I wrote in my Fetch blog yesterday that I was excited about what was to come.
Just what did I mean? As you know, I want to go long distance (when my head is playing ball that is) I mean beyond 26.2.
The run at Goathland told me I'm getting there. I think 2014 will be spent consolidating the 20-30 mile races before tackling something bigger in 2015. I'm very taken with the whole Hardmoors set up, really enjoyed the 3 events I've done so far (despite the fact that HM30 left me injured and Saltburn Half caused me to blow-up) so I think the next step-up will probably be the HM55. I don't want it to be too easy...
There is still a lot of work to do, but I feel if I keep on keeping on I'll get there in time.
I like doing the longer stuff. I love that people can't comprehend what I do. My non-running friends think I'm crackers, even my running friends ask me all sorts of odd questions! What do you think about? How do you run for 6 hours? And my favourite I got asked last night, with reference to Goathland - 'Did you cry? I think I would have done.' Bless her.
I love telling people about crazy vertical climbs, rocky paths, running in the dark, the snow, ice-covered routes (although admittedly I'm not keen on the ice myself), falling over in puddles and why lemonade with salt in it tastes soooo good!!!
You can keep your Rat Race type adventure races, the real adventure's out there man!!
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philosophy. Show all posts
Monday, 18 November 2013
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Nothing to say about running...
A quick round up of the week...
Monday - Club night with Sonja was a little harder than usual, essentially we did a sprints session!! I was struggling to keep up the 80% effort, even over the short timings, felt very sick! But we all managed it. It hurt after yesterdays long 'run'.
Tuesday - No specific training, stiff and achey. Rest day.
Wednesday - Bloody cricket on the field. Our running track was a funny shape! We did 6x 3min efforts. Then there was a committee meeting afterwards. Interesting...
Thursday and Friday - Both very lazy evenings really. OH out at Scouts on Friday night.
Saturday - Headed out for a run from work, but struggled with stitch all the way around. My normal loop is approx 5miles, but I decided to do the shorter loop instead. When I measured it at home, I found it was 2.25 miles. Was it worth it I ask myself??
Did do an hour of gardening though!
Sunday - Today's plan stated 18miles. In my head I'd put together a route which I admit didn't fill me with excitement. It's now half 3 in the afternoon and I still haven't been out. I was dangerously close to being motivated, first by a blog on Fetch then again by a little video on YouTube about the HM110. Still didn't make it out of the door.
I don't know.
There's all sorts of stupid stuff going on in my head. A lot of it is straight forward lazyness and I just can't be arsed. I'm not quitting cos it's difficult, more cos I'm bored. I can run 10miles, so what is the point of running 4? Will it make any difference to the marathon? How will I feel after it? I figure I'll either be full of motivation or it will finish me off.
Not so long ago my dream was to run an Ultra, ultimately the HM110. I'm not going to get there with this attitude. Do I want to get there any more??
I had a look earlier through some of my older diaries, I have them going back to 2000. I wanted to see if this apathy is as 'new' as it feels... No, it's not. I've been battling the same demons for the last 30 years it would seem. I'm seeking some sort of epiphany to break me out of my hibernation. I'm aware I'm not living to the full and that bugs me somewhat. Hushing the fuck up and getting on with stuff would probably be a good place to start!
Monday - Club night with Sonja was a little harder than usual, essentially we did a sprints session!! I was struggling to keep up the 80% effort, even over the short timings, felt very sick! But we all managed it. It hurt after yesterdays long 'run'.
Tuesday - No specific training, stiff and achey. Rest day.
Wednesday - Bloody cricket on the field. Our running track was a funny shape! We did 6x 3min efforts. Then there was a committee meeting afterwards. Interesting...
Thursday and Friday - Both very lazy evenings really. OH out at Scouts on Friday night.
Saturday - Headed out for a run from work, but struggled with stitch all the way around. My normal loop is approx 5miles, but I decided to do the shorter loop instead. When I measured it at home, I found it was 2.25 miles. Was it worth it I ask myself??
Did do an hour of gardening though!
Sunday - Today's plan stated 18miles. In my head I'd put together a route which I admit didn't fill me with excitement. It's now half 3 in the afternoon and I still haven't been out. I was dangerously close to being motivated, first by a blog on Fetch then again by a little video on YouTube about the HM110. Still didn't make it out of the door.
I don't know.
There's all sorts of stupid stuff going on in my head. A lot of it is straight forward lazyness and I just can't be arsed. I'm not quitting cos it's difficult, more cos I'm bored. I can run 10miles, so what is the point of running 4? Will it make any difference to the marathon? How will I feel after it? I figure I'll either be full of motivation or it will finish me off.
Not so long ago my dream was to run an Ultra, ultimately the HM110. I'm not going to get there with this attitude. Do I want to get there any more??
I had a look earlier through some of my older diaries, I have them going back to 2000. I wanted to see if this apathy is as 'new' as it feels... No, it's not. I've been battling the same demons for the last 30 years it would seem. I'm seeking some sort of epiphany to break me out of my hibernation. I'm aware I'm not living to the full and that bugs me somewhat. Hushing the fuck up and getting on with stuff would probably be a good place to start!
