

Last weeks epic of 34 miles was just brilliant.  To know I can just put my trainers on and go out the door and complete a 34 mile run without too many issues is a great feeling.  The plan on this occasion was to do a slow first half and a quicker second half so therefore the opposite of the Sunday before even if that was as a direct result of being hampered by injury.   What I wanted to achieve here was firstly having the energy to push on and inject a little bit of pace to complete a 30 plus run and secondly to experience having tired legs but forcing myself to push on and run.  So yesterdays run was again with another strategy in mind of not going quite as quick as I know I could but to run the whole thing at a good steady pace.  My target here was 11 min miles consistently.  I was aiming for 28 miles so a little under the last few weeks but still a decent distance to really benefit.  I was really pleased with the initial 15-20 miles which went great and felt fairly comfortable yet I also felt I was pushing myself.  My legs felt strong and weren't getting weiry,  but then I dropped off slightly for a few miles which I had to really dig deep and step it up. I had to keep reminding myself what the race plan had been, and this was to push through to the end after being consistent throughout and not letting the pace or effort drop off!

All in all its been a great few weeks of training and I now need to just get the last few weeks in, who knows I might be back at work in 4 weeks! Maybe.....

 What have I just done????

Well, little over a week ago I planned to do the Roseberry Topping Virtual Hardmoors race.  Purely for two main reasons, 1) because it was a good way of forcing myself out to do a ling run 2) because it means I gain some Hardmoors miles towards my 1000.

The reason for that particular Sunday was mainly due to it being the last day you could so I didn't really have much choice and I wasn't prepared to waste the entry fee. So I planned with Sarah what I was going to do and it started with me getting up at 5am and taking Bertie out.  The plan was then to just get some breakfast, get my stuff together, and go asap! I managed to get out the door just after 6, still dark, very wet, and generally very good Hardmoors weather, i.e. miserable lol!  I had my route in mind with an estimation of distance but no guarantee so my theory was that I'd get through as much as I could before deciding whether I needed to add any more.  This is great in theory but the further I went the more I kept thinking that if it wasn't enough do I really want to get to my house and then have to go back out and do a bit more.  NOOOOOO! so I tried to judge from after about 20 miles once I began following the road signs back and there mileage.  I calculated I needed about an extra 2 miles, so without any hesitation I started picking moments when I'd double back and then turn round and resume my route adding a quarter of a mile on.  This is ok as it soon adds up, the only problem that after 24/25 miles its quite demoralising turning round and running away from your target.  This is when the positive side of me kicks in and makes me put it down to 'good mental training'! If I can make myself turn round and run back a bit and then restart it can only be making me more resilient. surely!!! ha ha!! Please be true, please have been worth it.....!

With 5 hours 46 minutes gone and 30 miles banked I crawled home.  The outcome was exactly spot on, time was about 16 mins slower than what I'd wanted and my body generally felt ok.  Where I had a few problems was my hip/quad on the right hand side.  I'm not entirely sure why except this recurring tight quad that I seem to have to manage constantly.  It really became a problem as I left Brauby and headed towards Great Barugh.  The quad got tight on the lift of the leg and in turn created a problem in my hip flexor.  This wasn't a major injury or something that was going to put halt to my plans of 30 miles, it just meant it was going to be slow and painful.  Basically I had to stop and stretch it out, then I could run pain free for about half a mile then repeat the process.  This was how I managed the last 15 miles.  The positves: I kept going! I finished what I started! No major injury! Great strength of mind! Great resilience!!! Strong mind, strong body!

