The run that wasn't

Well, you could see how excited I was - but it was not to be.  I managed to get to sleep on the Friday night, but by 1am I was awake and didn't get back to sleep until 3.40am.  Needless to say, when the alarm went off at 5.10 I wasn't happy - and the cold I had developed overnight was not helping.  I made the decision (eventually) to turn off the alarm and go back to sleep.  It was the right decision - I woke again at 9am!

Despite the cold, I felt I needed to get out and pound the streets, so I dragged poor Rich out for an 8.5miler.  I can't remember the last time I ran solidly for 8 miles (we;re always having to stop for stiles or to navigate) on the road!  It was torture.....SOOOOO boring!  I thought canals were bad, but this!  We both complained of knee problems afterwards, and although we were glad we went, we didn't enjoy it one bit!

Sunday we woke intended to do a 17 miler (in order to make up the 25 I missed) but I couldn't keep awake long enough!  In the end we settled for a 8 mile walk over Rivington with the dogs, but when I got home I was straight back to bed again!  Whatever I have, it's making me very very tired.

Legs were aching from running on the road, and even today they're a bit sore.  Madness!  I can do 50 miles on the hills with no bother, but 8 miles on the road and I'm a mess!

Anyway - I am hoping to be fit and well for Elland Back 30 miler next week..... fingers crossed!

Running tomorrow!

YAY!  Had quite a stressful week at work and I can't wait to run tomorrow.  Rich was supposed to be MTBing but his man-flu has put paid to that idea so he's planning on a lie in and I'm off running solo.

It's Troller's Trot over near Threshfield (Yorkshire Dales) so it's an early start.  I need to leave the house at 6.10, so I need to be up at five to get breakfast, dress and pack.  At least lazy-bones can walk the dogs for me after his lie-in.

The entry info says that the 25 Mile route is fully marked throughout and no map or talk-around is required (although a route description is available if requested).  I'll probably grab one at registration so I've got it in case I get lost.  I'm looking forward to being able to just run and not keep checking directions.... bonus!

I'm continuing trialling the Alpro Soya drinks tomorrow, so I'll report on that again.  Weather looks cold (1-2 degrees) with all rain cleared by 8am (start time!).  Perfect running weather....cold, sunny and dry!

A training run... ok .... only a short one.....

We managed to grab a 40 min run through the woods at Darwin Forest Park in Matlock (Derbyshire).  It was very flat and VERY VERY boggy - but it was out and it was running!  Took my mum (who is a road runner and big cyclist) and she managed to get her pristine road trainers well and truly bogged up!  I had my gaiters on again and am still very impressed.  I've also worked out that I can slip them off easily whilst still attached to my shoe - so that'll make it easier at the end of runs!
Got Troller's Trot on Saturday (25 miles) and I'm hoping my knee is ok - got a bit of pain on the outsides of the knee.  Luckily it was only a short, soft run, and weather permitting me and Rich are gonna go out for another shortish one in the week.

So - that's it really..... not the most exciting week!  Troller's Trot race report will follow!

Half-term.....

Not much to blog, cos not much going on!  Been looking after Rich's kids whilst they're on half-term so we get the trade off of an extra week off together later in the year.  They've not been too bad at all, but I have kept them busy constantly.  We've been to Martin Mere Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, I marched them up Rivington Pike this morning (I am unhappy to report that Ashley (7) ran up there faster than me and Rich did on the Anglezarke Amble!), and any spare minute I've got them on the Wii.  We've entered them into a 7 mile charity walk (they're 7 and 9 years old) in May, so it's all part of their training!

Off for a weekend away with the kids, and hoping to get away from it all with a nice run around the Peak District whilst the commotion of family life goes on in the background....bliss!

Legs feeling ok - arch is fine but the outer knee (right) hurts when on a camber....so need to nurse it round a few flat miles over the weekend ready for Trollers Trot the following Saturday (5th March I think it is).

