Up and running

Ok, so it induced a migraine but I am up and running and on my way to the 2011 UTMB. 20 minutes on a treadmill isn't exactly tough going but my foot felt fine, no pain during or after, which I am delighted about. I'll look to gradualy add more k's over the next few weeks before I hopefully get round to competing in one of the 5 races I enterred late last year. I am certainly carrying a few more pounds than I was at the beginning of the year so I'll need to do something about that as well. The ferrero rocher training plan that I have been on has been tough, but somebody had to do it, there were times when I didn't want another chocolate, but I manned up and took another down. Sometimes I had to have another cup of tea just to stomach its nutty goodness. Now however, it's time to look forwards at the training I have to gear up to over the next 6 months.

Next weekend is the Hong Kong island King of the Hills which may have come too soon for me (or too late some might argue, by about ten years), however, I should be able to dawdle around the half marathon and aim to complete the full one on the final race of the season, scheduled for the 6th March. It'll be tough but I had been doing plenty of exercise up until the new year when I fractured the foot, so hopefully there is at least some residual fitness there. I am also going to look for a 100k race around May/June time to help me focus on the training required to complete the hundred miler in late August, but I don't have any ideas as yet.

As I mentioned briefly, I somehow managed to give myself a migraine with my little jog yesterday. I'm not sure if it was a result of the 4 large whiskeys I had on Friday night or the sheer delirium of being able to jog again, but it's always a rather unpleasant feeling when I pick one of these up. I lose sight in my right eye and then start to slur before failing completely to string together sentences. I'd met up with a mate of mine who comented; as I stumbled towards him, slurring my words, bumping into random objects, that he couldn't tell the difference. A little unfair I thought, but being as we spend most of our time accompanied by a decent bottle of vino or several pints of the ambar nectar, I could sort of see his point.

A side effect of the migraine yesterday was sober attendance at Dave the Vets BBQ this afternoon. I'm not one for excessive consumption on a Sunday, but I would normally have a few beers to oil the wheels. A social lubricant if you will. Today made me realise how little fun I am when sober. It's quite a tough realisation to have when you're 31, to realise that you're a little dull, but it is one I have to accept I guess. I am fortunate that a few of them are in full flow preparing for Ironman New Zealand. From what I read we shouldn't really speak with each other, let alone be friends; them with their shiny kit and shaved limbs, me with my smelly muddy kit and body hair (coiffed I might add). Two different breeds and yet there we were chatting merrily about our sporting differences. It's nice that people from such different cultures can get along...

Now that I can start to jog again I've decided to get a plan put together by a coach so I'll outline that in future blogs, but I'll ease myself back into the running. I intend to continue on the stationary bike a fair bit over the next few weeks so as not to over work the foot. I think I may have become slightly attached to the stationary bike. Peddalling along, never getting anywhere, there's something quite poetic about it all. But it's probably not going to get me around the alps in one piece, so I'll gradually incorporate more and more running into my schedule.

In anticipation of my running getting back into full swing, I bought myself some stupidly expensive trainers this week. I've decided to give the Newtons a go as they mimic the barefot motion whilst providing plenty of support. I've received mixed reviews as apparently they are really focused on making good runners better. We'll see what sort of impact they have on a crap runner. Hopefully they don't exaccerbate trends and make me 'crapper'. Not something I have ever needed help with. The Newtons have another downside that I am not sure I can overcome. They are the ugliest trainers I have ever seen. Some kind of psychedelic fluro green monstrocity. I have to be honest and say I kind of liked them. However, my girlfriend told me that if she had made the mistake of marrying me, she would rectify this, purely for me for wearing them in public. Let's just say I'll be going running very eary in the morning. So a quick warning, should any really slow UFO's be sighted over Hong Kong, it's just me, getting back into the swing.

For now I am just excited to be able to run again and start properly on my journey towards the Alps in August. It's going to be awesome.

Training summary:

February 6th- Run 20 minutes on a treadmill, 180k on the stationary bike.

I can hear the Apls shuddering in fear and anticipation at rumours I may be running... or should that be participating.

2011 races and a fractured foot

My 2011 new years resolution is to dominate the global ultra scene, so I have created this blog to chart my training progress over the next seven months as I aim for my first 100 miler. I'll be aiming to complete one of either the ultra trail du mont blanc (UTMB to all of us in the know) or the Leadville Trail 100 in the Colorado Rockies.

Should anyone actually read this, you'll understand from the title of this blog that it is not 100% serious, for my quest is to be the greatest blogger in the ultra world as opposed to runner. As talent is absent, humour has to be in abundance. If I don't laugh at myself, others will do it for me. The title of this blog is in reference to two of the greatest ultramarathoners in the world, Dean Karnazes (for promoting the sport) and Tony Krupicka (for being my hero in the sport). Check out their blogs if you want an understanding of the level of training required to be at the top. Keep reading if you want to understand the level of training required to be at the bottom.

The facts of the matter are that I am a bit shit at running. I spent the majority of the last race I did (2010's Atacama Crossing) residing in the medical tent each evening, struggling to rehydrate after a serious bout of the runs (depositing on the desert as opposed to traversing across it unfortunately). It was passing through the eye of a needle. Despite this, I am back for more. My dad pased away three months ago and to help myself keep on keeping on, and to support a couple of chariddies I've decided to tackle one of the toughest ultra experiences, the 100 miler. Not only that, I am determined to run the bugger, even if it kills me. Which it might.

2011 started brilliantly, a bloody great hangover, a 20k hike with the girlfriend and then I fractured my ankle. Forgetting I am a bit fat and that I am in fact not Tony Krupicka or a tarahumarra indian, I bough a pair of New Balance MT101's as a nod towards the minimalist movement sweeping the globe. Essentially the argument is that modern trainers were created by the devil himself and you will go to hell if you wear them, as well as possibly destroy the world. At least I think that is what I read in 'born to run'. Great book, but perhaps a little sensationalist. Anyway, I went on a hike to test them out. I have to say, very comfortable until I hit a rock and fractured my ankle. Very comfortable. Lesson number one learned. I am not an ultrarunner, in fact, technically, by body weight I am two. So I shall go back to chunky supported trainers and accept that I am going to hell.

As I train for the run and generally live the life in Hong Kong, I'll aim to post on here fairly often. The focus will be broad and varied, the training will be limited, the fun will be had and most importantly of all, the humour will never be lost.

Happy New Year, good will to all men (Down with the minimalist movement, bring me padding and support).