Skip to main content

The Countdown has Started.....

With just 4 days to go until my first 100km race for over 3 years, the nerves and excitement are setting in, as well as the paranoia! I'm convinced I'm starting with a cold, muscles ache where they shouldn't do, and the couple of easy runs I've done this week, I've felt stiff, tired and sluggish. This is what tapering does to you - it's hard both physically and mentally, but hopefully come Sunday, all will be well and I'll have a good race.

I've got my race plan all set out having spoken to coach Norman earlier this week. He won't be there at the weekend, but thankfully I'll have my most devoted fan there with me - none other than my fantastic partner Andy who is so supportive and patient when I decide to do these long races. He never complains, and takes all the abuse from me when I start to get tired, but he's always there at the end to either congratulate or console me. I couldn't do it without him - so thank you Andy!

I finish work tomorrow lunchtime and then the preparation can start - labelling bottles, mixing drinks, planning out my nutrition for the race, making sure I have vaseline and plasters for the inevitable blisters, supply of pain killers, and then the most important thing - proudly getting my England kit out of the wardrobe and making sure it's all washed and ironed ready to wear for Sunday.

I really am looking forward to the run and just hope that all the hard work over the past few months pays off and I get the result I want.

Comments

  1. Unknown23 March 2011 at 15:14

    To get to this stage is an achievement to be proud of, so I hope you really do manage to enjoy the race and finish with the kind of time you deserve after all your hard work.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Crown King Scramble 50km

The Crown King Scramble 50km was everything I expected it to be, and more. With great organisation, a tough course, outstanding scenery and lots of jolly good fun - and the fact that I finished soaking wet with sweat with salt stains across my face and all over my clothes, covered in dust and dirt from head to toe, absolutely starving and in desperate need of an ice cold beer, with tired, heavy legs but a big smile on my face - they were all sure signs of a damn good race. The race started at 6am alongside the shores of Lake Pleasant just as the sun was about to pop its head above the nearby mountains. The air was still quite cool although it was certain to warm up as the morning went along, with temperatures well in to the mid 80's expected later on in the day. The atmosphere at the start was a mixture of nervous excitement and anticipation as we all knew what lay ahead - 50km or 31 miles of uphill running, climbing from around 1500 ft at Lake Pleasant to nearly 6000 ft in...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tackling the Iron Horse Ultra - 100-miles :)

Training leading into the Iron Horse Ultra had gone well, and even though I knew that getting close to my course record of 21 hours was quite ambitious, I honestly thought that I would be able to do if I had a good day But those of us that are runners will know that whilst running is a physical sport, there is also a mental element to running well, especially when it comes to racing those longer distances. It was the mental side that let me down this time, although it wasn't during the race that I struggled but rather the weeks leading up the race itself, and in hindsight the signs were there that I wasn't going to be able to perform quite as well as I was hoping.  Let me explain .... I like to think that for the most part, I am a good person, and I treat people with the respect that they deserve. Although some things do wind me up in life, I tend to be very laid back and easy going, taking things in my stride and trying not to make a big fuss about things. I'm also an intr...
1 comment
Read more

Bar-Ka-Koo Ultra

Shortly after the Backyard Ultra, a friend posted a link to a trail race that would be taking place at Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area, with the option of competing in the solo 55km race or as a member of a relay team. Unlike all other running events this year, this would be an in-person race capped at 100 runners, and it would strictly follow Covid protocols and local public health guidelines, to ensure the event could still go ahead safely.  I desperately wanted to do the race but I wasn't sure whether I would be fully recovered from the BYU to be running a tough and hilly 55k trail race. It would also be taking place towards the end of November which increased the liklihood of freezing temperatures and deep snow which was sure to make things even more challenging. Not one to shy away from a challenge, I found myself signing up and started to look forward to the Bar-Ka-Koo Ultra and Relay :) In the days leading up to the race, we had a fair old dump of snow, and most of my run...
Post a Comment
Read more