So after the events of this week and finally deciding to go ahead with the event, it's back to the focus of the 100km on Saturday. In some respects, it hasn't really dawned on me that I'm going out there to do 100kms - and I kind of need to get my head around it and focus.
I also really need a plan of attack and stick to it. There's also been quite a bit of discussion on the Cool Runnings website here in Australia, and most people on there seem to think that a run/walk strategy is not right because of the terrain. Strange... oh well, I'll let them run the first 60kms and then walk the next 40kms :)
For me, I'm going to try and stick to a 20:2 for the first 50kms and see how I feel, if I'm feeling OK, then I'll carry on, then may go to a 5:1, but it's all about how I feel. I've also bought far too much food and need to ration a little on that front.
Hmmmm can't wait, very excited, but also apprehensive about this... I've never been beyond 42.195kms... this should be interesting!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Done and dusted
So, I've paid up and I'm in. Such a tough decision on this one as at one point that really was it for me and the Gobi was taking to take precidence on this. However whilst my head said that everything about the MDS was wrong, you have to follow your heart on this one. I've been building towards this event now for 3 years, and with just over 6 months to go, to miss out because of being angry at the British agents of this means I'm the one missing out. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if they knew this and preyed on it. They know we're in a tough position emotionally, so again can charge what they like.
I know that also, come March next year when everyone heads out to Morocco, I'll be disppointed if I'm not on that plane. So there we go, only another grand and a half and it's paid for, just another grand on top of that for flights back to the UK, arseholes.
However, I'll devote my time to making sure BoM work bloody hard for this massive inflation of costs. At very least we should get a breakdown of the costs, and if we don't then I'll find ways of getting it out.
I know that also, come March next year when everyone heads out to Morocco, I'll be disppointed if I'm not on that plane. So there we go, only another grand and a half and it's paid for, just another grand on top of that for flights back to the UK, arseholes.
However, I'll devote my time to making sure BoM work bloody hard for this massive inflation of costs. At very least we should get a breakdown of the costs, and if we don't then I'll find ways of getting it out.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
decisions decisions
So the final cost for the MDS 2009 was revealed today - a convenient 9.25% increase on last year which means if we go ahead, no refunds on the initial 500 quid deposit should we decide to withdraw.
This has lead to some serious reconsidering amongst the competitors and I for one am really questioning the true value of doing this race. Not only is entry fee now 3000 grand, but I've already spent thousands on kit and traveling to races etc... with airfare back to the UK that's another 1500 quid. The race really does not present good value for money at all, in fcat its a f'ing joke when there's other races out there for half the price and are probably a much better experience overall.
So I really need to weigh up the pros and cons. Well the cons are listed above, however the one thing that is tearing me apart at the moment is that I've wanted to do this race for nearly 3 years now and a lot of sacrifices have been made in order to get to where I am now. Not only financially but personally too I've given up a lot to get where I am - would I feel like a failure if I didnt go ahead with it all? However if I did go ahead, would I come to resent the whole thing if I went and did it? I might get there and resent the cost and not enjoy the experience of it all. Does that mean that mentally I'm not ready for this? That because of my resentment I wont accomplish what I wanted to achieve? I really need to sit down and work out what it is I want from the MDS. However the goalposts have moved. The more you get inot this running lark, the more you realise you cna achieve and you discover.
My initial goal was complete the MDS, now I'd be lying if I said I didnt want a top 200 place. But what the fuck does that mean? I finished in the top 200 of the MDS? Big deal, against what criteria and level of competition?
What I want from a multi-stage event is to run/walk as hard as I can and do as well as I can, and learn things along the way about myself. Can I do that in the Gobi, which is another race I'd do instead of the MDS? More than likely I can, yes. Do I want the glitz and glam of the MDS? Not really... I dont like big races, the City to Surf atmosphere over in Sydney was wank to be honest. Standing at the start line of the Wagga Wagga and Mudgee marathons was brilliant - genuine people. The city 2 surf was full of pretentious pricks. That's not what I'm about.
So after all this I still haven't made up my mind. I guess one option is to pay the grand and then make a call on it. At least I have the option of getting it back and a place still secured, so that if I chose to sack it off I can. Hmmmmmm....
