Back out there again today plodding away, wading actually is probably a better description, at the miles.  Since taking on Ronnie Staton as my coach my improvement is starting to reveal.  One of the main reasons I went to Ronnie for help was for consistency and structure.  Its quite interesting though as I feel quite under pressure to fit the runs in or the training, but now I'm clocking up the miles by getting some structure I feel like I'm going to have a chance and doing this thing.

Today I was scheduled to do 3-5 hours endurance Hike/run, it was actually for another day but I swapped the days round to fit me.  I'm trying to get into the routine of Thursdays being my long run day, I just need to get out a bit earlier as its not quite giving me enough time to get the extra distance or to do anything else at home.

Sarah as always is being great, although she looks at me a bit weird when I say what I've either got planned to do or say what I've done.  Her support is amazing and I really feel now that we get out on most Sundays for a joint run that we are both getting some good habits.  It is a strain sometimes as I see how hard she works and how difficult it sometimes is with the kids, then I say I'm just popping out for a run 'see you soon'!  Probably doesn't help...

Today I revisited my running route from last week, starting in Hutton-le-Hole and heading out to Bransdale from Gilamoor and across the top of the Moors before coming back via Church Houses and Low Mill.  Its now become my steady Thursday long run route, I've stolen it really from the Hardmoors race series.  This particular route I'm using is the Farndale half marathon which is about 16/17 miles and its fit for purpose really.  At the moment its a good distance for me to step up to and its hilly with some good lung busting climbs.  I'm hoping over the next few weeks to increase the distance by using some of the marathon route which I don't want to rush into as I feel I could end up over doing it then being injured.  I'm also thinking of using the Goathland route to mix it up a bit too which will be fun as I've not done any of this before.

Something that was interesting today and something that has been lacking in the past a bit was the repeating of my mantra.  "I can, I will!!"  and a new one which was very simple but to the point "Finish!!!" All I could think was  'just bloody finish it this time!' .  This made me realise how important this little constant reminders are as they push you harder and further, because they constantly motivate you as they matter to you.

Whats great or what I've been finding is even though I've been keeping my speed steady if not slow over these longer runs my legs are feeling strong and can cope with the distance fine.  I do feel I need to try and push myself on one of these longer runs to find out what I can actually do.  In my training he has me doing shorter runs but with a number of (sprints) or faster sections that I find quite hard but I'm reaping the rewards now I guess by feeling stronger and more capable.

My main concentration now is, weight, I want to start dropping some Kg's and keeping injury free while pushing myself in the shorter runs when required.  I really want to be in a good place ready for the Hardmoors 55 in March.  Its game time and I'm getting geared up for the battle!!!!

Consistency - and Structure that's the key!

Here we go again!

So once again I've signed up to put my body through hell.  The Hardmoors 160 is the challenge, unfinished business.  This time with much greater knowledge, better training and a new plan.  I will be taking this on with a renewed sense of challenge and exciting but with a lot more determination.  The thought of dnf'ing again is my motivation, I want this!

Christmas is a great time of year I love it.  Apart from being with the family and getting to do all the festive things I also get the opportunity to get some good training in.  I have now taken on Ronnie Staton as a coach with the aim of not just completing the Hardmoors 160 but to also go on and achieve some new goals I've set.  I now have a much more structured programme involving different workouts and durations which I am trying to incorporate.  My training was building up great, readying myself for the Hardwolds 80 which I was doing as a tester really.  Regrettably though I came down with flu or a virus that completed knocked me for six.  I waited right to the last minute, having this annoying mental battle all day on the Friday before I finally came to the conclusion that I was in no fit state to attempt an 80 mile ultra race let alone a 13.1 mile half marathon.  Its an incredibly difficult decision to make when you can still move around ok and always believe in being the kind of person that will always try before accepting defeat.  In this case though it would have been dangerous to have even tried and irresponsible, plus unfair on the people organising the event.

A couple of weeks had passed and this flu was still lingering.  I couldn't shake it, and my training was beginning to lessen as time went on.  After nearly 4 weeks I was able to start getting back into but now we were entering the Christmas season and this was going to hamper it yet again.  I've manage to just about keep up with the schedule but I stupidly went out one cold morning this week with intention of doing hill sprints as my scheduled training.  The idea was to do 1-3 miles steady warm up followed by 14 medium 10 second sprints then a 1-3 mile cool down.  Well I was up against it for time with trying to fit everything in and I didn't take care of myself.  I only allowed for a minimal warm-up, barely even a mile but I convinced myself this was fine.  I began the sprints, 3/4 effort was what was required but I think mine was more like 90%.  I managed 8 before I felt a tweak in my hamstring, at the time it didn't really feel like much so I tried another before pulling up and deciding that was enough and just headed back home in a straggling slow jog looking like a lame dog.

