JKD Grading

A few weeks back I had a Jeet Kune Do grading. It was very stressful as it was only myself and my partner in front of our instructor. Normally we grade with the entire class however my partner was unable to make that date, fortunately rather than miss the test, our instructor was kind enough to reschedule for just us two at a later date. Good: we had an extra 2 weeks to prepare Bad: it was just us two! So, as I said, it was initially very stressful. We both were obviously very tense to begin with but as we tired out we relaxed a bit. I think it went well. There are always things you can improve on and do better. You can always be faster, smoother, more relaxed. My sparring is usually mediocre as I tend to take the defensive. I need to take the offensive. It's all a big learning process.  

Double stick or Siniwalli drills:

Probably one of the Muay Thai kick boxing drills:

Combat Submission Wrestling drills:

More Muay Thai:

 Sparring (boxing or Jun Fan):

Some of the stick sparring photos you'll see me with no stick. Sometimes your opponent disarms you and you've got to make do without. In the final photo where we're on the ground and I have no helmet on I had just taken my partner down with a double leg take down from MMA and as I began punching him on the ground my helmet came off! The fun part about JKD is that it's fairly open ended. Yes, we were stick sparring but you still have a fairly open invite to use whatever is necessary. No stick? Punch. Disarm, Kick. Take 'em down. Obviously when safety is concerned the fight ends but not after a little fun! 

3 1/2 hours later we're exhausted and happy to be done!I think we covered every bit of curriculum from all the previous tests!

Passed Phase 9, only one more to go until Phase 10, black!

Week 14

Week 14 accomplished for the most part. I ended up only doing one tempo session though. The night running and inconsistent sleep has been catching up with me and opted out of two sessions. I've been exhausted during the day and taking three nights off cramming in 40 miles in four days. It's easily doable and I figured I needed to catch up on rest. Besides, when I run at work I usually run too fast anyway so it may have been a borderline tempo run!

Worcester Cathedral from my commute

 I took Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights off from running. Saturday I snuck in 11.5 miles total with a commute from my car to work, a lunch break run, and then a commute back to my car. I'm slowly extending the commute from 2 miles. It all adds up and if the weather is nice why not? I've only got an hour over lunch and can manage 7 miles at the most with time to get cleaned up. Actually hit the Severn Way from Worcester which I hadn't done in a while. Best part is no people.

Severn Way signpost

The morning run update: Last night the kid slept until 715am! That's promising! I hope the daylight savings change that just happened here will shift him. The previous day was 630am. With plans of ramping up my mileage the mornings are going to be necessary so fingers are crossed.

heading to work

Looking at my training plans the time is going fast. I've been the most consistent I've ever been leading up to an ultra so far. I've been doing speed work which I've NEVER done and I feel like it's going well. April will be a build up of weekly mileage, 50-60 per week as apposed to the current 40. The first couple weeks will have some tempo runs like I've been doing then the rest of the month will be longer runs at a faster pace, but slower than tempo pace, called a "steady state run." I need some 20 milers too with Malvern Hills 50 coming the first weekend in May. May will be high mileage endurance runs, hopefully hilly. Then June is essentially a three week taper. Wow. I need to get them plane tickets!

   

Well I made my weekly goal of 40. Coffeed up and got out the door. I normally don't listen to things running but podcasts always help pass the time. Besides there are a lot out there on WS100.  I managed 13 miles and actually felt half way decent. Considering I fell asleep on the couch watching the kids and was grumpy all day I was happy.

Being passionate about the end goal sure is a powerful motivator, haven't had that since Superior 100.

Week 15

screen shot of  WS100 sub 24hr buckle

Another challenging week managing time and getting out the door. So far I've made it work. I've still got to run 13 miles today, fortunately easy ones!