This has lead to some serious reconsidering amongst the competitors and I for one am really questioning the true value of doing this race. Not only is entry fee now 3000 grand, but I've already spent thousands on kit and traveling to races etc... with airfare back to the UK that's another 1500 quid. The race really does not present good value for money at all, in fcat its a f'ing joke when there's other races out there for half the price and are probably a much better experience overall.
So I really need to weigh up the pros and cons. Well the cons are listed above, however the one thing that is tearing me apart at the moment is that I've wanted to do this race for nearly 3 years now and a lot of sacrifices have been made in order to get to where I am now. Not only financially but personally too I've given up a lot to get where I am - would I feel like a failure if I didnt go ahead with it all? However if I did go ahead, would I come to resent the whole thing if I went and did it? I might get there and resent the cost and not enjoy the experience of it all. Does that mean that mentally I'm not ready for this? That because of my resentment I wont accomplish what I wanted to achieve? I really need to sit down and work out what it is I want from the MDS. However the goalposts have moved. The more you get inot this running lark, the more you realise you cna achieve and you discover.
My initial goal was complete the MDS, now I'd be lying if I said I didnt want a top 200 place. But what the fuck does that mean? I finished in the top 200 of the MDS? Big deal, against what criteria and level of competition?
What I want from a multi-stage event is to run/walk as hard as I can and do as well as I can, and learn things along the way about myself. Can I do that in the Gobi, which is another race I'd do instead of the MDS? More than likely I can, yes. Do I want the glitz and glam of the MDS? Not really... I dont like big races, the City to Surf atmosphere over in Sydney was wank to be honest. Standing at the start line of the Wagga Wagga and Mudgee marathons was brilliant - genuine people. The city 2 surf was full of pretentious pricks. That's not what I'm about.
So after all this I still haven't made up my mind. I guess one option is to pay the grand and then make a call on it. At least I have the option of getting it back and a place still secured, so that if I chose to sack it off I can. Hmmmmmm....
Monday, September 8, 2008
A steady week
So after being able to finally run without much in the way of discomfort, I also managed a nice easy 10.5 miler on Saturday whilst in the Hunter Valley for the weekend. Plenty of wine and cheese to be had! So all in, a 30 mile week, which at one point looked miles away so to speak. I had a few little twinges from teh run on Saturday, but I think I'm good.
The good thing is the 100km will be slow and not so near as intense as a marathon. This week will be busy spent planning for it. I'm going to kip in a tent for the two nights as well to try and replicate the MDS somewhat.
So I'll be flying up Friday afternoon to Brisbane, and then pitching a tent I'm borrowing from someone at the startline in the school where the race starts. I'll also be taking minimum kit with me, literally my Aarn rucksack with the bare essentials. I alos need to pick up a cheap sleeping bag, my compass and a few bits and bobs, and Bob's your uncle, Rita's your aunt! Rock on!
The good thing is the 100km will be slow and not so near as intense as a marathon. This week will be busy spent planning for it. I'm going to kip in a tent for the two nights as well to try and replicate the MDS somewhat.
So I'll be flying up Friday afternoon to Brisbane, and then pitching a tent I'm borrowing from someone at the startline in the school where the race starts. I'll also be taking minimum kit with me, literally my Aarn rucksack with the bare essentials. I alos need to pick up a cheap sleeping bag, my compass and a few bits and bobs, and Bob's your uncle, Rita's your aunt! Rock on!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Was I dreaming it?
So, after the joy at being able to run 10kms painfree last night, the real test was whether I could go out and do the same again, but slightly further this time. I tried to tape my knee up as per the physio instructions, but to be honest, I'm rather crap at all that. I did what I thought was right, but to be honest it all came apart after about 2kms. This wasn't a big deal as I thought if the knee did start to hurt, then at least I know the taping has a role to play.
So the plan was to try and do 15kms, depending on how I felt. Off I set, and ran nowhere in particular. I like doing this, it keep things interesting instead of doing the same old route. I eventually did end up doing a lot of a route I do normally, but in a slightly different way. The great news is that as per last night, nothing. No knee acheyness or calf trouble at all. I even ran slightly jarder than last night. Not too hard, but put more gas on and more weight onto the left leg and it all felt fine.
