Training for week beginning 21st April

This week has been a real bag of mixed emotions. Training in the gym went really well with the focus on endurance, high reps low weights. I have been working really hard on trying to strengthen my core and lower legs so that I can remain injury free. The aim for the run on Sunday was to attempt two loops of the trails we have been running which we reckoned would be about 13 miles. This would be the longest distance I have ever attempted to run.

All week I had been really excited at attempting my first crack at half marathon distance. On Friday and Saturday I tried to get some decent nights of sleep which I was able to do. Although it has to be said I could have had more on Saturday if it wasn't for watching an incredible game of Basketball between the Chicago Bulls and New York Nets. It went into 3 periods of overtime and I couldn't sleep until I had seen the outcome. I'm a big Bulls fan and have been since the Jordan era. Chicago is a city I have on my bucket list of places to visit. I have a soft spot for the Bears as well and that stems from the Walter Payton era. So when the Bulls picked up the win I went to sleep with a big smile on my face and couldn't wait for the run in the morning.

I woke up this morning at 6.30am raring to go. The weather wasn't the greatest but that wasn't going to put a damper on things. I picked Wayne and Ben up and we drove to the spot where we will start our ultra run in June. Spirits were high and we set off on the run. About a mile in and disaster struck. I felt a twinge just above my Achilles' tendon. Oh no!!!!! I was absolutely devastated. The injury I thought I had recovered from had struck again. It actually didn't feel as bad as in the past but there was definite pain. What could I do?! Turn around with my tail between my legs and head back to the car or try and stretch it and run it off?

I opted to run on with it. Yes I know this was silly but I wanted to do this run so much. The first few miles were agony but I stopped to gently stretch it and so long as I didn't push too hard the pain wasn't too bad. The pain seemed to be coming from where the tendon meets the main muscle of the calf. The actual muscle felt ok and I would be interested to know if anyone could tell me what it is. The podiatrist I have seen thought it was equinus and gave me some orthotics but these obviously didn't help.

The run was around Witton Park and Tockholes and will be the start of the run we do in June. It truly is spectacular scenery as you will be able to tell from my photos. The guys you see in the pics are Ben and Wayne. I had to take a picture of the sheep because we were running through their field and they literally stampeded and chased after us. It was a pure comical moment, hence the photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I was running, in the back of my mind I kept thinking should I pull out 1/2 way through for the sake of my leg. It was hurting but it wasn't actually stopping me from running at a normal pace. It was at this point I thought of a quote that will always be with me. I don't know who it is from but I love it.

 

It's a great quote but the picture makes it even better because its Monument Valley and the one place I have to run through before I leave this earth. It was this quote that spurred me on today and I'm pleased to say we got thought it and completed the Witton/Tockholes double loop of 12.64miles with a run time of two hours. Check out our stats by clicking the link.

How did I feel after completing the race? Exhausted, I wanted to be elated but my injury stopped me feeling like that. I got home and iced it and currently it's feeling sore. I'm praying it clears this week as I can't afford to miss training as we are on a tight schedule to get the ultra run in before the summer holidays. This week is a busy week at work with plenty going on after work with some very important matches for my school teams. It's the business end of the season and these games mean a lot to my students. I have got my fingers crossed for all my players and for myself to heal in quick time. Wish us all good luck! :)

I hope you all have a great week and stay injury free :)

 

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Training for week beginning 15th April

Back to work this week which meant it was pretty tough to train. I managed to fit two weights sessions in focusing on strengthening the core and lower body. The long run for the weekend took place on Saturday instead of sunday. Wayne had decided that we would do a different loop of part of the Weaver trail. He said it would be a shorter run than normal so this relieved me. Instead of running 11 miles we ran 9, yep it was really short!! We called this the Weavers Entwistle loop

When we set off the weather was sunny but a little bit chilly. I had no idea what to expect from the run. It turned out to be a great run although I felt more tired than usual due to a poor night of sleep. The terrain varied from paths to fields to roads and hills. The scenery was amazing as you will be able to tell from the photos. It's runs like this that make me realise why I enjoy running.

 

 

 

The run time was 1hr 43mins which wasn't a great pace really but we don't want to go flat out and get injured at this stage. We discussed the next stage of our training and next week the plan is to go into half marathon territory. This is daunting as the furthest I have run is 12 miles. We are going to connect two of the loops of the Weaver trail. I'm nervous about it but confident that I can get through it. The gym work for the upcoming week will be focusing on endurance with plenty of stretching exercises.