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Blogging instead of running?
Marathon training is going ok so far. Up to the grand distance of 9.3 mile 'long' runs. My overall weekly mileage was 32 miles last week though, almost double what I normally do. That's good progress!
I've come to the conclusion that I need to exercise first. Today, my plan said a 3-4 mile interval session. It's half 3 and I havn't been out and probably wont. Fortunately I can do it tomorrow as part of my club session, but that is besides the point. I should have just gone straight out when I got in with the dog. (I'd walked her to the vets and back for her vaccinations. Poor thing is zonked out at the moment.) But instead I fannied about, had to have a drink, then lunch then a bit more fannying and basically ran out of time/enthusiasm for anything much.
I'm going to rue every wasted moment when I go back to full time in May. All this time I could (should) have spent training or cleaning or baking or anything other than sitting on Facebook and bloody Fetch!
I was having some doubts as to whether this marathon is a good idea while I was running yesterday. Fannying aside, will I ever be ready? Can I really prepare for 26 miles, 3500ft in such a space of time? I think it's the 3500ft that scares me more than the 26miles in a way. For 26 miles you can just keep plodding, walking if you have to and get round. It's the climbing that will exhaust the unprepared. I've done very little in the way of serious hills so far in my training. Although on Thursday I went with a group of blokes from club for a night run in Wass Woods which is moderately hilly and I didn't walk once, even though I desperately wanted to! (Just looking and that is only 261m or approx 800ft of ascent. Hmm keep climbing...)
Advice is vague, just really time on feet. All the various plans assume to want to do the London Marathon and don't really offer what I want for a tough fell marathon. Indeed, people talk of sub 3hr times like it's normal. The current female record for the Phoenix stands at 4hr15mins. Ha, I'll be lucky to get sub 6hrs I reckon!
Mind you, without the kick up the arse of the encroaching start date, I'll only flounder around the 10mile mark forever without ever really testing what I can do.
And this is why I should be out there, not sat here musing.
I've come to the conclusion that I need to exercise first. Today, my plan said a 3-4 mile interval session. It's half 3 and I havn't been out and probably wont. Fortunately I can do it tomorrow as part of my club session, but that is besides the point. I should have just gone straight out when I got in with the dog. (I'd walked her to the vets and back for her vaccinations. Poor thing is zonked out at the moment.) But instead I fannied about, had to have a drink, then lunch then a bit more fannying and basically ran out of time/enthusiasm for anything much.
I'm going to rue every wasted moment when I go back to full time in May. All this time I could (should) have spent training or cleaning or baking or anything other than sitting on Facebook and bloody Fetch!
I was having some doubts as to whether this marathon is a good idea while I was running yesterday. Fannying aside, will I ever be ready? Can I really prepare for 26 miles, 3500ft in such a space of time? I think it's the 3500ft that scares me more than the 26miles in a way. For 26 miles you can just keep plodding, walking if you have to and get round. It's the climbing that will exhaust the unprepared. I've done very little in the way of serious hills so far in my training. Although on Thursday I went with a group of blokes from club for a night run in Wass Woods which is moderately hilly and I didn't walk once, even though I desperately wanted to! (Just looking and that is only 261m or approx 800ft of ascent. Hmm keep climbing...)
Advice is vague, just really time on feet. All the various plans assume to want to do the London Marathon and don't really offer what I want for a tough fell marathon. Indeed, people talk of sub 3hr times like it's normal. The current female record for the Phoenix stands at 4hr15mins. Ha, I'll be lucky to get sub 6hrs I reckon!
Mind you, without the kick up the arse of the encroaching start date, I'll only flounder around the 10mile mark forever without ever really testing what I can do.
And this is why I should be out there, not sat here musing.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Of Oranges, Rhubarb and Christmas.
I really don't like this time of year. I can cope with the cold. I like the snow and crispy frost. The grey isn't too bad as I work indoors.
No, it's Christmas I don't like.
It's not just because I'm Pagan and therefore look forward to the Solstice, as I can respect the religion and choices of other people. I have no quarrel with a sombre religious festival. If only that was what Christmas was about.
I hate the over commercialisation of it all. How it's rammed down our throats from the end of summer. How if we're not all festive, we must be miserable. How hypocritical people are, people who don't believe in God or Jesus who never go to church yet go mad for decorations and the dreadful Christmas songs.
Even my own OH refuses to take part in carol singing or to see the Christmas fayre yet proclaims to love Christmas.
'It's all about the children really' people tell me. Hmm. It's all about how much more money you can spend than your neighbour/co-worker/drinking buddy.
Then we got onto the dreaded visiting. My parents have backed off a little, I'm pleased to say. But I'd rather see people at a mutually convienient time so I don't feel like we're rushing about, trying to cram everyone in. I'd rather be at work and have an excuse to get out of it.
