"Going for a really long run helps me get away from all the noise. I tell myself, 'Just enjoy the pain you're feeling because it's going to help you across the finish line first'. If you're having a crap day, go for a run. It makes a difference" Lewis Hamilton
Starting the month couldn’t have gone better if we’d tried.
Setting off for a fairly decent longer distance session
after the UK had endured a long spell of torrential rainfall and colder climate
it was great to make up for the lost mileage of last month. Unfortunately not all went quite to plan but not entirely my
own fault if I’m honest.
Four miles into a very muddy and drizzling kinda evening we
(the hounds and I) probably had more energy than we should’ve. Approaching a
fairly steep downhill but being fairly conscious of the wet and still being
tethered to the pups I totally got it wrong. The result was a mahoosive slip on my part and probably the
most dramatic fall of all time! To make matters worse, running at a ridiculous
pace and for the instant I was in the air being pulled by the loons I ended up
being the surfboard on what can only be described as a sea of mud. One blessing
was that I’d landed on my entire right side but all the same was caked from
head to toe.
Again, not too bad right? Well to add insult to injury, as I
was in the air (and therefore no resistance on the harness) my little buds had
sped up so by the time I hit the deck they successfully managed to tow me
through a seriously deep bog and that my friends WAS humiliating to say the least.
So, caked, wet, laying in a bog is one thing, getting that look of disgust from
the hounds was far worse.
Fortunately for me the only injury was a gash on my arm but
hey, it could’ve been so much worse and by the time we got home 10 miles later
the bleeding had stopped but the humiliation lived on. I really really need to
be slowing things down!
Longer runs are becoming more of the norm recently and
spending time on feet with the weight is equally as important as training your
body to be able to cope with the distance day on day. For those of you thinking of doing a multi stage
self-sufficient event I can’t stress the importance of running with the weight
you’ll ultimately be doing your challenge with.
I appreciate that I’m probably dealing with my demons in a
different way to most by running EVERY time with 11kg but that’s just the way I
deal with any challenge.
My philosophy is that you can’t be too prepared.
Recalling the pain and timescales I went through to get
comfortable with distance + weight is not something I ever want to endure again
thus the reason for never going backwards. I have friends that train for a couple of months adding
weight to vests but I know that this always plays a huge part in their
performance and mental states come race week.
Is there a right & wrong way? I have no idea but my
method works for me and some year and a half later I can categorically say that
the weight has no bearing on my performance whatsoever now.
In fact, I run faster and further now than I ever used to prior
to beginning training for my Jungle event this year.
I’ve yet to find out just how much difference it’ll make
should I ever venture out without weight but that’ll have to wait until after I
complete the Ice Ultra in 2021.
One part of my kit I’m seriously struggling with these dark
miserable nights is the head torch.
I invested in one of the best available last year and it was
amazing at the time (if my memory serves me right) but using it regularly again
this year and it just isn’t cutting it.
It gives me the illusion that I’m constantly running through
a mist and that ain’t good when belting through pitch black trail at an insane
pace.
Invariably I end up having to use a handheld bicycle torch
to assist the one strapped to my noggin’.
The benefits are that it actually does what it’s supposed to
AND it’s a USB chargeable device so no batteries to stress about.
The negatives are that it bounces about like crazy and I
have to really concentrate on keeping a steady hand.
Maybe it’s time to reinvest in another billion lumen
strength head set. As always, it’s finding one that’s robust, energy efficient
and lightweight. Anyone got any pointers?
On a positive note I think I’ve found a pain free way of
getting pace times back to a fairly normal regime. When I head out alone the
only focus is getting the distance done as quickly as possible even though it’s
not conducive for Ultra’s and at a significantly higher risk of injury. Running
with a mate recently actually forced me to ease the hell up. I still managed to
get a burst of lunacy into the session by running to the meet up point but
thereafter it was a chatty and realistic pace that was a whole couple of
minutes slower but much more beneficial.
Sure, once we’d parted ways at the end of the joint part we
ended with another belter 3 miles but the whole run was totally enjoyable
especially introducing said mate to trails for his first time although it was a
baptism of fire for him in the dark with a muddy wet route. Still, hopefully
he’ll join me again and it hasn’t put him off.
Having joined a local Running Club last year to become a
little more involved in the running community I decided to give something back
to all the lovely people that have supported me in the last 1½ years of
training. Horn honks, waving, private messages and general chit chat whist out
training has without a doubt been one of the most endearing parts of my
stupidity and I’m 100% sure that all I do would be significantly more difficult
without it.
As a result, it was time I gave back a little and showed my
appreciation. Marshalling or “Happy Clapping” as I like to call it was a great
way to demonstrate my gratitude.
Our Club staged its annual Half Marathon and was lucky
enough to help out at the turn point with several of our fellow members.
The route was a double loop along the sea front on a cold but
sunny November morning so we were able to support everyone twice in essence.
It never ceases to amaze me how far humans can push themselves.
Sure we have our elite runners but let’s face it, they all
started out as novices once upon a time so it’s neither here nor there. That
said, you can’t help but have massive respect for the novices that push their
own personal limits, boundaries and goals to achieve what they inevitably
thought they never could.
Although a superb day with smiles, atmosphere and effort
from everyone, it still didn’t ignite that spark inside me to get up and take
part in events for the masses.
It’s weird because I love to run, bounce off the excitement
of having something in common with fellow runners and know I can do distance at
pace BUT I’m still passionately drawn to the stupid, crazy, niche events and I
have no idea why. At the end of the day though, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole
Marshalling experience and will absolutely do it again.
The only explanation I can possibly give is that I hate to
be judged by others. Yeah, I’ve mentioned it before in previous posts but it’s
the only possible reason I can give.
It’s stupid really because at the end of the day, who cares
how well / badly you do in a race? No matter what the event, it’s a personal
challenge right?
The only flip side to that is that any Ultra event is
completely incomparable to anyone that wasn’t taking part and therefore no
judgements can ever be made especially with so many variables at these kind of
events.
Weather, terrain, pack weight and climate can make an event
completely different from one year to the next and I speak from experience
here.
I’ve completed the Isle of Wight 66 mile single day Ultra
four times and each one has been epically different.
One year it was 26 degrees and heatstroke played a part, the
following year it was torrential rain and a force 7 gale for the entire day and
the challenges were completely the opposite.
Don’t get me started on nutritional effects of Ultra
running. Get it wrong and the suffering can be monumental, get it right and
it’s a whole different ball game. Both examples can add or subtract literally
hours off a finish time but at the end of the day, time isn’t the driving force
for me. Getting from the start to the finish no matter what is always the
primary objective and that falls 90% on mental strength in my opinion.
So what’s the next couple of weeks got in store? Well, running
further is always on the cards but slowing down is a must. I’ve found a great occasional
running partner who can last for a fair portion of my distances but he runs at
a slower pace. If we’re heading out it’s primarily for company but it’s a
superb way of helping me wind my neck in on the pace front (although he’s still
too fast for where I need to be). I’m also planning on switching backpacks. The
UD one is great when it’s set right but when it goes wrong it ruins my back
(aches, abrasions, etc) so if anyone has any recommendations for a good
quality, robust, lightweight 25 litre Ultra pack, let me know! I’m hoping that
OMM have a suitable bit of kit but I’ll let you know how I get on.
Outside of that I’m still edging towards the 2,000 Strava
miles for the year although I’m already past it by 100 miles (Strava unofficially)
but you know what they say, “if it’s not in Strava it doesn’t count”.
And there you go, another two week update for all you lovely
followers.