Where am I now? Well I've luckily had a few days off work for New Year so I've used the time to rest altogether allowing it time to mend.  I'm hoping to get out tomorrow for a run/hike and to test it.  It was a big strain so I'm hoping the few days off will have been enough.  Lesson learnt!!!!

Tough couple of weeks in the Barker-Wyatt household that's made training difficult as motivation has been low.  I've still managed to set small targets and get out there running and a bit of gym but my weight loss has halted.  This is going to get back on track today with some commitment to the task.  Its mind set and I have strong qualities that I need to tap into here and become more disciplined with myself and start looking after myself better.

The PROCESS is going to involve more running than I've done in training over the last 2 years combined with a bit of gym work.  The conditioning I can start to do more of at home and some early morning runs.  The weight will come off as a bi-product of good discipline and training regularly.

I've just started reading a book by Travis Macy called The Ultra Mindset so I'm hoping to get some good tips and strategies from this to implement in my training.   I guess my current battle is just about achieving some of my dream goals, I feel I've got to a point where I need something else in my training or psychology.  I feel I am capable of achieving some more great things and that I'm not beaten yet.  How do I draw on my emotions to dig in deeper?  How do I become a stronger phyisica runner and a more mental strong runner?

Consistency = Fitter + mentally stronger

Here we go again!

So I'm finally back at it after a summer of disappointing finishes starting with the Hardmoors 110 where I had to stop at 95 miles after getting timed out at Square corner just after Osmotherly and the Lakeland 100 where I only managed 33 miles before being timed out.  The simple fact is I am not good enough and have found temporary limitations to my running.  The question is, what am I going to do about it and can I learn from past experiences.

Last week I started the process of training again.  This began with weighing myself and having a minor shock or reality check whatever you want to call it but basically I haven't done myself any favours over the last 6 weeks of summer. Urrrgghhh!!!  This means I'm half a stone over my base level weight and a stone over where I want to be so weight is on my priority list to get lower.  In theory this should happen with training again and getting off the booze, AGAIN!!!

My entry is in for The Lakeland 100 next year and I will be entering the Hardmoors 160 again.  This means hard work over 8/9 months with doing more specific training and more mileage and losing the additional pounds to get where I want to be.  I have about 9 weeks till the Hardmoors 80 which will give me a good base before Christmas and a good focus for training over the next month or so.  It will also be at a good point to see how I'm fairing also to decide whether I need up my game or keep going and maintain.  Hill work, cardio, leg strength and weight!! These are my main focus points over the next 8 months.  Distance runs will also be very important but I have the 80 then the 55 so just need a couple of 30's in between.

Over the last week I have managed to get back out and running, which to be honest was a bit difficult as motivation was low and my mind wasn't really on it.  Once I got out there it felt great, I suddenly remembered why I liked it and that I definitely need to keep this up. My plan was to try and be consistent over the first couple of weeks just to rebuild some muscle memory and to not shock my body too much and end up injured straight away.  I not only soon realised how much I needed my running but I also quickly remembered how tough it was when you don't do it regular and like in my case have to carry too much excess weight.  Its time to stop the rot, and get back in the game!!!

The Hardmoors 160 is going to be really really tough and possibly out of my reach yet again but I'm going to give it my best shot even if it takes me another 2 or 3 attempts!

On the mend finally!  The last few days have taught me a lot when it comes to injuries.  Patience is a virtue remember, its all about process no matter what.  You've just got to believe you'll be ok and allow it to heal with time.  You can't rush it, you can't make it heal faster than it wants, youcan't cheat the process.  So I learnt that in future if I get a minor injury that I shouldn't just put it to one side and try to carry on, I need to listen to myself and remember past experience. The process will actually be quicker if you just give it a chance where as I've just been to hasty and its cost me.

