As much as I enjoy the six weeks with them it’s difficult. I fortunately have a job that allows the time off however no work equals no money so paychecks are super small for August and September. I also really struggle with entertaining kids and getting house duties done, prioritization. Yes, kids should come first, but I feel I have to fulfill my role around the house as well, and when I have time I can be very productive. My wife works her ass off so I try to get as much done around here to make her non-work time as easy as possible. So I take the time, unfortunately the time I take the kids are unproductive sitting on screens. Fortunately it sounds like our kids are better than most and actively go do other things but they definitely need to be entertained a lot of the time. It’s a struggle for me so I hate to say it but I’m glad summer has come to a close!
In about two weeks I’ve got an ultramarathon to run. I wanted it to be a solid race effort but with summer my training time becomes difficult. The Cotswold Century, on Saturday September 18, is 102 miles with I believe about 12,000 feet of vertical, following the Cotswold Way from Chipping Campden to Bath. I’m comfortable with the distance and still want to properly train and race one of these! It seems to never happen though! We’ll see how it goes. I’ve got a huge base behind me, experience, a bunch of strength work, but a mediocre amount of long runs. I guess it’s a “B” race anyway with the Arc of Attrition in January, a much bigger, challenging, and competitive race. It will be fun to have an adventure as I’ve been yearning for something as of late!
Early run near the beach in Prestwick Scotland.
Firth of Clyde near Brodick Castle, Scotland
While in Scotland I did manage to get into the hills. I ran a 19 miler around the Isle of Arran. I woke early and my wife dropped me off at the ferry terminal. As always it seems the high peaks and ridges were shrouded in clouds so visibility was poor. I did manage to get off route of course which seems inevitable! I had to bushwhack a bit but got back on track. It was nice to be out but these experiences are always way more fun shared with others. It’s always crazy trail running in the fells here. I forget how different it is. The trails are rarely maintained, and routes are usually a lot more exposed than I expect. I ran from the ferry terminal in Brodick on the road, then up gravel track, single track, rocky steps, open grassland, through head height ferns. Scrambled up class 4 and 5 rock slabs, blocks, and a chimney! Way more fun with a friend! Sorry my photos aren’t in order, too lazy and being distracted by kids to rearrange them!
Looking down Glen Sannox, Isle of Arran
Running along the ridge past Goatfell, Arran
Yes, there is a trail there!
Running up Glen Sannox, Arran
Wet chimney climbing up to the Saddle between Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa. I did NOT expect this!
The Saddle, looking down Glen Rosa
Rock stairs going up Goatfell
More rock work
Yesterday I had my first Dacayana Escrima grading at the academy. It went very well. Fortunately I’ve been training with kali sticks in Jeet Kune Do for 7 years or so. The benefit to escrima is that I’m comfortable with sticks so just need to learn new strike angles, blocking techniques, disarms, etc.. The curriculum for escrima is much less than JKD so learning content is much easier. Not that becoming proficient is easier, as learning these arts is a factor of time. I did the first four grades at once which is pretty cool, this normally takes about a year if you are new to martial arts. Really enjoying these classes, so much that at times I’ve seriously considered stopping running and refocusing time spent to martial arts. Well, at least cutting way back on running!
Start of the grading
Balla balla sensitivity drill
Sumbagay empty hand drill
Ekis drill
So that’s me for now. Back to more of a routine starting tomorrow. A few recent highlights I guess.
