Category: Uncategorized

I told myself when I embarked on this crazy journey that I would replace a session a week from my ultra plan with a cycle. I love to cycle, and a few running colleagues reassured me that this is a sensible and reasonable adaption to my plan. I have only just got round to getting back on the bike for the first time since this year’s RideLondon 100. It was great to do this on Wednesday! I enjoyed catching up with a couple of cycling friends and I had a rest from running whilst still giving the heart a bit of a workout! The Fens are windy! It’s hard work!

My weekly sports massage with Becky. What can I say? Amazing! I have the odd problem due to an injury from my 20s (tibial plateau fracture). I have metalwork in my left leg, and although it is not a major problem, as I age it aches now and then – and these days more often. The left legs feels somewhat weaker than the right and it feels like a bit of a passenger at times. Becky said she would give this some thought and do some work comparing strength and mobility on both sides. It appears that the difference between each leg is pretty much negligible, and we agree that we would continue with the usual rolling program of stretching, massage and release work. This week Becky worked on the quads, hamstrings and glutes. I left feeling lighter and she was left with chocolate! What a star Becky is! See Becky’s Facebook page below.

Becky’s reflexology and sports massage.

It is well-established that I cannot eat whilst running. I have to stop and eat, and I have worked out the kinds of foods I can stomach eating and running right away on. Someone had the idea of baby food pouches. I will be trying this next week! I hope it works, as the pouches are so convenient to carry!

On Thursday of this week I mixed it up a bit for the club session. One of the most experienced club members we have (if not the most experienced) told me that when he ran ultras he did not spend excessive time on long runs, he just got himself ‘race fit’ and then rocked up at ultras and took it easy, enjoying the day out! I will be balancing things a bit now: slow slow stuff and faster fast stuff! Back to the club session: I ran two long loops steady with a full ultra vest on; the third lap I sped things up having ditched the vest, and I finished with a steady fourth lap (four laps being the open option for the session). It all went well, and to be honest, I enjoyed the varied company that came with varying my speed over a session training.

Tomorrow should be Haverhill Parkrun. Long run on Sunday! More soon!

We have established that family time is vital. When family want to run with you, it’s a bonus! Today was the 2018 Ely Festive 5K, which my twin boys and I were signed up for. I have run this a few times, and I have always fancied a pop at it in anger, but the boys have always wanted to run it, as much for medals as for any other reason. My ultra plan said that I had to run a steady 18 miles today, so, my thinking was to run this with the boys and then knock out another 15 miles elsewhere!

In short, I loved running with my boys, and it was fabulous to see many people I know in the crowd, especially Ely Runners. Both lads got great times! The icing on the cake was seeing Lauren on the stage as we left, and knowing right away that she had got first lady!

Home, for soup and bread. Tinned chunky veg and chicken soup is really working for me: I can stomach the stuff, so I am sticking with what works. I packed the ultra vest and filled the water bottles along with a few snacks and I hopped in the car to get to the Burwell part of Devil’s Dyke. This is a favourite run of mine, and if I am getting bored, it works for me. I have always been absorbed by the beauty of this stretch: Burwell to Woodditton along Devil’s Dyke and back. In some parts of the run, the bank is around 30 feet high, and the sight of a buzzard swooping along the ditch below is incredible (this happened twice today). I have never ran this stretch without seeing something memorable. Some might find it strange that I don’t combine the sights with the sounds, but I have so many podcasts to catch up on, and this time I listened to a few episodes of Radio 4’s ‘In Our Time’: Pure joy.

I was able to slow the pace down a bit (at last), eat a little (at last) and drink enough: things are starting to work better on the longer runs, and I really must find more beautiful places to complete them – it seems to stop the mental battles! The Festive 5K and my Devil’s Dyke run equalled 18 miles. That’ll do.

I have longer runs ahead of me. I don’t care really, as my recovery from them is getting easier. I am enjoying the eating! Maybe this is just a particularly positive day!

More soon.

Like marathon training, with ultra training comes guilt. It can be quite intrusive on family time. It is something I feel aware of most of the time, and it has made me a little selfish and disciplined! More on that in a moment.

There are some things I won’t stop for ultra training, and Parkrun is one of them. Parkrun doesn’t always fit in with my training programme, and often I should be doing a longer run, back to back with the same on Sundays. I get round this by doing another run after Parkruns. Some of The Ely Runners Beginners graduates took part at Littleport Parkrun today; this was a total joy for me as I am sure it was for some of the other coaches. It was brilliant to see such superb performances, and more importantly, people smiling, and clearly hooked!

