The Apprentice

I was mulling over some thoughts for a blog today on my snowy Sunday run around Kilmahog and the lower bits of Ben Ledi, about thinking how I still feel like an apprentice in the ultra running world, and that there is still plenty of time to be served..in fact, maybe for most of us, we never actually become the master tradesman.

I think in this scenario, we are probably both the apprentice, and the boss (Alan Sugar if you like), as most of us are not under the direction of a coach, or commitment to reach a certain level to achieve that will secure us a long term future in the sport (and unlikely to get fired, unless we do to ourselves, either willingly or through illness or injury).  We wrestle with dreams and hopes, inspired by what we see and read around us, often uber keen to achieve and succeed in events a few years ago we had never even heard of.

With 'Karen' and 'Nick' poised there, one on each shoulder, like an angel and devil, retrospectively pointing out the mistakes we make, the opportunities we could have taken or egging us on to go further, harder or faster, in more races and more training.

And the 'team' around us - friends, acquaintances, co-competitors in many an event and training run, often sharing similar dreams and goals, yet all from different backgrounds.  Whilst I'm not suggesting there is any negativity here, how do we filter the huge amount of information thrown at us.  Everyone has an opinion, a different set of experiences and achievements.  Not a day goes by without  reasonable questions being raised, and the answers coming from all angles - you need Hoka/innov8/Salomon (insert any other shoe brand here), you need to do yoga/pilates/squats/lunges/kettlebells/metafit/insanity/foam rolling (and many other things in between) or you must run faster/slower/hillier, following this training plan, or that one....do 20 miles a week....do 120...... 

And I'm no different - I offer my thoughts, I absorb the suggestions; I worry, I wonder...I drool over new kit, I question if I'm training enough, or too much, or the right 'kind' of training....question my logistics (if I get it wrong, how p***ed off will my crew be hanging around wondering where I am? / how many weekends am I going to be away on training runs that take all day?), my finances (it's not just the entry fees to consider).  I'm no different to many others I expect.

But I'm serving my time, and still learning as I go.....it's 15 years since I did my first marathon, and there's been ups and downs, good decisions and bad since then.  Everything contributing over the long term towards building the strength in the body and mind, getting me to where I am today. There were a few years not running, while training in sports massage, and being injured. I'm sure there will be times like this again. 

The goals may look and feel different now, and the lifestyle and work requirements too.  One thing I have learnt is that the training plan has to be mine, and mine alone....whether it's for a 10k or a 100miler.....others can guide and advise, but I need to adapt it, and not beat myself up when things need to change.  I need to own it and deliver it as best I can, taking responsibility for the decisions I make, even when some of those decisions are out of my control when they relate to work. 

Same with kit, and any element of the jigsaw really - test it and try it when you can, what's right for some, might not be for you...ask advice and try to find what's right for you....and accept that your needs will change over time.

I'm still learning, and listening, still the apprentice, and expect and hope to be that way for many years to come, without getting 'fired'!

The Luck of The Draw

Well, what a week it's been! And I almost ran out of blog-time (to be fair, I 'should' be doing some work, but my work laptop is playing up, and I've kinda promised myself I'll blog every week, so let's get on with it!)

Weather...it's been crazy this week! Tuesday morning's run got slightly curtailed as Cori and I got caught in yet another blizzard. Darkness, headtorches and snowflakes the size of, what felt like bricks, battering into your eyeballs isn't a great combination.

Sandra and Lorna heading towards the sun

The end of the week made up for it though, with mostly blue skies and alpine views across the hills - 'typical' Glee Club weather at Tyndrum for about 20 of us doing varying distances.  

I was one of those who did the shortest distance on the day, finding the knee deep snow quite tough going I opted for the 'sensible' turn around at Bogle Glen choice.  By that point I was feeling pretty knackered with the climbing, and I know my fitness and stamina are not quite there yet.  

Pre-run group shot

Mentally it's quite tough as there were many folk on the day I usually am able to keep up with and go the distance...and chat along to... It is only January though, and plenty of time for me to peak for June, and work on getting back to the chat!

On the plus side, I got a wee shot with my new Mountain King lightweight poles on the way back (and before anyone says it, I KNOW I'm not allowed to use them in the WHW race).  First outing of them...so far, so good!

