Aches and Pains

With my usual organised chaos of a training plan I have continued to think about doing something, even writing it into a plan on occasion, just to not bother at all and do something entirely different.
So in general just doing the same as always...  plod plod plod.

There is a lot to be said for OCD and getting used to something.

Trying to mix it up a bit I went out a road run, 10 miles in horrendous weather, even a knight on his noble steed (read workman in Citroen berlingo) stopped and gave a drookit rat (me) a lift through a very long large flooded part of road. Cheers.

I did note on this run my achilles and ankle were still a bit tender. Had a few wee ankle turns on my Glentress run but thought it would settle down. Heading of to Stinchar Bridge next day with Stan for a wee 20 miler was never going to help.

Pretty rocky path in parts but at least the weather was good. I started off well, ankle ok. As the miles went on and tiredness set in the aches started raising their ugly wee heads. I think my knee was taking a beating for me trying to change the footfall on my ankle. Usual story.

Took a rest day hoping all would be better. Unfortunately my knee started really playing up, it seemed to seize up and just randomly start aching, I found I couldn't straighten my leg and had no twisting movement without pain. Ahh well, just don't try and twist or straighten it then.

Do I stop running, rest and recover, well slightly. Took another day off. I had ordered 2 ankle supports. They arrived yesterday and I went out my run this morning with only one on. My right ankle is fine at the moment but when running longer distances on uneven ground both really suffer. Makes sense to be prepared.

Funny thing about running is I never seem to straighten my knees so the one pain that was causing me worry was fine. But only when running it would seem, I limped about all afternoon at work. Ankle held good but I looked like I had a club foot my shoe was so fat with the support on. I am optimistic it is just wee niggles and they will pass if I ignore them and take plenty painkillers.

Less than 2 weeks to Glen Ogle. Hopefully all will be well. Not confident but looking forward to it.

Rain rain rain

Well for once it hasn't bothered me! Wonder if I'm just getting used to being cold wet and miserable.
It felt like every single day I was out burn running, my wee path through the woods had turned to a full flowing burn, the trail paths at the side were under water as was a good lot of the golf course. After running out of dry trail shoes I decided it was time for the good old boring windfarm with it's closed main road. At least the paths were mostly dry even if it was raining and the wind was howling! hmm windfarm = wind. Good resistance training.

Blerrugh:

Enough of that!

After deciding I was going to enter the Glen Ogle I started wondering how I was going to train for it. The more I see the photo's etc the more I think it is not my kind of race.. gulp. All runable paths and not many hills = fast and painful in my mind. With this in mind I get the gear on & get my butt to the gym. Dreadmill speed stuff, off to the club, miles reps, cool. That was when I was on holiday last month. Lately. oh plod plod plod. Back to normal then.

Glentress:

Enjoyed a nice long run with Munro round the Glentress black run. I ran ALL the uphills. Felt really easy and comfortable. Reached the pylon and begun my decent. Before long I realised my legs were wrecked. Stumbled and toe poked my way down cursing my stupidity at running All the way up!

The thing about the black run is it's not easy. Just when think your getting there and it's all downhill, it goes right back up again. I knew this from a previous run but was still wondering if I had taken a wrong turn! It just seemed waaay to hard. Even Munro had given up running about like a maddy and was trotting alongside me, poor boy. Eventually we finished and celebrated with coffee and shortbread. Well I did, Munro got his bag of kibble.

Obviously I was just being over dramatic as after a wee rest day legs were fine and off we plod to the windfarm yet again. 10 miles this time dry but windy. Fine wee jaunt, but still something is missing. I'm just not happy with my constant  plods. Trying to get the miles in is not the way I like to think about my training. I'm not a miles equals performance person.

After a trawl of the net and a look through my old training plans and races I'm trying to work out what is missing, it's not motivation, at the moment I am loving my running. I find in 2006 I ran the Lochaber marathon!!! hhmm is it time to return I wonder? .. check the shift pattern and I see I'm weekend off.. it's a sign. So duly send away my entry. Register with My Asics, get myself a training plan.. 33 weeks for us beginners lol. So my plan starts November 4th. It says nothing of a long run (33 miles) on day 2 but I guess there is always going to be a blip in any plan!

