It's been a while, in fact too long since I last up-dated the blog, partly because my training has also been neglected. and with only 2 weeks before I race in trail Ticino panic sets in. My main worry is that this may be harder, much harder than the MDS. Yes, its shorter, no it does not involve sand or heat, so no I am not going to be tortured by the conditions in the same way. But, the running in the MDS is in manageable chucks, you can see the end most days. Trail Ticino is not billed as anything more than a trail run. However, what does this trail run involve? 1 stage (up to 31hours) 3 marathons, 8,500 meters of vertical ascent and 8,500 meters of vertical descent, 12 mountain passes, o and not to mention its all above the altitude line. In short, I run up and down the side of Everest and complete 3 marathons in a day in thin air - ouch. They tell you not to sign up to things when you are on the come-down from the MDS, now I see what they mean. If I do it, and finish well, what a great thing to do, and as I am only one of 2 Brits stupid enough to enter, I will be 1st or 2nd GB runner, one of the top British finishers may be possible (if I finish) J.

Training has been a bit of a mixed bag; with a week on holiday with involved lots of drink and dancing I did not get too much (any) training done. I did take the 3 days off for Henley, on was a bit of a drunken affair, the other, quite the opposite; I decided to run out to Henley RR from London, about 36 miles in total, a bit off the cuff but good training for the 70+ miles I am going to run, it started really well, managed to include a ~3:15 marathon in the middle before dyeing a death on the hills into Henley, dehydrated and dead on my feet I hobbled into the town.

The rest of my training has been shorter, sprint racing, it is summer after all and short distance is fun, It seems the shorter I go, the higher I place, maybe I am just not made for this ultra running, it’s all a bit too much hard work, 1 mile has been the shortest race I have entered and the highest I have places, winning the bronze in the 3x1mile relay, an inter London club event with 48 teams. After trail Ticino I have 3 weeks to teach myself everything I need to know about triathlons, then another 4  weeks to get ready for Berlin, all a bit go go go.

We a quickly heading back to the world where lack of training is meaning I will need to pray, hope and just be stubborn enough to keep going with nothing in the tank. I have 2 weeks, if I get motivated this week, I can get some good miles in and hopefully do well. Stay positive, anything is possible, or the new version  ‘Impossible is Nothing’

5K and GreenBelt Relay

Not a great start to racing this summer, the Battersea Park 5km run took me 17:48, not great at all. I tend to go off in races too hard; then struggle in the second half to hold on. This was exactly the case in this race. I went off at sub 5 minute miles, simply filling my legs with lactic acid and tiring myself out, leading to a progressive slowing and a poor overall time. This is exactly the opposite profile I have been practicing and seems to result in a slow time. I am not sure why I always get carried away at the start of a race, it has never worked; back to the drawing board to re-plan.

As the summer gets into full swing so does the racing meets around London, there are plenty of races and I hope to take part in several of them. Next Monday I am looking to run the Battersea part 2M race in a hope I will not fade too early as it is a mile shorter than the 5km and then build up pace and distance from there as I managed on the treadmill more successfully.

It’s not however, all doom and gloom in the world of racing for me; last weekend was the Greenbelt Relay, a race around the London Greenbelt starting and finishing around Kingston. My Leg on the first day was a 13.1 mile trail along the Jubilee and Thames rivers between Slough and Cookham. A fairly flat course mainly on toe paths and across fields, it was a fairly early start 5:50 as I needed to be at Stains to meet the minibus which was then my home for the 2 days.  The race went well, setting off as usual way too quick in an attempt to stay up with the front of the field, in fact I ran the first 5km in the same time I did the Battersea Park 5km race only 5 days prior. Unusually I did not fade too much and managed to stay in touching distance of the lead 3. As we entered the last 4 miles I tried to take up the pace in order to close the gap, I was gunning for 3^rd place and could see the guy in front. Pushing hard I soon caught him and past, I then tried to make a move and close the gap on the lead 2, I could not see them in front and they never reappeared.  To my surprise,  I won the stage, I never caught the 2 guys in front because they where behind me, if any of you are regulars to this blog you will understand my propensity to get lost, for once I did not get lost, and it worked in my favour, the two lead guys had made a wrong turning. To be honest, I don’t care they got lost, I still won and part of trail running is knowing the route, I have been victim of it so many times in the past, this time it was my good fortune, and had they not got lost, I still think there is a chance I would have caught them irrespective of there diversion. I finished the stage in 1:22 averaging 6:22 minute miles, I am happy with that pace for where I am in my training and being trail, I was never going to run supper quick.

Day 2 stage through Dartford was not quite so fun, I hate hills, really really hate hills and this 9.5 mile stage had plenty, Despite being 4 miles shorter and mostly road I could not run well and sadly came in in 6^th place, a minute behind 2^nd place and 6 minutes behind the winner. I ran 6:26 minute miles. A disappointing run but still enjoyable and lots of fun had over the weekend away. My team came 3^rd overall and won the Mixed team. I have my first running ‘pot’, I would not say medal, unlike rowing, in running you get medals just for finishing. If you only got then for winning I would have a very empty sideboard.

Until next week, enjoy the sun and train hard.

It’s now coming up to a month since returning from the Marathon Des Sables and most of my injuries are healing well. It did not take me long to get over the mental touchier, I seem to have all but forgotten the bad times to the point I have registered to run it again in 2015 – it will be the 30^th Anniversary, roomers are rife that it will be something more challenging than a standard year, let’s hope not!!!

My quest to find out if I am any good at running/ endurance / triathlons is well underway although I think I maybe spreading myself a bit thin, not sure training to be fast over 5km has much benefit to Ultra Marathon Running so I am going to need to make a decision fairly quickly about the route to follow. In the next couple of weeks I have 2 x 5km races booked, I am racing in the Greenbelt relay (a team event running round the Capitals green belt), semi trail run of 13 miles on day one and the a short 9 mile road race on day two. I went out to practice the first leg on Sunday, I tend to get lost in races, so thought it a good Idea I know where I am going. It did not start too well, the easiest bit to navigate was a trail along the Jubilee River is slough – I  set off running in the wrong direction.  

I have also been trying to push my 5km time down on the treadmill, so fare I got it down to 15:42.0 after a couple of attempts, although It is not translating to road as it took me 17:28 in regents park and worried it will take me even longer around Battersea Park as part of an organised meet this evening; figures crossed I am not too slow.

Interestingly the part of my training I am enjoying the most is the one thing I have put off for the last 15 years out of fear I will be really bad – I used the excuse of small feet, but I am loving the swimming, I had my second lesson last Friday, I am not amazing, but surprised myself, I am not as bad as I thought I would be, still in the slow lane but I am pushing hard to learn as much as I can and hopping I can move up lanes fairly quickly – I will keep you posted whether I sink or swim.

With a few busy weeks racing, there will not be much time for going out, joy as I am trying to return back to my t-total life; it saves my liver and saves lots and lots of money.