We get stronger in running endeavors by stressing the body and allowing it to recover. In training though you need to consider all the stress around you as it will have an impact on your training. Well, all that life stress has caught up I think and currently there’s seemingly no escape. Running has become extremely difficult. I normally pop off a 20 plus mile trail run like it’s nothing. Monday I made it 16 and felt like complete crap for the entire thing and it’s not because I’ve lost fitness having an erratic week or two of training, it’s life stress. There is no escape or recovery besides time. 

95% sure I’ll drop out of UTS 100, I just can’t effectively train for it. I’m considering a late summer 100. Possibly North Downs Way 100 which I’ve never done or maybe Autumn 100 as it’s a convenient out and back set up. Both races have low vert and probably easier to train for. I really enjoy these but I’d like to enjoy the experience and without the ability to train it’s not going to happen. I’m not upset at all, just being realistic I guess. Life happens. 

For now I’m just trying to run when I can and keeping it easy. It’s hard knowing how I “should” be feeling and having no control over it. I can’t just rest a few days, eat more, self massage, etc. it is what it is I guess. 

Two photos that’s aren’t that great but may be interesting. First is the tail end of a deer that lives here, it’s funny seeing them compared to a mule deer or a white tailed deer as these things are the size of a dog! Tiny! Second is my sprints hill I normally use one a week. It’s on a farm that’s used for motocross. It’s steep and fairly short but I can get a minute plus of straight up sprinting on it so good enough for my needs. It goes lower and higher too. Crap photo really! Hill sprints recruit fast twitch muscle fibres, short sprints (10-60 seconds) with a full 3 minutes of recovery keep the aerobic system off line and train the anaerobic system. Lungs don’t even feel like they are working until the end of the sprint but the legs need to burn.

Read an interesting instagram post from a guy I follow. He’s ex military, big into strength training and jiu jitsu. He’s in his forties and was talking about training loads, recovery, skill attributes and practice. As we age we obviously lose the ability to get much stronger than we are and recover quicker. Yes, gains can be made but it’s far more difficult with time working against you. Skills training isn’t inhibited by age. So he’s cut back his strength training and has increased his skills training (jiu jitsu). Makes sense. 

Typical grey day, ready for sun

I’ve been struggling with what to do as far as juggling running and martial arts around life. I’m finally working more which is awesome, but other family factors have come into play causing stress and limiting available time to be away. My daughter has epilepsy and things are beginning to change with her and this is number one obviously, but I selfishly do want to get out and run, be alone outdoors. It’s not that I can’t get away, it’s that I shouldn’t. Mornings I need to be there just in case. I also need to be involved as a leader possibly in her extra curricular activities in order for her to confidently take part. This is important to me. As much as I want to give 100% to these ultras, am I able to still enjoy the experience and focus a bit less on training? I don’t know, and unfortunately won’t know until I race. Martial arts I can easily practice skills at home around family, running I need to be away. 

On my way to run some hill sprints

I’ve had a mild sniffle and cough for nearly a month. I’ve had this before and it supposedly lasts four weeks. With all this going on I haven’t felt the best running due to whatever this illness is. My training had fallen behind, nothing too bad, but it definitely has been frustrating and has ruined any drive I had for UTS 100. I know I can train around family but it’s difficult without drive, I did it for UTMB. Maybe these are all signs to move on from these long races?  Once again lessen the running and increase my skills? My running has become very routine as well. I’ve got a reliable training plan but I’m on my fourth or maybe fifth iteration of it and it’s becoming stagnant.

Lonely tired noodle around town after work 

Life stress adds up, toss in a stubborn cold, a long British winter, I’m ready for early sunrises and warm weather. Life is always in flux. 

Signs of spring

Sore throat started February 10. It hasn’t built into anything other than a little sniffle here and there but it’s hanging on exhausting me. I was glad it started near the beginning of a rest week and also a week of kids off school but I’m still feeling wiped out. When these waves hit I wonder why I put the time in to do these races. No one other than me is really interested. 

Another downer my friend in Cornwall messed his ankle up so we’ve cancelled our training weekend in North Wales. More worried about my buddy getting back running than going to Wales. He said it wasn’t broken at least but will be off running for two weeks! I’m sure he’s going crazy not training! 

I’m ready for warmer weather. Even on sunny days the wind bites here. The high moisture content in the air makes temps in the 30’s and 40’s miserably uncomfortable. Give me negative numbers in the dry any day! It’s fascinating how much the moisture has an impact. 

Spring is coming! 

Trying to follow along with the Nordic Ski World Championships in Slovenia. So miss that sport. I always thought myself to be a much better skier than a runner, but always felt running was way more bad ass! Ha ha ha! I have roller skis but never use them. I’ve considered doing a cool classic race like the Vasalloppet in Sweden. I think it’s 90km of classic skiing, largest in the world! That would be an experience! I could easily train without snow, swap my long run to a long ski, focus a bit more on strength specific to skiing, it can be done. It lingers in the back of mind for the future.

Other than the constant mental battle to get out there training is chugging along for UTS 100 in May. I’m planning to add some speed work in that I’ve never done before. Will make me faster on the flats and downhills, something I really lack. Looking back at my UTMB training the treadmill hikes were a key session so I’ll likely start those soon too. 

School is back in session tomorrow and fingers crossed this illness subsides. 

Flooding and photos

To start a few before and after photos of the River Severn flooding. This is a normal occurrence here in the winter but has in the past flooded above and beyond normal causing all sorts of issues. I did enjoy a bit of exploring to avoid the flooding, it’s easy to get frustrated though, when time is limited I like to have an idea of where I’m going and when I’ll be back.

