Tag Archives: Trail Running

Training Updates

Training update, the plan for the 100

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My previous post mentioned that I was considering a 100 mile ultra next year, well (assuming all the places don’t go before I can register) I will be doing the NDW100.

With the decision made my focus on training has returned, albeit limited due to the Snowdonia Marathon in a week. With the cycling a firm feature of my week I have to look to ways to incorporate this as part of my ultra training. It’s not ideal, but you have to work with what you got so I am going to make the best of it.

So this week has been the usual fair of 10 mile cycle in 12 mile cycle back Monday to Thursday, with a 9.5 (Garmin missed the first 0.5) mile run in. The run wasn’t to bad even after the 4 days of cycling, with my pace averaging 09:40/mi

OK, so its pretty much downhill all the way

Its not the most taxing of routes, being on the road for the most part and practically all downhill but with the added weight of a full rucksack it is good training. My plan, following the recovery from Snowdonia is to incorporate running to work maybe twice a week, to work and back. I won’t start straight away with the 20 miles per day, building up to the full 10 miles on the way back by getting the train initially and getting off before home (not being near any stations I am always going to have a small run at the end)

I am hoping to keep the “long” weekend runs to a minimum as I want to keep this time to spend with the family, building these into the training as probably once every 3-4 weeks, starting out with a 20 miler and increasing it from there. Its going to be interesting to see how it works out and I am sure my plan will be modified here and there.

In other news, the latest edition of Ultra Tales is out, with contributions from many ultra runners, me included. This is a free e-magazine featuring contributions from many runners and I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in ultra running, being newbies or seasoned runners, with just under 250 pages it is a great read.

The links to the download are (Box) http://bit.ly/RLhLgc  (GoogleDrive) http://bit.ly/WL6Yr2  (SkyDrive) http://sdrv.ms/Vd6Soy (links courtesy of ultratales)

For more information, follow @ultratales on twitter or Facebook to support this magazine and keep up to date on upcoming issues and how to contribute.

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100 miles?

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This the question I have been asking myself since the NDW50 in August. My feelings immediately after the 50 miles was “no way”, with me instead wanting to get some more 50 mile Ultra’s under my belt before tackling double that distance.

Sitting here now, 2 months on my feelings have changed. I have been thinking about why I wanted to do a 50 mile run in the first place, I have a desire to reach the limit of what I am capable of, to get to the point of failure. Now most people would be expecting for me to say “and push through it” but if I am honest that is not why I am doing it, don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t go into it hoping to fail, or to fail because I didn’t but the effort in training. In some ways to reach the limit of my capabilities is to potentially not be able to continue, be it 40 miles in, 60, 70 or even 99.

With the registration for the North Downs Way 100 fast approaching I have little time to make a decision, one which I will make together with my wife (as she is the one who suffers the absentee husband, out on his 4+ hour training runs). With the NDW50 now on a different date it is easier to build in that run as part of the training for a 100 mile attempt.

It is quite a difficult thing to explain, this type of rational behind why I want to do this. Most runners wouldn’t contemplate this, going on the assumption that the goal is to finish. This maybe what separates individuals who compete in Ultra distance vs. other running events. The challenge is not always to succeed, but to know yourself and you limits.

Could this be mine?
Training Updates

Training update: 01/10/2012 – 14/10/2012

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Posting has been a bit sporadic recently, but with the Snowdonia Marathon fast approaching my training is somewhat different to what I was doing in the run up to the NDW50. This is mainly due to the commute on the bike every day causing me to have limited time for running, as well as tired legs.

So what have I been up to over the last couple of weeks, well week commencing 01/10/2012  I managed to incorporate my running into my commute and ran the 10 miles to work on the Tuesday and Friday, getting a lift home on the Tuesday and Taxi (following a night out) on the Friday, with cycling to and from work the other days. While my running strategy is still using the run/walk method that I adopted on the Ultra, my average min per mile was under 10 mins both days so I am pretty pleased with how I am pacing.

The running was on the roads, opposed to my usual trails, which I am guessing added to the increase in pace, however this was counteracted my the weight of the OMM 25 litre pack containing my suit etc. for work.

This week the only day I managed to get a run in was 6 miles today and despite the lack of running in between I don’t feel as if I have lost much in the way of running fitness, it’s almost the opposite in fact as the run today felt pretty good and for a trail run that consisted of practically 3 miles up and then 3 miles down my pacing was on the quicker side, averaging at 09:12/mi which if I can maintain on the Snowdonia Marathon I would be laughing.

