Icy, snowy and cold

Had a lovely run around Ennerdale lake with Kibo. Didn't anticipate going all the way round and doing 25km but it was just beautiful out and wanted to make the most of it. The snow and icy ground made it slow and tough in places and as I ran round I couldn't believe I did it twice, and quicker, a couple of mo this ago. Just goes to show what adrenaline, competition and good ground does. Now need to make sure I do some good Pilates/yoga to compensate. I am trying to make this regular practice as I definitely feel myself tightening up and as a physio need to practice what I preach and compensate for what my muscles are put through.

Night running

 I have on occasion woken up at 5am to fit in a run before work, or when I can't sleep. Yes crazy I know! There is something quite peaceful and accomplished about running in the dark. But, running through the night, on technical and wet ground when already weary does fill me with fear.
Joe and I decided to make our way up Skiddaw as the sun was going down and run down in the dark. It really was beautiful with the snow capped mountains and the colour of the sky with the disappearing sun. I managed to run a good way up the 700m climb and felt strong. However, for some reason I felt anxious and stressed and just wanted to get it over and done with. I struggled to get my breath walking up to little man (if that's what it's called), and made the decision not to go to the summit. I hate admitting defeat but I'd had enough. I don't know what came over me. It wasn't just the running at night I don't think but just the feeling of needing to get something done and not really embracing it and taking the time to enjoy it. I just wanted to be at home, having dinner and chilling out. So, I think more practice is required, for the psychological training of running at times that are out of my comfort zone as well as it just being dark. That's what training is all about though, learning more about your strengths and weaknesses and using both to motivate and push you to your goal. I look forward to getting out with others at night because I know that will be a real boost.  But for now I'm off to bed 😊

Time out

 Taking a week or so off to spend time with family and just relaxing, having a sofa day and being what I feel is lazy can be the best thing. I am not very good at allowing self to do nothing, other than everyday life things of course, but I am also aware of how many of us are perhaps addicted to training and exercise. How can that be a bad thing I hear you say? When you can't be happy without it and it becomes the only thing you think of and when even after a week of training that most people don't do in a few months, it is. I am having to work hard to appreciate recovery and rest as PART of my training and not view it as a negative thing but it isn't easy. Especially when I am terrible at comparing myself to other runners that so often have an obsessive approach. I am trying to learn to listen to my body more, put in the work but put in the rest too. I want my body to carry me a long way, not only on the days of the event but leading up to it so I am sure it deserves some respect? 

Back to back days

People often ask me "How do you train for something like the lakeland 100?" I have often had the same question, even with the experience of doing a 50 mile event. I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that it's done through getting out on tired legs and getting the back to back long days in. It's about time, not speed, and that's mentally challenging for me. I enjoy up to 4/5 hours then it gets tougher and that's when getting out with others is invaluable, for me anyway.
Another challenge I face is the cold! I can be really well layered up but nothing seems to stop the cold that set in my fingers. That was until I borrowed some wind proof glove things that allowed circulation to slowly return and ease the biting pain that leaves me near to tears and not pleasant to be around.

After the first day of snow capped Moutain tops I chose to recce part of the 100 route from Blencathra to  Dockray. 7.7 miles in the rain, but down in the valleys so not too cold. It was good to run after the previous day involved a lot of climbing and trying not to fall over on the slippery, steep terrain.
After debating whether to have a rest day I couldn't resist but getting out with the skies clear and it looking like it was going to be a glorious day. And it was! It felt like summer had returned, well nearly, and despite being tired had a good day mainly hiking some of the Bob Graham route from black sail to honister. Needless to say I struggled with the final steep, grassy, slippy descent. Not wanting to admit it was because I was tired from 3 days out I blamed my shoes and have decided a new pair are needed 😜 Any suggestions?

Recce day for the UTLD

The nerves of doing the first 26miles of the Lakeland 100 soon settled as I set off with a bunch of fellow runners. We navigated our way from Coniston to Seathwaite hardly noticing the first 6/7miles as we talked the time away. It always puts me at ease when I can run with others and confirms why I love this sport, being out with others but also getting in tune with myself somehow. The next leg to Boot was wet and boggy and some of the navigation a little tricky but I know I'll appreciate the terrain on the day to slow me down at the start of a long journey. As we were told this was the hardest quarter of the event I was waiting in anticipation of what was still to come but running into Wasdale was just lovely. Nice steady running broken up with little bits of ascent. Yes, I look forward to hills to break up the running and then look forward to running after a climb. That's what makes fell running so great, the variety. I think looking forward to the next section whether it be a climb, trudge through the bog, lovely gentle run along some easy trail or having to concentrate on some tricky technical descending is what helps me with such long days. That's not to say I didn't have moments where I was really questioning what on earth made me think I could do 100 miles. Especially coming off black sail pass after a great climb. I was feeling frustrated with slippy, rocky uneven and steep ground where I just couldn't let my legs go. But I soon got over that and with one mile to go running through lovely forest into buttermere I soon forgot the hard bits and am planning next long day out 😊

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