One for the Trail

Here is an unorthodox choice but this song brings back some really happy childhood memories when it was played on Radio 4 and I was allowed to go home for dinner from school and Dad played this on the radio.

This is a Trail song that you play when you are alone and feeling down whilst grinding out yet another hill or mile and the demons are on your shoulder, I dare you not to smile and sing along.

Camaraderie in Ultrarunning

I got an email from my buddy George today telling me that the winner (Richard Pomeroy) of the Cotswold 100 mile run he took part in at the weekend had emailed everyone in the race and stated his admiration of all those who took part. I think that was a fantastic thing he did and really summed up what makes ultrarunners the people they are, great off the course, gritty on it. I found this picture today of Geoff Roes (left) and Anton Krupicka (Right) at the end of the Western States 100 mile race.

Roes completed the run in 15:07:04 with Krupicka coming through at 15:13:51. Looking at the warmth and admiration in their eyes is mirrored in both men and just highlights the true spirit of the sport. To think Roes actually stood at the finish line and cheered Krupicka through shows what fantastic sportsmen they are, a lovely thing to see.

What did you say?

Since getting over my chest and throat infection two weeks ago I have had real problems with a slight deafness in my right ear. I have tried all forms of remedy from decongestants, Obas oil with hot water as an inhalant and ear wax dispersal liquid but the loss of hearing remains.

I don't think it necessary to go to the Doctor at the moment as all books and internet pages tell me that this is quite common and it can take up to 2 weeks for it to come back to normal but I never realised how frustrating hearing loss can be especially with the distortion in sound perception.

50:50

It is just too hot and at a promised 30 Centigrade on Sunday and my need to do 20+ miles it is not a challenge I relish.

I am therefore going to take it very carefully and going to do two runs tomorrow, yes, two runs of 11 miles and very slowly. One in the early morning and one in the late evening. This is unprecedented in my training regime so it will be interesting to see if I am motivated enough to do it and what the outcome is.

The Fragile Ego

I have been a member of a web forum for a year or so and have come to realise how vulnerable people really are. I have seen people report and show some amazing athletic achievements, seen them over come major obstacles in life and in their races. These people have a life outside these forums which goes far beyond the running and the racing, it is a form of escapism. To me running is escapism, I can be as competitive with myself or other runners where and when I like, my race is in the field, the trail or the track.

When I see people try and bring this competitive thing into something as benign as a virtual chat room I sometimes despair "I am better than you", "I am faster than you", "My heart rate is lower than you" or "I can do all things better than you" Why argue with people you will never meet and when a person doesn't agree with you just accept it and move on, don't it take so personally, remember the ego is a very fragile thing. There....I have had my say.

When will it get any easier?

Loads of training miles, lots of consistant effort but why do I still feel crap after all this time....I just felt like throwing my running shoes into a skip this evening and walk the rest of the way home. I would have if it hadn't been the fact I wanted a cup of tea.

Absolute Nuts

The girls and I had a nice walk up to Sainsbury tonight as we were all gasping for "cool, tasty and refreshing" drinks and snacks. We were kids in a candy store and quickly collected , crisps, nuts [unsalted], juices and of course, every ultrarunners carb-loader some cider.

As I sit here, I have just realised Sainsbury have changed their packaging for their own-brand "Unsalted mixed nuts and raisins" but what makes it better is they have come less stingy with the walnuts and hazel nuts laying off the peanuts. For once I have actually enjoyed my little snack, you can't go wrong with a good walnut :-)

Circuits

Wow was it hot today, what was it 28 Centigrade? A little too hot to run and I questioned my sanity for deciding to go to circuit training in the local park today.

A quick run as a warm up to the park and a series of 400 metre laps with 10 sit ups at 200 m and then 10 push ups at the start of the lap, this was repeated numerous times with 50 metre sprint relays and 200 metres of dynamic stretches. A tough little work out finished off by a 4 mile run in the woods by myself. Loved it

Happy Wednesday

At last my Wednesday evenings have been reclaimed having just completed my last lecturing contract at University for the academic year. Don't get me wrong dear reader, I love my teaching but sometimes it is nice to get home before 10.00 pm of an evening.

So, in celebrattion, I have already adapted my training plan so that Wednesday evening has a run in it so that I can concentrate on getting my mileage up to 70 miles per week prior to August...eeekkk

If Lego made people

...would this be me?


BTW. This is my ultrarunning face!

Midsummer Run

Hey, it was party time tonight at the club, run 2.5 miles, stop for a glass of beer, run another 2.5 miles have another one and then to a fellow club member's house and have a few more. Like a good little runner, I only drank orange cordial and some Coca Cola at the end as it was just too hot.

The aches and pains from my fall yesterday were still obvious ,my legs still feel a bit weak and wobbly so took it really easy tonight as I am still not 100%.

Rest day tomorrow and then out and about on Thursday evening t build the mileage up again.

Ipods, take them

...or leave 'em. I am not a great lover of running with these little annoyances but will if I am on a long, solo run just as a distraction.

