Thursday 8 March 2012

8 March - Postponed, possibly...

I'm unable to commit to the 30 June for the PBR this year.  I have just won a new contract which will mean working in London for about 3 months full time and for a big chunk of the week for 9 months after that.  It's a brilliant development professionally, but it means that I can't train during the week like i would need to.  For my family's sake, i am not going to be away all week and then train all bloody weekend. Something has to give, and it's this.

I've also been uneasy about committing to a fixed date because from that spills a schedule and a plan, and the whole thing starts to feel different to the low key event i want this to be.

What I'm going to do instead is to train as much as I can, and spend the summer racing.  Races are easy to organise and I love competing against my peers.  I'll train to race over some of the big classics (Ennerdale and Wasdale I have yet to do) and aim for a sub-4 hour Borrowdale in August, something I've got close to but never done.

The idea, which was the original idea, is to decide quite suddenly to go and do it.  To get to a point when I think i'm fit enough, make a few calls, pick a clear warm day in the later summer and go for it.  This way it's low key stress free and it means I'm not working away panicking about not training enough.

It's the only choice really.

Tuesday 6 March 2012

w/c 27 Feb - Busy and fast!

Another short blog entry this week, because I only managed to get out twice - Saturday and Sunday.  The working week was very busy and crucial as we were starting with a new client.

But what a great couple of runs!  It feels like I'm stronger - there is no better feeling for an athlete that knowing that the effort of training is paying off.  I ran what i glibly call my 1:15 run on Moel Famau on Saturday.  It's a run that I've only run under 1:15 twice before - it's a 7 mile rollercoater that has 2,300' feet of ascent and descent in and very runnable, which is what makes it so tough.  I managed 1:14:42, which is a personal best.  It was a shock - i felt good but it was muddy underfoot and so I was not expecting to fly.  But it clicked, I ran and it was good!  I pushed very hard when i sensed it was 'on' and was knackered at the end.

The next day the snow fell and Moel Famau was transformed from a spring like breeze to a wintry scene again, which I was fed up with.  I managed another strong run of 6M and 2600' (some reps up Fenlli thrown in) the day after and ended up having a good weekend.  But the need for a long day is growing.

If i carry on like this, i'll get fit, but not fit for a round.  Hoping for a long day out next week.

Week Summary:

Sat - 7M, 2,300 feet - fast hard run
Sun - 6M, 2,700 feet - snowy brisk fell run

Total - just 13M and 5,000 feet