Nope

Another negative post I'm afraid, The good news is I met the recovery week mileage last week, the bad news is I'm short of this weeks target of 58 miles.  Six miles short, so as I type this I feel I am waving goodbye to the training target mileage as it leaves me behind and disappears over the horizon.

I just can't find the time to clock up the miles and to be honest I'm not enjoying the runs when out.
Saturday morning was a prime example, I'd planned to hit Bennachie for some snowy trails and hill work.  A 3 o'clock appointment meant an early 0800 start for five hours on the hill.  The alarm went off at 0630, did I jump out of bed and head for the hills?  No, I preferred another couple of hours sleep before getting up and running the local roads.  This was okay till I arrived at the track leading to the Braes, it was completely covered in ice.  I should have turned around and run on clear roads but the stubborn streak in me said carry on.  Carry on for five miles of slipping, sliding, scrabbling and generally trying to keep upright and not injure myself.  I completed the run tired, cold, stiff and two miles short of 25.

Today wasn't much better, with 13 miles on the cards I couldn't be bothered.  I dragged myself onto the local roads once again.  It was a tiring run, broken up by one of the worst dog incidents I've had, thankfully I wasn't bitten.

A while back I reported buying the Hoka Rappa Nui trail shoes.  They are a good bit lower than the Mafate I'm used to wearing, so much so they look like "normal" running shoes.  I wasn't too keen on them for a start, I ordered the obligatory Hoka one size bigger and felt they were way too big.  So big they blistered the top of my toes where the shoe folds stepping forward.  I persevered and broke them in, the first time I've had to do this with running shoes.  Sticking with the shoes was worth it, they are now the shoes I grab whether road or trail running, very comfortable with a roomy toe box.

Another purchase lately has been the Suunto Ambit 2s.  The strap broke on my trusty Soleus so it was time for a replacement.  Suunto have a few models out including the 3 and R but I preferred the older 2s.  I'm just getting to grips with it and still have to explore the apps available.  On first use I wasn't too happy, it took an age to find satellite signal, so long I got fed up waiting and started running without GPS.  A couple of miles in, I switched on the GPS once more and it picked up the signal straight away.  I'm happy to report a fast satellite gain signal at all times now, usually taking seconds.

Cold weather is due later in the week, another obstacle in the way of reaching my training target.  Lets see if I can do 58 miles this week.

Week ending 18th - Tues 2, Wed 4, Thurs 4 & 2, Sat 10, Sun 8.  Weekly total 30 miles.
Tues 4, Wed 4 & 4, Fri 4, Sat 23, Sun 13. Weekly total 52 miles.      

Chop it up.

Short, by a measly 4 miles but I'm still short after being determined to reach this weeks target.  All midweek runs were double outings, a desperate attempt to reach the 52 mile weekly total.  With a social outing on Friday evening I did extra miles on Thursday to bring Saturdays 22 miles down to 14.

All went to plan until Saturday afternoon, a PM run due to recovering from the evening before.  Kitted out with a ski jacket, balaclava and two layers I made my way out in sub zero gale force winds.  It was easy on the way out with the wind blowing me along but then I had to turn round and face the weather head on.  With darkness and a blizzard moving in I had no choice but call it a day at 8 miles.

Sunday and family time.  I intended to get up early an complete the required 18 miles but just couldn't get out of the scratcher.  This resulted in a selfish late morning 14 miles before eventually being ready for family time.

This coming week is recovery week, surely I can hit the target this time.

Tues 2 & 2, Wed 4 & 4, Thurs 4 & 10, Sat 8, Sun 14. Weekly total 48 miles.  

 

1728

My total mileage last week included a predicted 10 mile run on Sunday, this didn't happen.  Coach put a stop to it saying I should know better and not put in miles with a chesty cough.  Fair enough, I do need reminding now and again so the minimum Marcothon 2 miles it was.  I have edited the post with 38 miles instead of 46.  So why am I blogging this?  I'm not hitting the targets of my training program despite being determined from day one.  I suppose the training program doesn't account for Christmas, New Year, socialising, family time or illness so I'll just have to get into the new year and try to hit the totals.

Last year I was aware of the 2014 in 2014 group.  While not actively taking part I did intend totalling up my miles at the end of the year, all totals are logged on this blog.  With a total of 1728 miles this fell well short of 2014.  I'm not sure if my race plans fit in with 2015 in 2015 but I'm giving it a go and am now part of the group.

Mon 2, Tues 3, Wed 3, Thurs 6, Sat 20, Sun 12.  Weekly total 46 miles.

