I've ramped the long runs up in distance over the last month and a half to make sure I'm spending 6-8 hours on my feet and I can feel myself getting stronger. With UTMB only 11 days off I am starting to get pretty excited (see 'Scared' in the Oxford Dictionary, alternatively 'terrified') about the whole idea. One hundred and sixty sixty kilometers. One hundred and sixty six kilometers. One hundred and sixty six kilometers. Yep, doesn't matter how many times I say it, whether I whisper or shout. It still sounds like a bloody long way. As I've said repeatedly before, the furthest I've travelled in one go was 100k. So I'll need to travel two thirds of that again. It's terrifying actually. Bloody terrifiying. I have a confession to make about my long runs. I have not been finishing these runs in good shape. Admittedly Hong Kong is bloody hot with high humidity and this does make a difference to what you can manage, but 6 hours on my feet feels easily enough. I loose so much fluid that it takes me until Wednesday to recover. A few weeks back I drank 6 litres following the run and still didn't pee that day. It really cannot be healthy. So I'm thinking more and more that I have massively overstretched myself. Not good with only 11 days of rigorous taper to go.
So I am scared. But not as scared as I was when I passed a guy in speedo's hiking the dragons back (that isn't slang of any kind). Now you do see some sights in Hong Kong out on the trails. But the guy in Montrails, white socks and speedos, nothing else, was a step above the norm and had me reeling in shock and awe. But true humiliation came when he overtook me. In my defence I completely blew up, 44k into a 58k long run/ hike (My longest effort in preparation for UTMB). I tend to get beaten by most people when racing trails, but I think being overtaken by a guy only wearing speedos was a new low. I'm not sure it will ever be beaten. It was such an assault on the senses I think it contributed towards a minor breakdown. Even more surprising was that speedo guy was accompanied by his wife. More surprising still was that he had a wife! Clearly she is not regulating his behaviour, and didn't seem embarrassed in the slightest by his wares. Despite dressing in a normal manner herself.
It's not just been speedo based challenges of late either. I've been spending my long runs out in the new territories along the Macclehose trail. Famous for the Hong Kong Trailwalker race each November, the macclehose has some great hills to train on. Traditionally Stage 6 has a big tribe? school? group? party? troupe (?) of monkeys.Actually a group of monkeys is referred to as a mission or a tribe. And there are a lot of the little buggers in Hong Kong. Long and short tail macaques apparently. All I know is that the big males do not appreciate my trail style and seem to take great offence at my presence. They were more upset than 'the Feet' when he first saw my running style. Perhaps I got them wrong and actually they were just concerned that my left hand was still rigid and my right foot was slapping down, They were most likely just taking the piss monkey style. Actually it was quite scary and I had planet of the apes style visions running through my mind of being pulled apart limb from limb. But after a little backing down on my part they let me pass. Well... I say backing down, but actually Black Diamond Z Poles have more than one use. I would imagine the lead monkey is still having trouble sitting without a rubber ring. Although if the park authority were to question me it would be full denial.
So, this final week before the girlfriend and I depart for Europe has seen the usual frenzy of gear buying that I always find so comforting before a major race. A couple of weeks before the start I always develop a genuine belief that somehow buying the latest gadgets makes up for me being a crap runner of limited athletic ability. Somehow the latest compression gear will make up for being 10kg's over weight. The lightest waterproofs will stop me from feeling the ill effects of the big mac I just ate. The fact I now have 2 pairs of Salomon S Lab 4's will somehow mean I won't develop blisters over the course of 100 miles. It's all nonsense. I know that. But somehow I feel better. it's the racing equivalence of comfort food. That somehow if I can't be 15kgs lighter, being 500 US dollars lighter makes up for it.
So it's the story of my racing life repeating itself. Moderate to shite training. All the gear. Very little in the way of idea. The good thing is you'll be able to follow the race through live updates on facebook and twitter. I think they only go in to time and race position. So it should be pretty easy to follow. 'Slow and last' should just about do it. But hopefully I'll get to the finish because I am running for Charideeeee.
On a more serious and emotive note, I am doing this race for charity. You can find the link below. My dad died of cancer in 2010, almost a year to the day when I start UTMB (4 days later i.e. sometime around when search and rescue finds me in the alps blowing on my little whistle). And I would like to make an impact on the cancer ward where he was treated before his death. The charidee e-mail goes out to friends , family and coworkers tomorrow but if anyone would like to contribute or indeed hear a bit more:
http://www.justgiving.com/tom-anderson-dad-/
I'll never get over the loss, but hopefully in my own way, I will make a small difference and through doing something that I love (at least for the first 60k) will remember him in a way that feels fitting. I'll also be doing that with a bottle of wine after the event, but more of that later. For now the training is finished.
Race report to follow.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The bells, the bells
Right, my blogging seems to have suffered in recent months due to excessive workload and a bit of running thrown in for good measure. Apart from my continuing fear of snakes and general overweight bearing the training has been progressing nicely.