You may remember how I broke one when I got caught in the rain in March this year and how I bought a newly upgraded one with the volume/track/playlist switch attached to the earphones, the rubbish, most badly designed headphones ever in my opinion. The headphones that fall out every half mile, the earphones who you have to have to dry otherwise it changes tracks or jumps a playlist and when you want to buy a waterproof replacement set they cost between £25 - £35 almost the cost of the bloody thing in the first place.

I just need to work out a way to keep this pesky thing dry, ideas welcome.

Blood, Sweat...

but no tears this time.

After being layed off for a week from running I really fancied one tonight and used the excuse that I had to drop off some kit to George along with my Garmin so that he can use it as a spare on his epic 100 mile run at the weekend.

I was having a nice little punt around the woods and had just got on to the pavement section near his house when I was distracted by a couple of pedestrians, tripped with my left foot, right leg buckled under me and I slid across the pavement on my calf, elbow and hands! No blood injuries just a bunch of lumps, nothing to stop me running but GGGGRRRR if it isn't one thing it is another

Bones

As a few of my regulars will know, I have been quite unwell this week having taken 4 days off sick which has really depressed me as I hardly ever take time off and if I have never this long.

I was out at the shops today, my first trip out of the house since Tuesday ,and had just popped into a shop to choose some waterproof trousers when I happened to see myself in the full length mirror and was really taken aback, who was this skinny, worn out man staring back at me? Me of course and was shocked to see myself and that I have lost nearly 6 pounds in weight, I think I have been a little more ill than I want to let on!

Cat's out of the bag

I have received a few messages on Facebook and Twitter from people wondering what my Dream Race is and I have to come clean.

I have looked on in wonderment at the beautiful Brecon Beacons Ultramarathon in November run by Likeys and was hoping to do it last year but London to Brighton got in the way and then my stupid injury at Caesar's put pay to it. I happened upon it last night and jumped at the chance as applications were open and soon to close.

So here we go a fantastic 45 mile ultramarathon over some of the most beautiful countryside and mountains in Great Britain

I think I have found my dream race

This is so me and I have just dropped the news to Mrs S, who hung her head in disbelief but didn't say no. So it looks like I have my 2010 challenge set!

Change in Plans

Having time to reflect on the past few months of running I have decided to change around my training diary and try to slip in a few events to keep me motivated. It is very apparent that I have become a slave to the training diary to a point where it could become detrimental to my health and fitness.

This weeks running has been knocked on the head and I can't see myself running until Saturday at the very earliest, so the plans have been updated and I reckon I could enter the Tanners Marathon (30 Miles) in July as a training run for the 50 mile Challenge later on in the month. I hope to meet up with Rob and have a good burnt out.

Sick Note (Day 2)

Yes, you have got it...it looks like I am getting laryngitis, or as the picture shows, a little horse!

I thought I was beginning to feel better and then as the evening has gone on my voice has got worse and strained. I am beginning to feel really fed up as my training mileage is really going to get hit hard if I cannot shake this infection quickly.

Sick Note

...and so at last I have discovered the reason why I have been feeling so crap over the past few days, I feel absolutely rotten; I have a sore throat, headache and can't control my temperature. I have had a long lie in this morning and I certainly have some form of infection as my snot is a yellow colour.

I was really looking forward to going for a lovely run with the Orpington Road Runners tonight who do these fantastic trail runs in the evening during the summer returning way after 9.00pm but it looks like I will have to drop out as the first cough appears....ggrrrr.

Maybe the forced break will do me some good and get some strength back into my legs, afterall I have been doing a lot these past few weeks

Running on Empty

Ultramarathons are increasingly popular. But do they also pose a health risk?

This is one of those worrying new items that you read, either for the shock value or the science behind it but my eye was drawn to:

"... If you do a really tough workout, the next day you often feel as though you have the flu. It's a systemic stress..."

I found that last Monday and again today I have had a headache, sore throat and a creeping malaise. These back to back are making feel like a complete Zombie

BIG week of running

Phew, I am pooped and will have to review these weekend back-to-backs as I have just finished a 60 mile week, ~40 being on Saturday and Sunday.

Don't get me wrong, some great running but I was nearly on empty when I got back today so may have to review my eating and drinking on the longer runs as I start on a depleted store on the Sunday.

Trail Word of the Week

Papillon

1. French for Butterfly

Out on a lovely run out in the back and beyond of Farnborough Village when it came apparent that as I was running through the hip high grasses and nettles there were hundreds of butterflies, well, fluttering by. The most prevalent was the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Big weekend

This is the first of quite a few BIG weekends of back to back running as the training plan beds down.

I am just back from a glorious 15 mile trail run which took me 125 minutes and have been eating and drinking well all day as I don't want a repeat of last weeks train crash Tomorrow I have a 24 mile run planned but will be doing it later on in the day as I want a lie in and have a few things to do around the house.

If I get the bigger run complete it will get me into the first 60 mile week of the year...let's hope all goes well.