I want to end this post by saying my thoughts and prayers are for those affected by the tragedy in Boston. Having read many posts by various runners it touched me at how strong this community is. I'm sure most runners this week dedicated their runs to the victims and the run I did on Saturday is for them. Gone but never forgotten.

Where is your favourite place to run?

 

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Training for April 8th-14th

This week it's been pretty easy to get training in as I have been on Easter holidays. In the mornings I have been coaching my son's football team Brinscall Yellow U8s They have been put through their paces and have improved immensely over the week. I am very proud of their progress and hope they develop into an excellent group of players as they get older.

After I had finished coaching I managed to squeeze in three visits to the gym during the week. I worked on developing strength using weights and concentrated on all major muscle groups. My aim is to further strengthen these areas over the next couple of weeks before focusing on improving my muscular endurance.

On Saturday I went for a short run seeing as the weather was great. I went on my Canal Run This is a great little run just to put me in a good mood for the rest of the day. The distance also meant that it would not tire me out for Sunday's long run.

What a cracking run the Vale Ultra group ran this morning! It was the first time all three of us, who are attempting the challenge, could run together. I have already mentioned Wayne in previous posts. Today Ben was able to join us. He is Wayne's long time running buddy and his fitness levels are super human. Last week he ran the Blackpool Marathon in a time of 3hrs45mins. For normal people running today wouldn't be an option after doing the marathon 7 days earlier. Not Ben, however, he was there this morning ready to go. Ben also took part in Tough Mudder with us.

Today we ran what will be the second stage of the Witton Weaver run. We call it the Hobbiton run as one part of it reminds us of the Hobbiton scene in Lord of the Rings. Hopefully, you have clicked the link and can check our stats for the run. We ran 11miles in 1hr45mins over some pretty steep trails. Again you can get an idea of our pace and elevation just by clicking the Hobbiton run link. Check out some of the photos from the run.

Hobbiton

Tockholes Reservoir

One of the steepest climbs! Killer!

The Vale Ultras

The first stage of run- Leeds/Liverpool Canal

 

I really enjoyed today's run with the group. I might not be saying the same thing tomorrow if my body is hurting from it! The rungave us a chance to have a good chat and plan the schedule for the coming weeks. We have also decided to bring forward our race date by a month as Ben is going to China in July. This means we have to step up the training a little bit more now. I'm really excited now about this challenge and really can't wait to give it a go!!

 

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Equinus: Is this what has been stopping me from running?

When I first started running last summer I never foresaw that I would be blighted by injuries as regularly as I have. I used to get injuries at football, in particular muscle strains, which I just put down to getting old. This was the reason why I hung up my boots somewhat reluctantly. Once I decided running was the way forward I just assumed that this would keep me fit, healthy and injury free. I couldn't have been more wrong!

The first few months of running were fine with no problems whatsoever. I was on track with my training for Tough Mudder and the 10k Major Series obstacle race. On the wednesday before the Major Series race which was on saturday I thought I would just go out for a short run just to relax the nerves as this was my first competitive race since I competed in the Blackburn schools cross-country championships many moons ago as a kid. Everything was going really well on the run when, with my home in sight, disaster struck and I felt my calf muscle pull. I stopped immediately to minimise further damage. I knew it was a strain as I have had them before. This completely devastated me as I was so excited to be competing in the Major.

I got home and immediately RICE'd the leg and prayed that I would be fit in time for the race. It wasn't a severe strain as the next day it did feel better but still not enough to go faster than a slow jog. I carried on with the treatment and even bought some Kinesiology tape to try and speed up the recovery. I got to race day for the Major and felt that although I could still feel the injury it wasn't severe enough from stopping me from attempting the 5k version instead of the 10k. This was my first ever obstacle race and even if I had to walk around I was going to give it a go.

The Major Series Oct 2012

Making the decision to go through with race was one of the best things I have ever done. I managed to finish 45th out of 200 in the 5k with a time of 45mins and that was with a crocked leg. It was an amazing experience and I enjoyed getting muddy and attempting the obstacles as you can probably tell from the photos. If you have never tried an obstacle race then I would recommend you do as it is a brilliant experience.

What has all this got to do with Equinus you are probably thinking to yourself. Well from that race I never really got 100% fit again. Even for Tough Mudder I went into it not fit, as my calves kept getting strains even after periods of rest. I had to run the last 6 miles of the Mudder with a calf strain. Once I completed the race I gave myself a complete rest of two months and didn't start running until the new year.