Yesterday was my first X coutnry this year. Ayrshire relay champs. As usual off the nightshift .. yukk but it was a 1300 start so I did get a decent sleep. This is always a good wee run round the Irvine beach park. Us Torts took silver, thanks to Nats running a stormer. Even the rain stayed off . Good times.

Having myself a new goal which I know I am going to struggle to achieve (keeping to a training plan) with lots of pace per km speedwork etc.. not sure how I'll cope as the speed goes up with the miles. I know I'm a plodder and I'm going to have to really stick in. It's as much a mental issue as a physical one for me! Hoping it will keep me focused through the winter. I saw on the WHW forum some dates for the Glee runs, again I am working every one. I know I don't want to spend too much time running LSR's on my own again so they are not going to be my main aim. Wonder if I can run the Fling off the back of marathon training? I'm sure I can. The Cateran off the Fling? The WHW off the Cateran? I'm not soo sure.

Now I'm off for a T time run round the trail with the boy. The joys of  NOT being nightgshift tonight and having 5 days off to go out and play ... yess.

Glen Ogle!!

It would seem everytime I make a decision and decide I'm doing A and definitely not doing B... I change my mind!

Firstly it was the RAW, I had planned many months ago to run the first 10 miles with Hazel. Then I thought, well might as well just keep going! then I realised that would a stupid idea only a fortnight after a 24hr race. So sticking to my guns here, even bought heels for Saturday night, so confident am I that this year I'll be able to walk almost normally.

Then they advertise the Glen Ogle. This was a no go from the start as I did not have single days holiday, toil or anything else left that I could wangle the time off. So that was settled. You think??

That was before I had so much fun at the G24 and small thoughts of maybe started sneaking back into my head which I dismissed. Taking a look at the route online I also decided I didn't want to run 12K on tarmac. But still it niggles.

Yesterday I went out a plod on the cycle track, totally flat perfect tarmac. I'm not one for training plans, well one's that I actually stick to anyway, but I have added a weekly road run as well as 2x gym sessions into my winter plan. I have tried speedwork and really don't like the pain that comes with it so have decided to drop it. For me road running is as close to running fast as I'll ever get. Anyway my plod on the cycle track was good fun, I was running a bit quicker than usual and had to stop a few times to get my breath back but soon found myself picking the pace up again. I even used my wee ipod. Something I never do when running outside. Suddenly 12K on tarmac is not that scary.

So for the time off... that was easier than I thought! I was supposed to be off last Sunday but worked instead. 1 day added to my toil bank... yess. Now I have the day off! Everything in place. So looks like I'll be entering. I have just decided.
I think my training has been steady enough since the G24, I'll have to add in a couple of LSR's hopefully even manage one on the route.

I thought I was looking forward to the season being over, but it would appear I'm kidding myself on. I have already entered the Devil and keeping a look out for my other target races to open.

With the Ultra season ending the X country season starts, I love it. I moan it's too fast too short etc etc but there is just something fun about running round a park in the mud/snow/rain/ice :-)

And before I forget, I actually won something!! the Ayrshire Hill Running Champs 2011 Lady40. I was probably the only one that done enough races .. did I mention there is just something fun about running up vertical hills and bouncing down through the heather ;-)

Glenmore 24

I wasn't exactly at my best for this run. After the Devil I took a bit of time out, only doing one 10 miler and a few shorter dog plods a couple of road cylces and a few visitis to the gym. I even managed to rid myself of any confidence I had by turning up at the Craigengower hill race... straight of the nightshift. How much can it hurt? it's only 2.5 miles!! Oh yes, that includes a vertical 1 mile. I did manage it but when your chasing down 8 yo kids and grinning like a maddy when you finaly catch one! well what can I say?