I finally got myself a coach for the running, one of HK's better trail runners, to be known as 'the feet' from here on in. We've had 4 sessions so far and it's been an interesting revelation just how easy I've previously been training. Either that or the feet is actually trying to kill me. I thought we were friends. Our first session was a nice 25k jaunt along half of the Hong Kong trail. Generally downhill in elevation but with a couple of nice little hills along the way. As we set off, the Feet dropped in behind me to observe my (lack of) style. His first observations 'why is your right foot slapping?' and 'your left arm sort of sticks out like this'. He then preceded to run down the trail in front of me, looking a little like the hunch back of notre dam. Now I know I'm not a silky smooth runner, more hippo in style than wolf, but frankly I was a little offended. However, I decided to man up and Quasi Mo Do'd off down the trail after the feet. Ego in tatters.
The next two sessions were fantastic, minus the constant calls of 'stop slapping your feet down, run like you're on rice paper grasshopper!' or 'relax the shoulders, what are your arms doing now?!'. But again I manned up and took it all in. There's a surprising amount of technique involved in running, of which I have mastered next to none, so it's nice to get an ongoing commentary on how to improve. However hurtful. Sensei Feet's theory that us trail runners are donkeys compared to the tracks race horses fits kind of well with me, although Donkeys everywhere may be mildly offended at the comparison. I'd started to feel that this donkey has been making real progress, despite the heat and humidity here. Until Thursday's session.
Essentially it was a mix of running, burpees, squats, hil sprints, stairs, plyometrics and other exercises that my body did not recognise and could not cope with. From about 20 minutes into the session I couldn't feel my legs and as we progressed onto pull up type things my arms quickly followed suit. By the end of the session, one and a half hours later I felt a little like someone had attached my head to a pile of jelly. I have to admit I no longer see the feet as a friend. In fact I could hardly see at all, the tears were really hampering my vision! I need to confess here that he's got a few years on me, but it helped me to recognise my genetic ability as I slogged up a 10 minute stair climb, muttering under my breath and he danced alongside me looking slightly bored by my lack of progress, merrily chatting away. 'One of my clients once called me a w**nker when I made them walk up here, but you'd never do that would you mate'... 'Sorry w**nker?' I thought, whilst shouting brightly 'of course not coach!'. It was truly one of the hardest sessions I've done (not helped by a 19k run around the peak the night before- coach has also trained me that the first rule of ultras it to get your excuses in early. In some areas I am a fast learner). It's the first time I've wanted to vomit since my last 6am finish in Wan Chai and has taken 2 days for me to recover. But it'll all be worth it in the end I am sure. I have to say having a coach is making a real difference so for anyone starting out, I recommend the feet, as long as you don't mind simulating death whilst being talked to in a rather chirpy manner.
Distance wise, I've been getting in 80-100k a week so feeling ok, but I'm now very aware how slow I am compared to the 'proper runners' as I like to call them. Very, very slow.
One real positive is that I have found some effective trail shoes for the big lads. I'll be mincing around the Alps in my sparkly red Salomon S Lab 4's this August and I've bought some Black Diamond Ultra Z Poles, which are amazingly light. Not sure how long they'll last with 100kg of altitude induced asthma attack leaning on them, but they are also very shiny so I like them a lot. I'm pretty much a trail crow when it comes to kit. The brighter and shinier the better. And the happier I become, I think I'm pretty much a triathlete when it comes to kit. It makes me a bit ashamed. I'm still thinking what t-shirt to wear as I continue to have nipple related issues on my longest runs, even with liberal amounts of body glide applied. I'm looking for the silkiest t-shirt available for the hundred miler. Nothing to do with the nips. I just like silky shirts. Probably go for a bit of North Face action. Combined with the SLABS, I'll pretty much be an ultra pimp. I'm kind of hoping the Salomon effect may help me out a little as their runners seem to be cleaning up the big 100's so far this year. They may look slightly wrong in their white n tight suits, but they sure are fast. I just look wrong. Hey ho, onwards and upwards.
I finally got myself a coach for the running, one of HK's better trail runners, to be known as 'the feet' from here on in. We've had 4 sessions so far and it's been an interesting revelation just how easy I've previously been training. Either that or the feet is actually trying to kill me. I thought we were friends. Our first session was a nice 25k jaunt along half of the Hong Kong trail. Generally downhill in elevation but with a couple of nice little hills along the way. As we set off, the Feet dropped in behind me to observe my (lack of) style. His first observations 'why is your right foot slapping?' and 'your left arm sort of sticks out like this'. He then preceded to run down the trail in front of me, looking a little like the hunch back of notre dam. Now I know I'm not a silky smooth runner, more hippo in style than wolf, but frankly I was a little offended. However, I decided to man up and Quasi Mo Do'd off down the trail after the feet. Ego in tatters.
The next two sessions were fantastic, minus the constant calls of 'stop slapping your feet down, run like you're on rice paper grasshopper!' or 'relax the shoulders, what are your arms doing now?!'. But again I manned up and took it all in. There's a surprising amount of technique involved in running, of which I have mastered next to none, so it's nice to get an ongoing commentary on how to improve. However hurtful. Sensei Feet's theory that us trail runners are donkeys compared to the tracks race horses fits kind of well with me, although Donkeys everywhere may be mildly offended at the comparison. I'd started to feel that this donkey has been making real progress, despite the heat and humidity here. Until Thursday's session.
