I can't believe it's been six months since I last posted. I don't know where the time has gone! Lots of things have happened... I pulled out of running the Edinburgh Marathon because I just didn't have time to train properly. It was a bit ambitious to think that I could fit in a full time job, 70 mile daily commute, studying for a Masters, cracking 4 hours in a marathon and writing a blog. Something had to give and, sadly, it was the marathon training (and the blog!).
I've still been keeping up a base level of training - going out for short runs when I feel like it, the occasional spin class or bike ride, and a sporadic yoga practice. I also completed the Mighty Deerstalker again in March and, although I did beat last year's time by about 10 minutes, it hurt! But by the time I finished my uni assignments in June, I was feeling less fit and healthy than ever before.
But finally I'm starting to feel strong again, thanks to a lovely 2-week active holiday with Neilson in Greece. It's the second time I've been on holiday with them and it was exactly what I needed after a difficult six months. There was plenty of time to relax, read books and eat fresh, healthy food (and the occasional ice cream) but the best bit was all the activities that were included. I managed to clock up at least 3 or 4 hours of physical activity a day. By the second week, my days consisted of a 30 minute early morning hill run, a quick breakfast, and then a tough 2-4 hour mountain bike ride. The only way to go from the hotel was up, up, up. The first Monday I felt like my heart and lungs may explode and had to stop or get off and push several times. But by the end of week two, I'd tackled the first hill climb in 25 min without stopping once.
After a hearty lunch, I then got stuck into some water-based activities, learning to waterski and wakeboard and almost mastering the basics of windsurfing. My days ended with a 45 minute yoga session, or a dip in the pool, before more yummy food. Although I didn't lose any weight, I came back feeling much more toned, relaxed and definitely fitter. My motivation had dipped but it is back with a vengeance and I'm definitely ready to get a late summer training plan on the go and to give it my all with a couple of autumn events. First up, the Glasgow half marathon and then, in eight weeks time, the big one, the Nokia Coast to Coast.
Added to this, I've re-evaluated where I'm at in life and want to get back to enjoying the things I'm passionate about (eating, running and being happy!). So work and commuting is the thing that's going to give this time. I've changed my working hours to part-time and my other main focus for the autumn is setting up my own freelance nutrition and fitness business, which I hope to launch in September.
Showing posts with label Mighty Deerstalker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mighty Deerstalker. Show all posts
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Sunday, 22 March 2009
The Mighty Deerstalker
A 10k (and a bit) hill race involving obstacles probably isn't the best idea for a clumsy, accident-prone person like me. This dawned on me at about 8pm on Friday, when I managed to go over on my already dodgy ankle by slipping on another innocuous object - a chip (a.k.a french fry). I wasn't even drunk or wearing heels. An hour of frantic icing later I decided I'd be okay and wasn't giving up on Saturday's race: The Mighty Deerstalker.
I think you'd call the Mighty Deerstalker an adventure run. I'd read the race reports and seen last year's photos so was prepared for a scary experience. This didn't stop me from making a mess of it though.
Mistake #1
'Slow and steady' was my mantra for the first 20 minutes. Last year's finishers ranged from 90 minutes to 4 hours so I saw no need to rush off at the start like most of the crowd. My friends sped off whilst I plodded gleefully along, feeling rather pleased with my new found sensible approach. I've burnt myself out early on in races before and this time my mission was to be the tortoise. Wrong move. Before long the trails narrowed and the crowd was forced into single file, getting slower and slower until it stopped to queue for the first obstacle. From that point, the 'race' became a slow-moving conveyer belt, with little scope for overtaking. Grr, if I'd sprinted at the start there would have been plenty of time to catch my breath. Oh well, I'll know for next year.
Mistake #2
Dodgy ankles and downhill running in the dark really don't mix. Last year I tore all my ankle ligaments and fractured my fibula in a freak dog-walking accident. Since then I've been really nervous about slippy slopes, and this race was full of them. I went over on my ankle a few more times, especially during the river crossings, and spent a lot of time shuffling nervously along in a semi-squat position. If I do this race again, I'll definitely strap my ankle up. In fact, I might just mummify myself and bounce down the hill!
Highs and lows
The course itself was great fun - really technical but not too physically challenging, well not at the pace I was going at anyway. The highlights for me were the sight of hundreds of head torches making their way up and down the hills, actually managing to overtake some people at the sheer scree slope and, most of all, the 'disco' section in the woods, complete with fairy lights, disco ball and thumping music.
The lowlights? Getting sent on a 10 minute detour by some friendly local youths.
I finished in a reasonably respectable 2 and a half hours, half an hour behind my friends but far from last. The true distance was apparently closer to 14k, with some serious ascent. I felt a bit bad that I'd left the others waiting in the cold (I had the car key), but not that bad, they could have waited for me!
I think you'd call the Mighty Deerstalker an adventure run. I'd read the race reports and seen last year's photos so was prepared for a scary experience. This didn't stop me from making a mess of it though.
Mistake #1
'Slow and steady' was my mantra for the first 20 minutes. Last year's finishers ranged from 90 minutes to 4 hours so I saw no need to rush off at the start like most of the crowd. My friends sped off whilst I plodded gleefully along, feeling rather pleased with my new found sensible approach. I've burnt myself out early on in races before and this time my mission was to be the tortoise. Wrong move. Before long the trails narrowed and the crowd was forced into single file, getting slower and slower until it stopped to queue for the first obstacle. From that point, the 'race' became a slow-moving conveyer belt, with little scope for overtaking. Grr, if I'd sprinted at the start there would have been plenty of time to catch my breath. Oh well, I'll know for next year.
Mistake #2
Dodgy ankles and downhill running in the dark really don't mix. Last year I tore all my ankle ligaments and fractured my fibula in a freak dog-walking accident. Since then I've been really nervous about slippy slopes, and this race was full of them. I went over on my ankle a few more times, especially during the river crossings, and spent a lot of time shuffling nervously along in a semi-squat position. If I do this race again, I'll definitely strap my ankle up. In fact, I might just mummify myself and bounce down the hill!
Highs and lows
The course itself was great fun - really technical but not too physically challenging, well not at the pace I was going at anyway. The highlights for me were the sight of hundreds of head torches making their way up and down the hills, actually managing to overtake some people at the sheer scree slope and, most of all, the 'disco' section in the woods, complete with fairy lights, disco ball and thumping music.
The lowlights? Getting sent on a 10 minute detour by some friendly local youths.
I finished in a reasonably respectable 2 and a half hours, half an hour behind my friends but far from last. The true distance was apparently closer to 14k, with some serious ascent. I felt a bit bad that I'd left the others waiting in the cold (I had the car key), but not that bad, they could have waited for me!
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