Barely managed 50 miles for the month. Somehow I just felt my racing year was over. None the less, I got all my stuff together packed the boot and the back seat thinking I had way too much. Thankfully I overpacked! Off to bed early. Got woke up within 30 mins by little neds and their crap boomy little motors using the road at my backdoor as a racetrack and the carpark for a bloody disco. Long story short, finaly got to sleep sometime after 3 and was back up at 5. One very unhappy grumpy bunny.

Tim arrives 6 on the dot, we get his gear in the car and off we go... road trip yiiippeee.
On arrival we erect huge tent I get registerd chat to folks get in the que for the medical stuff! urine sample, blood taken, electro's stuck on and taken off & I've got my wee arm band thing that is going to take note of all my vitals over the next 24hrs. I'll get a full report in a few weeks so I'm looking forward to reading it. What a really good opportunity for us less able athletes (ahhemm) to be involved in this sort of research.

Onto the race, what a great crowd of people, it's the first year this race has been run and it was a fairly small field between the 12hr and 24hr race. The organisers were brilliant and Andrew Murray was on hand for any medical requirements. I was still feeling pretty low and tired and grumped about it to anybody that would listen!! think Tim was pretty well fed up hearing how tired I was :)
The race started just after 12 noon, through the tents round a bend and immediatley up a hill. The loop was 4 miles long and I had wondered how I cope running like a hampster. It was not a problem at all. The loop was very scenic with a long long hill around the 2 mile mark, This was perfect for walking breaks. A long slope that would turn into a mountain as the hours and miles ticked by.

The first few laps were ok, my legs ached but I thought they would loosen off. When they didn't I started losing the will. I was convinced all my woes were down to my lack of sleep. The miles were getting slower the rain soaked me through (short & sharp). I had a stop to get changed out my wet clothes and ran with just my rain trousers and jacket on. It was still quite warm but my legs had numbed. Tim ran round a few laps with me. On one around the 30 mile mark I was dizzy and sat down, my legs were just too sore to carry me. Getting back towards the tents Tim ran on ahead to organise a massage for me. Normally I would not even contemplate this but as Debs was standing waiting on me I just got led to the table.

30 mins later dry shorts, socks and shoes and I was off again. I now had a new pair of legs! All the excess fluids had been drained? I was wondering where it was draining to. Tim explained later. My first lap on my new legs felt good as did my next. Tim went for Pizza.. yumm next lap all good then 'bonk' tired. Got back to the tent and Tim had gone to sleep. I was convinced I needed to sleep. It was just after 10pm and I thought I'd catch a couple of hours. An hour later I'm not sleeping. Well I can't be tired then can I? so get out and run! So I did. 20 miles later (now 60miles) I'm just soo tired. I knew if I didn't get some rest I would not be able to make it to 12 noon. I got out the wet clothes (it's around freezing) into dry one's and 2 sleeping bags. I set the alarm for 6. 1hr 45 sleep.

The alarm woke Tim up too who had slept the whole night!!! he had his own tired, run down issues after a busy week and lots of driving, all catching up with him.
After coffee and a breakfast of lentil soup we both set out. First lap I was a bit stiff but it all soon got better. Met Keith on the lap, he was out supporting Carrie (3rd lady) and eating a pot noodle! I had one in the tent, so again Tim scoots off toget it ready for me. We spend thenext lap running/stopping with a pot noodle.

I had set my target at 80 miles and had just over 5 hours to get my 20miles in. It would seem though that my wee nap had rejuvinated the auld legs and I was lapping about 7/10 minutes quicker. This gave me plenty time and I was really enjoying the morning. The sun was up it was lovely and warm and the views were stunning. Onto the last lap, I'd taken a punnit of strawberries and forgotten about them, so these were put into freezer bags and eaten as a treat. I struggled quite a bit on the last 2 miles, turned the corner saw the finish and I was like a wee gazelle.. ok maybe that wasn't visible to others but I felt great running toward the tents for the last time.

