Putting our feet up

For the last week I've been putting my feet up a bit and taking it easy. If only with the same view! So yeah I was in Vegas for a couple of days, which is a crazy crazy place, and we walked everywhere. But so to speak I have had it chilled, if that's possible in the heat of Texas. And although I get restless and I kind of hate to admit it, but I have enjoyed taking it easy for a bit. Spending time with family and the husband, without any interruptions has been a nice change. You forget how much time training takes and I am one to put pressure on self to always be on the go. I had time to stroll around the shops with no real purpose, bake and cook and even get a pedicure (poor person doing my feet!) But now I am rearing to go and get back to training. I just hope I can remember that having some time out is actually ok and really quite nice when convincing myself of important rest days.

Humphrey's Peak

What a great route! I managed to run most of the way to the saddle, 500ish meters I think?! When I say run, I did my best jumping between routes and rocks. It really was a beautiful route and I was just glad to be feeling more on it today. 

Plateau point

We spent the day yesterday walking around the South Rim Grand Canyon village heavily debating and investigating a rim to rim to rim adventure. That's about 23miles, 1800m ascent to the north rim, carrying camping gear to sleep in the freezing cold to then make the return journey back. Or spend near $200 to bus it back. I got excited at the prospect of the challenge and finishing our Grand Canyon adventure exhausted but, on already fairly tired legs, our sensible heads kicked in and we settled for an out and back instead. And we pushed it! We had an easy run down and out the Plateau point for a stunning view then I ran my longest ascent ever! 968m! I don't know where the determination or strength came from?! My lungs were burning the last half mile, but once I took a moment to fill them I felt strong enough to keep pushing on. I am normally one for steady gradual running, none of this anaerobic stuff, but it felt like each little extra bit I did was a great achievement until I shuffled out at the top. I just hope I can feel as determined back home where it can often feel so hard and draining. Lakeland hills here I come! 

Down and out of the Grand Canyon

What an unbelievable day!  One of the things that I love about fell/trail running is the like minded people you meet, wherever you are in the world. The day we arrived at our camp site we noticed a couple who had running gear on and so approached them, as you do, asking what their plans were with the sneaky suspicion they may be here with similar goals? The next morning we walked over to Kaibab Trail head to make our way down into the Canyon and then out in a day.  The trail was rough, dusty and hard going down with no water stops on the way. This was the reason we decided to head this way as the other trail (Bright Angel), that we ascended out via has regular water stops, so a definite recommendation for anyone wanting to do it. However, the descent is steeper so, if like me you are quite nervous going down, do it for the practice as I tried to see it, or go the other way 😊 We set off a little later than expected and I got concerned when a ranger asked us our plans and cautioned us into going down and out in a day due to the heat and challenge of the climb and to re-evaluate at tip off point. 45 mins in and we had reached tip off point and felt great! Hot and dusty, but no burning quads or sore toes! What was going on?! In one hour 20 minutes we had made it to the bottom and had the reward of a dip in The Colorado river. It really was lovely, but have to say I didn't feel the vastness of the canyon from being down in it compared to overlooking it.  Topped up on water and cooled off we started the 1300m climb out. I had prepared myself mentally for a long, slow climb with little running involved. I don't know if it was the surroundings, the steadiness of the climb or what but I managed to run all the way to Indian gardens, 5ish miles and 400ish m of ascent in total time (from the start) of 2.34mins! I quote the time just because I was shocked. Joe and I both felt great and think were relishing the fact that we were both on form and moving quickly and comfortably along the windy steady uphill trail amongst other hikers and mules. It was hot though and after 4 hours and 10mins of moving at what we felt was a good pace, it was nice to stop at the top and stretch off overlooking what we had accomplished and the beauty in front of us. Rest and recuperate tomorrow I think.   

The Grand Canyon

You're walking along and suddenly wow! There it is...the amazing deep gorge that is the Grand Canyon! Unbelievable! No running today, just setting up camp and psyching ourselves up for a 20 mile round trip tomorrow, down and back up 1300m+! Yikes! Just one big hill rep.  Have got to endure a night in a very small tent with minimal cushioning. 