Essentially it was a mix of running, burpees, squats, hil sprints, stairs, plyometrics and other exercises that my body did not recognise and could not cope with. From about 20 minutes into the session I couldn't feel my legs and as we progressed onto pull up type things my arms quickly followed suit. By the end of the session, one and a half hours later I felt a little like someone had attached my head to a pile of jelly. I have to admit I no longer see the feet as a friend. In fact I could hardly see at all, the tears were really hampering my vision! I need to confess here that he's got a few years on me, but it helped me to recognise my genetic ability as I slogged up a 10 minute stair climb, muttering under my breath and he danced alongside me looking slightly bored by my lack of progress, merrily chatting away. 'One of my clients once called me a w**nker when I made them walk up here, but you'd never do that would you mate'... 'Sorry w**nker?' I thought, whilst shouting brightly 'of course not coach!'. It was truly one of the hardest sessions I've done (not helped by a 19k run around the peak the night before- coach has also trained me that the first rule of ultras it to get your excuses in early. In some areas I am a fast learner). It's the first time I've wanted to vomit since my last 6am finish in Wan Chai and has taken 2 days for me to recover. But it'll all be worth it in the end I am sure. I have to say having a coach is making a real difference so for anyone starting out, I recommend the feet, as long as you don't mind simulating death whilst being talked to in a rather chirpy manner.
Distance wise, I've been getting in 80-100k a week so feeling ok, but I'm now very aware how slow I am compared to the 'proper runners' as I like to call them. Very, very slow.
One real positive is that I have found some effective trail shoes for the big lads. I'll be mincing around the Alps in my sparkly red Salomon S Lab 4's this August and I've bought some Black Diamond Ultra Z Poles, which are amazingly light. Not sure how long they'll last with 100kg of altitude induced asthma attack leaning on them, but they are also very shiny so I like them a lot. I'm pretty much a trail crow when it comes to kit. The brighter and shinier the better. And the happier I become, I think I'm pretty much a triathlete when it comes to kit. It makes me a bit ashamed. I'm still thinking what t-shirt to wear as I continue to have nipple related issues on my longest runs, even with liberal amounts of body glide applied. I'm looking for the silkiest t-shirt available for the hundred miler. Nothing to do with the nips. I just like silky shirts. Probably go for a bit of North Face action. Combined with the SLABS, I'll pretty much be an ultra pimp. I'm kind of hoping the Salomon effect may help me out a little as their runners seem to be cleaning up the big 100's so far this year. They may look slightly wrong in their white n tight suits, but they sure are fast. I just look wrong. Hey ho, onwards and upwards.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Been a while
It's been a while since I mustered a blog, between work and getting out running I don't seem to have had the time to sit down and crack one out. A blog that is. The training is going remarkably well, I've managed back to back longer runs for the last 4 weekends, despite some cracking thunderstorms doing their best to disrupt my progress and each week I've managed at least 4 runs during the week. I'm up to between 80 and 100k most weeks at the moment and I've got one eye on my diet in order to make defying gravity around the alps a tad easier. Apparently for every kilo you lose you save minutes from your Marathon time. As a former fat lad if this is true I'll be in deficit by the time UTMB comes around. Completing it in minus half an hour. Beat that Jornet.
As the heat and humidity have truly landed for the Summerr I've been experimenting with a variety of kit and hydration/ food combos as I start to think about the event in August. I tried Newton shoes, which are crap when wet and humid. The nature of the design means the shoe rocks you forward, and as it gets wetter and you hit steep down hills, the inner sole slides right down to the front of the shoe crushing your toes. A design fault if ever there was one for a trail shoe. There aren't that many flat dry trail races that I can think of. Also, the forefoot features their patented lugs to aid a more natural running style. Except on trails again. I found that the lugs feel unbalanced and when I hit roots of rocks tended to be unstable. Finally, the last point of my 'big fat sweaty lads can't wear Newton trail shoes' analysis. The lugs actually make the really steep up hills steeper. Weird, but unless you're running, which I cannot manage on HK's biggest hills (think 500-1000 steps), you actually have to overcome the lugs as well as the gradient. Sod that.
I think I've settled on 2XU shorts for the race but nothing else. They are a bit of a tri brand which is slightly against my religion, but they do seem to help me avoid the dreaded chaffing. As for socks and t-shirts etc I haven't found anything that works yet. Every shirt I try turns into a cheese grater when wet leaving me with nips like minced beef. I used to have a nice silky thin North Face one that worked so going to see if I can track one down. I'm also still looking for a decent small pack that has accessible side pockets for my gels, although I'm considering a strategy I've read about and dissolving them in my drink instead, we'll see. Anyway, however much I read there doesn't seem to be any holy grail of kit. Only of training, do a lot.
