Snow, wind and rain didn't stop play (Week 16 - 15 to go)

Stopping to turn my lights on, only 4pm - can't wait for the lighter nights

Well it’s been a miserable week and motivation has been hard with various different storms blowing through.  I feel slightly frustrated as I haven’t progressed like I’d hoped (I had this unrealistic expectation that I would turn in to some kind of super mountain runner) but hey ho I’m still getting out and discovering my sadistic side.

Injury still plagues my running, so short and slow (is there any other sort?) is the way to go.  Only 1 wet, windy and very cold bike ride this week – and I managed to fall off on that!  Twas just a gently tumble following a fast down on a new track a sneaky little dip appeared with nasty slippy tree routes on the upwards side.  I pulled hard to jump up and over the obstacle and so very nearly made it.  But my rear wheel just caught the wet roots and slipped away to the side dumping me onto the ground. No injuries of any note and despite my bruised pride I felt very smug when I got home, just because I’d been out in the awful weather.

Trying out the new pathway that the forestry has been working on.

And as for this morning, ground covered in white stuff, sky black and the odd roll of thunder (yes thunder in a snow storm), I feel I can take my rest day without any guilt.

Weeks activity 23^rd – 29^th January :

Saturday – Muddy trail run 5.63k / 25m height gain (flat!)

Sunday – No training

Monday – No training

Tuesday – Coaching session 5.67k

Wednesday – No training

Thursday – Mountain bike 6.7km / 146m height gain

Friday – Trail run 3.71km / 26m height gain

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)

What gets in the way of your training? (Week 15 - 16 to go)

Chilly out on the bike this week but stunning scenery

Not much done this week but stuck to the plan….   well nearly.  Tuesday’s coaching night included hills and a bit more distance than I had planned but apart from that I got two bike rides in and actually really enjoyed the week.

Red deer stag on the trail - not arguing with him!

On one of the bike rides a large red stag decided he wasn't for moving off the path and stayed in front of me for a while. I tried to photograph it while still on my bike and wearing my thick gloves – not the smartest of moves and I nearly ended up in a ditch.  Eventually he moved off and I continued on my route, casting the odd glance back to make sure he wasn't chasing me!

I knew I wouldn't get much done as I was off the island for a few days but the frequency of activity steps up from now on (so long as the snow storm form the US doesn't decide to come and visit).

Weeks activity 16^th – 22^nd January :

Saturday – No training

Sunday – Bike Ride 7.56km / 78m height

Monday – No training

Tuesday – Coaching session 7.11k / 79m height gain

Wednesday – MTB trail 8.26km/97m height gain

Thursday – No training

Friday – No training

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)

On yer Bike! (Week 14 - 17 to go)

No pictures this week, so an old one of me biking.

Short blog this week as still taking it easy and really have to get out on my bike more as I'm off mountain biking in Morocco very soon!  However the snow and ice didn't help much in that department as even the trails were iced over.

But the good news is I ran again on Tuesday without any problems with my calves. But I'm being good and reigning it back a bit – no hill runs and more bike for the next 4 weeks.

My biking is a bit like my running, good with the down hills, especially the technical bits but rubbish on the ups!  And I'm pretty rubbish at bike maintenance, of which my bike is of some need (actually I think just a bit of oil and tyres pumping up), so it’s drying out in the porch in the hope that I will get fed up of tripping over it and actually pump up the tyres properly!

Weeks activity 9^th – 15^th January :

Saturday – Bike ride, cold and windy, 9.29km road

Sunday – No training

Monday – No training (had planned a bike ride but got a coastguard call out)

Tuesday – Coaching session, 5.29km road.

Wednesday – No training

Thursday – Bike ride, very icy, 6.85km road / trail.

Friday – No training

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)

Pain, injury and staying positive with the running (Wk 13 - 18 to go)

Sunday trail run

Following on from having a great week Sundays trail run was a lovely 8km hilly trail route.  One of my favourites because the views are good and the tracks easy, so I quickly ‘zoned’ out and was in a world of my own. Not great for speed but very relaxed and I felt good. 

I had no aches or twinges and ran easily (for me that means ignoring the huffing and puffing up the hills) so it was with utter shock that 36 hours after the run the front of my shin felt like it had been kicked and my calves were tight. I’d warmed up properly and stretched afterwards, the only thing I hadn't done was put my recovery socks on for the rest of the day (like a soft compression sock).

So Tuesday evening I was really careful to warm up before running the 700m to the coaching session where I did another full warm up with the group before setting off on the run.  I didn't get far.  My calves felt like they were going to implode they were so tight and I had to stop. I couldn't even jog the 700m home, resorting to a miserable slow walk. My mood was not good!

Once home out came the ice pack and whilst I elevated my legs for a while I reviewed what I had done over the last few weeks.  Yes they had been hard runs, but the distance gain was gradual and the hills variable, no long sustained ups, and the surfaces ranged from track, trail, road, woodland, and grass,  I'd even alternated my running shoes.

Having had a problem with my calves before I've read loads and do regular exercises to improve the flexibility, so maybe this is just one of those blips I am just going to have to cope with.

So the rest of the week is literally 'rest the week' before starting again with a revised plan.

Weeks activity 2^nd -  8^th January :

Saturday – No training

Sunday – Pop up trail run 8.12k / 241m height gain

Monday – No training

Tuesday – Coaching session, cut short due to pain in leg. 2.78km

Wednesday – Rest

Thursday – Rest

Friday – Rest

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)

End of year review of my running progress (Week 12 - 19 to go)

A view on the Sunday trail run

It’s New Years day and I managed to drag myself out for a short run this morning.  No hangover but still feeling my run on Wednesday when I completed my longest run yet.

Fellow runners as we all take a breather

I have to say I've had a great week.  I'm managed to keep going up several hills that have previously defied me, run longer distances and even got the bike out.  

We turned a bend on the trail and the trees looked like they were on fire

It started well with a fabulous morning on Sunday and one of the regular ‘pop up’ trail runs.  The weather was stunning – a rare break from the wind and rain, the hills manageable and the encouragement of fellow runners appreciated.

The sun cast a glow through the mist

And for the rest of the week I had the company of my son.  My Mondays bike ride was to accompany him on a short hilly run – he can run up the hill faster than I can bike – but it was one way of keeping up with him and letting him go at his pace (the rest of the week was at mine)! And on Wednesday I planned on a 12k hilly trail run to push the distance – however this turned into nearly 14k but was a great route with some lovely technical bits to keep the challenge going.  A real buzz when I finished it.

Out with Rory - a night run and bike ride.

So the New year starts on a good note – I've gradually increased my distance and hills and even knocked a few seconds of my speed and I've treated myself to a new lighter back pack – fingers crossed for the next few months and slow but steady improvement.

Out on our 'long' run

Weeks activity 26^th December – 1^st January :

Saturday – No training

Sunday – Pop up trail run. 9.59k / 239m height gain

Monday – Short Bike ride 6.34k

Tuesday – No training

Wednesday – Trail run 13.66k / 288m height gain

Thursday – No training

Friday – Road run 5.24k

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)