Slowly building up

After a slow February I am slowly starting to feel myself building up the miles and enjoying being out again. Admittedly the better weather, lighter morning and evenings helps, but I think taking a bit of the pressure off and just getting out and enjoying running, no matter the distance, ascent or time has helped get me feel driven to push a bit more again.
We had a great weekend out from Coniston on the weekend starting with the Lakeland 100 route into Seathwaite and before getting to Boot headed towards round back into Coniston. It was really boggy under foot and my feet froze and being the longest run in a while I did feel a little grumpy at points. And navigating, who would have thought that would be quite so tiring. I spent ages deciding where we were going to go the week before, and then trying to find the route around was tricky, but with a little help I managed. OK, with a lot of help! We had one really steep climb and needed the help of some wine gums, which is unusual for me, to get me up to the top. The descent was quite uncomfortable on numb feet, but once we were making our way along by Levers water feeling had returned and was just loving the beautiful surroundings. A great 18 miles out and over 1500m of ascent. On reflection I think more food would have helped me, but managed a thin bread cashew butter sandwich, chicken and pickle sandwich and trek bar. yes, Kibo probably shared half with me so maybe I just need more treats for him :)

Sunday I dragged lacked motivation as Joe wasn't feeling well I had to go on my own. I picked a route I knew, or so I thought, from Coniston to Skelwith Bridge. I went off course from the start so it didn't set me up well. A few shouts and tears later I got back on course and plodded very slowly through the very wet and boggy terrain until Chaplestile where i felt such relief to be running on firm ground. I'd had enough and settled on a 12 mile day, just happy that I had run back to back days after a while being off the mountains.
So much to work on. So much uncertainty, anxiety and serious doubt. Feeling tired after an 18 mile leisurely run out makes me so unsure about if I will be able to do it. But isn't that the point? To see how far you are willing to push and go through pain? Oh my goodness, I just hope I have it in me!

Post holiday blues and doubts

After a fantastic time away in a place that still feels so much like home I have hit a real low, physical and mental. I have felt lethargic and just low on energy. Maybe it's the travel and adjustment back to the cold. Either way it doesn't warrant well for training for 100 miles. I have been questioning whether it is a good idea to do the event, if I am up for it and so on. But then, after speaking to my wise husband, I realise that I feel freaked out and overwhelmed at trying to pick up where I left off with training. So I am going to try taking the pressure off and remember why I entered the event in the first place...getting out running in the mountains, preferably with others. So i am not going to focus on how many miles, meters of ascent or hours I have to put in and just get out for runs, short or long, low or high and get back to looking forward to and enjoying being out. With that I am sure the miles will be done and i will get the motivation to do some hills in.
I started today with a  great run out, nice and steady around Crummock and Buttermere with a friend and had a great time :)

Lamu

 

Early Morning walks, a swim in the sea, followed by fruit and eggs for breakfast was a great start to each morning. Shela really is a special place where you meander through the narrow sandy alley ways, passing little kiosks selling the limited range of produce towards the sea front that's decorated with dhows and boats. There is a real sense of calm and unity and no fear for your safety. I spent my mornings and much of the day between the village and the beach, chatting to the locals and enjoying the serenity of the place. I couldn't get enough of the tea and though our diet was limited to fruit, salad, fish, eggs and chapatis or rice, it was always fresh and well prepared. Even if you did have to wait over an hour for it. It felt good to have a bit of a cleanse but won't lie I missed a good bit of bread, cereal and looked forward to something other than fish. You know you've been spoilt when it gets to that stage.

Whilst I have missed running, I have embraced the yoga and think that it may have been good for me to work my body in a different way. Swimming in the sea was also a good way of giving my upper body more attention and exercising in a different way. I just hope that I'll be feeling fresh and motivated when I get back, especially now I have relaxed into holiday mode. 

 

Time to chill

Ha, just wrote a post and lost it 😩 Sat drinking gorgeous Kenya tea in paradise that is Lamu. I have taken two weeks off to spend time relaxing, bonding with my sister and getting back to my roots in Kenya. I grew up in Kenya and having spent 19 years here it will always be home to me. I am lucky enough to come back and spend some time with my sister who's finances family live here, and even more lucky to come to the Island of lamu and spend a week relaxing by the beach in a home like hotel where the staff cannot do enough for you and we can do yoga every evening. Camt forget to mention eating fresh fish and of course the local tea and coffee that's just awesome. Saying that I have to admit to struggling with the idea of doing nothing for two weeks. After pushing myself in January to get in the miles and ascent and feeling like I couldn't quite do enough it's hard to switch off and be ok with the odd stroll and swim in the sea. I feel guilty and find it hard not to think of what others may be doing. Yes, I hate to admit I compare myself to others and usually those that do 60-80 miles a week, stupid amounts of ascent, not to mention the gym, swimming and extra stuff on top. So the more obsessive types. But I need to remind myself why I run, what else in life is important to me and that I do a lot more than many others. I really just want to be ok with doing less or not much for a period of time, all the while knowing that I will always want to get back to it and then embrace it more. My body I'm sure will thank me for it. Does this sound like I am trying to convince myself that's two weeks of not doing much, eating, sleeping, reading and relaxing taking time out is ok?! I think it probably does because that's probably what I'm doing lol.  Saying that I did enjoy a very leisurely jog on the beach, a paddle in the sea and am looking forward to a walk and yoga later... Maybe tomorrow I'll do much less, maybe I'll do more. I will continue to try and not let it be the be all and end all and in the mean time think about how hard I'll be working when I get back. I think I'll lie down now 😜

