Training training training

So here we are, only a few days to go until Owen does his ultra marathon on Saturday, then my Fred training takes on a more serious note when I attempt to take on the Lakeland Loop on Sunday. I'd love to say I am looking forward to it, I'm looking forward to cheering Owen on his run, he definitely seems to be getting the better of the weather this weekend but to be honest, as for the ride I am looking forward to all of it except the last two big climbs! 

I've managed to notch up 900 miles on the bike so far this year, enjoying training rides with Owen, Pipes, James, Tom and the guys at VCC. I'll probably be over 1'000 before the time the Fred comes along and yet I still feel like I could and should have done a bit more. I managed to get out a few times over the Easter break, but most of my training time has been spent eating chocolate eggs with a pen and a map looking at routes for the Fred and Lakeland Loop arranging with Mrs Paddy the best places to meet up and refill my water and food supplies... I'll probably use those meet ups for cuddles and crying too. 

As I am sure you can see from the map above, a lot of time has gone into them and I am sure come the time of the event it will have been time well spent. 

In other news, i've had my bike serviced ready for the big day. The guys at Cyclewise in Cockermouth did a great job and not only cleaned my drive chain, but also managed to stop it making that really annoying knocking noise it was making. So thanks guys, much appreciated. The longer days in the saddle are a lot more pleasant without that noise. 

This weekend sees Owen take on his ultra marathon, running (slash walking slash crawling slash crying) source to sea along the river Derwent, the full 47 miles. I'll be cycling alongside him for some of the route, but only a bit, I hate to see a grown man in shorts and a vest cry, so I'll just cycle alongside for a few miles to give him some morale support. I will also cheer him along with the old Welsh proverb he taught me during our Strathpuffer training... 'Man up princess!' 

Then for me on Sunday it is the Lakeland loop, the 80 mile (ish) route around the Lake District which will take me over Whinlatter, Cold Fell, Wrynose and Hardknott. A good distance and a good few set of hills in the run up to the Fred to help build my confidence or break me physically and mentally 2 weeks before the big event. 

Anyway, good luck to Owen this weekend, I'm sure you'll smash it - if you see him hobbling along at the side of the road, give him a good old pip and a cheer. 

And as always i'll finish by encouraging you all to Get Outside and Live, come and join Owen for part of his run, or come and watch and cheer Owens run or me and everyone else out on their pushbikes attempting the Lakeland Loop. 

Paddy 

Easter Sunday Run

Easter Sunday and the usual family visit. This year we are across in sunny South Shields visiting my wife's family for the weekend. Which means free baby sitting while I can go for a run.

As I'm less than a week from my ultra marathon I didn't really want to do a long run. So this beautiful sunny morning I popped on the new shoes and headed out.

Just a short 3.5 mile run, but it felt really good very quite few cars on the road in a normally busy town.

With the run done I can enjoy my chocolate treats with a clear conscience.

Have a great weekend whatever you get up to.

Owen

Ultra-Marathon Training: 12 Days to go

Just 12 days left now until I’m running the Derwent from source to sea, 47 miles!  Training has gone well, but I feel I haven’t got in as many long runs as I would have liked to, most I’ve run so far is 20 miles.  The last few weeks when I’ve wanted to get some more in I have been hampered with, just being a working dad of 2 busy children and who has other commitments that sometime needs to be done.  Also, children are diseased ridden and are infectious to anything they touch, meaning you are likely to get a cold like I have.  When a baby sneezes directly into your face, then smiles and laughs, I’m starting to think that they know damn well what they are doing and they are just being evil! 😊

Saying that I’ve been getting regular 13-15 mile runs in and feeling fine with this distance, in the planning phase we’ve been estimating a 60% run, 40 % walk.  I’m sure this will be more like 50% run, 20% walk, 15% hobble, 10% walk like a zombie and 5% crawl.  I may split the walk into 10% mosey and 10% strut (any other walking stiles you feel could be incorporated let me know).

In these last few days before the big push, I’ve started tapering down now with the plan to just to runs between 5 and 10km.  Nothing to strenuous that will cause the legs to suffer days later but just enough to keep them ticking over.  I will continue to pace around the office while I’m on the phone to have that time on legs training as well as much lunchtime walk.  I’m hoping that the past few months of doing these extra bits and pieces will pay off when it comes to the event.

I bought new trainers on the weekend, I know, I know I should have got them earlier but I didn’t, I kept putting it off and never got around to it.  So hopefully my short runs will bed them in before the run.  Did a short 2 mile run tonight with them and they felt good.  I bought a set of New Balance 1080v6 (https://runrepeat.com/new-balance-fresh-foam-1080).  These are the third pair of the 1080’s I’ve had and Strava informs me that I was just shy of 600 miles in the last pair, so I know them, I know they fit my feet well, so I’m confident in that they will work well on the day.

Look out for my next blog, which I will go through the kit I’m planning to use for the run!

I hope you all had good week, let us know what you get up to on Twitter (@GoCumbria), on Instagram (@gocumbriaevents) or on Facebook (@GOCumbriaEvents)!

GO and Get Outdoors And Live!

Owen