After a few days of minor soreness and tightness I was back to it as planned, I wanted to test my recovery and ability to get back on with it.  It was tough to start with but as the week went on my strength improved.  I was feeling good after the weekend, I felt I could do anything lol!  The inner me piped up, 'go on then, do it again this weekend, see if your hard enough' ok I said, so I did.  The plan this time was to not have to do any backwards and forwards malarkey so I got the map out to try and devise a similar route that would actually be nearer to the 30 as stated.  The problem was, that bloody inner me piped up again, as he does, ' maybe you should go a bit further this time, why not 35?' Any way, yes I did go further, this time I added a few minor sections on to make up the distance and I finished with 34 miles.  Excellent, 34 miles, I would never ever been able to even contemplate running from my own door step for 34 miles 10 years ago maybe even 2 years ago, but I did it.  A slightly earlier start since I was going a bit further, and with a different tactic.  This time I wanted to do a steady start and then push myself in the second half.  Two reasons really, one because I knew my hip flexor needed a decent warmup and I wanted to get past half way at least before it became troublesome and my other knee was a little sore so the same thinking was applied there too, and secondly I thought it would be good mental training to learn to push myself that far in to the mileage.  So I basically walked and ran the first half then ran and walked the second half.  When I say walked I'm talking a fast paced power hike as I'm training that aspect of my skill too. So without too much tooing and froing I managed to get 34 miles in the bank in 6 hours 31 minutes which I'm fairly happy with. No new injuries and I didn't make the old ones any worse thankfully, so all in all quite pleased.  Plus two 30 mile plus runs in 7 days almost 100 miles that week.  That's a record for me!  Now to get the hip and knee fixed :)

 5.25 alarm!  Up and out with Bertie the dog.  This is now my daily routine, whatever the weather we go out.  Easy comparisons to my training, we should use the same mindset as I now get up without questioning it because Bertie needs me to, but when its for a run and you're not fully committed then we often choose not to go because your bed is more appealing.

As this weeks gone on I've slowly recovered from my long blast last Sunday putting myself through it so I run on tired legs and get used to not feeling 100%.  Two niggles I've been dealing with, especially since Sunday, an ongoing sore knee and a tight hip flexor.  What have I been doing to relieve this so I can continue training?  Well I've dropped it down slightly to allow some rest and recovery, I'm trying to increase the flexibility in my knee or left leg by firstly leaning against the aga to warm it up slightly which is nice lol! Then holding a couple of stretches and squatting down trying to feel no pain when in my maximum bent position. The pain has become less over the week and is starting to free up which feels great. Most of this originates from my quads as they are excessively tight so I am constantly trying to free them up using stretching and foam roller and the rolling pin roller.  Constant attention is the only way I'm going to get this resolved and train at the same time.

Back to last year, so not only did I have the greatest day ever getting married to Sarah I had a few little achievements to remember the lockdown from.  After the initial period of the first lockdown which was horrific we began to establish a few routines and get to grips with it.  I kept up my training and started pushing myself more and more, and following various facebook groups and seeing lots of challenges occurring I decided focus my training towards something.  I decided a garden marathon was on the cards and I fancied having a go.  This, in my head was massive, once I selected my day working on the principle of about 6 hours I got up early and set off.  The first 10 miles didn't seem too bad then it started to become a bit of a chore. The repetitive nature of what I was doing was the toughest part.  I created a loop that involved running a figure of 8 to maximise my garden.  So I started at the back door and went clockwise to the garden then looped back around the garden and through the shed and back to the start. This was going to require several hundred laps but hey ho it is what it is.  I set up a mini checkpoint at the outdoor table and allowed myself a few stops to re-fuel. It was brilliant Sarah kept coming out to see how I was doing and offering support as she always does, and the kids running a few laps with me winning the races we kept doing. Exhausting for all ha ha!  I was right it took me approximately 6 hours and my last few laps I got a little disorientated because I tried to run the opposite direction to mix things up at the end as boredom had set in.  This completely threw me and messed with my head, making me a bit wobbly, very strange sensation indeed.  The end came and I collapsed on the grass feeling ecstatic that I'd done something so ridiculous yet brilliant.  Wow!! Thats just crazy, great mental training ready for the Hardmoors 160 and great base training for my legs.

Great achievement but my gut feeling was, " I know I can do more!" oh dear lol!!!

 Another lockdown day passes, groundhog day in many respects.  Its a weird feeling, being off constantly without working but yet not on holiday.  Its easy to think that this would be bliss but its more difficult than you think.  Guilt from not working, pressure to be reasonably productive and worry about the future.  Some people are setting challenges, learning new skills or picking up where they left off years ago, some use exercise!