 Ran out the Worcestershire Way a couple weeks ago for something different. It’s an out and back run which is very scenic but running from the house can be a bit blah vert-wise so I drive a few miles to start where the hills are best. I prefer to run from home as it’s more time efficient but doing this I am able to get in an extra 900-1000 feet of vert over 20 miles as compared to my normal 20 mile run from home route. I also dip into territory of some of the Worcester area clubs and their Strava segments. Am considering running out here more to tick off some of the King of the Mountain segments for fun. 

Cold morning but kept the mud a bit more solid.

Not exactly sure what this is but a herd was fenced in at a farm in Abberley

Training is ticking along. I’m meeting my friend Greg from Cornwall in Manchester the first weekend in March and we are driving to North Wales for a few days of running. Hopefully the weather is good. It can be really nasty there. Hoping to cover a bit of the UTS 100 race course. Tough running up there, lots of vert and the terrain can be very technical. I’ve ran a pretty good chunk of the race course however the northern section, which I believe is the most technical, I have not. Should be a fun weekend away. It’s always strange leaving the family behind but once I’m in the moment it’s all good! 

Frozen water

Cold but sunny out,  can’t complain

River Teme during flood stage

Top of Abberley Hills

I guess mainly a photo post. Not much to talk about. Life is ticking by. Had a birthday last month, I turned 46, even though I swear I’m 47! Doesn’t matter much really, just another day. So on we go.

Continuing on from my last post I think I’ve gotten my head straight after some tough times. I’ve settled into a really good routine that I’m happy with. It involves running, martial arts, and body weight strength training. I just need to hold on to the focus, plan ahead, and don’t let disruptions derail my mind. These derailments are difficult and come from many places. I can’t plan ahead I just need to accept it and move on. Smile. Realize it’s not that big of a deal.

River Severn still flooding near Worcester 

My running fitness is rebounding it seems. After a fairly solid break one assumes you’ve lost a lot of fitness and gone backwards but in reality you come back sluggish and return most likely stronger. Currently on a rest week but will still try to get in a solid long run tomorrow, Monday, which is my normal routine. They aren’t hard, just long, so pertinent for a rest week depending on how I feel. 

Severn near Stourport. 

The flooding Severn can be annoying but I’m trying to embrace it this time around. Usually it forces me to change my routine running routes and I get frustrated. This time I literally ran with it. I avoid the flood normally but this ti e explored it. I saw the river and my usual routes in a different light. I was forced to take new paths and see new places. I was likely trespassing, hopping fences, getting wet feet, and running out and back as I ran into impassible routes. It was good. I think I get frustrated because I’m usually on a strict timeline to get home and routine routes give me a sense of comfort since I’m familiar with time frames and distance. The river is on it’s way down now though, so hopefully routine will return, it’s not good or bad, just normal, but I’m looking forward to the next mix up of routine.

Swollen River Severn looking towards Bewdley

My martial arts habit I committed to in November has solidly stuck. Despite a break while in Minnesota I’m back at it practicing every day. I’m enjoying it very much so and am slowly increasing that time as I can. It’s mainly technique work but I hope to add in more fitness focused fight work as well. 

Adding in a few days of focused strength work is the new addition of an old habit. I used to crank out body weight exercises at home but that got put to the back burner at some point. Well, I trying to get it back even if just a couple days per week. My favorite routine is called the “Holy Trinity.” 30 minutes, non stop of push ups, pull ups, dips. It’s solid, it hurts, and is extremely effective! My record is 140 pull ups, 140, dips, and I believe 260 push ups. Here’s how it goes. So when the clock starts I’ll do 5 push ups, 3 pull ups, 3 dips on the corner of the kitchen counter. Repeat until the clock hits 30. No rush just consistent one to the next. I’m currently far from my record and started last week with the “Half Trinity,” 15 minutes. I had DOMS for three days. Just what I needed. To start I’m hoping to do that twice a week and add in anything extra in between as I can. Sit-ups, leg raises, and other core work I can sneak in while the kids are reading before bed. If I have time while cooking some handstand work adds up quick. Grease the groove.

One major thing my life lacks is time with my wife. We have few if any options for child care. The only time we have together is the final hour before we go to bed. The time we are exhausted trying to keep our eyes open to watch and laugh together at a tv show. This time is slowly being taken by the kids are they grow older the push to “stay up late” and steal more of our time. It hurts our relationship, we both know it, it always has, but it seems that the other challenges in life, particularly those involving our kids take priority as does taking time for ourselves to just be left alone. We both have birthdays coming up and then Valentine’s Day which you’d think we could sort something out but we shall see. 

I got back on track I think. It’s amazing how running in particular helps with my mental health. Martial arts doesn’t fill that void and I don’t know why. I just need to take a deep breath sometimes and keep on truckin’. It’s tough though when the days are gray, dark, and rainy. Not too motivating really. 

I thought I was back at it, rebuilding the fitness I lost over December. Then life hits and I seemingly have zero time to train. One side of me says time to move on, stop running, just do martial arts. The other side says no, you can’t stop it’s who you are, it’s the last shred of who you are as a person that is left. Besides it’s my job, how can I do what I do and not run?

I have between 9pm and 530am to train outside of Sunday and Monday. I don’t know how I did it last year. UTMB was a huge event I suppose so the drive was high. Snowdonia’s course is on the same scale but the event itself not the same, however I could actually do well overall because of that aspect. 

Why do I care? No one else really gives a shit whether I run or not. No one is concerned whether it’s going well or not or even if I enjoy it. My kids have never even seen me race and I don’t know if it would even be inspirational to them. Maybe I’m holding on to some dream of being good at something but I’m too old now. Maybe this is a midlife crisis. I don’t make money so I’m not buying crazy ass houses, cars, and crap that justifies my success. 

Hopefully this is just a blip and I should go to bed, get some rest, and regroup my thinking tomorrow. There’s got to be a way around it.