Once I started training again everything was fine until my calves went mid-run on a route that wasn't particularly demanding. This was at the end of January. I went through the usual routine of RICE and they would get better and then I could run again. However, this time they started pulling on a more regular basis. Now I was starting to get really frustrated about the whole thing so I went to see a physio.

After the session with the physio I was still no nearer pinpointing what was wrong. We went through a series of exercises and all she could see that was wrong was that I was not very flexible. She put this down to be a team games player and not stretching correctly through my career. I was given a series of exercises to do and she said she would contact a podiatrist to see if he could spot anything wrong with my running technique.

Yesterday I got to see the podiatrist and after just 15 minutes with me he reckoned he knew what the problem was. It is a condition called Equinus, something I had never heard of before. If you click the word it will give you a more detailed description. Basically he reckoned that my ankles needed strengthening and needed to be more flexible as the heel was not striking the ground as it should. This put more strain on the tendons which caused them to weaken and tear just below e main belly of the muscle. He recommended some special insoles that he would make for me and said that this should hopefully put a stop to the frequency of the strains. Fingers crossed now that he is right!!

An interesting thing he said was that Asics running shoes would be perfect for me for treating this condition as the heel is raised higher. I was going to buy a pair of Inov8 for my ultra run but he advised against this as they are a flatter shoe. I have looked online and as usual there are loads of choices to choose from. The mind boggles at trying to find the right trainer to run in!!

My questions to you are these:

Does anyone use Asics for trail running and if so are they any good and what model would you recommend?

What is the best mud and obstacle race you have tried?

 

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I Love Sundays

After 5 frustrating weeks I was finally able to get out today on my first trail run since I got injured. I was supposed to go with my friend Wayne but due to other commitments he couldn't make it. When he told me he couldn't come the temptation was to either stay in bed or do an easier run closer to home. However, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when I woke up and couldn't wait to get to Witton park. We had planned to do the Beamer's trail together so I stuck to the plan and set off by myself.
The Beamer's trail is a 6 mile loop around Witton park and will be the first stage of the Ultra run in the summer. Our plan is to run the various sections of the route in the upcoming weeks. This will give us a good feel of what to expect when we run the whole route. The first 1.5 miles of this route is an absolute killer with an ascent through the woods of nearly 600ft. The pictures below give you an idea of the trail. Stopping to take these pictures was in the interest of this blog and not to have a breather....honest!!

Start of the ascent

Billinge Woods

Top of the hill and a view of Blackburn

West Lancashire in all its glory

Once you make it to the top of the woods the rest of the run is pretty straightforward. It was made all the more pleasant due to the recent nice and dry weather we have had in the UK. As you can see from the pictures there are some spectacular views of Lancashire. The majority of the run is a gradual descent through fields and past Pleasington golf course. I stopped to take this picture of the river Darwen as we used it for training for Tough Mudder. We would run to this point and then wade through it for about a 1/4 of a mile to get used to getting cold and wet and then get out and carry on running. It did actually serve us well and was useful in helping us cope with Tough Mudder.

River Darwen

I finished the run in 52mins which I was absolutely delighted with as it beat my previous best time by 10mins. The other thing I was pleased about was that I felt no pain in my calves. I know it's early doors but I really hope I can stay injury free now. I look forward to Sunday mornings so much when I know I can get out on the trails and run. Being injured took this away from me and ruined my weekends. My plan now is to do a couple of short runs this week with a few visits to the gym and the pool.
Sundays are my long run days. What is your favourite day to go for that long run?

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Motivation

Today is a rest day after pushing hard in the gym this week. I thought I would post my thoughts about motivation. What is the thing that has motivated me to want to take on the challenge of the Witton Weaver Ultra?
There are a few things that have inspired me to want to put my body through hell and complete this run. My desire to run began when I was trekking in the Himalayas last summer. I was fortunate to take a group of students from my school to the Indian Himalayas. We trekked up to the base camp of Deo Tibba which was approximately 5000m above sea level. It was probably one of the most demanding things I have ever done. The feeling you get when you achieve something you never thought would be possible in a lifetime is literally indescribable. When we hit Chander Tal lake underneath Deo Tibba and saw its beauty in the harshness of the mountains it felt as though time had stood still. Nothing or no-one will ever take that moment away from me. It's that feeling, that moment, that I want to experience again.