When I got home I went straight out with the ultra vest, complete with the new collapsible water bottles with straws: these were recommended to me, and they are superb! On pulling the straw up a fraction, you bite the end and take a suck of water. Simple! This is why I look so happy in the pic out at Roswell Pits! Anything that makes the whole effort simple and efficient makes me feel more relaxed.

It is important not to allow the family to be casualty of ultra training: off we all went for a huge lunch together, which was superb, followed by a rest, to let things settle, and then a swim with the boys. Back to the training being intrusive on family life; this is negated somewhat by making every effort to do family stuff, no matter how tired you are, and not letting children know how tired you are. I have to become as disciplined and selfish around making sure I do family stuff as I do around training. It’s not easy. Ultra training and family life are not good bedfellows, but it can be made to work. We had a superb swim, and my lads surprised me with their progress in the pool: we all cracked out a good few lengths before heading home. Then I fell asleep on the sofa for two hours: very rare for me!

Tomorrow is the Ely Festive 5K, which I can treat as training and family time as the boys want to run it. I will have to head out on my own afterwards! More on that soon!

Since running the marathon distance on Sunday, I have rested: quite a bit! This is rare for me!

I am a coach on the Ely Runners Beginners’ course, and I ran with our amazing beginners graduates on Monday evening: their final 5K run. They were all amazing, but I want to focus on Lauren a bit! Lauren has been a huge source of support and inspiration. She is way up there when it comes to Ely Runners who are generous with encouragement (and it is full of members who encourage you), no matter what your goal or level of ability. Lauren is a superb and highly entertaining running buddy! I owe her.

On Monday night, Lauren rocked up to coach with the beginners having hammered a half marathon the day before, and she really hammered it: she was seconds from her PB. Fair to say, walking was challenge for Lauren on Monday, let alone any running. Despite this, and like a hero, she ran with the beginners, and in doing so, surprised no-one. Why do I mention this, and how is it relevant to my training? Well, I found Lauren’s post-race wobbly legs most amusing, and at regular intervals I made sure I let her know it! But, I had forgotten that I tend to find the second day after a major effort much harder than the immediate day after. On the Tuesday morning, when I had to get down the stairs backwards and hobble around all day, I was haunted by slight guilt at having lightheartedly mocked Lauren! Sorry! I now am reminded of my own wobbly leg thing, and when it kicks in!

Check out Lauren’s amazing, award-winning blog! Lauren’s blog!

I have done some serious eating since Sunday! I mean Olympic eating! Let’s just leave that there!

On the Wednesday, I went to see Becky for my weekly sports massage: she is so good! We focussed on my new problem area: pins and needles in the lower calf/ upper Achilles area (both sides). Becky talked me through what she thought might be going on, and she applied a treatment based on her theory. She allowed me to boss Alexa around and I asked for The Cure! I had a superb sports massage and I gave Becky chocolate and hot chillies! Becky is ace!

Thursday night (tonight), I ran the notorious and enjoyable Ely Hills route, two laps, one with a nice new club member lady, and the second with Cara and Andrew. I so wish I had turned up with my ultra vest/ pack on, as I have felt that I should wear it for all training sessions, but I was a little concerned that I might look a Charlie! Kyle rocked up with his pack on looking the business! Another lesson learned: do what you want, it doesn’t matter how you look. It is all about adapting your training to meet your needs! By the way, Becky, no pins and needles!

Not sure what I will do tomorrow, but Saturday is Parkrun, and Sunday is the Ely Festive 5K (with my sons). I know I will have to run on my own after it to make up the miles!

More soon!

It was up early today, coffee, two rounds of brown toast with Marmite; I popped the full bladder into the ultra pack and added some tailwind endurance fuel to it (superb stuff), a bit of chocolate, a spare shirt and some wipes – and I set off.

This run started out well, and I paced myself to be just a little slower than usual (probably still a bit on the fast side though). I headed through Queen Adelaide and along the top of the river bank into Littleport; the view was gorgeous as there was bright summer sun, and I slowed down a bit to watch some fallow deer grazing in the fields below me. Once I ran through Padnal, I decided to try to eat (despite not being remotely hungry): as usual this didn’t work out, and yet again I spent ages thinking (and worrying) about nutrition. My plan today was to run back home (at the half marathon point) and eat, possibly soup and bread. I turned around once I hit the Ely Road and went back through Padnal, along the river, back into Ely and home. As luck would have it, my family were finishing lunch, which was fantastic as I did not want to stop for long and I knew there would be left overs. All three sons left boiled potatoes, which had gravy on them. I ate what felt like a good plate full, washed down with Fanta; and once the bladder was topped up and more tailwind added, I set off again.