I'm now looking forward to the Hardmoors 55, in fact I can't wait for the mini adventure and getting back out on the trails.  Initially I was wanting to really push myself in this race to get quicker over the 50 mile mark ready for the 110 and the Lakeland 100 but now I'm just content with actually getting the finish and being uninjured.  There's something to be said for healthy body-positive mind!  It will be a great test actually to see where I'm at and how the weight loss I've been working on will affect me.  Since Christmas I've dropped 3-4kg so half a stone which feels mega and I hope it tells in my long runs.  Using the shakes for lunch will be interesting too, as it will have made me less depend on a larger amount of food so it will be interesting how my body copes on route.

I keep thinking about why I keep doing this stuff now.  As really I've achieved all the goals I set out for and proved everything to myself that I needed to prove.  I'm just now mentally so much stronger because of my journey and all the good habits I've managed to re-train my body and mind to do are so ingrained that its actually just who I am now.  I don't want to change back, I like being me.  This culture really got hold of me, yes I love the runs and the adventures but its made me so much more.  Its made me a better all round person, more disciplined, more appreciative of other people and my environment, and I like looking after myself now.  The discipline for training go's much deeper than you think, it becomes part of you and everything you do.  Its created all these 'good habits' that make or are the ingredients to a better life not just running.  Its great!

Famous last words!!!

Clearly I spoke to soon, and clearly I was enjoying my training too much.  After I publish an update on my training on being positive, working hard, keeping it relative, what happens..... I pull my hamstring!!!! AAArrrrggghhhh!!

Over the last few weeks my right leg hasn't been great to be fair but I've persisted and tried to keep it to a minimum so not overloading it.  I was actually feeling good, bloody typical hey!  My gym work was paying off and my weight was improving, slowly coming off and making me feel good about my training.  I started with a niggle in my hamstring a few weeks back which in reflection is the point I should have backed off completely and taken a break, but no I thought I knew best and carried on hoping I could assist in the recovery by doing minimal amounts on it but hopefully stretching it out.  I have a regular massage each week where we have focused mainly on the hamstring to help with recovery and its been doing the trick.  Stupidly I thought I was ok to play in a squash match but unfortunately during which I felt my hammie twang!  My self diagnosis was it was a massive tear but only a strain.  I had a couple of days of discomfort but then the recovery process began and its improved each day.  The worrying thing is, it actually feels better now than just before it went.  So maybe it needed something to happen.  I don't recommend this as a recovery method ha ha, I think a break from what you do and a rest period is probably the best course of action.

So with 4 weeks to go my confidence has take a bit of a hit but I'm trying to use a positive mind set about the upcoming events and how I want to to do in them.  I was hoping to really push myself in the Hardmoors 55 but depending on how the next few weeks go it might be just a take it easy run out and save myself for the 110 end of May.

It was interesting at the weekend when Sarah came back from her run on the moors.  It reminded me of why running and especially trail running is so good for the soul.  Sarah's mood and persona seemed much more uplifted, up beat and positive.  I could tell she'd had a great experience because she couldn't wait to tell me about the new route and how beautiful it was.  Then she kept telling me of all her plans and ideas for what she was wanting to try and do from now on.  Its brilliant seeing the transformation in someone's outlook and spirit in such a short period of time.

How am I going to get ready for the Hardmoors 55 now.  Well I want this week to be like a re-introduction back to training, I have a massage tomorrow that will be a good starting place I think.  Then next week I want to be out on the trails for a couple of steadish runs.

Great few weeks getting some base level training in until last Monday when in all honesty and in reflection I over did it.  I've been putting in some good solid sessions in the gym recently and I've been putting the work in outside by doing my hill reps and a bit of speed work.  So a slight set back last Monday when I was doing some extra lunges between lessons and after I'd already my gym session.  I was aiming for a 100 and I done two lots of 30 then something just twanged in my hip flexor area and I knew straight away I'd done something.  It wasn't a major injury but its halted the good work.  I've slowly tried to stretch it and get back to training but I can still feel it and daren't push my luck so whilst doing light exercise and stretching in that muscle group I'm trying to work other areas harder.

I'm starting to get excited about the Hardmoors 55 challenge and then the 110, its great I'm buzzing and loving doing the training.  I just want to be able to work hard in my training so I can give it my best shot on race day.  Positivity is key!!!  Finding little positives in everything you do and then believing in it.  I believe in myself and my inner strengths, and now I need them to make me train smart to achieve my goals.  Small targets big goals remember.

I/m really looking forward to getting out on the trails hopefully this week doing a bit of a recce but more importantly getting back to my hill work so I'll be concentrating not only on distance but to work hard over the hills to prepare for the 55.