Long running and the disturbance of life

I nearly made it two weeks following a strict training plan and life gets in the way. Early morning training following a plan just isn’t  sustainable with all the stress married with kids throws at you. It’s fascinating, all I need is 12 - 15 hours a week, and I can’t. Outside factors such as sleep are so crucial and fuck everything up.

Worcestershire Way

I took work off yesterday to run a solid 25 trail miles with 3200 feet of vert. I felt like crap due to sleeping poorly the night before due to family. I got it done and feel alright today, good sign I guess with a while until race day. I only miss 4 hours of work when I do that so it’s not breaking the bank for me, I do work 6 days a week and my boss realizes I’m “working” when I’m running. Testing shoes, taking photos, etc.

GoPro shot for work, check out them hamstrings! 

I’m trying to stay positive about it all and at least focus on the main big workouts. I figure even if I just do the required long runs and strength I’m significantly ahead of what I’ve done in the past for ultra training. That’s the thought with 17 weeks to go. I’m sure wrenches will be thrown in the works, I’m already anticipating two. 

Panorama of Shaver’s End disused quarry 

The other day I received an email from the Arc of Attrition race director, it included their plans if the race needs to be altered due to COVID 19. A few modifications pertaining to crews, start and finish protocols. No big deal for me really since I’m alone all the time anyway. 

Took a fair amount of camera footage but the processing of it all is time consuming although fun to play with. I’m still uncomfortable taking selfies so the footage wasn’t that great. The quality is marginal on my computer too. 

The quarry above is a hot spot for kids to swim, although illegal. People die there every summer it seems. I’m curious how. The newspaper gives vague reports of “cold water shock” and hitting things underwater. I’ve never understood cold water shock, I’ve swam among floating, spring ice high in the mountains, Lake Superior, and other super cold water. I think alcohol is likely involved, I just want the real reason! People here are extremely paranoid of water. No swimming and danger signs litter the River Severn, a tiny river compared to what I’ve been around. At my wedding all my friends swam in it and people freaked out. I guess “wild swimming” as they call it is just not part of growing up here.