Thanks to Tim for looking after me, putting up with my moaning and as always knowing what I needed when I didn't! Oh and for driving home. I could not move a muscle!

What a great weekend. The event was very well organised. The marhals were in a class of there own, always happy cheering motivating, amazing at 3am in the middle of a freezing cold forest!! Thanks to all of you, if it's the people that make the event then this is a winner.



The Devil in photo's

So it started with booking Munro into his 5* establishment

Poor mutt

Then onto a car park in Tyndrum at a stupid early time

This is as good as it gets

 & wer'e off. Heading to Bridge of Orchy









Me & Soph

A small refreshment before the first big hill

Whoopee almost there & trying to keep the feet dry

Onto Victoria Bridge with the Dream Team

Happy smiles at the foot of The Devil

Happy smiles at the top of The Devil

Nearly there

This pain is real

And collapse

All done & the Torts celebrate

What a great weekend, needless to say I was highly delighted with over an hour off last years time.

Having the Glenmore 24 in just a few weeks I had decided to rest for a good few days.

Went out a cycle with Tim on Tuesday, never easy as he always picks the very hilly routes and sneers if I use my granny gears ... humph, I thought thats what they were there for!!

Frank

Revenge, another puncture

But what lovely country side

So a wee holiday was required, just to Peterhead for a few days. Ate too much, drunk too much but did attempt a trail run on Friday. I've never quite felt lumpy n bumpy when running, but it is about all I can think of to describe the wobbly heavy dull legs. Not a comfortable recovery run.

Then it was home and back out on Frank with Tim.

Irvine Valley

 Louden Hill

Only 20 odd miles in & Tim thinks we should climb Louden hill because it's there, and why not? cycling through a field on road bikes is not recommended as neither is scrambling up a steep slope in SPD cycle shoes or running the last bit cos it's kind of flat.

Saying that they were good at gripping on the way down.

So another approx 40 miles yesterday. Legs are good today so I'll take Munro out a wee run. Fancy a recce through the woods at Moscow. Hmmm it has been known for my recce's to end in disaster. Shall take my phone then!

The Devil

I had a couple of must do's for this race. Firstly I must kick the Rannoch Moors Ass & secondly I must finish. Not a lot to ask really.

After the WHW in June, yep, I'm still harking back to that wee chestnut, my mileage & motivation dropped dramatically. The miles I wasn't too bothered about as I've always been one who likes to rest. The motivation though was a bit disheartening. I slogged through July with only short runs, a couple of races and a few cycles. This however is where it all gets better. The short runs were fun, the races were hard & short (8 miles & a 10k) and I tried my damnest. Oh to get 3 sub 8 min miles in the one race.... Ok maybe a joke for some but for me ... Wowwie!
Went out a couple of 30 mile + cycles with Tim... Very hilly and the first I'd been out on Frank in over a year so I was pretty excited about it too! Used to love going out on him but had a couple of bad cleat related falls and without really noticing just stopped. Think I just didn't want to notice!

Anyway this all brings us to The Devil. My third run over this course. 2007 my first ever ultra. Struggled hugely from start to finish but finish I did. Unfortunately it took more out me than I realised on the day and I actually gave up running for over a year at this point! 2 years later and I was back, backing up Anne, her first attempt at the The Devil & I started running again in the January to be fit enough to be able to back her up. Since then I have kept up the running and the Ultra's. 2010 Anne was backing me up and I was confident of beating my 07 time. Best laid plans an all! Tummy bug from the start saw me shuffle in agony for 43 miles.

So to 2011. The Rannoch Moor. This was my first demon. After it taking 6... Yes 6 agonising hours of crawling in the rain during the WHW to get across this sparse open moor I was determined I would get kicks it butt. Thankfully for me it is pretty much at the beginning of the race when my butt kicking ability was still within my grasp. I started of slow... Very slow making sure I didn't go under a 12 min mile from the gun. This of course left me at the rear of the field but with plenty miles to go to catch folks I wasn't fussing.