Beacon Bash - 21 miles of slop and goo.....

 

Inov8 Debris Gaiters.....before....



It didn't start well.  Alarm went off at 5.30, and as I was already awake I got up quite easily, but Rich insisted on an extra 25 mins in bed whilst I walked dogs.  When I went to wake him after his lie-in, we started on the "Do you want to go?" and the "We could just snuggle back into bed and have a lie-in" scenario.  However, as I had already had my breakfast and it wasn't raining outside, and the fact this was such a local race.... we managed to turn it around and get ourselves out there.  It only took us 25 mins to get to the start in Newburgh (near Parbold, Wigan) and the weather was fine.... so we had no excuse.  We'd also bought some Inov8 debris gaiters to prevent stones and twigs going into our trainers on the run, so we had to try out our shiny new kit...



Newburgh Sports Club

Once we'd got ourselves into gear, we got into the car with all our kit and set off.  The sat-nav took us round the houses to get there, but we arrived and found a parking space (amazingly) in the actual venue!  We couldn't believe our luck.  It's quite a small event (150 max I think) held by South Lancs LDWA and the entry was about £6.50 as I recall.  There was no queue for the toilet (unbelievable) and a minor change to the talkaround had been printed out onto sheets to avoid all confusion....a good start!

Illegal parkers.....at the start!



So, when it got to 8am and we were due to set off, we were taken out to the carpark and given a good telling off!  Firstly, anyone who'd parked in the venue car park got told off (oops!) because we were supposed to park somewhere else.  I hadn't seen anything saying we couldn't park at the sports club, and there wasn't a sign at the car park (as there usually would be) saying no parking on site.  Then we all got told off because last year someone left a gate open, some sheep got out, and as a result the group have now got to staff an extra checkpoint at the entrance to this field.  Having had strips torn off us, we were told to have a lovely day and to start.  Joy.  If we weren't in the right frame of mind at the start (which we weren't), our little 'pep' talk wasn't making anything better!



Rich on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal

Anyway.... we started off on a slight downhill through Newburgh and onto a footpath crossing a sticky field heading towards and then along the canal (Leeds-Liverpool this time).  Now, if you've read my Ultra-90 blog entry you'll know that if there is one thing I HATE running on, it's canal towpaths!  Rich's legs were taking time to warm up and his shins were hurting, but he managed to run this off.  We stayed on the flat until bridge 30, then we crossed the canal and went up hill to Parbold hill.  Now, we walked this route as a West Lancs Social Walk late last year, and we both recalled this being a horrible hill, but it was fine!  I felt a bit sick as it was the first uphill and I'd just downed a carton of Alpro Strawberry Soya Milk drink.

It was my first time experimenting with soya milk as running fuel and I THINK it was ok.  I had my porridge and rice milk for breakfast with a smoothie mixed with chia seeds (for hydration) and a carton of soya milk just before the start.  My body isn't used to drinking soya milk, but following the advice of "Vegan+Sports" writer Arnold Wiegand, I thought I'd give it a go.  It certainly kept my well hydrated, and I managed to get 3 down my neck during the 21 miles. 

I didn't feel hungry, but I did miss the burst that sugar gives you - although this is a deliberate attempt to stop the highs and lows of blood sugars, ensuring greater endurance and consistent fuel consumption.  Anyway - subsequent cartons didn't cause nausea, but caused much frustration trying to get the stupid straw out the packet (with gloves on) and pierce the little foil hole!  Drinking them was easy, but made me burp a bit - probably because I was trying to drink them as quick as I could.  Anyway - I'll definitely keep trying it!  I didn't have anything else apart from one packet of crisps and my energy levels felt ok.



We got a bit fed up of the muddy fields....like goo!