Chandra Tal lake, Himalayas

 

Another factor in what motivates me is Wayne Hartley. Wayne is assistant head teacher at Darwen Vale and is the most unconventional fitness fanatic I have ever met. I'm a complete tech geek and have to know and purchase the new fangled gadgets that might make me last an extra metre or two on a run. Wayne is the extreme opposite and would run barefoot if he had to. If he is fit enough to walk then he's fit enough to run, what an attitude to have! You can probably guess that Wayne is a big part of the Vale Ultra team that is going to attempt this challenge. He is a massive inspiration to the students at Darwen Vale and each year he organises an all day charity circuit training challenge. The students, Wayne and other staff do the challenge from 9am and don't stop until 3.15pm. The money they raise goes to a local charity called Derian House ( www.derianhouse.co.uk ) a hospice for children. The events are always well supported and it raises thousands of pounds for this worthwhile charity. Please click the link and take a look at where our money goes. At this point I have to say well done to all those involved in the event before Easter. You are all super-human heroes!
It was Wayne that encouraged me to do Tough Mudder and get into running last year after my trek. Crossing that finish line after 12miles of physical and mental torture was again a moment that I will never forget. A reason for me to get in shape for the Weaver challenge is also because I want to complete the Spartan Trifecta next autumn. Like Tough Mudder these are three obstacle races that will test my body to its limits. The first one is in September and I'm really excited about giving it a go. The thrill and physical demands of taking part in OCR (obstacle course races) is something I would recommend to anyone.

Vale Mudders

 

In a nutshell that's why I'm here writing this blog, hopefully not to myself! These are the things that have motivated me this year to achieve things beyond my vision of capability! I have long term challenges that I want to try but they are still in the pipeline that will be discussed another time. I won't be writing this blog every day so I won't be boring you to tears don't worry.
What is it that motivates you?
I would be interested to hear other people's stories as I'm sure there are plenty of inspirational ones out there. Say hello and don't be shy! :)

 

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The beginning of the journey

This is my first attempt at creating a blog that I hope gives you an insight into how I prepare for what will be my biggest challenge to date, completing the Witton Weaver Ultra run. I suppose I should start at the beginning and introduce myself.

I am a PE teacher at Darwen Vale High School in the UK and absolutely love my job. Sounds corny I know but it's true. I couldn't possibly work at anything else as sport is my life. Anybody who knows me will testify to that. My favourite sports are football and basketball and have had plenty of success with school teams over the years.

I have a beautiful family and absolutely adore my two kids, Mia and Kyan. Mia is a keen swimmer and has just completed her Honours. She had to do 43 lengths of the pool in twenty minutes. I would be lucky to do four lengths in that time as swimming is definitely not my thing. Kyan is ultra competitive and is a good footballer who plays midfield for Brinscall Yellow u8s. He is also an Xbox fan and takes great delight in beating me at Fifa 13.

I could bore you to death with more facts but I won't as I want to get on to why I'm writing this blog. This summer myself and a colleague from work are going to try and complete the Witton Weaver Ultra Run. This is a 35 mile route which is a spectacular scenic route around Blackburn, Darwen and part of Bolton. Our aim is to try to complete this before I go on holiday in July 2013. This gives us about 15 weeks to train and prepare for it. Most of, in fact all of my friends think I'm mental for even trying it but I love a challenge so why the hell not?!

I have just recovered from injury and I'm now on the path to regaining fitness. This week I have managed four runs with 3 on the treadmill at David Lloyd's gym in chorley. I managed to do 5k in 26mins yesterday which I am pretty pleased about. Tonight I shall be going to the gym to do my weights programme where I will be concentrating on my core and legs. This is an area that the physio identified as something I needed to improve on.

So why am I putting all this in a blog for everyone to read? I'm a bit of a tech geek and love all the new technology available. I am writing this blog on my ipad and I can't wait to start using this technology in my lessons at work. This is one of the reasons why I'm writing this. Eventually I would like my students to create their own fitness blogs so I suppose I need to learn how they work. Hopefully, my students will read what I blog and pick up information that will help them in their studies. I have also been inspired by other running blogs which I have found fascinating to read. These people spend hours training and I have massive respect for them. I hope that what I write people will find interesting as well as informative. Please feel free to make comments or maybe give me advice. I'm no expert in the field of ultra running and would love to hear from others that are. I hope this blog becomes a success and I will try my very best not to bore you to tears...I promise ;-)

 

 

 

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