Now, what have I done differently? At the physio the other day, she massaged the left calf somewhat and there was a big knot in it. Was this causing me all the grief? Did I simply have a knot in it that affected the knee and made the calf feel like shit? I have a funny feeling that this could have been it. The good news is that after two back-to-back runs and 25kms, I'm not having any trouble, so this bears extremely well for Glasshouse. Running at a slower pace also meant that I was able to practice just that as well, although it's very frutsrating doing so when you know you can run quicker! I think I did 9.5 miles in around 1hr 25 mins which is very slow for me, but hey it's about getting there, and for a 100km race, this will certainly be true. Anyhoo, I'll be busy getting kit together now for Glasshouse, just need a temporary sleeping bag, so bits and bobs and we're away!
So the plan was to try and do 15kms, depending on how I felt. Off I set, and ran nowhere in particular. I like doing this, it keep things interesting instead of doing the same old route. I eventually did end up doing a lot of a route I do normally, but in a slightly different way. The great news is that as per last night, nothing. No knee acheyness or calf trouble at all. I even ran slightly jarder than last night. Not too hard, but put more gas on and more weight onto the left leg and it all felt fine.
Now, what have I done differently? At the physio the other day, she massaged the left calf somewhat and there was a big knot in it. Was this causing me all the grief? Did I simply have a knot in it that affected the knee and made the calf feel like shit? I have a funny feeling that this could have been it. The good news is that after two back-to-back runs and 25kms, I'm not having any trouble, so this bears extremely well for Glasshouse. Running at a slower pace also meant that I was able to practice just that as well, although it's very frutsrating doing so when you know you can run quicker! I think I did 9.5 miles in around 1hr 25 mins which is very slow for me, but hey it's about getting there, and for a 100km race, this will certainly be true. Anyhoo, I'll be busy getting kit together now for Glasshouse, just need a temporary sleeping bag, so bits and bobs and we're away!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Is the physio a miracle worker?
So despite doubting if I should indeed go for a run tonight - I went for a very steady 10kms. And you know what, it was OK. The knee didnt hurt one bit as I went round. And whats more, the soleus felt 'OK' as well. It niggled a little, but didnt really start to pull like it did last night. So I dont know quite what to think. Did the taping do the job, and as a result take the stress off the soleus?
Either way, Ill be going for another tester run tomorrow night of around 10-15kms to see if things really are OK. It was slow tonight, but I'm ever so pleased that I got round with no niggles from either the knee of the soleus... things could yet be OK for Glasshouse.
Either way, Ill be going for another tester run tomorrow night of around 10-15kms to see if things really are OK. It was slow tonight, but I'm ever so pleased that I got round with no niggles from either the knee of the soleus... things could yet be OK for Glasshouse.
Hmmm... injury
Every runner's worst scenario... not being able to run. Things haven't been quite right for about 2 months now. Little niggies here and there which it seems have esclated. I can trace this back to exactly the point where I got injured. July 3rd, Glasgow city centre. Paranoid about trying to get training runs in whilst on a stag do, I ventured out for a quick 30 minute job before heading out on the piss with the boys. In my rush I forgot to warm-up and went straight out. 20 minutes in I felt my calf go.
I was actually relatively sensible and rested up for a few days, just over a week before the Hunter Valley marathon. That came and went OK (well more than OK, I ran a PB!), and then Wagga came up and 17kms in, I felt it go again, but soldier on I did, and the week after, running the Mudgee marathon, but in a bit of pain, and then the knee started giving me jip. So here we are, two months later.
I rested all week last week, and went out again for a bit of a tester run last night. Not good - pulling short after 25 minutes. The knee is a strange one. It's not a sharp pain, more like a dull ache. As such I dont know how bad it is. Is it that bad? I ran a bloody marathon with it. However the calf, or rather soleus (muscle just below the calf) is annoying me now. It keeps on pulling and tugging at me whilst I run, threatening to fully go, but not quite going over the edge completely.
I'm off to the physio at lunchtime, but what do I do? I'm loathed to rest, although I know this is what I should do. I hate resting, I dont want to lose fitness. I did that for a month last year and was amazed how much fitness I lost, although I wasn't properly up and training then.
