This has been a high mileage week, as planned. Started off with the Fleetwood half marathon which I deliberately ran slowly - about 2 minutes per mile slower than usual for 2 reasons. Firstly I am training using a heart rate monitor keeping my heart rate between 130 and 140,; this will give me a good base level of endurance fitness. Secondly I was using the "race" as the first part of a long run and ran home making a total distance of just over 24 miles. Recovered well and managed to carry on with the rest of my training programme that week. Saturday, however, was a real effort. Not sure if that was the effect of the high mileage week - 70 miles in total, the rather muggy weather, the fact that I was running with a back pack for only the second time or the curry and red wine on Friday night - probably a combination of all of these!
That's where the mental training came in. It would have been very easy to cut that run short and call it a day. However, that won't be possible half way through the 50 mile day in the Sahara, unless I don't finish the whole event which is not part of my plan. I am sure there will be times when I will wonder why I am doing it and will want to stop, so mentally difficult days like yesterday when I have to push myself to continue are all part of the mental toughness that will be needed.
Looking forward to a low mileage week and actually played 9 holes of golf and haven't run today. Need to have this week to recharge batteries as am planning two high mileage running events on the next two Sundays - more in future blogs.
Sunday 31 August 2008
Monday 25 August 2008
Sponsorship
My sponsorship page is now up and running through Just Giving. Please click on the link on the left side of this blog and you can donate on line with the bonus of an additional 28% added if you are a tax payer!
I have been promised sponsorship by one friend of a days' wages! Just imagine how much could be raised if everyone I knew was able to sponsor one days' wages. Has got me thinking about other ideas! How about -
£1 for every mile I will do in training - I would imagine I will do 2000 miles between now and the event, so maybe 10p or 20p would be more appropriate
OR
sponsor me for the amount I will spend on training shoes (don't worry I will be paying for them myself!) - as my shoes are changed after approximately 300 miles that's 5 pairs at £55 each
OR
50 p or £1 for every mile of the event
but whatever you decide, and however much, please just sponsor me because your money, no matter how small or large, will make a big difference.
I have been promised sponsorship by one friend of a days' wages! Just imagine how much could be raised if everyone I knew was able to sponsor one days' wages. Has got me thinking about other ideas! How about -
£1 for every mile I will do in training - I would imagine I will do 2000 miles between now and the event, so maybe 10p or 20p would be more appropriate
OR
sponsor me for the amount I will spend on training shoes (don't worry I will be paying for them myself!) - as my shoes are changed after approximately 300 miles that's 5 pairs at £55 each
OR
50 p or £1 for every mile of the event
but whatever you decide, and however much, please just sponsor me because your money, no matter how small or large, will make a big difference.
Saturday 9 August 2008
TREADMILL BOREDOM
This weeks training ended today with a 14 mile endurance paced run. Got up and ready to set off this morning when the skies opened with torrential rain. Decided to wait for it to ease off - but it didn't - may have some sand storms in Sahara but no rain like this fortunately. Eventually decided to run on my treadmill. I find this so boring and was tempted to stop more than once but managed to do the planned 14 miles - the furthest I have ever run on a treadmill in one go.
Completed the planned 40 miles this week - a deliberately relatively low mileage week! Well it is in comparison with 65 miles last week. The plan is to reduce the miles every 4th week and then increase over the next 3 weeks so that in the final week I am running further than in my last week of the previous 4 week cycle. So that means 50 miles this week, 60 miles next week and then 70 miles before dropping back to 40 miles. Hopefully may help to reduce the risk of injuries.
The bag which I am planning to run with arrived this week. A Raidlight Sac Runner. It seems very small if it's going to hold everything I need for a week. It's a 30 litre capacity bag. I may regret that in April when it's full and I'm trying to run with it in the Sahara Desert! Waiting for gaiters to arrive - they hopefully will keep the sand out of my trainers and minimise the inevitable blisters. It's starting to seem a bit more real as kit starts to be ordered.
Completed the planned 40 miles this week - a deliberately relatively low mileage week! Well it is in comparison with 65 miles last week. The plan is to reduce the miles every 4th week and then increase over the next 3 weeks so that in the final week I am running further than in my last week of the previous 4 week cycle. So that means 50 miles this week, 60 miles next week and then 70 miles before dropping back to 40 miles. Hopefully may help to reduce the risk of injuries.
The bag which I am planning to run with arrived this week. A Raidlight Sac Runner. It seems very small if it's going to hold everything I need for a week. It's a 30 litre capacity bag. I may regret that in April when it's full and I'm trying to run with it in the Sahara Desert! Waiting for gaiters to arrive - they hopefully will keep the sand out of my trainers and minimise the inevitable blisters. It's starting to seem a bit more real as kit starts to be ordered.
Monday 4 August 2008
Marathon des Sables
This is my first entry to my blog which will outline my plans and training for my next "challenge". In March 2009 I will be taking part in the Marathon des Sables. For the uninitiated this is described as the toughest foot race on earth! It is a multi day (6 /7 days) event, covering a distance of 150 miles in the Sahara Desert. (The longest run is a 50 mile day!) I will need to take and carry all that I need to survive - water is provided each day and a tent is also provided each night. The temperatures will be anything from 40 to 50 deg. C during the day but drop to about 5 deg. C at night.
For those of you who know me and think this is the final proof that I have completely lost the plot, I would point out that I will be one of about 800 competitors, and there is a waiting list to take part! And lots of people thought I was mad when I took part in the Inaugural Antarctic Ice Marathon - but I had an amazing time which I will never forget.
In that event I raised £30,000 for Cancer Research UK. On this occasion I have decided to raise money for a much smaller charity. "Working for the Children of Watamu" is a charity set up by Sue and David Hayward in my home town of Blackpool. They have already built three schools in this Kenyan village and are now starting their Happy House Project to provide accommodation for 76 children who have lost both parents to problems such as malaria, HIV and TB.
I have set myself a target of £15,000 and if I raise this then all the essential equipment and stock will be provided.
I will be posting over the next few days more details of how you can sponsor me and what your money can buy (for example £100 will pay for a bunk bed, £20 for a mosquito net and £1 for a chicken). I will also provide links to the web site for "Working for the Children of Watamu, my charity giving page in justgiving.com and the web site for the Marathon des Sables event.
In future blogs I will bore you with details of my training, but also preparation in relationship to clothing, food (dried packets) etc. I will also try to keep a regular update of how the sponsorship is going.
For those of you who know me and think this is the final proof that I have completely lost the plot, I would point out that I will be one of about 800 competitors, and there is a waiting list to take part! And lots of people thought I was mad when I took part in the Inaugural Antarctic Ice Marathon - but I had an amazing time which I will never forget.
In that event I raised £30,000 for Cancer Research UK. On this occasion I have decided to raise money for a much smaller charity. "Working for the Children of Watamu" is a charity set up by Sue and David Hayward in my home town of Blackpool. They have already built three schools in this Kenyan village and are now starting their Happy House Project to provide accommodation for 76 children who have lost both parents to problems such as malaria, HIV and TB.
I have set myself a target of £15,000 and if I raise this then all the essential equipment and stock will be provided.
I will be posting over the next few days more details of how you can sponsor me and what your money can buy (for example £100 will pay for a bunk bed, £20 for a mosquito net and £1 for a chicken). I will also provide links to the web site for "Working for the Children of Watamu, my charity giving page in justgiving.com and the web site for the Marathon des Sables event.
In future blogs I will bore you with details of my training, but also preparation in relationship to clothing, food (dried packets) etc. I will also try to keep a regular update of how the sponsorship is going.
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