Sunday was my opportunity to get a long run in, and when I say a long run I'm talking 30 miles. Before Christmas I signed up to the Hardmoors Virtual Roseberry Topping marathon, being 30 miles.  I tried to plan it so I used a few weeks of lockdown to get some good training in and build up the mileage.  The opportunity arose and with Sarah's ok I planned an early start after taking Bertie for his morning constitution.  He was sorted and all I had to do was get my kit together and get out the door.  I wasn't feeling great but soon came round to the idea and was up for it.  It was dark, cold and frosty so it was a matter of getting going and keeping myself warm.  It was stunning watching the sun come of the frosted landscape and discovering a few new roads and routes.  Time passed as did the miles and I approached the half way marker of 15 miles.  I started getting the feeling that my hip flexor wasn't right, it was tightening up and could become an issue, but I plodded on.  No, its no good I thought, I need to stop and stretch otherwise it's going  to be game over.  I couldn't shake it, I repeated the process of running half a mile, stretching then power walking a bit.  It still didn't pass but I decided I was going to continue rather than redirect and go home.  I'm so glad I pushed on through and mentally took on this challenge working the situation without damaging myself longterm.  It was a bit of battle towards the end, especially I calculated I was going to be short for miles so I needed to add an extra 2.5 miles so the process of back tracking quarter of a mile and then turning round began.  UUUrrggghh!!! I hate doing this but I'd hate getting home then having to go out and do 2.5 miles more, so it was just a matter of suck it and crack on.  5 hours 47 minutes and job done, legs actually felt ok and my feet were in good shape so no complaints.  30 miles in the bag and no serious injuries. Boom!!!!!

I was really pleased with getting out and being relatively comfortable completing 30 miles, although it was all road I don't mind as it was just important to get the time on my feet and miles under my belt. No blisters! Winner.  A few years ago doing something like this would have caused all sorts of problems, I know I know it wasn't fast but steady away and I got it done in a reasonable time, with the knowledge that I can do it faster actually if my hip and been ok. I reckon 5 and half hours would have been about right. In the past this would have broken me, I would have completed it but with battered feet, achy stiff legs and probably a bad back. I wasn't in bad shape after either, a few creaky joints that a bit of stretching cleared up and the feeling of being a little tired but all in all I was in good shape.  What this has done has given me confidence and a desire to get out regularly or as much as I can getting the longer distances in. Balance is everything and taking care not to wreck my body in the process.

When we first went into lockdown the initial few weeks were really tough as we had no idea of what was going on and what to expect.  I decided that I needed to approach this like work and give myself a routine with my exercise.  This began fairly normal with a run, most of the time folowing my programme set by Ronnie.  This escalated rapidly to running every day, almost with addiction as I didn't dare miss a session.  I was in the infancy stage of using the Myzone heart rate monitor and collating the points and competing on a leader board.  This also became addictive and motivational, helping me not only to get out every day but to keep pushing myself.  This soon became not enough, I needed more points to compete at the top level and soon started to include garden workouts experimenting with different things to achieve the best results.  I was loving it, and later I concluded that this was actually my salvation physically and mentally!

Currently I am in charge of home schooling! This is proving to be quite challenging and any aspirations of going on to further my career and diversifying into teaching are rapidly waning.  My patience has been tested to the max and my knowledge lol!  The telegraph crossword feels easy to some of this stuff!!  Sarah is still battling away with working and coping with constant interruptions from the kids, usually complaining about the horrible strict teacher in the other room.  What I'm able to do on these weeks is either get out running or garden workout training, first thing or at 3.30pm once they've finished.  This isn't always possible but I'm trying to get as much in as possible but using it as a recovery week.  In the other weeks when the kids are at their Dads I'm pushing myself to get longer distances in and doubling up with a conditioning session in the afternoon.  I'm also now in the mindset of trying to get a really long run in at weekends trying for every week but definitely every fortnight.