Anyway - back to the Beacon Bash.  Having got up Parbold Hill we then ran down the muddy other side through countless sloppy gooey fields, collecting lots of mud along the way.  We were pleased with our gaiters, they stayed on, didn't move, were comfy and certainly kept the debris out of my trainers.  I tend to have them quite loosely tied, so there's plenty of opportunity for twigs and stones to get in them!  We'd managed to take in 2 of the 5 checkpoints by this time, both offering just drinks.



Rich choosing his French Fancy at the CP!



We ran up Hunters Hill (well, we walked it actually due to the big muddy fields - one step forward, half a step back all the way) where there was a much better stocked checkpoint where Rich managed to down a French Fancy and some home-made cakes.  We were leap-frogging some guys from last week and they took some photos of us - so if I can get them off the website, I'll attach them to the blog too!  There was a long road section downhill which meant we could run some of the mud off our shoes finally!

We headed on towards Fairy Glen (a wooded area with walks) and we managed to get a bit lost.  The talkaround was pretty good, but we weren't using it much because we remembered a lot of it from the recce walk we did, but when we did need to use it, we had to check back and find out where on the details were actually were!  A local dog walker put us right and we navigated our way through, ending up on muddy fields (a recurring theme). 



Debris gaiters holding up well aganst the mud!

After visiting the visitors centre, we had a slog up to Ashurst Beacon.  I say slog because we remembered slogging up it last year on the walk, but in fact we trotted up and it seemed to take only minutes!  You start the ascent on the golf course and through muddy gloopy wooded paths up to the top.  There's a checkpoint just before the final push (with soup - I couldn't imagine anything worse!) and after a short pull, we were at the Beacon.  Easy!  A nice muddy sloppy gooey (recognise the theme?) run down then to the muddiest section of the day.  Debris gaiters still holding up well though. 

The arch of my right foot was twinging from slipping and sliding all the time, and my right knee was coming out in protest too, but otherwise I was feeling fine - energy, breath and muscles all fab.  Rich was tiring and his knee and quad were starting to sing a bit, but as we recalled later on, it's the first time he's done two events in two weeks - he can only usually come every other weekend.



Ashurst Beacon - and my new nutrition drink!

We did the finally muddy field and managed to trot up the roadway to the finish.  We completed in 5hrs 14.  We were hoping for about 5 hours, but I think the sloppy muddy sections that we were forced to walk could easily be blamed for the extra 14 mins!  We had to take our trainers off before entering the sports club, and we realised then that the gaiters were both friend and foe.  They were clogged with mud, and now we were trying to get them undone so we could go inside!  We managed though!



Mud....lots of it!



Meal was pie and peas, so Rich tucked in, but there was nothing for Vegans!!  Not surprising really, restaurants rarely cater for us, so you can hardly expect the LDWA to!  I found a bit of cherry pie and ate my remaining pack of crisps.  Rich had TWO puddings, both with cream......  We set off home and got bathed etc.  Feet were grubby as usual, but had clumps of mud on this time, not just staining.  However, it wasn't anything that the nail brush couldn't cope with.  Rich walked the dogs whilst I nipped to the shops for food as we were craving chips and burgers (a vegetable burger for me of course!).

We were then shattered - much more tired than we were last week, and yet we hadn't worked that hard at all.  I think it was the fact we were tired before we started that made us feel like that!  Anyway - we're sat here in our recovery tights barely able to keep our eyes open.  I'm just pleased it's half term next week!


So, to conclude, an OK run.  It's local, but it isn't the most exciting.  No particularly spectacular views or rewarding downhills, but it's undulating and guaranteed to be muddy.  Yes we'd do it again, but only if there's nothing more interesting to do that weekend.  Checkpoints were lacking in food, but they made up for it in the after-run meal, so can't complain really!





Our prize....makes it all worth while!





Drowning the tonsillitis in wine.....

....unorthodox medication, but it seems to have worked!

Went back to work on Friday and left early to go to a funeral up in Carlisle.  It was a lovely service, a real celebration of the lady's life.  Then I met up with some friends, went for a curry and stopped in 'for one' at my local.  The 'one' ended up being many many more and I finally staggered to bed about midnight.