I think that incorporating the cycling has had the benefit of strengthening my leg muscles to enable me to maintain a harder effort for longer, while giving me some added power on the up hills. The only downside (other than not having the time to run as much, and the fact that I had cycling on roads!) is that I seem to be overcooking myself on the effort, going at a fast pace which I cannot maintain and having to slow down to a walk, before recovering and going at a too quick pace. Given that the run today did have walking in it at points gives an idea of what the average pace was when I wasn’t walking, which is just too quick for me to maintain at the moment.

With 12 days until Snowdonia I have little time to rein in my pace and get it to something more manageable in time for the marathon. I think I will be able to adjust in time, I have a week off work before so no cycling for that week and some short runs will help.

 

 

 

 

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Ten Questions About My Running

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I have seen this post on a couple of other blogs, namely Fit for a Year and Gareth Davies PT, the questions originally started on another mother runner blog. I figured I might as well add my responses to the questions.

How long have I been running?

It all started with garethdaviespt.com and another guy, Simon, doing a Duathalon and then deciding that they wanted to do the Grim Original and asking if I wanted to join in, this was about September 2010.

What is my most memorable run?

Surprisingly it isn’t the North Downs Way 50, it isn’t even a race. The most memorable run I have done was a training run, the first time I every hit the Marathon Distance. This run was a milestone that cemented my path to the Ultra, and gave me the belief that I could achieve it with training and willpower.

Three words that describe my running.

A title of a book that should be read by all wannabe Ultrarunners “Relentless Forward Progress”

What running shoes do I use?

Several different ones, I own New Balance Minimus MT10 and MT00 as well as New Balance MT110, I am looking to get some MT1010 in the near future as well as some Minimus Road.

NB Minimus MT10
Do I have any quirky habits while running?

My left foot tends to stick out when I run, I sometimes look like a paddle boat going along.

When do I run, morning, midday or evening?

Mornings, although I am having to rethink my training plan with the daily commute on the bike.

Does the weather stop me running?

Sometimes, I really dislike running in the rain. I will do it, but some days I will have a bonus rest day!

Have I ever had a running injury?

I had an IT Band injury for a while, switched to barefoot shoes and this improved and eventually resolved itself. Currently dealing with intermittent forefoot pain on the left, but again treatment does seem to be working (RICE)

I felt most like a badass runner when……

Finish line at the North Downs Way 50

A pretty good feeling crossing that line
My next race is….

Snowdonia Marathon

Training Updates

Im Back!!

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So its been a while since my last post and I would like to say I have been doing lots of running but unfortunately that’s not the case. The last post before my break, I mentioned that I had a niggle on the left foot and to date it is still causing some issues, it has improved a great deal but is not what I would call ‘healed’.

That said I think I am now in a position to start running properly again and begin to build the mileage back up, which is lucky as I have a marathon to run in just under 5 weeks. I have been lucky to an extent as, following a recent move I now cycle a round trip of 22 miles a day to and from work, which has helped keep my fitness up while keeping the impact low on my legs. With all the cycling though, I have realised how much I enjoy running and the freedom it brings, cycling along busy main roads brings me now pleasure and I have been itching to get back out the trails, which I managed to do this weekend.

With my move I am now a stones through away from the North Downs Way,which I could have done with a year ago! As the running has been limited this weekend was the first exploration of the local trails and how I could factor the NDW into my training regime. Obviously with a 100mile+ commute I am focusing on the weekends to get my running in and moving forward this will be a regular thing, building up the distance again as I am planning on doing the NDW50 again next year, with some other marathons and shorter ultra’s in-between.

Saturdays run then, starting out about midday the weather was lovely and it felt a perfect day for a run. I had an idea of the route I would be taking, map in hand I headed off:

Not a bad start to a run, after about 500 yards of road I am on the trails!
After 3 weeks of roads and cars, a quiet trail is the best place to get back that sense of calm
A familiar sight, those sign posts mark one of the greatest trails in the south.
The views from Gravelly Hill, Caterham
Another photo which sums up why we run trails

So a pretty scenic run throughout, one thing that happened requires special mention. Following the map I had gone onto what appeared to be a fairly unused public footpath, enjoying myself and not paying too much attention I approached the next style, when I looked up I was presented with the below and practically jumped out my skin.

No way getting through, and that one in the middle poking his head up is a big bad Bull! No way I was going to mess with them and no way around, time to turn back and find another way.

So a total distance of about 7 miles, the longest run in 3 weeks. I did manage another run the week before, my brother recently got married in Warsaw, Poland, so as we were over there I took my running kit and went for a 4mile run to see some of the sights, a great way to see the city.

Lastly:

Spot the river, spent ages trying to find a way across.