Goodbye 2013!!!!!!

Been neglecting my blog recently (again), just been too damn busy!

What's happened since last blog?

As I said, been a tad side tracked with external influences! Work is manic as always, now I've put myself through a college course to get myself some much needed qualifications!
I'm doing a full time course on top of my full time job, doesn't leave much time for anything else!! Don't even have much time for my gorgeous girlfriend or my mates!

So as I say good bye to 2013, I reflect back on an interesting year full of highs and lows, new challenges taken and beaten and attempts to improve my career dashed at the final hurdle!

I now put this promise to the web, to spend more time with those I love and to strive to improve myself, at work and home and to hone my running skills further.

I look upon 2014 with high hopes..........

Bad blogger

Haven't been a good blogger lately, unfortunately the non-digital world has taken over my time!

Still, I am continuing my quest for the next challenge. Debating triathlons and contemplating the next ultramarathon!

I've also buggered my neck! Obsolutely no idea how but it kills! Had to visit the chiroprator to get cracked back into place, a strange experience to say the least!!

Anyway I hopefully won't be out of action for long! Bring on the trails in the sunshine! My vibrams are calling!

Eat and run.........an ultra

It's been a few days since my ultramarathon, so I thought I'd let you in on a few insights I've learn......the hard way.
As I prepared for my first ultra I read many blogs, articles and asked the opinions of others. This in mind I bought a few supplies ready to take on the hills of the peak district.

As you see I thought carbs, carbs and more carbs! Actually this thought process turned out to be on the nose,  however what I did not for see was the amount which is supplied by the runs organisers. As I ran I refuelled more with the food on offer than the stuff I bought beforehand.  However, Jelly babies!! Never ate as many jelly babies in my life! They gave me the boosts I needed at times of low blood sugar and when I felt down.

Some of my running mates!!!

Other than the jelly babies,  I only ate one of the "mule" bars and the rest I'm slowly going through as part of my recovery snacks!

So far recovery is going well. I'm starting to be able to walk about now without moaning in pain at every step and I'm feeling more myself. So the prognosis looks good. I'll be up and running again in no time.

Five Fingers? Cold feet? Sorted!!

While running in Vibram Five fingers is liberating and feels better than running in trainers.......you do get cold toes!

Found a solution though!!

Angora sole inserts!

They stay warm even when wet!!!!

Problem sorted!!!

Yesterdays run!

Yesterday we had some random lovely sun shine! So decided to go for a nice long run!

Went up to the Ashridge Monument and commenced my normal run (pausing for a little photo opp!

As you can see, fantastic weather for a run! Went all the way down to invinghoe beacon but instead of turning around and heading back, I felt pretty good to attempt the 16 mile round trip of the Ashridge boundary trail.

Map in hand and the wonder of the trail markers left by the lovely people of the national trust I headed off towards the hills. 

However as with all best made plans, things went wrong! I must have missed a marker or something, ended up running a couple of miles in the wrong direction!!! Mood heading downward I followed my map back towards the trail. Saw loads of deer on the way and found myself back at the monument, figured that someone up there didn't want me to do the full 16 miles so I stuck with completing a nice 8.72 mile route.

Satisfaction achieved!!

Five Fingers down!!!!!!!!!

My poor Vibram Five fingers took a beating last weekend entering the Hellrunner, hell down south!

My personal damage healed pretty quickly. Its only taken a few days for my calves to recover and my left foot is fine now!

However..............my vibrams............have ripped!!!!
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
2 Months they've lasted! Gutted!

Ok as you see the tear isn't too bad! However its still bad! I love my shoes!!

God bless my textiles lessons in my middle school days! I can sew, they fore the damage has been sorted!

Time will tell, going for a run after work tomorrow. Hopefully the sewing will hold, watch this space!

Hellrunner!

Yesterday I, with a couple of thousand others, ran the 10 to 12 miles of Hellrunner - Hell Down

I did the same run 2 years ago, however this year I think route has been changed and is now a lot harder!!!! Not only because i was wearing my vibrams!

Me and my mates completed it within the 2 hour limit!! I think that's not bad!
More pics to come!

Been a while.......

Been away a little recently, blogger was sadly not on my mind.

Few things have been going on, been injured which annoyed the hell out of me, been a bit on the busy side of things at work and the world spins on.

Got hellrunner down south this weekend which I've actually trained for this time! Did it 2 years ago and managed a time of about 1 hour 55 mins! Hope to do better this time! Running in my vibram five fingers! Wish me luck!