Tues 4, Wed 13, Thurs 6, Friday 26, Sun 7. Weekly total 56 miles.
Last week, a few days off work allowed me to build up the midweek miles. After three days my total was 23 with long back to back runs pencilled in for the weekend. There was one problem though, I needed Saturday to be family time. I had a choice, a Saturday morning session or a run home from work on Friday night. It was a tough call to make, Saturdays run would be with a work colleague where company would make the miles pass by or Friday night, the conditions were forecast to be perfect for running. I chose Friday, fourth running day in a row and marathon distance home.
I began to regret my choice on the Friday afternoon, I was tired and felt like cancelling the run but it was too late, stubbornness won the day. As everyone left the office I changed into running gear, donned a back pack and left the industrial estate.
Sustenance was a bottle of juice, a bottle of coke, two packets of mini cheddars and a Chia Charge flap jack. I intended to briefly stop at Udny Station, Ellon and Drumwhindle to eat and break up the run.
A few miles out of Dyce the moon was lying on it's back. It was another clear starry night, this was the reason I chose to run the Friday. The stars were out in force, winter constellations showing off their familiar shapes. The disused railway runs through some remote farm land, with the head torch switched off and minimal light pollution I would stop and stare up at the night sky.
Mini cheddars, bit of chia and scoof of juice at Udny before heading off to Ellon. The legs felt tired at this point with a long way to go. I took an age to reach Ellon where I walked across the bridge and ate some more.
It's a slight incline out of Ellon, my minutes per mile was creeping up from what was already a slow run. I slogged it out then left the disused railway track with mostly uphill road running to do. I didn't bother having something to eat, preferring the bottle of coke which fizzed all over my gloves once opened.
Surprisingly, despite the fatigue, I slowly ran most of the uphill's but it was tough going. Time was slipping away, there was no way I would make my target of 4.5 hours. Tired and stiff legs meant I could not get under 10 minute miles, even on the few downhill's. Eventually I reached home just under five hours after leaving work, 49 miles in four days had taken it's toll.
Sunday was supposed to be 15 but there was no way I was going to attempt that. The weather was nice AM but by the time I found the motivation for a run sleet showers started. I called the outing a recovery run and it was better than expected, a 7 mile hilly route averaging 9 minute miles.
My highest weekly total so far this year. This next week looks like much the same, I have Friday afternoon off work so will probably do my long run then after three midweek runs and leave Saturday for quality time. I also need to head to the hills soon as most of my training has been on road and disused railway track. The calf muscle is still a bit tight, I'll back off if it becomes an issue. Another physio visit this week should sort it out.
Monday, 23 February 2015
Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Good Leg Bad Leg
My latest visit to the physio involved acupuncture to the right calf, only the second time I have received this. After the session my calf felt much better although it did stiffen up a bit over the weekend. A second visit will be required which I'll book in the next week.
I've come to a conclusion, my right leg does not like ultra running or the training I have to undertake to participate in races. I've had a few running related injuries over the years, mostly to my right leg, from Achilles to hip and everything in between. Once a certain level is reached, the leg seems to feel weak and unstable at the start of training runs and takes a while to warm up.
On the trails I feel an imbalance, not fully trusting the right leg when crossing muddy slopes and using my left leg to launch when jumping over streams etc.
I've met my midweek target quite easily this week, a few days off work has helped. This weekend will determine whether I can continue with my training plan or be forced into a plan B.
Tues 4, Wed 4 & 4, Fri 4, Sat 10, Sun 8. Weekly total 34 miles.
I've come to a conclusion, my right leg does not like ultra running or the training I have to undertake to participate in races. I've had a few running related injuries over the years, mostly to my right leg, from Achilles to hip and everything in between. Once a certain level is reached, the leg seems to feel weak and unstable at the start of training runs and takes a while to warm up.
On the trails I feel an imbalance, not fully trusting the right leg when crossing muddy slopes and using my left leg to launch when jumping over streams etc.