For some reason I keep taking Tuesday off; tired, unmotivated, shitty weather. I'm not even sure what my excuse is but the past two weeks I've done it and made the rest of the week tough. Wednesday I had another tempo session which was good. I found a nice loop incorporating the canal and bike path to avoid cars and town as much as possible. The canal sucks if it's wet, real slippery, but decent with a headlamp at night. I prefer it as it's flat and consistent but most of all no people. The heckling I receive seems to be growing at a fast rate for some reason. It's ridiculous but so annoying. Once again, I'm different and don't fit in so I'm a target of ridicule. I hate people as much as running at night. Morning = no people! 

Side note: the little guy is still waking before 6am randomly. 

Thursday I stepped out the door post JKD with intentions of 8 - 10 easy miles. To begin I was exhausted. I step out the door and it starts raining, the wind has picked up. I'm under dressed. As I'm running a car passes me, they clean their wind shield and of course I get hit directly in the face with washer fluid! WTF! Motivation is waning even more now and I'm not even a mile in! Next my shoe lace comes undone, I'm already planning a shorter run now, then my other shoe lace comes undone a few minutes later! Now I'm doing the math to see if I can make my weekly goal if I run "x" miles tonight in hopes I'll perk up a bit forgetting about my current state. It doesn't work. I'm heading in hoping for three miles tonight. My shoe lace comes undone. Again. Done. Angry and disappointed.

flowers in Worcester

Friday wasn't much better, I was planning another tough tempo run. I was achy all day long for what ever reason. I didn't even try. The math for my weekly goal was adding up but Saturday and Sunday would be tough, I'll need 27 miles over two days, let's hope I feel better. Physically 27 is easy, but when you are sleep deprived and free time is so limited it makes it significantly harder.

Saturday I ran to and from my car at work scraping in 4 total miles. No lunch run as only two of us working. I got a coffee at 5pm as a Saturday night motivator. I made it happen. Tempo session Saturday night, 10 miles. 13 to go on Sunday!

So here we are digging deep. I'm curious how my high mileage weeks will be in a month or so.

In non-complaining news I've got my volunteer hours lined up. There's a 50km in Brecon Beacons that incorporates a 10KM, half, and full marathon, I've secured not only a volunteer spot with, but I get to be a sweeper! So add a 30 mile mountain run to my training mid May! Really excited about this. As a bonus they invited me to go out with them for one of their crew members' birthdays the night before the event! I'm planning to leave work early, drive the hour and a half, then hang out, we'll sleep in the town hall, then help out at the race Sunday! Really excited to hang out with people like me!

Worcester run commute

May training seems to be falling into place. Every weekend I've got a long run/race planned. Getting heavy miles may actually happen as hoped for! Malvern Hills Ultra 52, Brecon Beacons 50km, then Worcester Marathon most likely. Then it's taper time!  If I can get this month right, stay healthy, motivated, I should be pretty set up for WS100. The weekend high miles are planned so should happen, I just need to add a few weekday runs too. Thinking it all out I CAN do the miles, I just need to get the rest which is up to the little guy!

This coming week is the same as the past two, shooting for 40 plus miles and at least two tempo sessions. Here we go................

sparkly?

 

Week 16

Another stressful week of managing family and training. The good thing is I'm sleeping an adequate amount for now. Bad thing is I feel I'm getting the "eye roll" when I go out the door at night, whether that's true or not I don't know. I've said it before, mornings are best: out of sight, out of mind. I try my hardest to not be selfish about running. I go when the kids are asleep. The wife just watches her tv shows or texts friends at night, nothing involving me. I'm grateful for days I get out in the light during normal hours but always feel guilty. What happens at night anyway? Sit on the Internet? Watch tv I have absolutely no interest in? I'd rather take my "medicine" and run. 

Anyway, two tempo sessions this week surrounded by easy recovery running. I've still got 5.5 miles to do tonight (to hit my 40 mile goal), however at noon I have a JKD grading. I'll make it happen. I'm not letting anyone or thing get in the way of my goal. Motivation has been high, the tempo sessions are fast and fun; comfortably uncomfortable is the best way to describe the effort! 

I've started to try and find a trail or ultra race to volunteer at, 8 service hours is a requirement of WS100. I've got two race directors contacted. One is probably a sure thing and the other I'm still waiting for a reply. 

