Eddie Izzard running tip (Week 24 - 7 to go)

Sunday kicked off with a full days water rescue training with the Coastguard. A good start as the sun was shining even if the water was a tad cold and I considered this a rest day as far as my Goatfell training went, mainly as I had plans for a big hill run on Monday.

Up to the snow with Watson - visibility very poor

Monday arrived and I aimed for some good height and distance as this was to be my main hill training day this week.  Clocking up 13k with 818m of height, quite a bit of the up was walked, especially when I reached the snow and the visibility dropped to about 20 feet.  The up was grim. The down wasn’t that fast either but the total killer was 2k of flat at the end.  After all the down my legs turned to jelly, I felt uncoordinated, and I swear there must have been treacle on the bottom of my trainers.  But I did it.

Holding onto the rocks in a strong wind.

Needless to say Tuesday was a rest day and Wednesday I only managed a short run to loosen up the legs, but it did have a little hill in there.  Thursday I felt recovered enough to do a nice undulating trail against a strong wind and I have to say I barely noticed the uphill bits (I am not going to kid myself that they are getting any easier).

And Saturday didn’t go to plan.  The aim was to do 8 – 10k at a steady pace, but the legs had other ideas and refused to play.  After less than 1k I ended up walking as I could not get into rhythm and my calves felt tight. The head was willing but the body not quite, and I remembered a tip I heard in an interview with Eddie during (or just after) his amazing 27 marathon event.  He talked about listened to your body (nothing new there), but also about when the going got tough to try different styles of running and different gaits to break it up a bit.  So I gave it a try, it must have looked quite funny for anyone watching as I took long steps, then short and varied with side to side wide steps, high knees and a variety of others, choosing to run a bit and walk a bit, effectively interval training.  In all managing a respectable 5k and I forgot my calves were hurting. So thanks Eddie and I’ll keep that tip in the bank for future use.

Weeks activity 20^th – 26^th March :

Sunday – Rest day

Monday –  Hill run 13.02k / 818m height gain

Tuesday – Rest day

Wednesday –  Short run 4.04k / 100m height gain

Thursday – Trail run 6.7k / 190 m height gain

Friday – Rest day

Saturday – Interval training 5.28k / 45m height gain

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)

No time to train? (Week 23 - 8 to go)

Lower slopes of a Sunny Goatfell

I knew it was going to be a tough week when I looked at my training schedule and my diary – the two were just not going to fit!  Time to juggle, Sundays long run needed to become a short run, Monday a long run, and slowly I managed to fit it all in – on paper.  What I didn’t factor in were the Coastguard call outs (3), or the half bottle of wine drunk on Tuesday evening (all in the name of networking for business).  Wednesdays training got shunted as I still had to fit in work from Saturday (not done due to CG call out); then on Thursday another CG call out at 5.30am, a full day photo workshop, coming home to over 30 emails that all needed a response, resulted in another training fail! On top of all that I just had to do some food shopping or I was going to starve, not to mention the need for housework, dog walking and a multitude of other things to do - but I risk making excuses.

Watson waiting for me

However, doing less did not detract from the quality of my runs.  On Sunday my short run included a hill which I did without stopping or walking – a first on this hill.  And Monday was a beautiful sunny day again, time for a longer hill training session on the foothills of Goatfell.  This was quite hard on legs tired from the day before, however I really enjoyed it.

Then 3 days rest (not quite planned) and a longer run on Friday, a nice 10k with a more gentle hill – the aim was just to enjoy the run and give Watson a good work out.

But I’m not going to beat myself up about it, as the hills were good.  So lets hope next week goes slightly more to plan and I hope to do a good hill training session again on Monday.

An excuse for a quick rest

Weeks activity 13^th – 19^th March :

Sunday – Trail run 4k / 96m height gain

Monday –  Trail run 8.07k / 340m height gain

Tuesday – Rest day

Wednesday –  No time

Thursday – No time

Friday – Trail run 9.57k /200m height gain

Saturday – Rest day

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)

Feeling positive (Week 22 - 9 to go)

Arran Mountain Rescue team vehicle - thank goodness it's not for me.

This week its’ all about being positive and staying upbeat about the training, not to mention enjoying running in the sunshine for a change (well one day anyway). With so little time left I really need to work harder on the hill which is not helped by the snow that persists on the tops.

Coastguard Helicopter on same call out

But Monday I decided to take a stunning run part way up Goatfell – only part way to keep to my plan of just doing 8k but with some good height gain.  The day was glorious blue skies and white capped mountains, the conditions couldn’t be better for those prepared.  Unfortunately someone had had a mishap further up near the summit and the Arran Mountain Rescue Team along with the Coastguard Helicopter were in full attendance successfully making sure the casualty and other walkers were brought to safety.  A timely reminder of how dangerous the mountains can be especially when they look so beautiful.  And why I carry my back pack even when running (see blog 3 – what’s in the bag).

