“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” – Rikki Rogers

Right, let’s put all this bloggy stuff in perspective.

 

I’m an absolute novice when it comes to multi-stage Ultra marathons. Sure, I’ve done four ultras previously but when it comes to self-sufficient multi stage events, well, that’s completely out of my comfort zone and never done one but ya have to start somewhere right?

 

The reason for blogging was ultimately to be accountable to myself and those who enjoy reading about my experiences.

This whole journey has taken me to places both mentally & physically I didn’t think I’d ever go, but with the guidance from new found friends and experienced ultra veterans I think I have a better shot at things and hopefully be able get the job done with as little pain as possible.

Another great spin off from the blog has been the remarkable support from readers here in the UK and abroad as well as surprising myself with personal discipline.

I’m still by no means a guru and continually learning about training plans, nutrition, kit and exactly what my body can/can’t do but what I can say is, come Peru, I WILL be as prepared as I can be.

Thank you to all those that have contributed to helping & supporting me in the last week. It’s really endearing.

 

Monday 04/03.

After a heavy day of catching up on work activities from last week’s couple of day out it was great to have the focus on the run for tonight.

I’d made a conscious decision that it was going to be a big one. I felt I needed to play catch up after illness last week.

Knowing that it was likely to take me some time to get it all in and needing to keep the four-legged friends happy the session needed to be split in two.

First leg was a 5 mile lap of the local airfield with my little companions and after dropping them off it was straight back out the door for the long loop along the cliffs, through the wooded trail to Hook village then back on the trails before heading home.

What started off to be a great evening with the sunnies on, it quickly turned naff and it chucked it down. Although rain doesn’t really bother me coz let’s face it, once you’re wet, you’re wet. What I fricken hate is being soaked, drying out only to be resoaked.

The whole point of today’s long one was to completely forget about speed, just get out there doing it & put myself back to where I left off last week.

A personal goal for the week is to get the fresh install of my run app to clock up 1,000 miles of training distance. Currently it stands at 943 miles since I installed it back in Oct '18 so reaching the 1,000 milestone would be a great, mental & personal achievement.

I’d not mapped out the distance for this one today but guesstimated it to be around 20 miles (actually came in at 20½ so not a bad approximation for me) bringing the aforementioned count within striking distance by the end of the week.

 

 

Wednesday 05/03.

It’s been a great week for the charity fund raising and, what’s more heart warming is that it’s all boiled down to people following the blog or reading my FB posts.

I’ve not pushed the Just Giving page on people partially because I think audiences can become desensitised to continual postings and switch off entirely. That said, I’m hopeful that it’ll continue togenerate some interest as I approach departure & race dates.

All aside - if you’re reading this and want to make a donation to an awesome charity who do such a fantastic job, hey, that’d be great (JustGiving.com/robwood2019) :0)

Whilst I remember, if you get a chance to watch a documentary called “Running for Good” it’s a very inspirational film on a lady called Fiona Oakes. I kinda stumbled on it last weekend and it really put my training in perspective. I won’t do a spoiler alert and tell you the in’s and out’s but defo worth a watch if your contemplating a Marathon or Ultra especially if you were worried you couldn’t do it. Truly an amazing woman!

Anyway, accountability time…

Made the decision yesterday to run to the dojo, teach and then home again to collect the pups for an additional stint.

Weather was bloomin’ naff. Wet, fricken windy and cold but all the same, it’s miles in the bank and a good loosen up for another one tomorrow.

Only downside to the routine is the insanely mental hounds insist on sprinting for the first 2 miles. After a 5 mile steady pace it’s the last thing I need.

I have no idea what passers-by must be thinking when all they can hear is me screaming for them to slow the F@&k down.

Seriously, it’s a monumentally stupid speed and not so sure it’s a good thing. I’ve been trying to retain a 09:30 min/mile but with these two it drops to around 06:30 min/mile! The closest I can get to explaining the feeling is, it’s like running down a seriously steep hill with no way of stopping. I’m sure that one day they’ll understand I only have 2 legs and go off at a reasonable rate (hopefully).

 

 

Thursday 06/03.

Spent a long time trying to figure out the route for today but the wind… oh the wind!!!.

I love running with the dogs but there’s no way they’ll do a long one and tbh it’s probably not good for them so it’ll be a double run back to back.

The airfield circuit is a good one and easily extended by a mile which is a great distance for them. The additional airfield loop was is always great fun despite the craziness initial pace from those with four legs.

Really windy but dry all the way round and having dropped the mutts off it was straight back out the door for another 10 miles.

Although it was still daylight heading off for the second leg, I knew it’d be dark by the time I got home again so, head torch time was inevitable. That said, it’s only a couple of weeks before the UK clock go forward and night running will be a novelty.

There’ll be at least one full night running in the Jungle so the night running experiences will have been invaluable come race days.

All said and done, the night’s session was a fair 16 miles with only 11 miles to do before Sunday and I’d have met the goal I set at the beginning of the week.

On a downside, I’ve got to sort out a couple of toes. The 7 month old black ones have started to give me grief and going to the Jungle with feet that aren’t 100% ok beforehand is likely to cause early onset issues I could do without. So, chiropodist consulted and booked for next week.

 

 

Friday 07/03.

Great start to the day. The race tops have been printed and I’m dead happy with them! Awesome to see the local businesses that have supported me, recognised for their amazing support. It was a bit of a mare getting the logos in the right place so they weren’t obscured by the pack straps but hey, looking good. Can’t thank Alton Sports enough for their continued support with professional advice and kit recommendations – been a huge help!

 

 

Another seriously humbling and unexpected surprise was winning an award by my employer (Eaton Corporation). Each year they ask employees to nominate a “local hero” and awarded someone that challenges themselves for the good of a charity.

Was totally blown away to have been awarded £500 for the charity in lieu of the activities I’ve done historically for the Oakley Waterman Foundation and this event. 

What a start to the day / weekend!!!!

Short one today, intention was to do just an easy 6 miles so hooked up the hounds and took a trip around the airfield. No dramas just a little windy.

Loving the change in route. Loads of beeps from passing supporters and the odd chat to people we bumped in to.

  

Saturday 08/03:

Park run with a mate was earmarked for the day but he bailed due to work commitments so did it alone. Knew I only needed to do 4 miles to reach the run app 1,000 mile target but with PR done and feeling like I needed to do more, it was home to grab the happy hounds for another loop of the airfield.

10 miles clocked up for the day and then chill time pleased in the knowledge that my goals were accomplished for the week with 62 miles done.

  

 

Sunday 09/03:

A well-earned rest day & blog time!

Goals for Next Week:

Monday is going to be a 20+ miler.

Tuesday teaching at the dojo

Wednesday will be a 10 mile minimum

Thursday will be a 15 miler

Friday 6 – 10 miles

Saturday is planned to be 10 x circuits of the Buster Hill Half Pipe (seriously not looking forward to this one. eeeeek!)

Sunday rest day!!!!!!!

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