Continuing the build

Monday - AM 10 miles @ 7:19 min miles PM 10 miles @ 7:17 min miles

Tuesday - AM 9 miles @ 7:25 min miles PM Dunbartonshire track 5k 17:24

Wednesday - 16 miles off road 9:15 min miles 2,300 ft elevation

Thursday AM 6.6 miles @ 8:02 min miles PM club 5 mile tempo 5:49 min miles

Friday 10 miles 7:11 min miles

Saturday 14 miles @ 7:32 min miles

Sunday 8 miles @ 7:23 min miles

Weekly total 100 miles elevation 5,300 ft

13 hours total.

I don't remember what age I was but I was pretty wee. I remember on a Saturday morning I was playing in the garden when my dad came back from playing golf and he was putting his clubs away in the garage. He had a massive red and black Dunlop bag and I asked him when I got bigger if I could have his bag and his clubs, and he said I'd need better ones because I'd be better than he was. I thought he was the best golfer ever (he played off of 21)  I'd played with him and he hit it for miles, much further than a wee me could hit. He also taught me how to play and act on the golf course. Plus he had also had 2 holes in 1. Ive still never managed to get one and I play in single figures. This is the first memory I have of him being my sporting hero.

He also ran when I was wee. As I grew up I don't ever remember him running much, but he had ran a marathon and one time done a race which involved kicking an orange down a hill which we went to watch. One of the things I remember is when he told me he had once ran 100 miles in a week. I thought that was amazing and I didn't know how far it was but I was proud he had done it and I remember telling my friends about it.

When I took up running again a few years ago I still remembered this. About a year ago I decided to do it one week to see how I got on. I ran my last run on a Sunday on my way home from work, and met my dad for the last few miles or so. I finished my first 100 mile week with him, after all its all down to him that I run. I really enjoyed that moment.

Today when I was running I finished another 100 mile week. I think I'll always think of him and how he has inspired me when I reach the 100 mile mark. I hope so anyway. 

Now I'm hitting 100 miles a week fairly regular, and my legs feel great for it. I'm running better,  stronger and faster than before. A few months hard work coming up when I'll be pushing towards the 150 mile a week mark and I'm looking forward to seeing how I cope with that.

This week's training was fairly simple, no long runs and mostly double runs to get the miles in. A 5k track race on Tuesday night I was hoping for about 16 minutes, but on pushing off I knew it wasn't going to happen and finished in 17:24.

Thursdays tempo was on tired legs but I managed to average 5:49 min miles a faster time than I've managed on this course.

Happy with the progress I've made in recent weeks and I'll see how I feel on this week's long runs.

Deeside 33 ultra

This was the first ultra of 3 I am running this year. Being so early in the calendar year it's the first for many. I ran it last year for which I done a race report if you scroll through the old posts. Comparing myself to last year to the date, I had ran almost double to the previous year, was running faster, feeling better than ever, plus almost a stone lighter in weight.  So it was almost a guarantee to be a good race and a new PB for me. Except it wasn't. 

Up until a fortnight ago I had never failed to finish a race. No matter what happened. I've finished a triathlon in which my chain snapped and I ran half the bike loop, I've cycled on in races using 1 leg when my pedal broke and fell off, ran while vomitting,  and believe it or not, once ate a regurgitated meal to allow me the energy to finish when I really didn't feel like it.

I entered the glentress marathon which was on an amazing loop, off road over hills with great elevation all of which I love. I stopped after 1 lap. I used the excuse that the race started late, and if I had went out for the 2nd loop I'd have been struggling to make work on time. I could have ran faster or harder but I didn't. I just gave up. Quit. So a few days mulling about and I set my sights on d33.

Last year's time was 4:07 and this was easily beatable without much stress. Keeping an easy pace I should have bust 4 hours with ease. But I'm just not up for it. I am just not enjoying racing at all. Anyway I tried to talk myself into it and being up for it on race day, but as it drew closer I was looking for an excuse not to go. I briefly mentioned this at the running club and was told to man up/get a grip/go run well so off I went with the best intentions, helped by some kind words of how well I'm running at the minute.

Race day

4 bells and my alarm went off and I made the lonely trip up to Aberdeen.  Arriving in good time I met some familiar faces and had a good catch up with jonny pritchard about the races we were doing this year.

9 o clock came and I set of at 7 min miles which I find really easy now, especially for a flat course on tarmac like this. I've done this in training and know I can run this pace for 30 miles without too much trouble. I was more of less this for the first half apart from a few toilet stops and reached the 16.5 mile halfway about 1:58 hours. I had planned to pick it up here and return a bit quicker so safely go under the 4 hours.

