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 :)

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!

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!

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! :)

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!!!

Dalby Dash 10k, great fun!  Sunday morning I woke not feeling to great to be honest, tired and aching.  Todays run was a late start which actually was a good thing today but normally I like the early starts so I can be back in good time.  It was to be an 11.02 start, the 2 been the 2 minute silence we observed before the dash began.  I made it to Dalby Forest in good time after thinking I'd be late as normal, but I ended up being ushered through to the second carpark which was a few mins walk away from the Visitor centre and registration. It was cold, I was planning on running in shorts with compression top and shirt with windproof jacket on.  I was sat in the car with tracksuit bottoms, hoody and woolly hat on, with fear running through my body from opening the door to get to my trainers ha ha!  Once I'd plucked up the courage that was it we were off, shoes on, hoody and bottoms off and hat thrown in to the back of the car.  I set off for the visitor centre, I actually even started to run as thought it would help me stay warm ( I have never done that before lol)!  Apon arrival I checked in and got my number and began to prepare myself for the forth coming run.  I was looking round to see if I recognised anyone as thought there were going to be a few that I knew.  After standing in the reception area just trying to keep warm before that shock of going outside again, I started bumping in to people I knew so it soon became a friendly fun environment with lots of smiley faces all doing the same thing, hiding and huddling together inside knowing how chilly it was on the outside ha ha!

Once we'd braved going out the door and gathering near the start line we had the race brief followed by the Race Directors little Poem which was great fun.  We observed a two minute silence for Rememberance Day then he shouted 3,2,1 go really quickly and we were off! It was a steady start down the road and as per usually it was all the giddy chatter and banter before the grind started.  Over the bridge then a left turn in to Dalby village, which was literally a few houses, then onwards up the hill!  Now with me not doing this run before and being aware of this hill I was slightly cautious to start with as didn't really know the severity or distance of the incline so I just kind of went with the flow with the intention of trying to run all of it.  Maybe it was better not knowing how far the incline would last as my determination to keep running was high.  My breathing became heavy to the point of panting but my legs stayed strong, so each time the voice in my head kept saying I needed to stop and walk I had to question why!  I was managing my heavy breathing, it hadn't got the point where I couldn't get enough air in and my legs seemed ok with the current output so I had to just say shut up to myself and push on.  If there's no obvious reason to walk other than the voice in my head then I have to push on.  It was tough towards the top since it had been approximately 2 miles of climbing but I could now see the brough of the hill, my legs were becoming heavy but my breathing was the same so I wasn't going to stop now, no chance!  Over the brough and from the race description and a few peoples comments it was all downhill now.  In the past I have heard things like this and trusted them and eventually been let down which breaks in to your spirit but this time I just decided it is what it is and get on with it and push push push its only 10k!!!

This was turning in to a great fun event.  I actually felt like I was a proper runner, I was striding out and running at a bit of pace for once!  Oh yeah that's because it was downhill all the way ha ha!  It did feel good though and helped to push on and want to do better because there was no excuses for slowing down even towards the end when it flattened out I still had the desire to push on as hard as I could.  I have very rarely done this in my running as always just been happy to go at 'my pace' but it is now something I'm trying to improve on so I will enter more short events just to get that again now I have gained some confidence from it.

After I'd passed through the finish I made my way back to the Visitor Centre to collect my momento which in this case was a great pair of running gloves with 'Dalby Dash 10k 2017' printed on them which was cool. My mind was then preoccupied with having to get back to the club as I was at work at 2pm so needed to get a crack on.  Guess what happened then, go on guess ha ha!! Yep I ran back to the car lol!

Dalby Dash 10k 2017 done, great event good fun!

So with three days to go till Dalby Dash 10k I have just had a light session in the gym doing a few dumb bell weights and kettlebell swings with sit-ups and some Romanian twists.  My training for the Hardmoors 160 is in its infancy but its starting to shape up nicely.  I have a new addition to my team adding a different dimension to my training.  This is Jake, and he will be doing a lot of crossfit endurance training with me including a lot of squats, dead lifts and general power work.  This is in the form of one session a week with him then doing 2 more sessions on my own.  The plan is to work harder in the gym on strength building and working on my weakness and improving my form.  I will be including running in this programme but not high mileage, my high mileage runs will be spread out over the next 6 months with a gradual increase but not any distance that is going to cause long term injury or lack of recovery time.

So I met up with Jake yesterday to do some assessments so he could decide on what the best course of action was going to be.  He had me doing some squats looking at my form and posture, some single leg squats and then some shoulder flexibility and mobility exercises.  We then moved on to doing some squats with weight doing 3 reps at a time increasing the weight to try and find what I was comfortably capable of.  We got up to 95 kg which was good (I think) and this will give us a great starting base platform.  Once Jake had given me the instructions and technique practices, I got stuck in.  The heavier the weight the greater, or weirder the facial expression and more obscure the noises coming from me ha ha!

Next up I have a squash match tonight then hoping for a short run tomorrow at some point then rest before Sunday.  Then I have a four weeks of training before Roseberry Topping when the real work begins!