It just gets me so stressed! There's all the presents and cards that I don't even want to send, but I feel like 'I have to'.
And the worst of it is, if you said 'I don't celebrate Christmas because I'm Jewish/Muslim/whatever' people say, oh okay then. If I say I'm Pagan, they just look at me funny.
At some point, I am going to have to put my foot down.
I was watching River Cottage the other night, that's the closest to feeling Christmassey that I get. But Hugh goes along the Pagan lines, big get togethers with homemade gifts. None of the dried out old turkey on his banquet table, but traditional goose and ham. His tree is decorated with dried fruit and ginger bread, a natural homemade wreath on the door. He goes a Wasailing and dances. That's what I want, that's what I see the Solstice Festival to be like (which after all is what Christmas has replaced, but that's a different argument for another day).
I want to further my knowledge and deepen my Pagan understanding and explore my 'natural roots'. The trouble with an oral tradition, is you can interpret it how you like. I don't like the robe wearing hippies, spaced out and dancing round Stonehendge. I do like the quiet meditations of OSHO (for example). A feeling of quiet within and being at peace with the world. It is possible without being all 'new age' about it!
My running is my meditation. Running til there is nothing but heart beat and foot fall.
Wow, that's quite profound for me.
And onto the fruit!
One of my other forms of meditation is cooking. It was one of the few things that occasionally lifted my spirits during the darkness that followed the redundancy announcement.
Today I have made soup, raspberry pavlova and the best jam I've ever had - rhubarb and orange. It is delicious, can't wait for my breakfast!!
In other news, I won the club trophy for 'Endeavour', it was presented at the Harriers Christmas meal at The Oak Tree on Saturday night. (Yeah, don't mind the food and socialising...)
Absolutely made up! It was a complete surprise.
Not done any special training of note since my last post, Handicap Race on Weds 14th, followed by our shared nibbles. Club with Sonja both last Monday and yesterday. Not done anything else really.
Collected all 5 Garmin tokens, so I'm now in the running to win a Garmin Forerunner. Cool.
No, it's Christmas I don't like.
It's not just because I'm Pagan and therefore look forward to the Solstice, as I can respect the religion and choices of other people. I have no quarrel with a sombre religious festival. If only that was what Christmas was about.
I hate the over commercialisation of it all. How it's rammed down our throats from the end of summer. How if we're not all festive, we must be miserable. How hypocritical people are, people who don't believe in God or Jesus who never go to church yet go mad for decorations and the dreadful Christmas songs.
Even my own OH refuses to take part in carol singing or to see the Christmas fayre yet proclaims to love Christmas.
'It's all about the children really' people tell me. Hmm. It's all about how much more money you can spend than your neighbour/co-worker/drinking buddy.
Then we got onto the dreaded visiting. My parents have backed off a little, I'm pleased to say. But I'd rather see people at a mutually convienient time so I don't feel like we're rushing about, trying to cram everyone in. I'd rather be at work and have an excuse to get out of it.
It just gets me so stressed! There's all the presents and cards that I don't even want to send, but I feel like 'I have to'.
And the worst of it is, if you said 'I don't celebrate Christmas because I'm Jewish/Muslim/whatever' people say, oh okay then. If I say I'm Pagan, they just look at me funny.
At some point, I am going to have to put my foot down.
I was watching River Cottage the other night, that's the closest to feeling Christmassey that I get. But Hugh goes along the Pagan lines, big get togethers with homemade gifts. None of the dried out old turkey on his banquet table, but traditional goose and ham. His tree is decorated with dried fruit and ginger bread, a natural homemade wreath on the door. He goes a Wasailing and dances. That's what I want, that's what I see the Solstice Festival to be like (which after all is what Christmas has replaced, but that's a different argument for another day).
I want to further my knowledge and deepen my Pagan understanding and explore my 'natural roots'. The trouble with an oral tradition, is you can interpret it how you like. I don't like the robe wearing hippies, spaced out and dancing round Stonehendge. I do like the quiet meditations of OSHO (for example). A feeling of quiet within and being at peace with the world. It is possible without being all 'new age' about it!
My running is my meditation. Running til there is nothing but heart beat and foot fall.
Wow, that's quite profound for me.
And onto the fruit!
One of my other forms of meditation is cooking. It was one of the few things that occasionally lifted my spirits during the darkness that followed the redundancy announcement.
Today I have made soup, raspberry pavlova and the best jam I've ever had - rhubarb and orange. It is delicious, can't wait for my breakfast!!
In other news, I won the club trophy for 'Endeavour', it was presented at the Harriers Christmas meal at The Oak Tree on Saturday night. (Yeah, don't mind the food and socialising...)
Absolutely made up! It was a complete surprise.
Not done any special training of note since my last post, Handicap Race on Weds 14th, followed by our shared nibbles. Club with Sonja both last Monday and yesterday. Not done anything else really.
Collected all 5 Garmin tokens, so I'm now in the running to win a Garmin Forerunner. Cool.
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
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