Tahoe has had huge snowfall this year so it's likely the race will cross snow in the high country. I think they also alter the race course in heavy snow years. 

Our, I guess annual, Easter trip to Scotland's Isle of Arran has been called off unfortunately. We go there to see the wife's mum, it's super cool there and has awesome mountainous trail running. I was really excited but the wife called it off because it's "too stressful with the kids." I was really disappointed, it's one of those places where I actually fit in. 

I thought I had more to say today but I guess not. Onward. 

In other news, I couldn't help myself. I've been following roller skis on eBay for a while. The off road versions I won in the photo will work insanely well on the Wyre Forest. I'll re-sell the boots because they're too big, I've already got boots that fit. Being a skier I've always dreamed of races such as the 90km Vasalloppet in Sweden. I have the tools, now need the time. Patience.

Week 17

Kind of a blah week. It's meant to be an easy week anyway. I had a few speed bumps but made the miles happen. Biggest bump I'm dealing with is sleep. The little guy is doing his thing and waking at night. I've been trashed all week, chugging coffee for motivation to get out to run. I'm hoping it's temporary because I won't improve without adequate sleep.

when I roll, he decides he needs to!

This next week/phase I'm starting tempo runs. I've yet to set a plan, I guess I'm hesitant with the sleep situation, but should have an idea tomorrow. This will be a taxing phase. Slightly easier in effort compared to intervals but longer in duration. This is where I get fast. Yes, I'm training for an ultra which is a relatively slow race, but getting the speed up early will make the "going long" much easier and efficient when it's time to train distance.

Sunday afternoon at the ford

Wednesday night's run was exciting. I stepped outside, temperature was maybe high 40's with a very light rain. No big deal. I get dressed: shorts, long sleeve, light jacket, light gloves. I'm out the door maybe 815 pm and happy to have kept up my motivation and to escape home. I'm heading out over the river to some country lanes that provide hardly any traffic and some nice hills. I'd like 10 miles but am checking the loop to get a solid distance on it.

Severn Valley Railway passing 

I get about 3 miles in, am on dark country lanes, and the weather turns to complete shit! Driving rain, heavy winds, and the temperature has dropped about 10 degrees! I'm instantly soaked and running faster to keep warm! The hills have streams ripping down them and huge ankle deep puddles have formed on the flats! My phone starts dinging away. Text messages. I hate that noise on a run. I find a place to attempt to check my phone as I curse my wife. I dig it out and she's just checking to see if I'm ok, the squall obviously hammered the house too, it wasn't just a hallucination. I ignore it focusing on getting home and not hypothermic.

 It was a battle to get home but 9.2 miles later I'm attempting to operate my key to get in the door as my hands have become crab claws from the cold. The whole thing was like a dream, my visibility and hearing where muffled from rain, wind, darkness, and the light from my headlamp. The oddest run I've ever had. I got in and my legs were beet red and covered in mud, I had the uncomfortable "frost nip feeling" on my "you know what" that brought back memories of Nordic ski racing in the bitter cold.

A little excitement I guess. I wish I wouldn't have been so wet as I felt really good and wanted to run more!

behind the Safari Park

Sunday ended with a decent but tired 13 miler. I'm still praying for my mornings to open up, even if it's at 430 am. I'm so tired of comments from stupid people on my short's length, traffic at night, drunks at night, etc. Mornings are the best. No people. 

When I'm jeered at while out on a run it reminds me how much I miss living somewhere where I'm normal. I'm such an outcast here. When I do talk with someone who says they "like my mountains," "I love camping," or has similar interests as I do they have absolutely no idea how experienced I was in these things. I never realized the experience I had until moving here. I miss being among active outdoorsy people, I fit in, here I never will.

Fingers crossed I get a solid night's sleep. In reading about sleep the effects are cumulative which is unfortunate for me. You can't just get one night of good rest and be better, it needs to be consistent. I guess I'm going to have to axe watching The Walking Dead and just go to bed! 

Update: I'm adding this Monday morning. Solid sleep last night, the little guy slept through!