Stopping the world and getting off...

This week I am in the middle of my taper for Sunday so not much running to report, just some short gentle runs to keep everything moving, but mostly I'm checking and rechecking kit. Loving my new ultimate Dirsction SJ race vest so much more comfortable than my old backpack, looking forward to trying it out properly on Sunday and I highly recommend www.ultramarathonrunningstore.com very, very quick delivery and great products.

There has been lots of talk on different forums/groups recently as to why people run and many different answers. I was thinking about this whilst on the train today, I guess I'm no different to hundreds of others always busy, the usual stress and worry that countless adults deal with everyday, but today was one of those days where I just wanted to stop the world and get off... And that's when it hit me that's exactly what running is for me. Selfish or not but Sunday will be my day to 'stop the world and get off' it will be my day, my 45 miles and that's all I will have to think about. I wouldn't be ready for the start line without the support of all my friends and family, my family especially for not moaning about the hours I spend training, talking about training/racing/running etc. I couldn't do it alone and nor would I want to, the training/kit/nutrition/hydration advice from Lindley has been brilliant but on Sunday when I leave the start line it will be down to me. I can switch off from all the other boring grown up stuff and concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other until I cross the finish line, and I know, even though  already a little nervous, that I can do it. The support from other runners, checkpoint volunteers and anyone else involved will be much needed and greatly appreciated and I am looking forward to seeing friendly faces at CP3! 

So Sunday will be spent running St Peters Way Ultra, it will be my day to stop the world and get off, have some fun and enjoy doing what I love most. 

Have a good week all and happy running xx 

Running and romance...

Ok so there was no romance so we'll stick to talking about running ha ha!! 

49 miles of training last week, 100 for February so far and 255 for the year, probably my highest mileage start to a year ever. Now I'm tapering for St Peters Way Ultra, which is less than two weeks away. Really looking forward to it and happy that a friend I met during London 2 Brighton in 2012 has decided to take part. Should be a good day and I'm prepared as much as I can be for the inevitable mud!

This weekend I ran back to back long runs, on trail. I felt stronger than on my previous back to backs and they were longer so all this training must be doing something! One of the best things is exploring footpaths and trails that are on my doorstep but that I haven't been brave enough to take off on before. This navigation stuff isn't so scary once you get used to it, and a positive benefit, as well as discovering new runs, is that I'm much more aware of where I am, landmarks around me and I'm pleasantly surprised that my sense of direction really isn't too bad. 

So another running week is done, I'm still enjoying it more than ever so now to rest, enjoy half term, enjoy some shorter, gentle runs and look forward to my parcel from www.ultramarathonrunningstore.com with my new race vest and other bits and pieces I really, really need arriving!! (Thanks Lindley for kit advice and Challenge Running Ltd for discount code) 

 

Was even treated to some sunshine this weekend!

Have a good week all and happy running xx

A happy running week

It's now been a month since I started training with a coach and it's definitely the best running decision I have made! 

Ran 40 miles last week, 206 for the year so far and have lost half a stone in weight. Also and most importantly I am running better, feeling stronger and like I keep saying having fun! 

Yesterday I ran Gt Bentley Half Marathon, it was a very windy day on an open but flat course and I had a race plan, start steady then run 9:15 to 9:30 minute/miles until mile ten then push for the last three. Consistency in pacing has always been a struggle for me so I really focused on achieving this. All went well till miles 9-11 where I slowed to 10:20 minute miles, we were running into the wind but other than that when I thought about it there wasn't any other reason why I had slowed, my legs felt ok, the rest of me felt ok, so I started to push and got back on track even managing to overtake people in the last two miles. I finished in 2:05 and am really happy with how it went.

It's now only 3 weeks until my first ultra of the year, Challenge Running's St. Peter's Way and I'm really looking forward to it... 

Thank you to Lindley for the support and encouragement over the last month.

Happy running everyone, have a good week xx 

Enjoyment and excitement...

I often get asked why I run, especially why I want to run long distances. I'm used to being called crazy, nutter, fruit loop (hence the name of my blog!) It's difficult to explain why or is it?

Quite simply I enjoy running... And I want to see how far I can go, maybe find out how far is too far.

When I came up with this years challenge I knew it was going to be tough, knew I would have to train hard. Then when I started looking into training for 100+ miles it all got a little scary!! 