Beautiful but still winter conditions on the tops.

But I had one of those rare joyous moments (usually followed by a fall) when I ran past a couple of women walking up the fell and they commented on how impressed they were that I was running! I even managed to gasp a ‘hello’ as I went past – thank goodness it wasn’t on too steep a bit – and I continued on my way.  Needless to say I passed them again on the way down and asked them to take a photo of me and Watson and while we were chatting Watson managed to blot his copy book by raiding one of their rucksacks and stealing some hobnobs.  My legs were like jelly when I’d finished but I had really enjoyed the run.

The more familiar cold wind and rain

Tuesdays recovery run was back to the usual rain and cold wind along the lovely Loch Iorsa track – a rugged path, exposed to the elements and with two very cold fords to cross, just to make sure the feet get really cold.

Thursday was cross training on the mountain bike with a quick blast around my favourite short trail.  And I have to say the hill felt easier this week (must have had a tail wind).  And then another short run on Friday but with some height gain, again raining and cold and the plan was nailed this week.

Weeks activity 6^th – 12^th March :

Sunday – Rest day

Monday –  Trail run 8.07k / 329m height gain.

Tuesday – Trail run 5k / 59m height gain

Wednesday –  Rest day

Thursday – Mountain bike 8.16k / 173m height gain

Friday – Trail run 4.09k / 101m height gain

Saturday – Rest day

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)

Demoralised? (Week 21 - 10 to go)

Sun shines on the runners as they wait for me

Let’s be clear this does not mean demotivated.  It’s just that over the last few weeks I have steadily become demoralised by my progress and running performance and a ‘bad’ run this week was the catalyst to do something about it.

It doesn’t matter if the aim is running up a mountain or losing weight we all have bad weeks, have to dig deep for the motivation and have to be committed to the goal. But my demoralisation seemed to go a bit deeper, lingering over time and having a negative impact on, what is ultimately a ‘head game’.

So it was time to do some honest evaluation of what I’m trying to achieve and how I’m going about it.  And I asked myself a few questions.

Q. Is the goal achievable and do I want to achieve it?

Q. Is the [training] plan realistic and fit for purpose?

Q. I am putting in the effort?

Q. What’s causing my angst?

My usual view of everyone disappearing into the distance

My goal, to complete the Goatfell Hill Race is achievable (a view supported by my coach and family) and I really want to do it.  I am not aiming to win the race, or even come in the top 10.  I fully expect to be last but not totally outside the parameters of previous runners.

I am following a training plan, it’s written down, I’ve amended it a couple of times when I got a few tweaks and to take account of my recent mountain bike challenge, but I’m pretty much sticking to it.  I vary the length of runs, slowly increasing distance; the terrain is mainly trails – lots of different ones, some rocky, some forest tracks, some woodland and some road; I always try to get a bit of ascent in but again the amount, incline and duration of climbs varies as does the descent;  and I also cross train with the bike. Progress is slow – very!  But I’m also a ‘stats’ person, so know that I am running further and on harder terrain than I could at this time last year.  I am also running about 10 seconds / km faster, not a lot I know, but it’s still faster.

Running with Watson - 200m height gained

I have made space in the diary to huff, puff, sweat and swear (no lady like ‘glowing’ for me!), I take my running kit to work to run on the way home and use my bike instead of my car whenever its practical and boy have I been out in all weathers. I know how tired my body feels after a tough run, I know how my lungs are struggling to keep up with the legs, and I know that shaky wobbly leg feeling only too well as my legs recover.

Cross train with the bike - great views.

So taking a hard look at my ‘bad’ run this week and the sessions I am not happy with, and comparing these with the runs where I come back on a high, feeling good that I’ve done something there is only one difference.  My ‘happy’ runs are done solo or with the dog. I’m finding running with the group difficult, everyone is so much faster than me and this week I completely lost touch with everyone, was unable to chat, and felt stressed trying to catch up, and awful at everyone having to stop and keep waiting for me. Running with this anxiety slows me down as I panic more and breathing becomes more erratic as I am unable to settle into my own pace.  Seeing how fast everyone else runs is slowly demoralising me.  I know it is often recommended to train with folk who are at a higher level, but I think there is a point where the higher level is too high and I need to step back a bit.

Blessed with good weather this week

So after talking to my coach I’m taking a few weeks off from group training and will be running solo (with the dog). I fully intend to go back to group running but with a slower group were hopefully I’ll be able to hold my own, and even have a conversation or two!

Meanwhile progress will continue along with the blog.

Weeks activity 28^th Feb – 5^th March :

Sunday – Trail run 6.11km / 235m height gain

Monday – Rest day

Tuesday – More resting

Wednesday – Still more resting

Thursday – Forest trail run 7km / 201m height gain

Friday – Short road run 3.72k / 29m height

Saturday – Mountain bike 11.77km / 277m height

(Goatfell Race 15.5km / 870m)