I'm also not quite sure what to do about my glasses. I got caught in one of Hong Kong's 'Amber' rain storms at the weekend. It warrants a warning on the local Observatory website that low lands are prone to flooding, there may be landslides and a bit of thunder etc. They need to add a new sentence to their warning that for those who wear glasses you can't see your own nose. Seriously, between the fogging effect of the humidity and the heaviness of the rain I couldn't see a thing. I think it may warrant registering as a disability, maybe I'll get free parking. I was splashing down the trail just waiting to hit a root and go over the edge. And yet I loved it. Running in the rain is so much more pleasurable than running in the humidity.
I know I bang on about it, but I'm getting through 4.5 litres every 25 or so K. It's impossible to stay hydrated but the drinks that seem to work best are those with the 4:1 ratio. Some protein as well as Carb. I'm settling on the accelerade at the moment. The pure carb drinks seem to give me a bit of tummy trouble. Does a Nottheultramarathon man sh1t on the trail. It appears so, especially when fueling on gatorade and gels. Suddenly. Violently. On occassion without warning. How is it that whenever you take a dump in the open that there is always, without fail, a full family and dog coming around the corner. Honestly, you can go ages without seeing people when the weather is bad, but take a dump and several families will appear at once as if from nowhere. I think they coordinate somehow. It makes you feel surprisingly vulnerable when you've got your arse hanging out.
The other issue that continues to freak me out is that the heat brings out the snakes. I mentioned how bravely I tend to deal with snakes in a previous blog i.e. not at all. But last week I stumbled across snakus maximus. Father to a massive baby snake, husband to a.... You get the picture. Luckily I'd switched to my 4:1 drink formula or no doubt several families of hikers would have appeared. I'm not sure what kind of snake it was, but it had a head the size of a farm animal. It was definitely viewing me as a food item. Luckily it appeared to have just eaten a small child so it wasn't up for any more. I was thankful for the kids sacrifice and carried on my way.
So, my weeks training last week hit 100k. A lot less than good runners, but building up to being respectable. I've subbed in some tempo runs, hill repeats and this week am training twice a day Tues, Weds and Thurs. Hoping to get myself up to 110 and keep increasing right up to 3 weeks before UTMB (with a dip every fourth week for recovery/ beer). I'm still no more confident I can finish this thing, doing 100 miles training in a week seems well beyond me at present, let alone in one go at altitude. Hey ho, I'm not in it to win it, just to have a bit of an adventure and raise some money in memory of my dad. More on that one in the next post as I sort out my charidee piece. For some reason, even when it's for a worthy cause, I always feel a bit of a prat raising money for charity. I don't like to ask people for their hard earner cash when I am actually doing something that makes me so happy, but then I remember that after 50k I always have a slow dawning realisation that I am too big, too slow and going to suffer massively, so please donate once I get it up and running.
This sunday is my first UK fathers day without one, so it's going to be a tough day. One to get through. I plan to have a pint of guinness, think of the good times and get the charity page launched in his memory. I won't need any more motivation to get round the UTMB course, even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees. Which isn't beyond the realms of possibility!
As the heat and humidity have truly landed for the Summerr I've been experimenting with a variety of kit and hydration/ food combos as I start to think about the event in August. I tried Newton shoes, which are crap when wet and humid. The nature of the design means the shoe rocks you forward, and as it gets wetter and you hit steep down hills, the inner sole slides right down to the front of the shoe crushing your toes. A design fault if ever there was one for a trail shoe. There aren't that many flat dry trail races that I can think of. Also, the forefoot features their patented lugs to aid a more natural running style. Except on trails again. I found that the lugs feel unbalanced and when I hit roots of rocks tended to be unstable. Finally, the last point of my 'big fat sweaty lads can't wear Newton trail shoes' analysis. The lugs actually make the really steep up hills steeper. Weird, but unless you're running, which I cannot manage on HK's biggest hills (think 500-1000 steps), you actually have to overcome the lugs as well as the gradient. Sod that.
I think I've settled on 2XU shorts for the race but nothing else. They are a bit of a tri brand which is slightly against my religion, but they do seem to help me avoid the dreaded chaffing. As for socks and t-shirts etc I haven't found anything that works yet. Every shirt I try turns into a cheese grater when wet leaving me with nips like minced beef. I used to have a nice silky thin North Face one that worked so going to see if I can track one down. I'm also still looking for a decent small pack that has accessible side pockets for my gels, although I'm considering a strategy I've read about and dissolving them in my drink instead, we'll see. Anyway, however much I read there doesn't seem to be any holy grail of kit. Only of training, do a lot.
I'm also not quite sure what to do about my glasses. I got caught in one of Hong Kong's 'Amber' rain storms at the weekend. It warrants a warning on the local Observatory website that low lands are prone to flooding, there may be landslides and a bit of thunder etc. They need to add a new sentence to their warning that for those who wear glasses you can't see your own nose. Seriously, between the fogging effect of the humidity and the heaviness of the rain I couldn't see a thing. I think it may warrant registering as a disability, maybe I'll get free parking. I was splashing down the trail just waiting to hit a root and go over the edge. And yet I loved it. Running in the rain is so much more pleasurable than running in the humidity.