What else did I get up to last year?  Well, a few exciting things happened but the biggest and most exciting was that I got married!!!!! Wahoo!!! This was truly a brilliant weekend I loved it, Sarah and I had a great time and everything went just perfectly.  Sarah looked beautiful and we just had a perfect time at the Wisteria Hotel in Oakham with a few friends.  It was so special and I will treasure it in my heart forever. We didn't fly off to any exotic destination or take any sort of honeymoon it was back to it and crack on trying to get back to some kind of normality as we were still bound by certain limiting restrictions.  It wasn't till December the 27th that we managed to get away for a short break, just the two of us to Cornwall.  This also was amazing, a quaint little cottage with all you could need.  The fire was lit pretty much constantly as the weather was atrocious whilst we were there but they just made it all the more special.  We managed a few coastal runs, exploring the coastline and some very wet, muddy fields!

With restrictions getting tightened as were still away, an impending doom clouded over and we knew something more serious was coming.  Home we came as planned on New Years Day and collected all the kids and crashed!  Next day we collected our new addition to the household, Bertie the dog!  A beautiful Sprocker Spaniel! Then the inevitable happened, one day of work and boom, lockdown came and here we are again!

 What can I say, its nearly a year since I wrote anything here.  What does that tell you? The Virus I wrote about in my last post is still plaguing our society and the death toll is now in excess of 100,000.  This has truly been an awful time and we are still battling with it now.  I am currently back spending my days at home as we are in lockdown 3 which means no work, no school, no travelling, no days out, no nothing.  My training has continued and I'm feeling pretty good about it a the moment I'm back in training for the Hardmoors 160 and on my 3rd attempt now as I tried in August after the date had been rescheduled, more of that later though. I have quite a lot to catch up on really but I'll try do drop bits in as we go.  My intention is to keep this going even if it means short catch-up most days.

Currently I am planning a long run as I entered a virtual race which requires me to run 30 miles.  This was meant to be today but I weakly opted out and got my tax returning finished instead, phew!  So the new plan is to attack this on Sunday, so in a few days time.  One of the things I have taken from these lockdown situations is home workouts.  I use a myzone heart rate monitor just to help with motivation as I can accumulate points from my workouts and challenge on leader boards.  The points system really appeals to me, being fairly competitive ha ha, so therefore I push myself harder.  This really has worked as I've done this much before and actually enjoy the process and its in my own garden or front room.  What have been putting in the workouts that make a difference?  Well, unfortunately and I say unfortunately because I don't enjoy them, I've added BURPEES!!! They are horrible but my conclusion is that they have really helped me, amongst other things like press-up's, squats, lunges, walking lunges etc etc.  Burpees seem to not only improve strength but they are helping with my core muscles and strangely my breathing.  I seem to feel stronger and cope better when running and putting myself under more physical stress.  So I now know that I'm training hard enough if I'm not including the burpees.  I try to set mini challenges that involve doing a certain number a day or repeating the workout every day for the month etc.  Ok so along side the burpees I've decided stair reps help considerably too especially since I can't really get out into the hills.  They are a good form of resistance training and I get a good cardio workout from it too.  I feel the benefit when I'm running and pushing harder for longer. My lung capacity seems to cope better when I've got this as a regular part of my workouts.

Recently I've had some pretty miserable runs in the dark and cold.  The alarms goes off unappealing early so I can get out and back to then do the home schooling.  I shuffle down stairs and find my prepared kit in a pile on the stairs so I don't wake Sarah up or the kids whilst I'm falling all over the place getting dressed and waking up.  I quickly throw some granola down me and maybe a small cuppa before off.  Head torch on and a warm set of kit!  My route is all road and is a bit like an ice rink first thing at the moment which can be dangerous if your not concentrating which is hard at 5.30am! Skidding one way then the other, a quick recovery step with increased heart rate "but its all good training I keep telling myself" ha ha! I work hard at getting round the route in a reasonable time and with half an eye on my heart rate and which zone I'm working in and weather I need to up it a bit or just maintain pace and work rate.  I fall almost through the back door and I'm home, press stop and rest.  Its a great way to start the day I love it but its hard in the dark cold mornings of winter.

Hope your training is going well.  Stay hard! Stay safe!