Unintentional Ultra Runner

Challenge your Demons....   The week I took off, absolutely had a knock-on effect. I’m not gonna lie to ya, I defo felt the first one back on it!   Set off for the 13 miler but got to the turn point only to find that I was only on for 12 miles - mighty hacked off. I considered trying to add on a slightly different part on the return but bottled it :o/ Yeah yeah I know, piss poor mental effort & I could make all sorts of excuses but there ain’t any so I’m not gonna try :o)   Anyway, it was a crackin’ evening for a run tho’. Sun was shining, 24 degrees and a slight breeze going out (which all helps). The return wind seemed to be a million times worse on the way back! Didn’t help that for the most of it some bloody farmer decided that it was a good time of day to spread fish manure in the fields. Jesus H Christ, what a frickin’ smell. Defo added some incentive of getting by butt into gear and the fook outta there. The only cons...

There's a time to chill & time to train....   The weekly long one (weekend before last) was ok. Got up early having returned from a weekend away in the ol’ camper but was mentally prepared (coz I like to have a rough idea of a route) and knew that once the run kit was on, for me, I’d have beaten the hardest part.   Got to admit, early morning running is something that, even after years of doing on and off, still feels sooo wrong. How people do it as a preference baffles the crap outta me. With muscle groans over (and I swear I can feel bones clunking into place) felt ready to go. The final urgh is swinging the bloody pack up n over. I set the GPS app and music up and out the door.   Did a gentle plod for the first two miles but that’s not usual for me before settling into the normal pace which to be honest isn’t a whole lot quicker. Weather was ok, not hot and slightly overcast so, from a conditions perspective it couldn’t have been...

Commit to Promises, Promise to Commit… I made a promise to myself at the beginning of the training. From day one I’d train with a weighted pack and once I reached the 9kg I’d stick to it (even now, I’m not sure it’s how it’s done by the pros but can it do any harm?). The reality is, I’ve been on it for 6 weeks I find my back still isn’t 100% used to it & see myself looking at other runners with total run-envy. I’m soooo looking forward to the day I can ditch the bag and run without a load! Maybe once the event is over it’ll be a life changing experience to run lighter and I’ll float like the wind – on the other-hand it may make no difference at all and I’ll still be a slow git :o/ As I’ve said before, I’m a plodder and as long as I can get from A to B I’m satisfied so wtf am I bleating on about?. The planned Sunday run was going to be a 6 mile shingle kinda day but... set out along the stones at Lee and had a pleasant surprise bumping into the Breakfast Club gr...