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.

St Albans Half Marathon

Last weekend my mates and I took part in the St Albans half marathon! A very nice route was given to us, all on road but the route took us through residential areas and out into the sticks........and past the m1!

I was expecting it to be just a bit of training route for my ultramarathon next week,  however because I was running it with my mates.......I got caught up in the race and went a bit run happy!

The route surprised me a little, wasn't expecting hills because St Albans is quite flat! As I was running my training route now as a race I thought sod it and opened up down the hills! Now I don't know about the rest of you but I'm not a big fan of seeing a mile marker every single mile!!! I do sort of like to be surprised at how far I've gone!

And so after 1:51:31 I streaked past the finish line and a guy who appeared yo be a having a nasty moment or trying to gurn his way past the finish line!

Anyway, this time next week I will be running my Ultramarathon........wish me luck!!

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!

Busy busy busy!!

Tough old week this one! Only half way through! Today I had several people in my face screaming at me and others around me! When did mob mentality become the norm??!

Anyway, tomorrow is a beautiful day off and to celebrate I'm back in the Fivefingers! Been giving them a miss recently due to road running, back on the trails tomorrow! Whoo hoo!!

Curse you Calf Muscles!!!

Last week I ran my favourite route in my favourite shoes using my new favourite running form........and paid the price!! Friday morning my calf Muscles on both legs were in so much pain I could barely walk without limping like an old man! Add the fact that on my run I missed judged where a rather large stone was and hit it right on my heel!! Ouch is not the word! So I've rested the whole weekend.

Training continues in the new week! I will conquer the half mile in my vibrams before Hellrunner!