I've met my midweek target quite easily this week, a few days off work has helped. This weekend will determine whether I can continue with my training plan or be forced into a plan B.
Tues 4, Wed 4 & 4, Fri 4, Sat 10, Sun 8. Weekly total 34 miles.
Sunday, 8 February 2015
Onward and Downward
Guess what? Yep, I'm short of my weekly target, this time by a whopping 29 miles. The hip niggle I reported last week curtailed my midweek runs. Not only that but my right calf has started to complain, the same one that put me out of the Highland Fling last year.
The midweek lunch time runs were done with Lynne, a nice easy 2 miles to allow the hip to recover. The hip seemed fine towards the end of the week but the calf remained tight. It was always going to be a long shot at the weekend with 25 and 13 miles to run. On Saturday I had to listen to my body (see, I am learning) and limit the miles to 15. Today was a beautiful clear day but my running mojo was gone. I seriously contemplated junking the run before dragging myself out for a late afternoon 8 miles at the Braes. It was an ugly run, shuffling along with a tight calf and short of breath even with the slow pace.
On the way out I passed an elderly gentleman walking his dog. His car was parked by the track, I thought nothing of it and continued to do the Braes loop. On the way back I was disconcerted to see the car still parked at the track. It was completely dark by then, especially in the trees, I was glad to see him a mile further on still walking his dog as I ran past. I then had a thought, I stopped and switched off my torch. I couldn't see a thing and wondered how on earth he was going to get back to his car without a torch. Luckily, as well as the hand torch, I was wearing a cap with LED lights. I ran back and gave the gentleman the cap which he was most grateful for. That was my good deed done for the day.
I have a rest week coming up which I'm going to stick with, even though this past week has been lower miles there's no point in trying to catch up on what's lost. Looks like I'll have to squeeze in a visit to the physio as well.
Tues 2, Wed 2, Fri 2, Sat 15, Sun 8. Weekly total 29 miles.
The midweek lunch time runs were done with Lynne, a nice easy 2 miles to allow the hip to recover. The hip seemed fine towards the end of the week but the calf remained tight. It was always going to be a long shot at the weekend with 25 and 13 miles to run. On Saturday I had to listen to my body (see, I am learning) and limit the miles to 15. Today was a beautiful clear day but my running mojo was gone. I seriously contemplated junking the run before dragging myself out for a late afternoon 8 miles at the Braes. It was an ugly run, shuffling along with a tight calf and short of breath even with the slow pace.
On the way out I passed an elderly gentleman walking his dog. His car was parked by the track, I thought nothing of it and continued to do the Braes loop. On the way back I was disconcerted to see the car still parked at the track. It was completely dark by then, especially in the trees, I was glad to see him a mile further on still walking his dog as I ran past. I then had a thought, I stopped and switched off my torch. I couldn't see a thing and wondered how on earth he was going to get back to his car without a torch. Luckily, as well as the hand torch, I was wearing a cap with LED lights. I ran back and gave the gentleman the cap which he was most grateful for. That was my good deed done for the day.
I have a rest week coming up which I'm going to stick with, even though this past week has been lower miles there's no point in trying to catch up on what's lost. Looks like I'll have to squeeze in a visit to the physio as well.
Tues 2, Wed 2, Fri 2, Sat 15, Sun 8. Weekly total 29 miles.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Teeth of the Gale
My part of North East Scotland has missed snow fall so far this winter. While runners have been posting pictures of training in deep snowy trails, I have been running on roads in sleety, icy conditions. It's my own fault, not making for the hills or attending some of the Glee / WHW training runs. Rolling farmland means there's not much shelter from the wind, mostly gale force from the north.
I was already down on miles midweek, no surprise there. With strong winds, sleety showers and hail forecast for the weekend there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell I was going to achieve the weekend target.
