First Lady ennerdale 50km

'I'm just going to use it as a training run.' That was until I got swept up in the event and my competitive side took over. Leading the whole way I couldn't not give it my all to try and win. And I really did give it my all, second Lady being only a few minutes behind. The course was tough, and not in the way you might think with a lot of technical and steep ground, but with I all being runnable and steady climbs. After the first 25k, ad only nibbling on bits of food as I could, my legs were feeling it. Instead of just taking the next round easy and finishing I felt the pressure of having lead the first round. With 12k to go my competitor caught me and I felt a wave of disappointment thinking I'd lost first place. I had to fight off the feeling of just wanting to give up and keep going, running my race. In the end this paid off, I got ahead on the climb and maintained it at the technical stretch, which is usually my biggest weakness and came in first. It was such a relief and shear joy, even more so as it was a battle.  I feel I learnt quite a bit about myself from this event, things I need to work on both physically and mentally. I hate admitting I'm competitive, but I really am. But I also know that if I let it get to me it could ruin my chances of finishing 100 miles. I need to run my race, as my amazingly supportive husband was telling me during the event. Like so many things in life, this is my journey where we learn from others and experience, offer and take support, but just remember why we do it. Because being out in the beautiful countryside is just awesome! Happy running! 

 

Bit of this and that

Returned from the States a couple of weeks ago and have been settling into new life in the beautiful Lake District. And it really is beautiful. I've already met some lovely people and been taken out on the fells with my gorgeous dog Kibo. The ground has felt soft, wet and the running quite hard. So, I've only done a couple of short runs and some good gym sessions, but being in a new place and having next to no navigation skills I am a little restricted. Therefore my aim is to get myself onto a nav course, practice some shorter routes and get out with others when I can. Someone also recommended strava to get other people's routes. And, although I do like seeing other people's hard efforts, I am terrible at comparing myself and always feeling I should do more. There are times, like now, I need to take stock and remember why I run or go to the gym etc?! How many of us are driven by guilt perhaps hiding behind our goals? And how many are the part of the population that maybe over exercise? It's a hard balance to achieve.  Coming back to why I run and train, yes there are times I am driven by guilt, but I love being out and seeing what I can achieve. Like many others out there I do want to be able to sit back, relax and reward myself more for what I already have achieved.  I had a lovely walk up to ulluck pike with my man and my dog, the sun was shining and I felt utterly blessed to be where I was. So get out do a little or a lot and just enjoy