A Winter Run

It's been a mostly Marcothon week including a double at midnight on Christmas eve, with Lynne and Skye of course.  A sore throat and chesty cough has appeared which threatened my 20 miles today.  I almost decided on the minimum Marcothon 25 minutes before forcing myself out the door for three and a half hours.  I decided against heading for the hills, I don't have the time for driving to and from Bennachie just now.

I'm posting this earlier than usual due to a night out tonight which will put tomorrows 10 miles in jeopardy.  Anyway, here are some pictures of today's run -

A sprinkling of snow as I left for the local roads and Buchan disused railway.

Rainbows in the distance meant the weather was closing in, it wasn't long before I was running through a blizzard.

Some nice sunny spells gave good light for photography.

 Fedderate castle ruin, the night out just happens to be near here.

Onto a frozen disused railway track, the roads were sheet ice, extreme care was required.

The light caught this pony beautifully.

Ruined railway sheds are dotted along the line.  This one is made out of railway sleepers and once sheltered the fan of a certain Irish band.

Another railway shed further along, this time made out of concrete.

The tree was my last photo of the day.  The weather moved in so I pocketed the camera and got stuck into a cold and icy 6 miles back home.

I'll include tomorrows 10 mile run in my weekly total, this will make sure I get out and complete it.

Mon 2, Tues 4, Wed 6, Thurs 2, Fri 2, Sat 20, Sun 02.  Weekly total 38 miles.

Training Continues

A quick update with not much to report.  Mixing Marcothon with the training program has proved harder than I thought.  I'm slightly down on miles for last week, completing 28 miles instead of the program's 30.  Nothing to worry about but I'm determined to complete the mileage of the training program so I have confidence finishing the DC110.

It's now Christmas eve and it looks like I'll be slightly short this week once more, there's no way I'll manage the scheduled 6 mile run on Christmas day.  With 20 miles to complete on Saturday I'll head to Bennachie and the Gordon Way, weather permitting of course.

Mon 2, Tues 2, Wed 2, Thurs 2, Fri 2, Sat 10, Sun 8.  Weekly total 28 miles.

Marcothon Continues

Almost half way through December and I'm happy to report the Chalmers Clan are still in Marcothon.
It has not been easy fitting the week day runs in during the evening once home from work.  Most evenings we are sitting down for something to eat at nine o'clock after rushing out to do the minimum 25 minutes.  The weather has been a mix of cold wind and icy conditions making some slippery outings.  On the plus side are the constellations and moon giving some very scenic night outings.

It was a lovely evening on Friday the 5th, there was a hard frost and a full moon.  With a busy weekend in store I decided to do my long run then, after Marcothon with Lynne and Skye.  I completed a spectacular run to the Braes and back, all alone in the frosted woods except for a fox and owls.  I tried to photograph the moonlit scene but the iphone 5 just wasn't up the the job.

The training program is going to plan, I'm well aware of mixing this in with Marcothon which doesn't give rest days through December but so far so good.  According to the program I have a recovery week coming up, I'm looking forward the easier miles before upping them again over Christmas and new year.

Week ending 7th Dec - Mon 2, Tues 4, Wed 5, Thurs 4, Fri 17, Sat 2, Sun 7.  Weekly total 41 miles.
Mon 2, Tues 4, Wed 4, Thurs 4, Fri 15, Sat 2, Sun 10.  Weekly total 41 miles.

Marcothon to the rescue

Plans for the early part of 2015 are exactly the same as 2014.  I'll be starting the season off with the D33 in March, the entry opens on New Years day for this one.  I have entered the Fling for April then it's time for another crack at the DC110 for May.  After this I'm going to do my coast to coast challenge in August.

I need a structured training program so this week I sourced a 100 mile training plan and entered it into my calendar, 24 weeks back from the DC110.  The training started this week so with determination and motivation it was time to put lethargy to bed.  Midweek was supposed to be 4, 6, 4 miles and yes, the word supposed means I didn't hit the first weeks target.  Not a positive start to my 2015 season.  I did manage to participate in a Fling training run at the weekend which boosted the miles a bit but I'm still under for the first week.

Tomorrow sees the start of Marcothon, this will be my third year running every day in December.
It can't come soon enough and will ensure I get out and do the training.  Lynne and Skye have signed up once more so it will be a family affair, the three of us running in torchlight on the back roads, usually in fowl weather.  Hopefully I will hit my target miles this week, only time will tell.

Week ending 23rd Nov - Tues 3, Wed 3, Thurs 3, Sun 8.  Weekly total 17 miles.
Tues 2, Wed 3, Sat 24.  Weekly total 29 miles.