Woke up this morning with a dry mouth, sore lips.... but no tonsillitis!  I think I must've disinfected them with the alcohol....or drowned them.... but either way they feel much better. 

I'll run tomorrow (it's only local and a short one - 21 miles - but it is quite hilly).  I'll try out my new nutrition to see how I get on.  Worth a try.  I just hope I can get over my hangover by then. I'm really far too old to go out drinking.  I think it's because I do it so rarely now, that I get so affected by it!

Went to Ambleside on the way home (Kirkstone Pass was impassable due to snow and ice - not a great omen for tomorrow, AND a 26 mile detour for me) and got a nice lightweight pair of Inov8 Roclite boots (see picture left) for the GR5 this year.  They only weigh 288g and seem perfect!  Waterproof too.....fantastic!  Even better, they were half price (£60 instead of £120) so we both got a pair.... Just a shame that we'll be walking the Alps with matching shoes.....oh the shame!  Last year I walked in a lightweight leather pair, but they were a bit heavy - these are like wearing flip-flops!

Right - off to rest up now ready for the run tomorrow... race report and photos to follow.  Weather looks ok till about 2pm when the rain will be coming in.  Hope to be almost home by then!

Tonsilitis and reading......

Woke up yesterday with a sore throat.  Went to work, but by 10.30 my head was pounding, throat closing up and I felt absolutely knackered.  So I came home early from work and went straight to bed.....and slept!

Woke this morning and my throat is even more swollen, and I can now see my huge bulging tonsils with lovely yellow spots all over them.  No work for me.  Stayed in bed then got up and walked the dogs....but that's made me even more knackered!

The only bonus is that it's allowed me some time to read my latest books.... all about Vegan sports nutrition.  I need to ensure I am staying fuelled enough and getting the most out of my body.

I started with "Vegan + Sports" by Arnold Wiengand (Amazon).  He runs ultras and Ironman Triathlons and has been vegan since 2003.  The book is quite basic, but he has some interesting views on training that I am going to try. 

Firstly, in training he trains his body to burn its fat reserves.  He does this by not fuelling up before a training session.  His body then learns to tap into the fat reserves quickly, which means that when he IS competing (and therefore fuelling) when he gets further down into his reserves, his body is able to metabolise the fat more quickly and easily because it has been trained to do so.  Interesting theory, and one I'm going to work on!

Secondly, he promotes the use of soya protein drinks DURING endurance events.  I always carry water and a variety of foods, but I am definitely going to try taking my Alpro Soya drinks with me.  They're about 187cals per carton, and I reckon I'd easily get one an hour down my neck.  According to the author, it helps support the conversion of glycogen and fat into fuel, but prevents fatigue in the muscle.  I'm planning on trying this on Sunday (tonsillitis permitting).  He then recommends soya protein and a banana as an after-run recovery snack.  I'll report back on how I get on.

The second book I am currently working through is "Thrive Fitness" which is a Vegan-Based training programme written by the International triathlete and ultra-runner Brendan Brazier (also on Amazon). 

I'm not that far into it yet, but he is all about conserving energy in order to have it available for longer.  This involves eating food that is easily digested and converted into fuel so your body is not spending energy doing all the work, therefore leaving more energy available to the muscles. 

He also advocates strengthening exercises for the leg muscles, not to build size, just strength.  A weak muscle requires more energy from the heart and fuel stores to move it.  By making the muscle stronger, less energy is used and endurance is therefore increased.  I'm loving it so far as it makes perfect sense.  Perhaps it is very obvious, but it's only when you take time out to think about it that it all fits into place.  I used to do kettlebell training to strengthen my legs and core, and it really did help - so maybe it's time to dust them back off!

Anyway - I'll report back further on the book once I've finished it.  I'm snuggled up in my bed keeping warm!