Seeking motivation

I know it's out there somewhere, probably under a wee rock hiding from me. I have barely managed a training run since my last posting.

It was so bad the other day, I'm all stood there in my shorts & T telling myself I should just get out there, oh wheres my watch? oh look it's started to rain, oh I can't be arsed. Back of with the fit clothes & into the hang around house comfy's.

I did follow the Connemara trail race, also William Sichel then the Clyde Stride. What great armchair supporting I did. Some people just do amazing things. Lucy in 3rd place, then winning the Stride, Debs in 2nd place only weeks after the WHW. William Sichel is obviously just a machine.

I read Stu Mills blog. I find it hard to believe anyone can be so confident, but also think it's probably easier to be confident when your at the sharp end. At the same time I find it interesting and have even thought about trying some of his wee techniques myself although I'll definitely not be running as fast as I can for as long as I can, with my usual position of holding up the sweepers I'd be lucky to make the first checkpoint!

So my build up to the Devil will be more about believing in myself than actual training unless the old mojo gets back out from the rock it's hiding under. I'll be aiming to kick the Rannoch Moor's backside after it took me almost 6 hours to get across it during the WHW! I have also been off the coffee and taking my ginger capsules every day to try ensure a perfect tummy on the day. Maybe it all is in the mind?

I did go to the club last week, it was great to see folks, even though they were doing hill runs I just plodded round the course chatting. This coming Saturday also sees the Arran relay's, this is a great day out and one of the few road races I do. Just my luck to be nightshift, but have taken the Friday off, just means I'll need to try to catch the earlier ferry home but it's no big deal as even the later one will still have me home in time to get to work.

I did manage to go to the gym this morning, fully completing my 20 run 5 walk 20 run 5 walk programme so was a little happier. I'll go back over with Bryan this evening and do my core exercises. Tomorrow I have planned a 12 mile run. I really hope I manage to get my butt out the door!!

Training resumes

So off we (Tim & me) set for our 15 miles with the dogs, Catrine to Auchincruive.

This was my first run after the WHW and surprisingly I was feeling pretty good. Legs weren't heavy and I was having no issues with achy feet or back. Tim on the other hand wasn't doing well at all with lots of problems with his back and breathing.

Weather had stayed good for us and not too many flies. I wasn't exactly looking forward to getting back out but I was.. so that is yes I was but no I wasn't. Kind of  I want to go but will find any kind of distraction so that I don't need to!

This run did remind of that saying.. train the same you'll stay the same. So I was hatching a wee plan to try and change my training. The Devil is in a few weeks so I'm not wanting to do any more LSR's.

Gym to the rescue. Well that was after I did a hill session... 10x 130 meters uphill.. jelly legs. Then 4 mile run (lots of other hills).

Into the gym on Wednesday and I a few ideas.. 20mins 10k pace 5 minute walk 20mins 10k pace but that felt a bit enthusiastic and I wasn't quite up for it.. 1k fast 300m slow 5x now this seemed like a better idea (or should I say easier). So 1k cardio work it was.. some folk would call it speed work, but you have to go fast to use that title!! It must have been hard because my run on Thursday got binned due to tired legs.

Today I put my wee car into the coachwork's (Bryan scuffed it of a wall at Tyndrum) everything goes back to the WHW :-) so I was up early, drove him into work so I could have the use of his car, and me and Munro headed out to Failford for a few miles on the RAW.

Shoulder high nettles

Munro posing

I wouldn't say I was feeling fresh. Struggled on the way out. The path at the moment is so overgrown with nettles, thistles and bramble bushes it is very hard to keep up any kind of pace. My legs are still dirlling with nettle stings. It will hopefully be clearer by September. I'm contemplating doing this again this year. Depends on the Glenmore 24. I did enjoy it last year and this year I am guide running Hazel (blind runner) for the first 10 miles. Trouble is she runs way much quicker than me!! Could happen I manage the first 10 miles then die in a sorry wee heap at the side of the road!

Anyway, manged to enjoy my plod on the return leg even if my legs did start hurting more than expected at around the 10 mile mark!! But that probably had something to do with having to grab hold of a bloody big aggressive Sharpie that thought Munro was easy meat!! I had put him on the lead (as you do when a couple of dogs come bounding along) did their owner try catch them? oh no, so I had to grab it by the scruff as it launched itself  at Munro for the 2nd time. Little Jack Russell yelping away (think this was a bark) was just looking for my foot to go right up it's arse!! Anyway a hard kick to the rump and Sharpie got the message, owner wasn't too pleased. Tough. I'm still holding the bloody thing at this point as she stands and looks at it. I had to actually say here take your dog!! 'I' really does stand for idiot!!

Rant over:

Today I tried jaffa cakes and tablet for energy but I really don't think 11 miles is a long enough run to work on the food issues. Saying that I did start running 30 mins after my flakes and snacked right from 15 mins in. No issues today.

Starting to look forward to the Devil :-)