To further make up for the blizzards and crappy weather, the other epic thing which happened this week was the draw for the UTMB races, and I've been lucky enough to get through the ballot for the CCC - 101km of fun in the Alps in August!  

Feeling blessed to have been lucky in the ballots for the two races I wanted to do this year which were both well over-subscribed! Time for some additional hills to be added into this year's training plan (although this was already high on the agenda anyway!). 

And also lucky to have the benefit of a load of great friends who have been before, and are going again (for various races or for fun), and instantly sprung into action sorting accommodation and advising on travel.  I can't wait to see everyone hopefully having a great run, and soaking up the sweaty alpine atmosphere!

Cori dog helping me today

The week ended today with some more slippy miles in the snow...once again lucky with the sunshine (and mostly benefiting from a tail-wind for the first half!).  I stuck to the roads today, and had some 4-paw assistance (which was worth it's weight in dog biscuits when being attached by harness to him saved me from a near disastrous face plant!).  Oh, and a great massage this afternoon too...VITAL part of training...and I definitely needed it!

Oh, and I almost forgot...I'm a half-stone lighter than when I went back to work....determination is working!  So much so, that I poured a glass of wine tonight while making dinner (wee bit left in the bottle excuse..) and then poured it down the sink rather than drink it!  Jeeeeez......

4 runs this week totalling 36 miles (2 x 6 miles, 2 x 12 miles)
2 rest days
1 wee spin in front of the log fire
2 wee core/strength & conditioning

A good week...still broadly on track!

Back on it!

There's nothing quite like a new year and a 95 mile run to help re-focus the mind!  Boom, here we go...I almost said 'again'...and while there is an element of it being the second time I'm going after the goblet, there has to be some things different about it this year.  As the saying goes, and I was reminded listening to the WHW podcast with Mike Raffan yesterday on my long run...'do what you've always done, get what you've always got'.

Cori looking for MtM on JBH

The main focus for January is sorting out the diet and getting back to following a plan for training.

Week 1..well, 11 days, has gone just fine!

A great run from Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe on 3rd Jan re-ignited the passion and awesomeness of WHW (that's when the photos were taken).  The conditions were perfect and the changing light gave me a great excuse to stop and take loads of pictures. I think it's one of my favourite stretches of the route.  Clark cycled in from Glencoe end and met us (me & Cori dog) at Ba Bridge.  I hardly saw a soul otherwise - just a handful of walkers and several herds of deer.  Perfect.

Healthy eating started on Monday when I went back to work and I'm using the myfitnesspal app for now to track what I'm doing.  I find keeping some sort of record motivates me to think twice about what I put in my mouth.  And I'm feeling the difference already (although not been on the scales yet...).

And as if trying to fit training (and resting) in around work, the inevitable winter has hit.  Yesterday's first long run of the year was teetering on the brink of not happening as the storm force blizzards rattled through.  I'd planned to stay close to home and do road miles though (to optimise the time available to recover afterwards), so decided to man up and do it in case today wasn't any better (which it's not much).  It wasn't pretty, it wasn't much fun and I made a few dumb-ass mistakes on fueling and kit.  I did manage to catch up on 2 podcasts though and didn't take the 'slightly easier' route choice, deciding that some more hills would do me good.  


Back to the point about changing up your training, I've also joined a running club to 'force' myself to do some hill reps/intervals/speed work...something that's 'hard' to do on your own and was lacking in last year's training (despite being in the plan).  So far, so good...it's tough going, but then that's the point!  The benefits will come!



And finally, the gym stuff..it's laughable how feeble some of my core efforts have been (Clark was wetting himself at my inability to plank, never mind side plank!), yet even after a few wee sessions I can see the difference...and you can't beat that shaky arm feeling after a wee bit of lifting!  I know the strength work will make a difference (and was another point from Mike's podcast yesterday about something that made a difference to him, so it's not just me saying it!)

It's kinda scary when you look at the diary and the training plan (and the big wall chart) and June seems REALLY close.  Key is remembering that it's only January and this is not the time for heroics (or panicking about what everyone else is doing).  I don't need to be 'ready' now, I need to be there in June, that's the only time that it will count.  Until then, taking little bite sized chucks and eating them all up!

I'm going to try and blog each week again this year to help me remember and track my progress.

Month to date: 
5 x strength/core training
3 x spin
5 x runs (46 miles)
1 x hilly hike

That's all folks....