I know I bang on about it, but I'm getting through 4.5 litres every 25 or so K. It's impossible to stay hydrated but the drinks that seem to work best are those with the 4:1 ratio. Some protein as well as Carb. I'm settling on the accelerade at the moment. The pure carb drinks seem to give me a bit of tummy trouble. Does a Nottheultramarathon man sh1t on the trail. It appears so, especially when fueling on gatorade and gels. Suddenly. Violently. On occassion without warning. How is it that whenever you take a dump in the open that there is always, without fail, a full family and dog coming around the corner. Honestly, you can go ages without seeing people when the weather is bad, but take a dump and several families will appear at once as if from nowhere. I think they coordinate somehow. It makes you feel surprisingly vulnerable when you've got your arse hanging out.
The other issue that continues to freak me out is that the heat brings out the snakes. I mentioned how bravely I tend to deal with snakes in a previous blog i.e. not at all. But last week I stumbled across snakus maximus. Father to a massive baby snake, husband to a.... You get the picture. Luckily I'd switched to my 4:1 drink formula or no doubt several families of hikers would have appeared. I'm not sure what kind of snake it was, but it had a head the size of a farm animal. It was definitely viewing me as a food item. Luckily it appeared to have just eaten a small child so it wasn't up for any more. I was thankful for the kids sacrifice and carried on my way.
So, my weeks training last week hit 100k. A lot less than good runners, but building up to being respectable. I've subbed in some tempo runs, hill repeats and this week am training twice a day Tues, Weds and Thurs. Hoping to get myself up to 110 and keep increasing right up to 3 weeks before UTMB (with a dip every fourth week for recovery/ beer). I'm still no more confident I can finish this thing, doing 100 miles training in a week seems well beyond me at present, let alone in one go at altitude. Hey ho, I'm not in it to win it, just to have a bit of an adventure and raise some money in memory of my dad. More on that one in the next post as I sort out my charidee piece. For some reason, even when it's for a worthy cause, I always feel a bit of a prat raising money for charity. I don't like to ask people for their hard earner cash when I am actually doing something that makes me so happy, but then I remember that after 50k I always have a slow dawning realisation that I am too big, too slow and going to suffer massively, so please donate once I get it up and running.
This sunday is my first UK fathers day without one, so it's going to be a tough day. One to get through. I plan to have a pint of guinness, think of the good times and get the charity page launched in his memory. I won't need any more motivation to get round the UTMB course, even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees. Which isn't beyond the realms of possibility!
Monday, May 16, 2011
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
A better week of training for me last week. I decided that with the heat and humidity ramping up I'd only do one long run outside this weekend so I started my Sunday run feeling fresher than usual. The weather was more forgiving this weekend, low twenties, but the humidity was something else. I drank around 6 litres of fluid in five and a half hours of running and walking (it's hot and I am fat!) and I still ran out 45 minute before the end. I'm developing what I like to call 'The fear' about the UTMB in August. The more I think of it, the little matter of166k and 9.6k of elevation gain, the more I think I've over stretched myself. I'm not sure if it's a race for mortals, more suited to the ultra gods. My 40k effort on Sunday felt tough enough and it only had an elevation gain of around 500 metres or so, pretty puny when compared to the Alps, but I guess I have another 3 months to get my hill legs, shift gears and also about 20 pounds before I think about tackling the race.
I'm giving serious thoughts to kit and nutrition now and I would like it noted here that I will be wearing shorts. It may not seem like a serious revelation, however, I have to make a comment about TNF 100 in Australia this past weekend. A few friends from Racing the Planet events took part so I've seen a few of the photos pop up on facebook. Can anyone explain what's going on with the Salomon runners and their white Lycra? Is this now de riguer in ultra running? What's wrong with a nice pair of shorts and a tub of vaseline? I know they are all very serious and fast, there's no need for white Lycra. Let's leave a little to the imagination. Leave the ladies wanting a little more if you know what I am saying.
On the nutrition front I tried some new gels this weekend called stingers or something similar. Honey with some vitamins and I found them much more palatable than the usual gels. They would have been lovely with some hot water and lemon. Not sure I am cut out for this ultra malarkey.
My other thought at the moment is to pole or not to pole. I think I'll pole. I'm not expecting quite the foot disasters I have had in multi-day races. I'm hoping my new lighter weight infrastructure (that weight loss thing again), no heavy rucksack, no sand and less swollen feet mean that the tootsies will be ok. However, I reckon this one will be tough on the knees and ankles so I'll probably take poles to keep the pressure off the knees.
I also need a new day sack for the race. I've been using the OMM 'the last drop' 10L for long training efforts, but it doesn't have side pockets which makes it bloody frustrating when you're trying to fish out a gel every half hour. Any recommendations for a decent small bag, greatly appreciated preferably with side pockets for bottles and pouches for gels, enduralytes, cocaine, methadone etc. On the kit theme, I have a bit of a shoe problem as well. My Asics aren't working for me, too hard and not stable enough, I can't wear the Newtons for more than 30 minutes before I lose all form and they throw me off balance. I was thinking off the Salomon S Labs, but I would probably be arrested if I went with the white lycra.