Slowly building...miles, ascent and confidence in the mountains

What a beautiful last couple of runs out I have had in the lakes. It really is one of the most beautiful places in the world when its clear, crisp and the sun is shining.
Last week I was pleased that

I managed to get 50 miles and 5000m of ascent in. It took real mental effort to get out, especially one day when it was foggy, drizzly and generally a bit yuck. But once I was out I managed to get some focus and just get the job done so to speak.
I have real confidence issues being out in the mountains on my own, especially in miserable weather. Having Joe be with me part of the way one day and suggesting a further route and then being in the same area on another day really helped. Not to mention little Kibo being an amazing companion, looking up at me with those eyes and floppy ears, he really is such good company, even if he does try to trip me up from time to time.
Anyway, today I ventured out on my own, if familiar territory, planned my own route and just went for it. I managed to run more or less all of 20.4km (18+miles) and 1800m of ascent. I felt pretty good, even if I did have a bit of indigestion, felt really thirsty and didn't fancy eating much! It was just a beautiful day and I had plucked up the courage to just get out on a route I planned and despite not being in the mood I had a good day out. I won't lie, I am not looking forward to having to be out for 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 hours out on my own. Just really hope I can arrange some company because it really is great sharing special surroundings with others, and it makes the time go that little bit quicker with someone to natter along with 😜

4 days till I get to Kenya for a bit of a rest and just enjoy the odd run, yoga and swimming with my little sister 😆



Kibo enjoying the view from Causey Pike

Enough? Enough? Am I doing enough?

 Kibo loving the snowy, icy, slippy terrain

I'm heading out to Kenya for in a couple of weeks, for a couple of weeks. And yes I am excited for some sunshine and relaxation but can't help feeling the pressure to get the miles in before I go.
I had a target set of doing 30 miles a week from the beginning of Jan and around 2000m of ascent. The first week was a bit of a wipe out as I was down with a cold and with the weather being what it was didn't think it too wise to push it. I've managed to get in the miles over the last couple of weeks but won't lie, the ascent is lagging! And I can't help feeling a build up of panic from time to time about what is before me and if I can't get in the training whatever the weather, how am I going to achieve 100 miles!!! Have I done a stupid thing in thinking that I could, possibly, run, walk, hobble, crawl 100 miles? I hate the feeling that whatever I do is not going to be enough and want to make sure I give myself the best chance of being even close to finishing! yes, panic is setting in, can you tell??!

On a positive note I have had a couple of lovely runs out. Getting out with a friend is always great and enjoyed a steady, wet run around Derwent water. It was nice and sheltered and though a bit cold and wet at the end was able to enjoy a warm coffee at the end and relish having spent time out with a new friend, getting to know each other better, doing what we both love.
I then pushed myself to get out by myself on the weekend, which wasn't difficult as the sun was shining and there is something so special about being in the mountains when there is snow on the ground and clear skys. It was a hard 20 miles being all running terrain, even though the ice slowed me down some what, but was pleased to get some miles in and Kibo just loved playing in the snow.
I am also supplementing my running with some cycling and cross training in the gym, so trying to keep positive and reassured that it all adds up and helps.
I will plan to do what I can for the rest of the month, it's still early days I have to keep telling myself, but will look forward to some relaxing Yoga and recovery and then planning some long days out on return, preferably with company 😆

Winter training at its best

 

After a lovely and hectic Christmas break it was good to shake off the cobwebs and festivities with a run up Gasgall Gill. I'm not the best in the cold and I struggle with winter training but it was spectacular. Setting out in the afternoon with my family (husband and dog Kibo) we made it up the top of white side for sun set. It was breath taking with the view and yes the cold, and reminds me of why I love to get out in the mountains so much. No one else was about and we really felt the whole place was ours. I'm pleased with my new innovate running shoes (terraclaw) and my montane running tights kept my legs warm. I did struggle as always with my hands and the bitter wind on my face was giving me a headache. All in all a fantastic first run out in the Lakeland mountains for 2017 Looking forward, mostly, to the rest 😀