The Fear

I've always said running the WHW race should scare you.  Not always in a totally all consuming sh%t scared kind of way.  But I think if you're not even slightly scared, then I don't think that's right....

For me, the fear this year is different, and rightly so.  The fear has been with me since before I entered the ballot though,and constant since then...sometimes more apparent than others.  The race is special, and epic, and probably the hardest and one of the most rewarding things I will do in my life.  I knew last year before I completed my first that I would want to do it again.  Last year there was the fear of the unknown...maybe this year, it's the fear of the known!

And now here I am, with just less than 3 weeks to go, ready to embark on my second quest for the cherished goblet!  3 weeks today, I'll be back on my sofa, smug and exhausted....and with a new profile picture for FB. There's no surprise that the current one has remained in situ for the last year.  I can still feel the emotion every time I look at it (and then I remind myself to chose a better outfit this year ha ha).

Sean Stone, me and John Kynaston 

There'll be time over the next few weeks to analyse the training.  In general, while mileage has been broadly similar to this point last year, the ascent has been greater, and I think there's been more cross-training.  What's done now is done, and I believe I've done enough to succeed.

It's never without worry right up to race day.  Getting to the start line is more than half the battle!  And until this last week there was an increase in fear since the Fling.  I've had a niggle in my hamstring/adductors and it wasn't until I completed my 40 for 40 long run this week that the positivity was back in my head.  I'd had a shocker of a 'long run' about a week before...bailing twice (thank you to Clark totally reading my mood and coming in the recovery wagon to scoop me up), there were tears, feelings of despair and all sorts of misery...

Thankfully I had my regular sports massage that week, have rested, foam rolled, and while there's still a slight tightness, the next 3 weeks of taper should sort me out.

So, last week I had a big birthday and a great week of holidaying in Aviemore, with a 40 mile run scheduled into the middle of it.  A great circular route from Aviemore, along the Speyside Way to Boat of Garten and on to Nethy Bridge.  Through Abernethy Forest and onto the Ryvoan Pass....a reverse loop of the Glenmore 24 route, along the front of Loch Morlich, back into Rothiemurchas and across to Loch an Eilein, through to Coylumbridge and back along past Aviemore to our rented 'mansion' (once the family had left after the weekend it felt HUGE!)

At the green lochan

And it felt good!  No pressure and no timescale.  First 12 miles with Cori Dog, the next 10 practising with my poles (I need to practice for the CCC later this year). 

The weather was near perfect - mild, with some breezy bits, some very sunny bits....and overall a smashing day out.

I was trying out some different nutrition (and I'm going to do another blog at some point on this topic).  I use oatcakes quite a lot when running (and snacking) and had been given some Nairns goodies to try out.  While I have used the 'Snackers' intermittently before and found them palatable (I'd tried the cheese ones mainly when they used to be called Oaty Bakes or something), I'd never seen or tried the Museli Breaks.  And I'll definitely be getting some more of these. Twin pack, easy to eat, tasty in a not-too-sweet, not-too-savoury way and seemed to digest and settle well!    I also tried out taking a sandwich with me, as that had worked well in Chamonix.  Avocado, cheese and ham on wholegrain bread.  And I made sure I took the time to pause to eat it. Another winner.

And so, for the rest of the week, some cross-training....in the shape of mountain biking, kayaking (in my super-exciting birthday present), hot tubbing...and a copious amount of eating and drinking!  I managed some resting too and the week just absolutely flew past in no time at all!

It has been my biggest mileage week of my training this year at about 58 miles. All of which have felt broadly comfortably good.  Super pleased at this.  I now know I'm ready, and can say it with confidence!

That's not to say there's now no fear.  There are 3 weeks to taper, retaining sound mind and body.  Don't break anything.  Don't over-do things. 

Spend the time finalising (starting!) the planning and packing for the crew.  

Panic buy.  Just because.  

And I've still got some more nutrition to try (I know it's quite late).  Having come highly recommended, I've bought some Tailwind which has just become available in the UK.

I tried one pack yesterday and will reserve judgement until I've had another couple of runs using it.  It sounds invincible, and like a great fuel for those final stages where the thought of anything makes you want to vomit.... It's hard to replicate that in training though!

So, enough rambling for now...with taperitis about to ensue, there'll be plenty more waffle time for the next 3 weeks....

Run steady,stay safe!

Relaxing evening after my 40 miler

MTB on the Speyside Way

Being suitably embarrassed by
Spud the Piper (and my
massive dessert!)

A Wee ReCCCee

Helen and I part way up Col De Montet

I've just had an awesome weekend...I hate to go on about it...really, I do.... However, I do just want to capture a quick reminder of it to help me in my old age when my brain and body function even less well than they currently do!

