Life’s been busy. Normal routine really but it seems to be all consuming. 

I’ve stuck to the training plan so far. I don’t think I’ve deviated any more than anyone else with a busy life would which is good. This week is week 5 and fairly normal however mileages escalate in two weeks which will be challenging to fit in. I think I have a plan to get it done though. 

River Teme along Worcestershire Way 

As always sleep is a huge concern. I’ve had maybe 2 good nights of sleep within the past ten days. I’m otherwise interrupted by kids at night, have to sleep with kids, the house is too hot, or I’m wound up from martial arts. 

Woodbury Hill

Had one more 25 mile run on the Worcestershire Way before a rest week (last week). “Rest week” included a 17 mile run which I reduced to about 15. Mainly because my foot was bothering me a bit. Same old inside arch/ navicular of my left foot. I have started  more strengthening for it as well as some other “voodoo” I’ve been learning about at work to increase my proprioception and mobility in my foot. 

I got my hands on a new pair of trail shoes before the 25 miler which I was excited to try out. The Altra Olympus 4 had intrigued me when the rep brought them into work a year ago. Super cushioned and flexible. I’ve been enjoying the maximum cushioned Hoka Clifton on the road and wanted to try a trail shoe. The Olympus turned out ok. It’s big and clunky feeling, not quick and nimble, but at slow easy paces it was really nice. I think I still prefer the Altra Lone Peak but don’t want to invest in a new pair since it gets a major update this winter. Hopefully it will be available before the Arc of Attrition the end of January.

Altra Olympus 4

I guess so far so good with training however I’d like my foot to be 100%. Tomorrow another 25 miler on the Worcestershire Way which includes a deceiving and hefty 4000 feet of climbing. I was tempted to do a bunch of “back and forths” across a hilly section closer to home to get the vert in but we’ll see. 

Run commute in Worcester 

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. 

Slowly going back to normal around here. Kids went back to school last Thursday for pretty much a normal schedule. They leave fifteen minutes earlier but otherwise it’s the same routine. I start working weekdays tomorrow and will begin run commuting again. These commutes, although short, really boosted my fitness last fall so I’m looking forward to cranking up the easy miles. 

The Arc of Attrition 100 is in 21 weeks, the last weekend in January. I’m hoping to get a solid training regimen started after this week. I’ve procured a stout but do able training plan via Uphill Athlete that I’m hoping to execute. My main focus will be the strength work and the long runs. I’m planning to take time off work in order to do it right. Too many times I’ve attempted to run Sundays, or around family, and it just has never worked. I feel pressured to be back or feel guilty about missing family time. I know my boss will let me take a random (or consistent) weekday off to train. I already work 6 days a week anyway and it’s not like it isn’t work related since I work at a running store! 

I’ve figured out some hilly routes that will enable me to get in the required vertical and miles, and also a solid enough hill for muscular endurance workouts. So I’m excited get it started hoping I can execute it appropriately.

My feet are still bothering me. Second toe on my right foot and around the navicular on my left (upper inside above the arch). I can run on these things but they are there, I just wish they’d go away. Fortunately it’s time to build a monster aerobic base so easy running it is. Both feet feel like they need a good stretch, so I’ve been trying to just get them mobile. 

So life is feeling a bit more normal, things seem to be smoothing out a bit, so let’s hope it stays that way. 

Camera fun on the Wyre

An easy run playing with my camera today on the Wyre Forest. Having a lot of fun, once I figure out all functions and options I’ll try to implement more of a plan. 

Well my first try at film editing. It was difficult as I was learning how to use the GoPro app, poor WiFi, and of course kid factor likely played a part. I see a lot of places for improvement to make it flow and transition better but I’m impatient so I’m posting it! 

So my injuries are either getting better or I’m just dealing with them. Maybe they were never that bad? Who knows! Slowly returning my mileage back to normal. When school starts, this Thursday, and I am working, I’ll easily be getting more easy miles in which is something to look forward to. 

Heading up Carding Mill Valley

The wife took the kids to her sister’s in Wales Saturday overnight so I painted the house all day. Sunday I got up super early and drove an hour to Church Stretton and got in a fantastic 10 mile trail run on The Long Mynd, an area of steep grass covered hills and ravines. I’d raced out there before (Stretton Skyline fell race) so was a bit familiar. 

Sunrise from top of The Long Mynd, Carding Mill descending to the right.

Top of The Long Mynd

I timed it perfectly with the sunrise and of course I avoided the crowds. When I left the ranger asked if I’d paid for parking and we talked a bit. I had parked in a valley called Carding Mill, a popular tourist spot and trailhead. It’s a holiday weekend and he said they have had to turn people away because it’s been so busy. 

Ashes Hollow

I bought a GoPro camera and wanted to test it out somewhere cool. Brecon Beacons is two hours away and Church Stretton only one. It made me realize there’s really cool stuff close by. I’ve been trapped here and close to home by the British long drive mentality I think. I’ve been on the fence for a year about a GoPro, not that I can afford it making such little money, but I never buy anything so decided to. All the photos are unfortunately phone photos. Once I figure out my GoPro I’ll post what I’ve got from that. So you are missing out on the cool single track canyons! I’ll be putting videos on YouTube so have a look. I’ll post as I can and will likely be short snippets until I figure out editing. Try this link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/expatsamson

Caer Caradoc from Ragleth

Steep track up Ragleth

Panoramic from Ragleth looking at The Long Mynd

It was a much needed, although short, escape from life.  Between covid-19, furloughed from work, a struggling marriage, kids out of school, it was a nail pulled from the coffin for a change. I look at my life currently and it’s tough; I live in a foreign country, no family near, no close friends, no career, any career experience gone, no savings, I’m struggling to see any positives in my future. I was worried about this happening becoming a stay at home dad, I could rant on about how everyone here said I could go back to school, take a course, etc. when I voiced my concerns about my future but I have no one to blame but myself. 

It’s not all gloom and doom, my current job, although part time currently, does possibly have big potential, however it’s intimidating stepping into something when I look back at other things I’ve left behind. 

If it all crumbles maybe I’ll take my expensive camera and run home. Is this how people decide to do these things? 

2020 is turning out to be poop for running as well. Still dealing with this toe issue. And I had high hopes for a really cool race in Wales next year but since we have no one to watch the kids that’s out of the question too. 

I was looking at my fitness level from fall 2019 and it was erupting. Super consistent running, 60 mile weeks, and the gains I made were huge. Then it dropped a bit due to doing absolutely nothing on vacation in Minnesota, but within a week of returning I was back increasing. So I added some speed work, as you do, got injured, out for nearly 8 weeks. Then a huge drop in fitness and I’m back crawling out of hole only to end up where I am, injured, due to speed work. 

I not too concerned. If I can be back running 40 - 60 mile weeks this fall I have plenty of time to be in top form for the Arc of Attrition 100 miler the end of January. I just miss getting out I guess. 

I’ve been wanting to do a longer race and recently I got a reminder of entries opening for the Dragon’s Back Race. A stage race the runs the entire length of Wales from north to south. It’s 6 days of 50km to 70km a day (about 30 - 45 miles) with nightly stops at a camp where everything is provided. It’s not cheap but is only ran every two years in September. 2021 is perfect due to everything being pushed back a year I have zero chance of getting in any of my normal bucket list races. It’s affordable for me because they have the payment split into tri monthly installments. However, due to having kids, and no one to watch them or help out at home while my wife works, it’s not going to happen. Now I’m worried about bigger goals in Europe I’ve had. 

Just trying to stay sane while not being able to get out.