So it appears not only running, but the running season is over before it’s begun for me! 

The West Highland Way Race is officially cancelled, choose either defer to next year or a full refund by April 5. I’m also signed up for the Montane Lakeland 50 which is in July. Fingers crossed they cancel it, I’d guess that’s coming! 

No big deal really since I’m unable to train appropriately. I can barely eek out 3 miles with pain. I’m riding the bike in the garage for aerobic fitness and to escape my family. I’ve also been doing a lot more strength work which has been fun. Who knows, it seems I could come out fitter in general than before! 

My wife thinks I’m crazy. She’s finally seeing how much I train since I’m stuck at home. “Crazy” as in not normal. Before I’d run and train around family time, she never knew what I did, never saw it since it was always super early or to and from work, she never would ask either. I just decide to do other things than sit on my phone I guess. I guess I’m not normal for not sitting on my ass, eating like shit. I like it that way.

I’m at home attempting to home school two kids and the wife is attempting to work upstairs. Any noise from us and we hear about it. Things seemed to be going really well. I lost it though this afternoon. Shit just fell apart. These things are tough with no feedback. I never feel like I’m doing enough. The given curriculum for the week for my daughter we didn’t finish. I don’t  believe half the shit she tells me. I think she lies about what she actually can do. According to her she can’t do basic addition (she’s in third grade), I’m calling bullshit. So in return we’ve not finished what she needed to do because, for example, supposedly 4 + 3 = 10.  I refuse to hold her hand and practically do it all for her. It will go back blank. 

I feel like I haven’t done my job. I gave up on her. That’s the hardest part. 

I just want to go for run to clear my head but I can’t. I’m fine with all this isolation, that was my life before, but this is more like I’d expect prison to be, you can’t leave. 

One good thing of all this is there are a ton of free body weight/ at home strength workouts available. Al and Danny Kavadlo released an entire book for free online. Uphill Athlete released a ton of workouts focusing on running and mountaineering. Then of course my favorite, Bobby Maximus, has a ton of routines as well. No better time to get really strong. I think I’ve had DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) for a week! 

So tonight I’ll stare at a brick wall in the garage with a marginally operating iPad mini to watch, hoping whatever I watch will pass the time, and of course within the appropriate heart rate zone! 

Slow progress. I’m ever so slowly incorporating running back. Still injured but I can run 3 easy miles, it hurts but I can get out. I’ve charged my bike lights and hoping to get out early mornings just for fun. I’m also looking at my roller skis. This isolation thing will likely reduce traffic. Silent mornings are my favorite.

The academy closed but is still sneaking in a last minute Muay Thai grading tomorrow. They’re also going to do live online training which could be fun for myself and the kids too!

Ramping up the strength training too. It’s easy to do at home with huge benefits. The kids enjoy joining in as well!

I’m not too stressed about this whole thing. Being away from others is how I lived much of my adult life. 

One thing I’m happy for is the weather seems to be getting better. I was just standing in the garden with my coffee. It was silent except for the birds. Fantastic.

On we go. 

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Not sure if anything is better or not with my leg. I’m lined up for another physio appointment on the 24th, I pushed it back a week. I hit the treadmill at work to test shoes and there’s pain but it’s tolerable. Stretching my back seems to help but that could just be placebo. I also did manage a three mile trail run the other day. It hurt but the pain didn’t reduce me to a walk. I guess that’s progress. 

On a positive note with the record breaking floods this winter, since I’ve been injured, all my run commute routes have been underwater so I at least can’t bitch about floods and missing miles due to reroutes! 

So I’m still supplementing with the bike in the garage and more intense strength routines. Bike is boring but the strength stuff can be fun. I’ve gained noticeable upper body strength which is fun. 

Need a workout? Did this last week and it’s a doozy. It’s called the “Holy Trinity” and made up by Bobby Maximus, previously of Gym Jones, a fantastic  motivator and trainer. 

Three exercises: push ups, dips, pull ups. Here’s the routine. As many reps as possible for 30 minutes. I decided on each round I’d do 5 push-ups, 3 dips, 3 pull-ups in order to pace myself. It’s obviously a strength workout but the 30 minutes adds a cardio aspect to it so it’s a lot of bang for your buck. 

Anyway, I think I’m over the hump of  “can’t run.” I’m losing weight which is likely muscle and I’m tempted to sell my ridiculous Nike Next % shoes. I no longer see myself as a runner. I feel like I’m tired of trying and it’s time to give up. Maybe in the future I’ll start again but I don’t see an end in sight for this pain. I’m hoping the virus bullshit cancels the West Highland Way Race so I can get some money back. 

In better news I’ve got a Muay Thai grading next Sunday. I know the curriculum well and am ready for it but I’d love to escape for once to the open mat session at the academy. Sunday mornings until noon you can meet up and train with other people. It’s a great opportunity to get one on one training in IF I can get away without grief. 

Still not running. Was really positive after my last physio appointment, it seemed to be getting better, and today I was told to give it a try. I made it 5 minutes until the pain started. I pushed through hoping it would maybe go away but no such luck. 18 minute run. Really down. I’m ready to give up on running but nothing can fill that space. It’s who I identify as, it seems the last shred of who I am as a person. It’s something that I’m halfway good at. 