Had a good yakk with Sophie putting the world to right over the first few miles to B Of Orchy. I nipped in for toilet stop at the hotel & didn't see Soph again till KKL, she had picked up an injury and withdrew. Hope your recovering well. I met my support here and they had my jam mini roll & urn bru waiting for me. I chomped & drunk as I walked up the hill passing a fair few folk as I went. Bounced down the other side onwards to Victoria Bridge for my soup. I new I needed some food before tackling my demons so I took my time ate what I could and Anne walked with me to take my empties back to the car.

Onto the moor. You would think I would have had a plan! But nope, just keep focused, keep moving forward and talk to folks along the way. Met Vicky here, we yakked for a bit till she stopped for a munchie, I kept my head down and focused on beating the moor. Funny how the mind drains it's way through 6 weeks of life just so it can bring back all the memories of my previous encounter with The Moor! Well I was in a butt kicking mood and used all the little prods in my mind to smile remember & even enjoy this run. Every corner I turned, hill, bridge obscure landmark brought something back & today I was feeling good. I came off the moor through the checkpoint (no Lammas today) & ran down the road to meet my crew at Kingshouse.

I had THE BEST crew ever. Wee George, (the bearded one) veteran of many WHW, Anne, great runner & motivator and off course Bryan in his position of driver go getter cleaner upper. Brilliant.

They see me good with my bagel banana & coffee, Anne joins me on the run & we're meeting up again at the bottom of the Devil for more mini rolls & irn bru. We meandered our way to the top! It was hot by this time & my wee bru bottle was empty. Met Fiona at the top, she gave us a jelly baby and took our photo. I'll try get the photo's on but not sure how to with this iPad! We were careful on the decent but I still managed to fall. Being me I bounced straight back up & was more than glad I had my buff over my hand/wrist, took most if the fall! However it did seem o unsettle me somewhat & I soon started feeling sicky. This is where good backup is essential, I would have ran on burping & boaking, Anne knew I had my ginger capsules with me (been taking them daily for 4 weeks now) and encouraged me to take 2. No harm done if it didn't work! Gladly with a toilet stop near the bottom of the slog into KKL & I'm again like a new women. Tummy settled legs feeling good and boy did I kick that Moors butt!

Quick food stop & we're heading out of KKL and up that rather large hill. We walked the whole way but still managing to go by folks. Ontowards Lundavra. I think the heat here started to really effect me & others. People were slowing and my ankles were starting to really ache. I'm sure on fresh legs it would have been fine! We did get lovely cold water from the mountain guys, wonderful. Lots of cheers and good wishes from walkers. Now those are the good points, the bad was I was getting crabbit! The constant struggle to find ground that didn't twist your ankle was very frustrating. I stumbled, toe stubbed constantly, Anne was having the same problems. Not much fun. The sun did go behind the clouds about half way and that gave a bit of respite! Only later do you realise what a numpty you are for allowing yourself to get annoyed! At the time it's not only the whole world that's against you, but the rocks too!

Into Lundavra & guess who's there? Running bud Tim, bandaged up after an earlier fall but still has his sense of humour in tact cos he thinks he can stay in front of me if he leaves quickly... Hehe
My mumping/moaning & lack of pace over the last few miles at least left me with enough energy to pick it up in the final section. I passed Tim not long into this section.. Obviously the fact that he has not been able to run for the last few months is no excuse!

George and Anne both ran the last section with me, we ran all the runnable parts and power walked the hills (Bobby Murray school of walking). Reaching the fire path George (veteran of many WHW races) gives me the advice of don't go to fast here, if you let go here you'll struggle further down. Whhoopppee says me and starts belting down the hill! Some folks just need to learn the hard way! Needless to say the first slight even part & I'm almost going backwards. I did manage to run all the way to the finish line but boy did I pay for that first mile!

Finished in 9hrs 2:57 whoopee

Thanks to all the organisers, marshals, sponsors. Brilliant Moor butt kicking day out.
And of course the dream team support crew. Next time I promise to listen x

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!!