Consistency returns for now.

I just finished my fourth 50 plus mile week. It's been tough fitting it all in but my motivation is consistency. To be a successful runner, or fit at anything, you need to be consistent.

tunnel along the canal

I've been looking back at my training diaries and pre-Superior 100 I was dead on consistent for at least 8 weeks (50 - 70 miles). Yeah life gets in the way and the miles fluctuate but in comparison to pre-Lakeland 100 (30 - 40 miles!) it's no wonder I had a shitty run at LL! It should've been expected, and kind of was.

The remaining summer will be a challenge. Moving into a new house, JKD phase test, sick kids, teething kid, inconsistent sleep, and a summer break for the daycare will all pose significant challenges to time management. In addition I really need to up the mileage on my long runs. Ideally I'd like to get in a few 18 - 25 milers back to back but in the time frame of training those runs may end up being at night. Fingers are still crossed the little dude will start consistently sleeping in giving me the early morning back (I'm not holding my breath!) but I need to be flexible and hope the wife is too. 

Photos are from a recent run towards Birmingham on the canal and an old loop I haven't done in a while. I rarely run the canal this way since you need to do a mile or so through town but I was reminded that it's worth it. Knocked out 15 miles with the little dude and had some great scenery. 

lock along Staffordshire Worcestershire Canal

The old loop I did was an easy 8 and has always been a nice run behind the Safari Park. The poppy fields weren't as good as I'd hoped but at least some of the footpaths had been mowed. Unfortunately one hadn't been hence the Strava title "Nettle Hell."  A new signed loop had also been put up with a tank emblem signifying the location of an old shooting range from WWII that housed American soldiers. 

odd mailbox!

And my favorite double take on the canal.  A U.S. Mail mailbox! Obviously the lettering is odd but also the shape of the mailbox is very foreign here! 

Exhaustion builds.

Every night I attempt to go to sleep as soon as possible. Thursday nights I've got JKD but otherwise there is really no excuse to stay up once my nightly chores are done and I feel I'm prepared for the morning. 

Usually I shoot for 9pm but the wife and I have been enjoying a couple beers which drags on until 930 or 10. And every morning we kick ourselves as the accumulation of interrupted sleep seems to build with more than one recovery night needed to catch up.

Every night I'm woke at 3am by the little dude's noises, then every 30 - 45 minutes thereafter until 5 or 530am when he's up and smiling. Pretty sure it's teething or maybe just a bit unsettled and then goes back to sleep. Or he bangs and kicks the crib rolling over. Either way I guess I'm a light sleeper as he keeps me out of solid sleep ALL NIGHT LONG. 

I think I remember this with our daughter and it goes on until they are in their own room. Pretty sure when we move house he's getting his own room. Maybe I'll get my mornings back too? 

So my recovery situation has been less than ideal but I just feel sleep deprived, not overtrained, so I just need to keep fitting in the miles. 

Training thoughts.

Running is moving along pretty good it seems. I'm taking full advantage of the Chariot and the three days I have to watch only the little dude. 13 plus mile runs with 1300 vertical feet are the norm which is actually better than my normal routine. The pace is always pretty quick since that thing really is hard to run slow with. 

Running on the Wyre I cover at least half of the half marathon course. The rest is too bumpy for the Chariot. I think I'll go into that race with confidence having the opportunity to train there. Getting pretty psyched for it. Only downside is I've got a JKD grading the day before which could be kind of taxing, I think it will be at least four hours long. 

The biggest benefit are the hills. I've been really looking at my descending form. So many races here guys just pull away from me going down. That needs to stop. The pressure to go fast is on with the Chariot as it wants to take off forcing me to keep up, so the down seems to be improving which is nice.

As with anything involving kids my training schedule will fluctuate so I need to take advantage of what I've got. My daughter is at home for a while and not at day care for a stint mid summer so the Wyre Forest training will take a break and I'll shift to night running again I'd guess. May be a good thing to have a change? 

 

Patience.

More and more I look back at my training log before running Superior 100 and realize I had a super solid training plan, hence a good result. I know I'm better than that now with experience but what I don't have is the availability of consistent training. This was also the case with Lakeland, not enough consistency.

I need to be patient and just keep running as I can. The day will come in due time when I'll get mornings back, my mileage will increase as will the consistency, and hopefully this dark horse with come from out of no where. Even if it's within the master's category. 

Sleep!

After being completely trashed from lack of sleep I finally got a little catch up. I was all fired up to get out and run last night but was still tired. I thought about it long and hard and despite preferring to use the time I've got to its full extent I took the day off. 

Instead, after getting the kids to sleep and finishing my evening chores I immediately meditated for a bit, read for 10 minutes in bed, and went to sleep. All before 830pm. 

Fortunately the little ones kept quiet and I slept through until 445. Then layed in bed waiting out the littlest one's noises until he demanded getting up about 530. 

I seem to feel better so today hopefully a solid run on the Wyre Forest with the Chariot will happen.

Quality over quantity is best right now considering my odd fluctuating schedule.

Tiredness and time off can be fun

Holy shit am I exhausted.

So ten days or so ago a few family members arrived from the USA and sleep deprivation training began. Snap! I had a social life and travels to Scotland to add on top of two kids! 

Bottom of "the track" that leads to where we stayed, Whin House, Kildonan, Isle of Arran

I had opportunities to run but was wrecked tired and figured it best to scrape up what sleep I could and have fun. I managed some "greasing the groove" with my calisthenics and a few easy walks so not all was lost. Thursday I managed an eleven miler and despite tired felt alright. I took Friday night off hoping to get sleep, no such luck.

The kids continue to thwart my training with late night "Daaaaaddddy, Daaaaaaddddy" and crying calls for assistance. Whether it's growing teeth or an illness causing coughs, combine it with the usual 5am wake up, I just want 8 solid hours.

I was kind of disappointed I didn't run in Scotland but it was awesome to see my family so really no problem.

So trying to stay positive and motivated doing what I can when I can whether it's running, stretching, strength work, or trying to relax or meditate to recover.

Chariot saves the day!

I friggin' love the Chariot. It always makes me happy. Knocked out ten miles today on the Wyre Forest, averaged 7:16 on hillier terrain. 

After missing out on a long run Sunday today more than made up for it!