Ages ago, when there were discussions around entering the CCC (after suffering much 'race' envy when John, Helen and several others were taking part in the UTMB race week last year), an idea was floated of having a cheeky wee girls weekend to Chamonix to allow me to get an idea what the place was like, how big the mountains are, and ideally run a little part of the route itself.  Our wonderfully understanding and supportive husbands raised no objections...so, in the blink of an eye, a date was found in the midst of Fings, Caterans, holidays....and it was booked!



Our wee abode was in this building

And so, last Friday, we jetted off to Geneva (Easyjet flights, much cheapness, only slightly delayed), hopped into our wee minibus and were duly deposited at midnight at our wee apartment in central Chamonix.  Small but fully equipped and perfect for what we needed....bed, bathroom, wee kitchen area, wee seating area etc.  Ideally situated above a lovely bakery and a great restaurant!

And then we had a massive sleep!  Didn't really wake until 9.30am on Saturday (oops!).  Clearly we both needed it...we've both been ill in varying guises, so I think were both a bit apprehensive of how the weekend activities were going to pan out.  Thankfully we didn't have much to worry about - I think the warmer climate, and clean air and altitude agreed with us!

Saturday morning we had a potter around the town.....the sun was already beating down, so we treated ourselves to a leisurely breakfast in the main street in the sunshine, watching the world go by (croissants, jam, baguette, coffee, juice was to become the brekkie of champions for the weekend)....did some more pottering....I stared at the mountains a lot......tried to buy a book (didn't exist in English).....bought some tourist train passes....watched the paragliders....went to the supermarket (strawberries and fizzy the main order of the day)....had some more coffee....and eventually came up with a run plan for the day!

Selfie while Helen chomped a sour Haribo

Thankfully, Helen's experience of the area paid off and we chose a 'fairly' low level option (thus avoiding the snow on higher ground).  A cheeky wee train journey to Montroc (full of Japanese tourists!) and after a wee bit of fannying around finding the start of the path, then diverting to avoid an avalanche which blocked the path we were on our way, splashing down the waterlogged path to the amusement of the 'locals'.



Me admiring the view

I think we both found the heat and the altitude a bit of a challenge, but there were plenty of opportunities for pictures, checking the map, avoiding the snake and the killer bird of prey etc etc as we made our way up, up, up to the viewpoint at La Pierre a Bosson, where there was a spectacular view of the mountains and glacier and a serious cliff edge!

View at the top of La Pierre a Bosson

A wee snack of (my new fuel) jambon comte (sp?)...cheese and ham baguette! And then a wee trot down (to the pub) in Argentierre before a train back along to Chamonix for traditional dinner (molten cheese in fondue, wine, bread, pudding....).  Hmmm....calorie intake perhaps higher than expenditure today!  Day one, big tick!

We also had a Sunday plan by now!  Train to Vallorcine and a run back along the route of the CCC.  Very exciting!  More miles, and some bigger hills!

Sunday...not far from Vallorcine

Alarm set.....time for brekkie and onto the train (no Japanese tourists!).  Found the start of the path very easily and trotted off....the sun was already belting down, and the forecast was much hotter....  Skorts, vests, shades, poles, (spare jackets, foil blankets, food etc in backpacks)....no kahtoolas (Mr Munro had suggested we weren't going to need them....).

Climbing up...

I won't go through the route in detail, other than to say it was awesomely beautiful and pretty darn scary in almost equal measure. 

We needed a lot of MTFU-ery, and we survived!  In no small part to 2 French ladies we befriended on the ascent of Col du Montet.  One of whom was an experienced mountaineer, who spoke no English, but cut steps in the snow for us all the way up...and helped find our path at the top, delaying their lunch break to ensure we were heading the right way.



These 2 ladies saved the day.
This was one of the less scary snow
traverses.

We didn't say much until afterwards....both agreeing we had felt it was less frightening to go forwards than the thought of trying to go back the way we had just come!  The poles were invaluable!  And I think we are both quietly proud with our bravery!

Helen on the move

Fuelling on more baguettes, pastries and haribo seemed to agree with me.  Probably didn't drink as much as I should have been in the heat (despite the alpine glacial stream water being delicious!).  Energy wise felt pretty good all day.


Leg on sunday night!

Epic fail on suntan lotion....proper burnt and still suffering today (Wednesday)!



At the CCC finish line

Well earned refreshment

We missed one junction on the route, (not bad for 2 self-confessed poor navigators), so ended up doing the last couple of miles along the river back into central Chamonix.  Not to be defeated, Helen then made me run the entire lap of the town that the race finish follows, ending at the famous church, where we rewarded ourselves with a selfie and a MASSIVE beer!  Followed by a bottle of bubbly, and a great dinner at the place under the apartment.

Monday was home day and we still managed a wee run up and down the part of the route we missed out on sunday...more sunshine, awesome views....and a well earned breakfast!

I would, without shadow of doubt, go back for another training trip to Chamonix.  With an affordable 2 hour flight, reasonably priced accommodation, good places to eat/drink and phenomenal trails to run on with fantastic views....  Good thing I enjoyed it really, given I'm all booked up for the CCC in August!

And I can't wait!!