Poles and working on positive thinking

I decided I wanted to try out some poles and just be out for a bit with no expectations of time, effort or distance. After all time on my feet is good training anyway. I am struggling to stop looking at strava and play the comparison game where in my mind I always come out short. Others always seem to be doing so much more; time, distance; efforts etc etc. In my heart I know we are all different. We train different, have different strategies, different responsibilities and different expectations. We will all be running our own race and I really really need to start focusing on my own race, from now! And today I was just out with my boys...my besties. The ones that keep me going when feeling really low and help me to keep believing that I have what it takes to run 100 miles!

We made our way from Seathwaite over to Wasdale, the wind doing its best to blow us of the mountainside and the terrain, well I hated it. But armed (or footed) with my Hokas I felt much more at ease knowing that every step wasn't going to be a risk of sharp rocks hurting my feet. It wasn't easy or that fun but I was able to just tell myself that although I'm not running much it's good agility training :) A lot of the terrain was rocky and just difficult to navigate with much speed. I didn't think much to the poles going down that sort of trail. Going up Black Sail I did feel I could have pushed more but took time trying to get used to the poles, and I wasn't focusing on speed. On our last ascent up a scree path between Great and Green Gable they made a considerable difference. I was able to get a good rhythm and ease off the legs a bit, my arms got a bit of a work out for a change! 

So, Hokas I'm pretty convinced I will use at least on the second half of the 100. Poles, I'm undecided but think they could be really helpful to ease off the legs. So long as I don't get fed up with carrying them when I don't want to use them. I think if I can put them in my bag when I want that would be the best option. 

A good day out. Some good ascending and descending with some kit trial too. And I was with my boys in the mountains :)