Back on the endurance!

As of yesterday I got my ass back in gear, entered the coastal challenge and got out of party mode and in to training mode. With six weeks to go, I'm going to up the running again and see if I can get myself back in to triple marathon shape. Whether or not I've left it late we'l see but I needed the 'party' break as I was exhausted. Either way, at the moment I'm ridiculously up for smashing some big training in and trying to go well this year. I'm refreshed and ready to put in 6 weeks of graft, trying my all to come as close to winning the marathons as possible then chill out and probably party it up again over xmas! ha ha

First day back on the endurance yesterday, started with a bang. Over 2hrs of running and a quick 30min conditioning circuit in the gym which was 12mins AMRAP (As many reps as possible) of 1min running, 10 burpees, 7-10 20kg thrusters, 10 low squats. Following that 12mins AMRAP 300m row, 10 low goblet squats, 10 press ups. Smashed it yesterday and quads/hams were tired today so this was a good chance for me to practice running on tired legs so ran today again for 75mins and once I got the fatigue out of my legs was going good at the end. Good solid start.

Food wise hit the calories hard yesterday on my return to the endurance. Around the 4000 cals mark, essential for endurance, especially when we have to find energy for work to! Food ranging from lean meats, veg, potatoes, bread, bananas, chocolate coated rice cakes, oats and plenty of milk!! I'll save the endless chocolate, chips, pizza and other junk until I start the back to back long runs.

Anywey back in the game and I'm well motivated again! Class

Finding it hard to get motivated - Triple Marathon or the pool

Since I pulled out of the last ultra with injury then took it easy for a few weeks, I'm really really finding it hard to get motivated again. I'm changing my mind like a little child about weather or not to enter the coastal challenge in November. 7 weeks away, I know if I start again this week I could get back in shape for it but plain and simply, I seriously don't know if I can be arsed to run that much already again. Recently I've been doing Monday to Friday training, which has been a mix of cycling, conditioning and running and then just having the weekend off where to be honest except for this weekend I've been drunk as a skunk most Saturday nights. Saying that it's been fun to just do 'normal' amounts of training without letting it take over your life, which I find almost impossible for ultras, especially if you want to do well!

The second reason is that since watching Ironman Wales last weekend I've got it in to my head that I really really want to do it next year which means I need to get swimming lessons because I can barely swim, let alone swim 2.4miles in the sea, and cycle much more. Even though there is a year to go, I'm one of these people who gets far to 'in to it' as I always want to to the absolute best.

I'm in two minds about wheather or not to wait until after the Coastal Challenge (November 21st) then start stepping up the bike and swim especially more than the running or to start now??

I really cant decide. Some one told me the other day though, to go for one more big running event because they thought I was getting closer and closer to winning one. That's pretty humbling but it's a lot of repetitive training which for some reason I'm struggling to motivate myself for, something I've never found hard since I started all this fitness.

8 weeks this weekend, but I'm having a night out in Cardiff next weekend so wont do much in the way of back to back long runs, so 7 weeks training it would be....

I could do that, one more push then 100% swim and cycle with Ironman a certainty for next year!

Taking it easy (easier)

Since the last ultra, hurting my hamstring and getting a DNF in a race I felt I was capable of winning I've taken things a bit easier, even though I've still trained most days, I've mixed things up with Cross fit, cycling. In fact I've only run about 15miles in two weeks but I need it more than anything, I'm drained from huge amounts of training and looking back over the year it's been one thing after the other so I've always been in the training zone and until now realised I just couldn't switch off, knowing in the back of my mind I had something to train for.

Don't get me wrong I love competing and I love ultras but it's a huge huge commitment and I think its caught up with me. So, at the moment I'm thinking I may not enter the coastal challenge in November, drop the milage a bit and mix things up a little with cross fit, cycling, rowing or whatever else takes my fancy. Emphasising my whole training on intensity and including some more strength and conditioning. I want to switch off from the ultras for a few months then come marathon season next Easter, really really smash a fast marathon then get back in to the ultras. Basically unless I'm able to train 100% and actually improve I'm not that interested, it's winning or putting so much in to it that there is nothing left to give. At the moment I'm not, I need a rest from the mileage.

This is not to say I wont be training because training is just what I do but just want to do more of what I fancy and concentrate on intensity and speed for a while. E.g. the other day I did a tough circuit then just ran 1mile and left nothing in the tank, I pushed it so hard was exhausted and had done less than 25mins of work. That was brilliant and exactly what I fancy at the moment.

It feels like there's a weight off my shoulders that there is no huge events coming up. I usually thrive off the events but for a while I'm happy to be able to just train how I like without it taking over. Until I recover, get the hunger back and hit it hard as possible again, I think it's a case of one step back to take two forward.

I cant wait to be back but for now I need to chill out a bit :)