Have I overdone it on the races? Maybe 3 marathons in 5 weeks is going some, and racing them all quite hard apart from the last one. There's also been no real taper either, and coupled with this, I did some shorter sprint races in between, and no rest for those either.
It's concerning me as my training is getting thrown all over the place a little. The second stage of my training started well in May, with some solid high milage - avergaing 45 miles a week. June pretty good, but July was a mess. August was slightly better, with 3 solid races in 3 weeks and that kept me ticking over. However things have to ramp up big time post the Glasshouse race in 2 weeks time. I've set myself a goal of 5/6 months of really building up the miles, peaking in late Jan/early Feb at around 100 miles a week, before tapering.
However we'll have to see what the knee outcome is. If I must I'd be prepared to rest completely before the Glasshouse race (if anything I'll be totally refreshed!). This is a big test of where I'm at and what need to do. Strangely I'm not nervous about it at the moment, except for any potential injury. As I found out, running 42.195kms with a dodgy knee and calf was not pleasant!
It shouldn't all be negative. I'm actually in a pretty good position and if I'm honest, ahead of where I thought I'd be at come this stage of the training. However an enforced rest could bugger up a lot of this. We shall see how we go...
__________________________________________________________
Physio update!
Not really that much more conclusive to be honest. Might possibly go for an MRI, but we're trying one more thing. The lovely lady reckons that I my knee cap moves in a funnny position, so we've taped it up to limit it's movement to one side and going to give that a go. So with this, I'll try and run tonight and see what happens. Failing that, we're off for an MRI to see what's going on. Still doing the Glasshouse House though, I'll bloody walk it if I have to!
I was actually relatively sensible and rested up for a few days, just over a week before the Hunter Valley marathon. That came and went OK (well more than OK, I ran a PB!), and then Wagga came up and 17kms in, I felt it go again, but soldier on I did, and the week after, running the Mudgee marathon, but in a bit of pain, and then the knee started giving me jip. So here we are, two months later.
I rested all week last week, and went out again for a bit of a tester run last night. Not good - pulling short after 25 minutes. The knee is a strange one. It's not a sharp pain, more like a dull ache. As such I dont know how bad it is. Is it that bad? I ran a bloody marathon with it. However the calf, or rather soleus (muscle just below the calf) is annoying me now. It keeps on pulling and tugging at me whilst I run, threatening to fully go, but not quite going over the edge completely.
I'm off to the physio at lunchtime, but what do I do? I'm loathed to rest, although I know this is what I should do. I hate resting, I dont want to lose fitness. I did that for a month last year and was amazed how much fitness I lost, although I wasn't properly up and training then.
Have I overdone it on the races? Maybe 3 marathons in 5 weeks is going some, and racing them all quite hard apart from the last one. There's also been no real taper either, and coupled with this, I did some shorter sprint races in between, and no rest for those either.
It's concerning me as my training is getting thrown all over the place a little. The second stage of my training started well in May, with some solid high milage - avergaing 45 miles a week. June pretty good, but July was a mess. August was slightly better, with 3 solid races in 3 weeks and that kept me ticking over. However things have to ramp up big time post the Glasshouse race in 2 weeks time. I've set myself a goal of 5/6 months of really building up the miles, peaking in late Jan/early Feb at around 100 miles a week, before tapering.
However we'll have to see what the knee outcome is. If I must I'd be prepared to rest completely before the Glasshouse race (if anything I'll be totally refreshed!). This is a big test of where I'm at and what need to do. Strangely I'm not nervous about it at the moment, except for any potential injury. As I found out, running 42.195kms with a dodgy knee and calf was not pleasant!
It shouldn't all be negative. I'm actually in a pretty good position and if I'm honest, ahead of where I thought I'd be at come this stage of the training. However an enforced rest could bugger up a lot of this. We shall see how we go...
__________________________________________________________
Physio update!
Not really that much more conclusive to be honest. Might possibly go for an MRI, but we're trying one more thing. The lovely lady reckons that I my knee cap moves in a funnny position, so we've taped it up to limit it's movement to one side and going to give that a go. So with this, I'll try and run tonight and see what happens. Failing that, we're off for an MRI to see what's going on. Still doing the Glasshouse House though, I'll bloody walk it if I have to!
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