So January is done, I ran 155 miles and yes it's still early days but having a coach is making this whole journey much less scary. February's training plan is stuck to the fridge, I know exactly what I have to do and when. St. Peter's Way is less than a month away now and I'm already excited. The training plans, advice and support from Lindley is already making a difference as I am more confident about what I can achieve. I've always had a stubborn streak and don't give up easily and with some hard training and focus (and I'm going to be really positive now!) I can see myself crossing the finish line of all four ultras! 

Something else I've discovered recently after 12 years of running is that I like running with other people!! Still enjoy my solitary runs, like the time to think, reflect and let my mind wander, but every so often especially on a long or tough session having some company is good!! 

So that's it really for this week, quite simply I'm enjoying my running immensely, and that for me is what is really important, so no matter what your plans are for the week, whatever you are doing make sure you are excited by it and enjoy it.

Sunday morning run (it stopped raining!!!) 

Happy running all xxx 

Running with a coach week 2

So second week is done and it's still going well, most importantly I'm enjoying my running. 

This week I have run 37.68 miles bringing my January total to 137.44 and still a few days to go! 

This week there has been a tempo run which went well wasn't quite on target pace but was still running much faster than I normally do at 6am, an evening trail run, a recovery run and my first back to back long runs, I'll come back to those in a minute. Also been to 2 boot camps so all in all a good training week. My appetite has increased no end and anyone with any sense will not leave food laying around if it's edible and unattended I will eat it!!!

So back to back long runs... I decided to explore some of The Essex Way so staring at White Notley I head off for the first one on Saturday morning, well there was lots of mud and felt like I never got into a rhythm where I was running consistently for any distance! spent a lot of miles stressing about how slow I was progressing, I was enjoying the countryside but legs were heavy and when I finished 13.55 miles averaging 4.5 miles an hour I was worried!! On the plus side my new trail shoes are great. A message to Lindley and later a chat and the reassurance that I'm doing ok and that was a perfectly acceptable pace for the conditions and would be target pace for completing St. Peter's Way in 10 hours and I set off on Sundays run in a more positive frame of mind.

Thoroughly enjoyed Sundays run on The Essex Way going in the opposite direction, averaged 4.7 miles an hour, not much quicker, but it felt so much better, proving that a lot of this running stuff is mental! I enjoyed the scenery had a chat with an alpaca, splashed through the mud like a child and had a good time!

So again thanks to Lindley for the support and encouragement, thanks to Ian for understanding my unsocial running behaviour this weekend, going to have to get you to learn to love the mud ha ha!! 

Have a good week all and happy running xx 

First week with a coach

Just a quick blog today...

This week I have completed week one of my new training plan and it has gone really well. Early days I know but already have a little spark of confidence in my abilities that was missing before. 

Last weekend I ran a section of The Chiltern Way with Lindley and learnt lots about looking after myself and some insights into how my body might react to running over 100 miles.

An early morning trail run in the dark on Wednesday morning was great fun. Yesterday was another long one, I ran a section of St Peters Way, what can I say mud, mud and more mud, it felt painfully slow but enjoyed it and didn't get lost, following the route description was simple, running up hill through freshly ploughed, muddy fields wasn't!! 

So ran a touch under 40 miles last week, almost at 100 for the month but more importantly I'm enjoying it, having fun and feeling optimistic about this years running.

Have a great week and to all my running friends enjoy yourselves xxx 

Half way through yesterday's run!! 

'Challenge 2014'

Well 2014 has arrived, this years challenges been set...

'Challenge 2014' as I have imaginatively called it is going to be great, tough but seemed a perfectly reasonable challenge to set myself... And then you tell people your plans to which the response is usually 'why?'  or 'are you mad?' This is expected from non runners, but is slightly unsettling from other runners!

So what is 'Challenge 2014' well quite simply, taking part and finishing all four of challenge Running's ultra marathons.

March - St Peters Way 45miles

July - Saffron Trail 70 miles (overnight!)

August - The Chiltern Way 125 miles

October - Stort 30 30 miles

So there it is, there will be other events along the way but this is the big 4, I will be raising money for Moorfields eye charity as my son is a regular patient at Moorfields eye hospital.

For the first time in my 12 years of running I now have a coach, Lindley Chambers, who is going to help me achieve this crazy challenge, and he has to take some of the blame as they are his races!! 

I'm excited about this years running and know as always I will have the support of my family, (Dad I know you'll be with me and as ever you are my inspiration for taking on these challenges, miss you) my friends, the Nutters and The Commando Runners and all my non running friends.

I am going to try and blog regularly about the training, the events, the highs and lows!!

So happy new year to you all and make it a good one.