Running fits really well for me around family. Other things I enjoy don’t; I need to have a partner to really excel at martial arts, lifting I need to go to a gym, cycling is too time consuming and there’s no way I could afford a decent bike. I won’t get into mentioning what I used to do, the activities I gave up moving to the UK (ie anything snow or mountain related).

I was always a solid drinker, maybe that’s the answer.  

It’s official, the Tor will have to wait

Here it is. The official email. I wasn’t disappointed. It just allows me to prepare more knowing I will get in in 2021 or 2022. I guess this injury isn’t helping either. 

Anyway, if you’ve got 45 minutes to kill here’s a decent YouTube video from a Canadian guy who ran the Tor. I watched it last night, the photography is great. Looks like a mix between the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies. Not too much talking either, just the right amount! More and more I’m intrigued by these uber long races. The Spine Race here in the UK is definitely peaking my interest, 268 miles following the Pennine Way in winter. 

Peak District Shoe Testing

Well I did it, and am slightly regretting it. I overdosed on ibuprofen and had a great day, maybe two, running in Saucony Peregrine 10 and Peregrine 10 ST trail shoes around Peak District National Park. 

It was about a 2 1/2 hour drive from my house to Buxton, where Buxton bottled water is sourced. There was a nice few inches of snow on everything but was rather mild with the sun temporarily showing itself only to be covered off and on by clouds. I arrived at the Old House Hotel (supposedly the oldest hotel in the UK) and people were already dorking out on running. It was fantastic. Saucony UK were having a retailer testing and training on their improved Peregrine line of trail shoes. About 12-15 people had arrived from all over the country. I met our rep Pete as well as the other Saucony folks. Then as people slowly warmed to each other conversations started. 

Initially we had a presentation about the shoes which most of I already knew however did glean some new info from which can help us sell more of the trail shoe line. Soon we were each given two pairs of shoes and a bag of swag. Changed into our running kit and hopped on a bus. Off to the trails we went.

Everyone had on Peregrine 10 ST, the more aggressive version for muddy, sloppy terrain. We also were asked to keep other brands logos to a minimum if not zero. Fortunately the swag bag had a decent bright orange wind jacket, a base layer, and hats and buffs were handed out as well. Saucony logos everywhere!

After a 45 minute drive through erratic weather of  snow, sleet, sun, and wind we arrived at our starting point. We parked outside a pub, of course, where Saucony banners, tents, and vans were parked. Off we went straight up hill.

The loop was about 6 miles and 1000 feet of vert. It was fairly windy but warmish, warmish for me! It snowed, rained, clouded over and the sun poked through as well, just as it had all day. It was perfect conditions for testing the Peregrine 10 ST. We ran on rocks, mud, ankle deep streams and puddles, smooth flagstones, pavement, grass, and snow. Other than the wind the conditions were decent with hardly any rain. 

Oops, deep friggin’ puddle! 

Through the entire run my leg was fine and towards the end became a bit sore but not too bad. 

We returned to pub, had beer and chips (British  fries), and soon were on our way back to the hotel for dinner, all the time talking running, the running business, products, etc. I crashed out around 930pm.

After a marginal night’s sleep I woke and I could hardly walk. My quad was swollen and I wasn’t sure if I’d be running the short 3 miler that was planned for testing out the other shoe. Not wanting to be the guy who stayed back I did my best to stretch, massage, and of course ibuprofened up! 

Hotel window photo.

More snow had fallen leaving outside even more intriguing. The pain in my leg soon was masked by drugs and I was hopping on the bus again! 

A shorter bus ride and easier loop around a reservoir was taken to test out the Peregrine 10. The all around version of the shoes. My leg was sore but I managed and soon we were back at the Saucony vans, tents, and flags and were eating warm sausage and bacon sandwiches (had the vegan sausages), a popular breakfast food here. Some small talk over food and back to the hotel. 

A quick shower and on to a bit more training and business talk, aka dorking out on running! Soon we were wrapping up and heading home. A fantastic short trip to not only run in new product, but see a new place and meet other runners. 

The right is swollen, no muscle definition.

At home now my leg hurts bad. Ice helps, it’s definitely swollen. I even skipped JKD tonight. I’ve got another PT appointment on Tuesday. Let’s hope I can ride this running buzz out until then. Definitely worth it. 

Thanks to all those who shared photos! 

And huge thanks to Saucony UK. Both Peregrine have a place, are fantastic shoes that I’d definitely recommend to anyone! 

Peregrine 10 ST and Peregrine 10

Tor des Geants

I got home from work today and saw this:

Gulp. I did a little searching and looking under Great Britain and United States. And found “Andrew Stevens:”

It’s not “green” so I’m assuming I’m not in. Not sure how I feel about that, supposedly I’m guaranteed an entry next year though for failing three in a row! To quote Carl Spackler from Caddyshack  “So I got that goin’ for me, which is nice.”

Edit: Oops. Just double checked the “three times you’re in” and it’s actually four times. I swear it was three. Well, another annoying lottery next year with 2 (n-1), n being the number of failed entries.