Saying all of this, none of it may matter after this week. I've got my medical booked for the doctor to sign the health certificate that this race insists upon. I'm still hoping that they'll let me enter the race if my doctor writes that there is a high risk of death. Slightly fat asthmatic intends to run 100 miles over mountains, at altitude. I'm a little worried that the doctor might just leave a smiley. Fingers crossed for a signature.
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there.
I'm giving serious thoughts to kit and nutrition now and I would like it noted here that I will be wearing shorts. It may not seem like a serious revelation, however, I have to make a comment about TNF 100 in Australia this past weekend. A few friends from Racing the Planet events took part so I've seen a few of the photos pop up on facebook. Can anyone explain what's going on with the Salomon runners and their white Lycra? Is this now de riguer in ultra running? What's wrong with a nice pair of shorts and a tub of vaseline? I know they are all very serious and fast, there's no need for white Lycra. Let's leave a little to the imagination. Leave the ladies wanting a little more if you know what I am saying.
On the nutrition front I tried some new gels this weekend called stingers or something similar. Honey with some vitamins and I found them much more palatable than the usual gels. They would have been lovely with some hot water and lemon. Not sure I am cut out for this ultra malarkey.
My other thought at the moment is to pole or not to pole. I think I'll pole. I'm not expecting quite the foot disasters I have had in multi-day races. I'm hoping my new lighter weight infrastructure (that weight loss thing again), no heavy rucksack, no sand and less swollen feet mean that the tootsies will be ok. However, I reckon this one will be tough on the knees and ankles so I'll probably take poles to keep the pressure off the knees.
I also need a new day sack for the race. I've been using the OMM 'the last drop' 10L for long training efforts, but it doesn't have side pockets which makes it bloody frustrating when you're trying to fish out a gel every half hour. Any recommendations for a decent small bag, greatly appreciated preferably with side pockets for bottles and pouches for gels, enduralytes, cocaine, methadone etc. On the kit theme, I have a bit of a shoe problem as well. My Asics aren't working for me, too hard and not stable enough, I can't wear the Newtons for more than 30 minutes before I lose all form and they throw me off balance. I was thinking off the Salomon S Labs, but I would probably be arrested if I went with the white lycra.
Saying all of this, none of it may matter after this week. I've got my medical booked for the doctor to sign the health certificate that this race insists upon. I'm still hoping that they'll let me enter the race if my doctor writes that there is a high risk of death. Slightly fat asthmatic intends to run 100 miles over mountains, at altitude. I'm a little worried that the doctor might just leave a smiley. Fingers crossed for a signature.
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Summer is all over me
I'm resigning myself to the fact that the Hong Kong summer is upon us. For the last 5 days of so it's been hovering between 29 and 32 degrees and between 80-95% humidity. I've resigned myself to the fact that I will now be sweating continuously until October, unless I stay inside. I'm a fairly hazardous environment to be around in the summer months in Hong Kong. I seem to create my own micro climate and am prone to flash floods. I am a sweaty man at the best of times but I now move into territory previously uncharterred, untouched and generally unwanted. It's a sad life. Normally by about August I am ready to end it all, just to be able to stop sweating so it'll be good to head off to France for this race.
On the down side it makes Long runs really tough as I found at the weekend. I think I'll be spending a lot of my longest sessions now doing even more walking than normal. I seem to blow up after about 3 hours as a rule. On my long run this Sunday, I did 35k and managed to drink 6 litres of sports drink. I know that sounds ridiculous and most literature says that the body can only process around a litre an hour but it has taken me at least another 24 hours to rehydrate.
Also, the heat has really brought the snakes out. I am no expert, but I always think it is safe to assume that snakes in tropical climates can kill you. At elast twice. So I prefer to stay away from them. However, they always seem to be sat in places where you can't actually see them until you're nearly stood on top of the little (or very big) buggers. It happenned to me twice on Sunday, the first time I rounded a sharp bend and although moving slightly slower than sloth, I very nearly trod on it. A quick change of shorts, a dab of lube and I was back on my way. 10k and masive heat exhaustion later I was meandering up a flight of stairs to the dragons back on the Hong Kong trail and nearly trod a grey one (scientific name). I didn't have another change of shorts in my bag so once I had climbed down from the tree I found myself in, it was a quick dab of body glide and on my way again.
Anyway, apart from snakes and humidity it was a fairly strong week of training:
Monday- 7 miles
Tuesday- 7Miles
Wednesday- Gym Bike 35k
Thursday- rest
Friday- Gym Bike 10 x 1 minute full effortm 1 minute rest, plus 10 minutes hard either side
Saturday- Run 2.45
Sunday- Run 4.45, a change of shorts and 2 snakes.