Program stated - 25 Saturday, 13 Sunday. I'll split it I thought, 19 Saturday and 19 Sunday which should leave quality family time. So after donning double layers, a balaclava and one of the best purchases I've made lately, an Aldi ski jacket, I left the house and ran straight into the wind. Now there was method in my madness. Keep heading into the wind till half way no matter how exhausting, turn around and let the storm push me home. It didn't quite work out like that. I found a back road I'm not familiar with and kept going in to the wind, eventually arriving at the A947, a road I had no intention of running on. Lucky for me I found an old entrance to an estate. It was lined with old broken trees which had long ago given up fighting the elements and dropped their branches across the track. The wind was so strong I was concerned one of the rotten branches would crash down on top of me on the old avenue. After around a mile I came upon a large house, obviously still inhabited as a car was parked outside. I had no choice but turn round and run the gauntlet of creaky broken limbs back to the main road. Movescount would later identify the area as Hatton Estate near Turriff.
Not wanting an out and back I had no choice but run a section of the A947 to reach Birkenhills then the back roads home. Here's where I thought it would be easier with the wind at my back but the storm always seems to settle down once I put my back to it.
Sunday was the same tactic, local roads into the storm but there was no way I was fit for 19 miles. Stinging hail felt like needles on my face as I squinted into the storm. This was a pretty uneventful run broken up by some scenic views across the fields. Once again, the weather seamed to settle down once I turned around and made my way to New Deer.
So that's another training week done, this time 14 miles short. Let's take something positive from it. Training in that sort of weather certainly toughens me up and although short on miles, I'm sure the effort required would equal more. I now have a painful hip, I'm sure it's caused by all the road running. This week is another 58 miles but I don't know if this niggle will stand it, now might be the time to listen to my body.
Tues 4, Wed 3, Thurs 4, Sat 20, Sun 13. Weekly total 44 miles.
I was already down on miles midweek, no surprise there. With strong winds, sleety showers and hail forecast for the weekend there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell I was going to achieve the weekend target.
Program stated - 25 Saturday, 13 Sunday. I'll split it I thought, 19 Saturday and 19 Sunday which should leave quality family time. So after donning double layers, a balaclava and one of the best purchases I've made lately, an Aldi ski jacket, I left the house and ran straight into the wind. Now there was method in my madness. Keep heading into the wind till half way no matter how exhausting, turn around and let the storm push me home. It didn't quite work out like that. I found a back road I'm not familiar with and kept going in to the wind, eventually arriving at the A947, a road I had no intention of running on. Lucky for me I found an old entrance to an estate. It was lined with old broken trees which had long ago given up fighting the elements and dropped their branches across the track. The wind was so strong I was concerned one of the rotten branches would crash down on top of me on the old avenue. After around a mile I came upon a large house, obviously still inhabited as a car was parked outside. I had no choice but turn round and run the gauntlet of creaky broken limbs back to the main road. Movescount would later identify the area as Hatton Estate near Turriff.
Not wanting an out and back I had no choice but run a section of the A947 to reach Birkenhills then the back roads home. Here's where I thought it would be easier with the wind at my back but the storm always seems to settle down once I put my back to it.
Sunday was the same tactic, local roads into the storm but there was no way I was fit for 19 miles. Stinging hail felt like needles on my face as I squinted into the storm. This was a pretty uneventful run broken up by some scenic views across the fields. Once again, the weather seamed to settle down once I turned around and made my way to New Deer.
So that's another training week done, this time 14 miles short. Let's take something positive from it. Training in that sort of weather certainly toughens me up and although short on miles, I'm sure the effort required would equal more. I now have a painful hip, I'm sure it's caused by all the road running. This week is another 58 miles but I don't know if this niggle will stand it, now might be the time to listen to my body.
Tues 4, Wed 3, Thurs 4, Sat 20, Sun 13. Weekly total 44 miles.
Sunday, 25 January 2015
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.
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.
Monday, 12 January 2015
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.
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.
Sunday, 4 January 2015
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.
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.
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