Although when I ran round the half way point the same thing happened as a fortnight ago. I gave up. I did go on and finish the race but I gave up in my mind. I was upwards of 8 and a half min miles in some places, and 1 mile I even stretched to an 11 min mile. This was not due.to fatigue at all. My legs were fresh. At 1 point I didn't see anyone behind me, so I stopped and walked and was waiting for someone to catch up with me. This is purely a motivation issue. I finished in 4:15, 8 minutes slower than last year. But that's the problem. I don't care. I'm not interested that I'm not racing well.

It's not that I'm not enjoying running.  As soon as I got back in the door I wanted to go out running again. I'm loving training and I can't get enough of it. I hate a day when I'm not running and I don't feel right. So what's the problem? How do I get my mojo back and get that bit between my teeth that I used to have, even if it was racing someone up a set of stairs? I hate getting beaten. Except in recent months when it's not fussed me at all.

I've never been like this and I need to sort the issue quickly. I've a few ideas on how to sort it so only time will tell if they work. If not it will be a slow year for me.

Hopefully ill be back to it soon and get back to running well, and see what happens from there.

100 mile week

Monday 8.3 miles @ 7:28 min miles

Tuesday am 4.2 miles @7:27 min miles PM 7.5 miles @7:16 min miles

Wednesday AM 4 miles @7:43 min miles

Thursday 26 miles on West Highland way @ 9:21 min miles

Friday 20 miles @7:48 min miles

Saturday 15 miles @ 7:50 min miles

Sunday 14.5 miles @ 7:19 min miles

Weekly total 100 miles elevation 7000ft

I started this week solely with the aim of running 100 miles for the week. I did initially plan some speedwork aswell but the club sessions didn't suit me this week. Monday and Tuesday were non events really with no exciting runs. The morning runs when I am early shift I am starting to cope better with. Life at home meant I had to skip wednesday nights run which was a planned 10 miles, so I felt like I would be chasing my tail trying to get the weekly goal.

Thursday I headed to the west highland way and done an out and back from Balmaha. I had intended to go north from Rowerdennan but the road was shut! The lochside is my favorite section of the WHW, it is just so tough. Anyway I ended with 26 miles, my wee legs were tired which I blame on the lack of hills so far this year, but at the end I could have ran on. My average HR was 139 was happy with that.

Friday was the return of more mile loops around my housing estate. I love running loops and it's good to run past the house tired and not give up and go in. HR 131 and it took in elevation of 1,500 feet.

Saturday was a real struggle, every step was a hassle and my whole body was wanting me to stop, but I struggled on. Sunday was a different story. I felt great on Sunday, mayne because I knew I had met my weekly target,but my legs felt fresh and I could have ran on at tne same pace.

A recovery week for me now with the glentess marathon at the weekend. This is my first race of the year but along with the D33 I had planned both as training runs and wasn't planning on actually racing them but I'll see how I feel on the day.

I really enjoyed the 100 mile a week and I will soon be doing back to back 100s, with upwards of 130 a week during my peak months.  

Ticking over

Monday - rest day

Tuesday - AM 3 miles @ 7:31 min miles PM club session 6 x 800m @ 5:30 min miles

Wednesday - AM 3.8 miles @ 7:36 min miles PM 10 miles @ 7:08 min miles

Thursday - AM 2.6 miles @ 8:04 min miles PM - 5 miles tempo @ 5:53 min miles

Friday - recovery 5 @ 7:54 min miles

Saturday - 11 easy miles @ 8:30 min miles

Sunday - 11 miles @ 7:30

Weekly total 62 miles elevation 2,700

Not much to cheer about this week! 18 miles short of my target but a surprise weekend off with the good lady led to less running. Happy wife happy life. The 2 club sessions were good, the 800s were not at full pelt. HR average was 154 bpm and max 168 bpm, shows I was holding back a bit as I had planned this week.

The tempo was good aswell. This was on tired legs but again happy with my pacing, average HR 159 so I can defo push it much harder. Ontonthis week, 2 back to back ling runs and the first 100 mile week of the year. Happy days

The benefits beat the alarm clock

Here we go again...after last weeks recovery week of 50 miles my legs felt pretty good at the start of the week. Ill keep with the 3 hard, 1 recovery week for just now. Some yoga sessions thrown in too and im starting to notice a difference in my flexibility so ill keep at it with 3-4 sessions a week.

Heres this weeks training

Monday - 3 miles @ 7:58 min miles

Tuesday - club session 2 x 2ish miles @ 5:38 min miles

Wednesday - AM 4 miles @ 7:20 min miles PM 6.7 miles @ 7:47 min miles

Thursday - AM 4 miles @ 7:39 min miles PM 5 x 1K @ 5:14 min miles

Friday - 4 miles recovery @ 7:36 min miles

Saturday - 20 miles @ 7:15 min miles

Sunday - AM 13 @ 8:29 min miles

Weekly total 73 miles

Elevation 2800

Monday was a total non starter due to belly issues - enough said. The club session 2 x 2 is one of my favorites, and this time was much improved from the last time around. First rep comfortable at 10:55 HR 170 max, second rep 10:33 HR 176. I even managed to catch the fast guys in my second rep, but going by my HR Ill be able to go quicker again. It was pretty windy into the bargain aswell.

