Keep pushin'

 



Compoooter did say yes, but the 29 was one to remember.  Lower back started hurting 8 and a half miles in on a downhill bit, halfway round 2nd lap of 5 - fairly painful, thought about canning it, but backed right off instead and tried to manage the situation and nurse it home over the remaining 20 miles plus.  The pace was snail-like to minimise the impact, but I was able to grind it out in over 5 hours at an average pace, including drink and stretch breaks, of about 10 and a halves.  Was quite pleased in the end, will be one to call on at Tooting; I'm firmly of the opinion those are the ones that make you in ultras, the training runs that feel fairly dreadful but somehow you battle through, rather than the ones that flow easily.  The ones where you turn a negative into a positive and just deal with it.  2nd July, 29 BAAAAADAAAAASS miles, mark it down!

 

3 easy days since, a 5, rest, and another 5 last night, happy recovery time with my beautiful daughter!  I'm back on it today, dropped car off this morning at garage to see if they can figure out what the noise is(!), then 3 miles to work, 5 at lunchtime, nice and slow, got to plod the 10 miles home in a couple of hours, start the week with 18 in the bin.  Start as you mean to go on!  This week I'll be racking up 120 plus, but I'm going with plenty of runs of 10 miles or less every day to Sunday, when I'll be reprising the 29.  The next 3 weeks are crucial, got to carry on getting the plod miles in, and keep my foot on the gas.  Although speed is not what we're after, just RFM.  Relentless Forward Motion.  Think bulldozer, rather than porsche.

 

Have faith.

 

Hold your nerve.

 

Keep pushin'.

 



Redlining

 

 

Yesterday afternoon (2 days after the 29, and two easy 5 milers Monday), I did a 23 miler.  Felt pretty good from the off, it was 28 degrees or so, but a bit of a breeze, so heat wasn't a major issue.  First 3 laps of 4 were fine, last one was suddenly grim in the extreme, feet very sore, ankles painful and a bit bruised at the end, lower back hurting a bit, just very uncomfortable for the last 6 miles.  Caught up with me a bit.

The time was 3.44ish, similar time to the last 23 I did, 9.37 miling, but struggled much more late on.  Still ground it out, but a timely reminder to keep an eye on the load - I am redlining it a bit in terms of volume, just relentlessly ramping it up and going long again two days later.

Lunchtime today did an easy 5 and a bit, first couple of miles not great but better than expected after.  See how I go tonight, then have a think about tomorrow, whether to do another long one.  Plan says yes.

What does compoooter say?

Movin' On Up

 

29 miles yesterday, 5 laps of 5.8 miles, stuck to about 10 minute miles for the first 4 laps, kicked it down a bit last one, last 3 miles 9.08, 8.45, 8.21.  114 and a half on the week.  Don't forget the half a mile.  Everything counts in large amounts.  Getting strong.  Finished it about 7pm last night.  Managed to walk out of the stable sound this morning, hobbletastic for the first couple of miles of a 5 miler at about 13 minute pace at 7.45am, Creakville, Arizona, but eased a bit after, no lasting ill effects. 

 

Repeat.

 

Absorb.

 

Come on down.

 

And smell my roses.  

Getting there

 

Tuesday night's run - the average pace is a bit misleading, included 3 stops at the house for drinks, letting the clock run, a couple of delays for trains at the level crossing and 4 fairly steep hills, about a quarter of a mile plus each time, pace was nearer 9.15's, all within the comfort zone.  Third one of this length or longer in 10 day period.  Last 3 weeks, 85, 92, 80 (including weekend I had my daughter Amy so only 10 miles in last 3 days of week) - beginning to absorb it, very tired but no injury issues, just niggles. 

 

First week over the ton this week, then the next 4 weeks are crucial before I have Amy for a week's hol, and then another one a fortnight later.  Need 5 weeks of consistent high mileage before that hard week/easy week period, with at least one run a week of this kind of length or more, preferably two.  If I can achieve that, game on for Tooting.

 

The two crucial things are to keep batting away at it and to stay positive.  Things are beginning to come together. 

 

I likee.  I likee a lot.



Two weeks down

Apropos of nothing, one of Maggi Hambling's stunning wave paintings, just because I love them.  No one paints the sea like she does.  She is a great artist, her paintings convey emotion, they speak to me, they move me.  Lovely stuff.

Now, running!  Two weeks into the Tooting schedule, an 85 week and a 92 week.  Learning to love the long run again, did 23.4 on the road yesterday, was ok, slow but consistent pace.  Two 17.6's in the fortnight too, similar coming up this week, 17.6 tomorrow, 23.4 Thursday.  Everything else is filler, the long runs are the key.

Early days, but on track.

Pollocks

 

Erm, well, I wasn't really expecting the 2015 canvas to end up like a load of Pollocks.

 

But there is some clarity emerging from the chaos.  And a little peace of mind.  It's regularly trotted out that forgiveness sets you free - the surprising thing is that the cliche is true!

 

And, as always, there is redemption to be found in running.  My running mojo has returned!  I have begun the Tooting schedule, one and a half weeks in, kicked off with an 85, aiming for 100 this week, all very slow, but I am enjoying every step of the training.  Getting stronger, feeling calmer.

 

Who knows, we may just be able to replace the Pollocks with a sunny Rothko!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 





Blank Canvas

 

This is the best time of year.  2015 is a blank canvas.  Anything is possible. 

 

How are you going to paint it?