For the second half of my run, which I had decided would be marathon distance, I decided not to stray as far as Littleport, but to stick to around and through Ely: all the same difference, what there was something a little intimidating to me about repeating the route from earlier. I headed down Kiln Lane, over the Iron Bridge and onto Quanea Drove (a club run route). Ely Runners will tell you that they can identify members from a distance by their running style. I spotted someone coming towards me from a long way off, and I knew it was Richard Hill. We exchanged greetings, and I moaned a fair old bit about my fuelling concerns. Richard’s advice was simple, if I struggle to snack on the go, physically stop and eat, and during the ultra, stop for a little longer and get something a bit more substantial onboard. This is a sound strategy actually, as I had done just that at home, and I had not suffered from having substantial food (not snacks) in my stomach. Note to self: take a few sweets on runs with me, rely on the tailwind, and stop fretting: I can stop and eat!

The rest of the run got to me a bit. By the time I passed another fellow Ely Runner (Ben), I was feeling low, and I am glad he had not seen me at mile 21 as I had a bit of a blub! I am not at all sure what the odd tear is about: it happens sometimes on very long runs and I don’t think it is about being unhappy as such, but the emotions tend to be a bit of a rollercoaster for me at the marathon distance. I have read around it a bit and the reasons offered for blubbing are numerous!

The last 4 miles were tough, and I noticed my pace drop. I was very pleased to get home and a little relived that everyone had gone out; this way they did not have to see the undignified ritual of me stripping sweaty gear off and chucking it in the washing machine and then hobbling to the bathroom. One long soak in a hot bath and it was time for one of the joys of distance running! Food! My wonderful wife left me a treat!

I have mixed feelings about having ran a marathon as a training run: in one way it is reassuring, as at the moment, if I am pushed and have not ran one the day before, I probably have a marathon in me most days. But on the day of the ultra, I have to find another 22 miles! Don’t go there!

More soon!

Monday was spent coaching at the Ely Runners Beginners’ course: more about that another time. It is too brilliant to not get a proper mention soon.

Yesterday was just too busy work-wise to even think about any training; and this is probably a good thing, as I actually feel rested today! After work I ate and gave things a little time to settle before setting off for a training session: a half marathon distance multi-terrain run around Ely with a head torch and full back pack. Oh, and my new trail running smock. Who can hark back to their childhood and remember when they got something new and had to carry it around/ wear it all the time/ take it to bed? That’s me.

I set off with a full back pack, the trainers I will run the ultra in, and the new jacket. The jacket is designed for the cold, as a shell against wind, and to be rain proof. Tonight is was mild, dry, and still! Hence I sweated like bast*&d! The jacket was soon packed away, and I carried on. I really enjoyed this run, and I knew I was going too quickly, but I decided, just this once, that I would not worry about it. This run took in some hills and some trail. I really enjoyed it and it actually felt good. I will slow it down next time!

A funny thing happened today, I decided to download some Ennio Morricone via Amazon Music: I selected random tracks and they came on through the headphones as I ran two meadows at the top Kiln Lane in Ely. Suddenly I was listening to a piece of music my Mother selected for my Grandfather’s funeral. I don’t always pay attention to things and have never known the title of the track (or looked it up). It hit me like a thunderbolt, and I had to slow right down as I was a bit tearful. It is called ‘Chi Mai’. Maybe the music my Grandfather liked is the route to me slowing down? Can blubbing help with ultra training.

I am eating like a man possessed! I like this side of ramping up the mileage!

More soon!

I know I have to slow down, and people who know their stuff are telling me to slow down, so, having signed up for the George Munday 10K ages ago, what better opportunity could there be to slow it down a bit, pace a fried and get bling! I told Sarah I would pace her at this event, so she, her hubby and fellow Ely Runner, Chris and I went to Wisbech!

Two minutes silence was observed at the start line, in honour of our war dead (this was a touching moment, and very quiet, with nothing to hear except a strong wind on the Fens). The whistle at the end of the two minutes signified so much more than the horn that then started the race.

