Tag Archives: Ultra

Training Updates

Training Update: 11/02/2013 – 17/02/2013

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I now consider myself back in training and am now looking to construct a proper plan to get me ready for May. In terms of actual running this week I have only been able to get my Saturday long run in, weekday training has consisted of cycling to and from work Monday to Wednesday.

Looking at Saturday, this was a good run for me. It was the first run where the Achilles didn’t hurt at all and even after the run, pinching the tendon yields no pain whatsoever, leading me to hope that this is the last of it. I headed out wanting to do a stage of the North Downs Way 50 (and 100) so ran from the Gravelly Hill checkpoint location to the Botley Hill checkpoint (plus running back) totalling a distance of 13 miles. The pace wasn’t quick and well under my planned Ultra pace, but it felt good.

Another reason for the slow pace was that I had recently taken delivery of a GoPro camera and this allowed me to do something that I have wanted to do for a while. I have filmed my run, but focusing on the details of the NDW between these checkpoints with a view to putting it on YouTube to hopefully aid anyone who is racing the NDW50 or 100 and can’t get to run the Downs prior to the event. As part of my training I am going to try to get on all of the sections and will upload them as I get them done.

I have an edited version ready to go, but need to work out the best way of getting it onto YouTube as it’s a rather large file size. I have added some quick test films already which can be seen at my channel: UltraPlodderdotcom

Links to the specific clips: Clip 1, Clip 2

Next weeks plan, probably going to run to work at least once plus another long run on Saturday. I will be cycling the other days and have finally put the mountain bike away and got the road bike out.

I am more confident for May now, I have a lot of ground to make up but it is achievable.

North Downs Way Signpost

 

Training Updates

Building back up slowly

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This weekend was full of snow,  it also saw the first runs that I have been able to do in about 8 weeks. Since my injury I have been itching to go out and run, its hard to describe how frustrating it is to not be able to just go out if you feel like it, but I knew that resting would allow me to heal quicker.

I mentioned in previous posts the methods I was using to treat the Achilles and I am pleased to say that they seem to have worked. Hindsight now says that I simply wasn’t stretching enough and I believe that the injury was caused by tight calf muscles as well as overuse. A regime of stretching, eccentric exercises, RICE, and rolling appears to have made a vast improvement so come this weekend I was in a position to take a tentative run out in the snow.

I love running in the snow, the trails just look so amazing and it is just so much fun to be out there. Had it not have snowed then I may have held off on the running for another week, but it was an opportunity that I just didn’t want to miss.

Saturday was an easy 4 mile run,  walking on any steep inclines  and moderating the overall pace to not push my body too far. Despite the cycling I can tell that I have lost some running fitness, my breathing was heavy at times on sections that previous to my injury wouldn’t have been an issue, but this is something I can build back up. As Saturday seemed to go so well I decided to do a short evening run in the fresh snowfall to test out my new Silva Trailrunner Plus headtorch that I got for Christmas. A 3 mile run at a slightly quicker pace on Saturday with snow falling all around me was just what I needed, and the headtorch worked exactly as expected.

It’s still a long way to go to get back up to the distances I was running before, but I am confident I can get back there. The NDW50 in May is still possible with some focused training and extensive stretching.

Below are some photos I captured on my runs this weekend:

I love running through this tree tunnel, it was all the better in the snow
I love running through this tree tunnel, it was all the better in the snow
A snow covered uphill climb
A snow-covered uphill climb
I have missed running on the Downs
I have missed running on the Downs
A view of the North Downs Way covered in snow
A view of the North Downs Way covered in snow
The sort of weather when my Goretex Inov8 come in really handy
The sort of weather when my Goretex Inov8 come in really handy
A view of the tree tunnel from Saturday at night, illuminated by the Silva Trailrunner Plus
A view of the tree tunnel from Saturday at night, illuminated by the Silva Trailrunner Plus

Evening 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?
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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