Flagstaff-sunset trail

A lie in and slow start to the day. You'd think that I'd be rearing to go, buzzing with energy and excitement of exploring a new place. I was excited, but buzzing with energy? No! As we set off at a very slow plod from Flagstaff sunset trail head I felt heavy, tired and not really enthused. It was going to be a long and hard 8-10 miles. I quickly decided that I wanted to take it easy and walk/pace the steady climb and jog the downs when I felt like it. Once I made that decision I felt better, more relaxed and happy to continue. It's all good time spent on your feet, and the altitude takes some getting used to. Today was one of those days where I had to talk myself round and realise that it's ok to take it easy, even rest days are training days (let's see how I feel when I'm stuck on a plane back to uk lol). Anyway, my point is that I think I need to continue to work on training hard but also learning to rest well too, as I'm sure many of you are, especially in the running world. It's easy to get sucked into the 'must do more and more miles'. As a physio I should practice what I preach and encourage...good recovery.
I finished strong after the 50 having done 26 miles as my longest day a couple of weeks before, and probably doing between 4 and 13 miles as a max 2-3 times a week at most, mixed in with some biking and walking. I think I've always had a fairly good fitness base and I struggle to do nothing, but I could have done way more. I don't think I really 'wanted' to, but felt I 'should'. And I know that training for anything has its good and bad points, I just want it to make me more happy that sad. I don't know what I'm saying now. Yes train hard, but don't become overly obsessed and remember why you're doing it.
So, I guess my point to myself and others who feel like they must do a certain amount, or more is the only way, maybe we need to give ourselves a bit of a break at times?! It's still great to just get out and enjoy our incredible world. And the days it's hard and we do have to suck it up...good mental training when your more than likely going to feel pretty rotten during the 100 challenge.

Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Sedona

Sedona, What a place! What a place to start my training. Well, kind of. I did run the Lakeland 50 a month or so ago, the build up of that must count towards it, so long as I keep it up. People would often ask me, how do you train for something like that (the 50)? And the same will be asked I'm sure of the 100. The answer is, I'm not really sure but look forward to figuring it out along the way, and hopefully with the positive outcome of finishing and getting that all important medal (maybe we'll have that debate later?)
Anyway, as my husband says 'good acclimation training.' The heat certainly was a challenge, but I found that I coped well. We kept the time out short with a good mix of walking, stopping for photos and just enjoyed being out! And that's what it's all about. Being out, enjoying the scenery and appreciating being fit and able to. I take it for granted I'm sure. It has to be said that I am one for pushing self, feeling guilty if I don't think I've done enough (whatever that may be), and I guess a bit obsessive. So maybe training for 100 miles is not such a good idea? Or maybe I can use it to try and change that? Ensure I eat well, rest well and enjoy training with others rather than head down and go with no real purpose or goal other that 'because'. Our bodies are amazing and I want to learn to respect mine more, especially if I am going to want it to keep me going for a looooooooong way!

Oak Creek Canyon West Fork was amazing! Like nothing I've ever seen. It was so different from the days before going up to cathedral rock and chimney rock where the it was very exposed and dry, lots of cacti out to get us. Oak creek canyon was almost tropical, running through a gorge looking up to walls of rock and trees. When we got to the end of the trail (about 2 miles) we had a wade through the river and did some 'bundu bashing' (pushing through trees and bushes), to see if we could make our way further but I wasn't too keen on the scratches and getting covered in cobwebs, so we turned back and finished our day going up to Thomas point. It was a fun day, by no means easy...and that was less than ten miles out. All good though. I will try get pictures up but I'm a little slow with this blogging business so bare with me!

Starting the journey to 100

It wasn't the original plan...running a hundred miles. I was going to attempt the Lakeland 50 #lakeland100, and take a break, maybe do other things. But, after the euphoria of finishing 50 miles, coming fifth female in a time of 10.2 hours, in the beautiful Lake District, I just couldn't stop there. Even after seeing the pain the 100 mile runners were experiencing I thought, why not? Let's see what my mind and body can really cope with. I'll get over the idea after a week or so I thought, or not. September the 1st came and at 9am I was sat in Manchester airport in Costa with my finger on the button ready to enter the Lakeland 100 2017. And, being one of the lucky ones that got in (entries filled in about 6minutes) it was decided, my training would start on holiday, in Sedona Arizona USA. 
I hope that through this blog I can give some idea into the madness of even considering to run 100 miles; the trials and errors that come with training; things tried and tested; and hopefully inspire, encourage and maybe educate or assist other runners, or up and coming runners.