On the down side it makes Long runs really tough as I found at the weekend. I think I'll be spending a lot of my longest sessions now doing even more walking than normal. I seem to blow up after about 3 hours as a rule. On my long run this Sunday, I did 35k and managed to drink 6 litres of sports drink. I know that sounds ridiculous and most literature says that the body can only process around a litre an hour but it has taken me at least another 24 hours to rehydrate.
Also, the heat has really brought the snakes out. I am no expert, but I always think it is safe to assume that snakes in tropical climates can kill you. At elast twice. So I prefer to stay away from them. However, they always seem to be sat in places where you can't actually see them until you're nearly stood on top of the little (or very big) buggers. It happenned to me twice on Sunday, the first time I rounded a sharp bend and although moving slightly slower than sloth, I very nearly trod on it. A quick change of shorts, a dab of lube and I was back on my way. 10k and masive heat exhaustion later I was meandering up a flight of stairs to the dragons back on the Hong Kong trail and nearly trod a grey one (scientific name). I didn't have another change of shorts in my bag so once I had climbed down from the tree I found myself in, it was a quick dab of body glide and on my way again.
Anyway, apart from snakes and humidity it was a fairly strong week of training:
Monday- 7 miles
Tuesday- 7Miles
Wednesday- Gym Bike 35k
Thursday- rest
Friday- Gym Bike 10 x 1 minute full effortm 1 minute rest, plus 10 minutes hard either side
Saturday- Run 2.45
Sunday- Run 4.45, a change of shorts and 2 snakes.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Time to get a coach
It's been a while since I blogged on my not so extensive training for the races in June and August. Since the vet highlighted my distinct lack of fitness I would like to say I've been hard at training. However, the reality is that I just got back from 9 booze and food filled days in the UK, visiting friends and the family. It was a great break, the weather was amazing, not a cloud in the sky and between 25-27 degrees the whole time. However, as much as I enjoyed it, the good times are over and I really need to focus on getting some quality training in and perhaps more importantly, watching my diet and cutting out... ok down, on the drink. I've developed a real taste for red wine over the last 6 months and have managed to convince myself that because it is better for me than beer, it's ok. Well I guess it's time to acknowledge that not many endurance athletes fuel themselves on Steak and Red wine. Ok none. So it's whole grains, salads and less 'treats' for me from now on. In fact, they are genuinely going to become treats again, as opposed to regulars. I've been a little too heavy on the cakes this last few months.
So with my resolutions set, I need to get properly training. Hong Kong is noticeably warmer and humid again which means the sweat fest is back on. I've had to start carryng water for anything over 45 minutes and where I have been doing longer runs with a hand held and one more on the belt, I'll now take the camelback with a few litres. I've started to have a think about what electrolytes work for me and don't upset my stomach (none so far!). I'm actually leaning towards a diluted gatorade or pocari (asian equivalent) as my preferred drink, I struggle to eat in the heat, so tend to lean towards getting extra calories from my fluids.
I'm still weaving in a little stationary bike into the mix, intervals 2 times a week followed by the treadmill (adding an extra 1 minute interval each week) and I am attempting to up the speed on the run afterwards. I am now only slightlky slower than a tortoise.
The UTMB requires that I submit a medical certificate stating that I am fit enough to take part and won't keel over during the race. I'm searching for a dishonest doctor who'll sign such an attestation. I'm more a fan of the disclaimer myself, the approach of some other well known races that I've taken part in. I refer to is as the 'you may die but it's not our fault' approach which I am totally comfortable with. As I may die, but only have myself and my penchant for cakes to blame. Even more likely as an asthmatic training in the Hong Kong air, whose run out of becotide and low on ventolin. Hey ho, let's see what a couple of months of dedication to exercise rather than pies does for me.
We have a couple more long weekends in a row in HK due to a number of unique public holidays. In total we have 4 in a row and one more in early June to ease us back into a full working week. I'm hoping to use these days off to get myself into the sort of shape where a doctir will happily sign my attestation withough questioning his/ her oath and ethics.
So with my resolutions set, I need to get properly training. Hong Kong is noticeably warmer and humid again which means the sweat fest is back on. I've had to start carryng water for anything over 45 minutes and where I have been doing longer runs with a hand held and one more on the belt, I'll now take the camelback with a few litres. I've started to have a think about what electrolytes work for me and don't upset my stomach (none so far!). I'm actually leaning towards a diluted gatorade or pocari (asian equivalent) as my preferred drink, I struggle to eat in the heat, so tend to lean towards getting extra calories from my fluids.
I'm still weaving in a little stationary bike into the mix, intervals 2 times a week followed by the treadmill (adding an extra 1 minute interval each week) and I am attempting to up the speed on the run afterwards. I am now only slightlky slower than a tortoise.
The UTMB requires that I submit a medical certificate stating that I am fit enough to take part and won't keel over during the race. I'm searching for a dishonest doctor who'll sign such an attestation. I'm more a fan of the disclaimer myself, the approach of some other well known races that I've taken part in. I refer to is as the 'you may die but it's not our fault' approach which I am totally comfortable with. As I may die, but only have myself and my penchant for cakes to blame. Even more likely as an asthmatic training in the Hong Kong air, whose run out of becotide and low on ventolin. Hey ho, let's see what a couple of months of dedication to exercise rather than pies does for me.