Sarah set a great pace from the outset, and she tolerated me lecturing her on the pitfalls of carrying a water bottle over this distance. In the end I carried it for her. In short, she did brilliantly, and shaved two minutes off her PB for a 10K. Despite powerful Fenland winds hitting us right in the face, at no point did she stop or walk (many others did). Sarah is physically and mentally strong. Chris did well too, and I got a bit of a steady run in. Fellow Ely Runners, Gwen and Barry were at the sidelines with Chris to cheer Sarah in: nice touch!

My plan was to get home, eat and rest and get another 10K in, but then this happened. Don’t look at me like that… don’t judge me…

More soon.

I bloody love Parkrun. As I languished in bed this morning I went through that same Saturday mental battle: ‘you could lay in for once’ vs. ‘you know you will be glad you got up once you get there, and you will feel good about yourself once you have ran it’. How many of you go through that internal debate?

Parkrun won, and I headed off to Littleport, a superb Parkrun, set up by Ely Runners, James and Charlotte with input from a core team, many of whom are also Ely Runners. On the countdown, I set off on legs that have an almost permanent Blancmange-type feel to them. On completion of the first lap, fellow Ely Runner and Run Director, Jon Price shouted ‘come on, Justin, you really could put more effort in’; this had me smiling all the way to the far end of the course. I liked Littleport all the more today, as it was muddy and slippery: huge fun. All in all, superb, but at the back of my mind I knew I had more to do today.

My sons refused my offer of a swim at the local pool, opting instead to go out with their Mother and spend pocket-money. I ate and dossed about before filling the water bladder and chucking some food into the running pack. I decided I would take in a multi-terrain route, wearing the gear I intend to wear the ultra. I rained, it really rained, and I got wet in every place it is possible to get wet (I still do not have the right wind and rain-proof smock I need; but it is ordered). I am still struggling with pace. I am finding it very hard to slow down. My struggles with pace pale into insignificance when compared to my inability to snack on the go!

I wasn’t even able to eat a small packet of beef flavoured Space Raiders, a snack with no real nutritional value any way. Later on during my run, I managed to get some Haribo down me. I have some serious thinking to do.

Considering I have ran the half marathon distance today, three miles of which was ‘fast’, I feel OK today.

What have I learned?

1. I am still training too fast. I need to slow it right down. Lots!
2. I am feeling stronger. Longer distances at a slower pace is not so bad.
3. I must experiment with snacks and conquer this, quickly!
4. Marino wool socks are amazing, wet but warm feet! What witchcraft is this?
5. The very lowest part of my calfs hurt. I need to discus this with Becky! Nothing else hurts right now!

I have the George Munday 10K tomorrow. How can I make this a training opportunity? We shall see.

There is a lady who lives in Ely who is getting in her practice hours whilst studying at The North London School of Sports Massage. She and I had a chat about me having a weekly session, and she seemed really keen as she is interested in how things might change for me in the weeks leading up to the ultra. As well as sports massage, she practices foot, facial and sports reflexology. Take a look at her Facebook Page: she is very good.

Becky’s sports massage and reflexology.

I met with Becky yesterday and we discussed the ultra, my slight increase in miles, and what this has done to my legs and lower back. Becky let me listen to a bit of Johnny Cash while she got to work on the quads and hamstrings (and a little work on the lower back). Becky has a science background, and a PhD in an anatomy-related subject (it sounded a bit technical to me). It is clear she knows her stuff, and I liked the way she explained things to me during the treatment session. Until Becky qualifies, she can’t charge, but I know she likes that high cocoa percentage chocolate; so I went bearing a gift! I am chuffed to bits that Becky is happy to see me once a week to just beyond the ultra. Do look her up: she is good!

I thought I would don my COACH shirt at last night’s Ely Runners session, and spend some time supporting the club juniors. I was labouring under the misapprehension that this might lead to an easy run, something my legs really needed after an increase in mileage and a sports massage. I think the head coach also knew I was not in for an easy run, as he had a bit of a twinkle in his eye as he suggested I head out with him, another coach and four speedy-looking juniors. I was shown a new route, which might be useful for the beginners’ courses I am involved in, and I was allocated a young lady (aged 12) to shadow as she ran the route (four loops and back). I was fine with the junior I ran with, and any other time (when I had not increased my mileage), I would have been OK with her sprint finish; but not last night! She went off like a rocket over the last 100m or so. It really was very impressive.

What have I learned from all of this in terms of the ultra? I must accept that I have to run on tired legs and embrace the discomfort; I must respect the juniors even more than I already do: they are amazing; I need to do more in terms of strength and conditioning.

A rest tomorrow and then Parkrun! Long run on Sunday (including the George Munday 10K)? More soon!