No run tonight

I was planning a nice pre-weekend run this evening but instead recieved a phone call from my wife who wanted to go out for a meal. So no run tonight just lots of food...yum:

1. Vanilla milkshake
2. Chicken (fillet) Classic Burger
3. Chips
4. Onion Rings
5. Coleslaw

Gut busting stuff which now gives me an incentive to run tomorrow instead.

In the news again

Whilst at training tonight I was told that I featured in the local newspaper and much to my annoyance the paper boy hasn't delivered our copy as usual and so now hunting around for a copy.

Let's get this into perspective, it is apparently a column inch and not exactly front page news and I did joke whether it was about me being a World Ranking athlete which was met by raised eyes to the heaven of all that cared to listen to the conversation or if it was my Crawley run I am yet to find out :-)

No time to hold back

The last two training days have been a mixture of warm up/speed work/trail running and I am really glad I am now putting these into my training sessions to ensure that I get an all round fitness and not "just more of the same"

After the weekend's little scare I have made a real point of eating and drinking well, I hope not too well as I have had a bit of a stomach upset but have kept going regardless. So, the busy weekend starts and I have 43 miles planned in over the next 3 days, a target I don't reckon I will hit but it is worth a try. I plan 15 miles on Friday and the two 14 milers on Sunday...that will be tough but there is always a first time...no time to hold back.

Intuition

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.

We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.

Albert Einstein

Speedy

What a turn around after my "Day of the living dead" yesterday! A good sleep and the chance to eat some [un]healthy food and drinks gave me a spring in my step this morning.

I was all up for a steady run with the club, nothing special, just a plod around the woods...but then a news flash came through that the training session cancelled last week due to the inclement weather was on tonight.

A quick jog up the club and then 8 x 1/2 mile circuits as fast as I could (7 min/miles) and then a 5 mile trail run with my buddy Duncan after...a cracking evening's run

Training failure

The day after the week before...or how I feel a failure.

I awoke this morning feeling really, really tired; a physical tiredness that I haven't felt for a long time almost washed out, was this the time to call in a sicky. I dragged myself from my bed and instantly felt as though I had no energy and listless.

I have felt tired all day, my legs have felt weak, I have eaten like a horse and have just awoken after a 90 minute snooze on the sofa!

I have a feeling that a combination of a recent increase in mileage, not eating sufficiently ( calories in versus calories out) and then running a back to back at the weekend has payed a real toll on my body... a train crash.

I reckon I need some TLC ....running is stupid

Back to Back

One hell of a busy period of running recently which has seen me run just under 250 miles in the last 30 days...no wonder I am feeling physically tired.

On the build ups to my other ultras I haven't quite felt this tired but this time the training plan is somewhat different as it does not just build up , it builds up in steps of 3 weeks. This weekend saw me do a back to back 12/17, it was supposed to be 12/20 but it was so hot that it just wasn't worth slogging out another 3 miles for the sake of it.

All I could think about for the last 5 miles was a homemade banana milkshake and may I say that milkshake hit the spot, especially as I added a great big lump of lemon sorbet to it.

Hot pants

OMG the weather is hot, anything above 25 C and I want to curl up in the fridge but I was determined to go for a run today but left it for the evening when some of the sun was out of the sky.

The thermometer showed 28 C and the humidity was off the chart as I trudged off up the road to complete a hot, wet and gritty 20 km run off on one of my set routes.

If you can keep a secret Dear Reader, I am just a little tired and had to stop and walk a number of times tonight...but who can blame me, this is heart attack weather

Downloadable shorts

... or hold the camera the other way around when running and turning it on to take a photo!!!!

Cool shorts

Crunch, Crunch, Crunch

That is how my evening exercise went, 2 mile warm up and then core strength work for 1 hour and a 9 mile run home!

I can feel the inches falling off my waist as I write and recall the twists, pulls and self-tortures Yvonne made us do , press ups here, crunches here, a thing called the Plank and the Plank on one leg...ooohhh that one pinched.

Good work out with a nice run by myself after watching the sun go down from inside the local woods and for one lovely hour I saw and spoke to nobody.

Legs a little tired still but I will go for a gentle run tomorrow, possibly 13-15 miles in preparation for Sunday's Long run.

World Ranking

Much to my amazement (with a hint of embarrassment) I was contacted today and told that I was currently ranked 14^th in the world...yes Dear Reader, the world for the most distance run in a 12 hour event.

These are the International Association of Ultrarunners World rankings at organised events around the world and I must stress that this was as of 28^th April 2010 so no doubt I will slip down as the year goes on but I am still proud of this little achievement.

Now that I have got more experience under my belt I know I will beat this distance next year....there I have said it my long term challenge has been set.

My Forrest Gump moment

Forrest Gump: [running] I had run for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, and 16 hours. [he stops and turns around]

Young Man Running: Quiet, quiet! He's gonna say something!

Forrest Gump: [pause] I'm pretty tired... I think I'll go home now.


...and that is how I felt tonight running with the club, I was half way into my run and my legs felt sore and I said "I'm pretty tired... I think I'll go home now.".... and I did