We have a couple more long weekends in a row in HK due to a number of unique public holidays. In total we have 4 in a row and one more in early June to ease us back into a full working week. I'm hoping to use these days off to get myself into the sort of shape where a doctir will happily sign my attestation withough questioning his/ her oath and ethics.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Ironman v's Ultra runner. Epic Fail
I am sure most people have seen the ironman v's ultra runner video that has been doing the rounds on you tube for the last couple of months. It goes something like:
'I am an ultra runner, all of my clothes come from TK max with enough storage for 3 flapjacks'
'You need to be earning six figures to buy a bike that weighs as much as my breakfast'
'I like ultra running because it takes me to places I have never been to before'
'In my most recent triathlon I was ranked 11th placed left handed Male aged 33-37 and a half who live in the thames valley region'
It's genius. But I have to say on my long run this Sunday my mate, Dave the Vet, gave me a lesson in running. To be fair he is coming off the back of a 10.40 ironman and I am coming off the back of two months of injury, too many steaks and more than a little pinot noir, so I should have known what was coming. Last week was also my biggest training week in some time, so I started sore, Anyway, even making my excuses I realise I have a long way to go and my fitness is not where it needs to be considering my 100k is two months away. Time to get serious about training, well, after a 9 day break in the UK anyway!
The last week of training was pretty strong, I managed:
Monday 7 miles (11k)
Tuesday 11 miles (17k)
Wednesday 11 miles (17k)
Thursday 7 miles (11k)
Friday 1 hour bike (34k)
Saturday 2 hour hike with the girlfriend
Sunday approx 16.5/17miles I think, wasted and a slightly embarrassing injury
I actually had to walk the last 5k or so as I seem to have strained my right buttock. Nothing to do with the triathlete and his Lycra I can assure you. I have a strange shooting pain in what feels like the joint of my hip and leg. Either way, I am walking funny this week. Maybe it was too big a jump in training in the space of a few weeks, maybe too many big hills, anyway I have made the decision to get myself a coach. I'm going to get one of those online ones, mainly because that's what my friend did and he is now considerably faster than me. A couple of trips to Chin-Zilla my favourite, surprisingly strong, massage lady should sort it out. When I was training for other events I found a weekly massage works great guns for minor strains, particularly those linked to a heavy training schedule.
On a positive note I have continued my run of having toilets in the right place at the right time, so I've not had to participate in the other ultrarunners past time of crapping in the great outdoors. It may sound odd to non runners but the effect of a diet of sports drinks and gels has some startling effects. Few of which are pleasant.
In future weeks I shall post my new training plan and progress against it so that hopefully in future we'll see fails on a less epic scale than on Sunday.
'I am an ultra runner, all of my clothes come from TK max with enough storage for 3 flapjacks'
'You need to be earning six figures to buy a bike that weighs as much as my breakfast'
'I like ultra running because it takes me to places I have never been to before'
'In my most recent triathlon I was ranked 11th placed left handed Male aged 33-37 and a half who live in the thames valley region'
It's genius. But I have to say on my long run this Sunday my mate, Dave the Vet, gave me a lesson in running. To be fair he is coming off the back of a 10.40 ironman and I am coming off the back of two months of injury, too many steaks and more than a little pinot noir, so I should have known what was coming. Last week was also my biggest training week in some time, so I started sore, Anyway, even making my excuses I realise I have a long way to go and my fitness is not where it needs to be considering my 100k is two months away. Time to get serious about training, well, after a 9 day break in the UK anyway!
The last week of training was pretty strong, I managed:
Monday 7 miles (11k)
Tuesday 11 miles (17k)
Wednesday 11 miles (17k)
Thursday 7 miles (11k)
Friday 1 hour bike (34k)
Saturday 2 hour hike with the girlfriend
Sunday approx 16.5/17miles I think, wasted and a slightly embarrassing injury
I actually had to walk the last 5k or so as I seem to have strained my right buttock. Nothing to do with the triathlete and his Lycra I can assure you. I have a strange shooting pain in what feels like the joint of my hip and leg. Either way, I am walking funny this week. Maybe it was too big a jump in training in the space of a few weeks, maybe too many big hills, anyway I have made the decision to get myself a coach. I'm going to get one of those online ones, mainly because that's what my friend did and he is now considerably faster than me. A couple of trips to Chin-Zilla my favourite, surprisingly strong, massage lady should sort it out. When I was training for other events I found a weekly massage works great guns for minor strains, particularly those linked to a heavy training schedule.
On a positive note I have continued my run of having toilets in the right place at the right time, so I've not had to participate in the other ultrarunners past time of crapping in the great outdoors. It may sound odd to non runners but the effect of a diet of sports drinks and gels has some startling effects. Few of which are pleasant.
In future weeks I shall post my new training plan and progress against it so that hopefully in future we'll see fails on a less epic scale than on Sunday.
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