Recovery wednesday with a run before work, the same thursday and my legs were still tired from tuesday. This is how I feel about morning runs...

But the benefits beat the alarm clock everytime.

The club session was 5 x 1K, its round a loop so we had the wind in our faces and backs which I enjoyed. The firat rep was 3:20 which I thought was too quick, but then came 3:16,3:16,3:12 and a 3:07. Without doubt the fastest Ive been and a max HR of 179 made me burst at the end.

Saturday 20 miles in the legs at a comfy pace which we picked up near the end and the last 5 were under 7 min miles with a headwind. Was a thought after less than 5 hours sleep but read the above words below the picture and that soon sorts it!

My legs were tired sunday but that was due to kack of yoga and foam roller. The weather was minging. Sheets of wind and rain in the face wasnt fun, I did have 20 planned but bumped into people from the club and they helped me suffer through 13 miles. A low HR of average 126 showed I wasnt working hard, if I pushed it in this session I would have suffered the following week.

For those who play close attention will notice im short of this weeks target. The condidtions outside talked me out of it, but now Im home I cant face the thought of not making my goal for the week, despite some good speed sessions in there. So off I go for another 7...see you next week.

I love irn bru!!

Monday - easy 10 miles (7:49 min miles)

Tuesday - warm up, club tempo 3.7 miles (5:58 min miles), cool down

Wednesday - 4.4 miles (7:22 min miles)

Thursday - 17 miles (9:05 min miles) elevation 2,247 ft

Friday - 20 miles on the west highland way (9:41 min miles) elevation 3,232 ft

Saturday - club 8 mile race (7:16 min miles) https://www.strava.com/activities/476386562

Sunday - recovery 8 miles (8:10 min miles)

The goal of this week was just more miles in the bank. I had planned 2 long runs. I cut thursdays one short by 3 miles because I had the dreaded white finger, if youve never had that it is absolute agony and totally ruins my runs.

A yoga session in the morning loosened me up for my long run. This was easy paced with a souble dunter of the conic hill. The views were totally different than the same place a week before (last weeks photo on previous blog). 

Another yoga session at night and my legs felt good again.

Saturday was a club race. I knew this would be on tired legs but that was the idea, and I was totally burst on the last mile and couldn't hold my usual pace but that was what I expected. 

Anyway, I love irn bru. I would drink it all the time if it was any good for you. I just can't get enough of it. However seeing as it's full of sugar, rotten for your teeth and body, means it's not wise to drink it all the time. 

I recently seen a YouTube video from your world within called clarity. Your world within is a series of motivational videos. In the video it mentioned a quote that said "deciding what not to do, is just as important as deciding what to do" or words to that effect. 

So therein lies the irn bru. I've not had a drink of it in weeks. I'm trying to do more miles, and last Sunday when I was planning out this weeks miles, I set myself a wee reward of an irn bru on Sunday night if I met my target. 

A long run Thursday followed by a longer one Friday, and an 8 mile X country race with the club in Saturday, meant I was doing well but would have to get up and do 8 mile recovery on Sunday morning. 

I bought my irn bru on Saturday and left it sitting out. It was the only thing that got me out the door on Sunday morning. 

80 miles in the bank, and it was the best can of irn bru I've ever had! 

Here comes the snow

Monday -  7 miles (7:46 min miles)

Tuesday - speed session 400/800/1000/12000 x 2, 400/800/1200 https://www.strava.com/activities/468978540

Wednesday -  5.4 miles (8:37 min miles) PM 6.3 miles (7:03 min miles)

Thursday - 6.6 miles (8:04 min miles)

Friday - off

Saturday - 14.4 miles (8:58 min miles)

Sunday -  6.3 miles (7:26 min miles)

Weekly total 56.7 miles elevation 4300 ft

I had set out to do 80 miles for the week as part of my build for the year, and I finiahed well short of that. Home life meant I scrapped Fridays run, so I had 44 miles to do over the weekend. Saturday came and the place was full of snow! I went on the west highland way from Drymen and went up the conic hill and back, I was running out of time before work so ended up with only 14 miles, but it was a good run and was safer to stay off the pavements.

I had planned a double run on Sunday, but chose the far more fun option of sledge shopping and a few hours up the park with the family.

Not the most outstanding training week but the snow is never here long, I have a kid and Im still a big kid, so there was only ever going to be one winner!