Strive: verb to try very hard to do something or to make something happen, especially for a long time or against difficulties: I like the word Strive. I think it is so important, especially as we get older that we keep striving. Striving keeps us energised, relevant and ultimately alive. I have always been a striver, its in my nature. Even as a… Continue reading Running On Empty
Category: training
Recovery
It is more or less 4 weeks since I ran the Madeira Island Ultra Trail which took me the best part of 30 hours. I still have a little numbness in my toes and the remnants of my blisters are still visible and finishing the healing process with new skin growing in. It doesn’t take… Continue reading Recovery
Motivation
I have been thinking a lot about motivation recently. I find running really difficult and many times not particularly pleasant experience, so why do I keep doing it. Motivation is one of the four legs which support the ultra running table upon which we dine – Motivation, Resilience, Training and Execution. Take away any one… Continue reading Motivation
…and I’ll take the Low Road
On a rainy Saturday morning we took a wee trip to Rowardennan. The West Highland passes through Rowardennan before heading off into the relative wilderness of the East side of Loch Lomond. After many years the “Low Road” has been cleared, the path upgraded and it is now open to walkers and runners once more.… Continue reading …and I’ll take the Low Road
Are you sure you want to enter that Race?
Ultras are usually quite complicated logistically. They are usually also longer and harder than you expect. Here a few questions to ask before you enter your next Ultra. I go through this list every time I want to enter a new race Where does it start? Do you actually know where that is? Are you… Continue reading Are you sure you want to enter that Race?
My Shopping List
I am lucky enough to have built up a good selection of ultra gear to mix and match which is versatile enough to do me for most types of races, so I no longer need to go on a shopping spree every time I enter a big race. My most used kit currently is Jacket:… Continue reading My Shopping List
Learning Lessons
It has been a while since I have written something here, mainly because I didn’t really have too much to say. This year has been a bit of a write off on the running front, which is OK I guess as we can’t keep going further, higher, faster forever and sometimes life gets in the… Continue reading Learning Lessons
The Highland Fling – Tyndrum to Crianlarich
On a sunny day I took myself for a run on the section of the West Highland Way heading south from Tyndrum. This is the reverse of the way the route is normally travelled. On the way I tried out my new camera with some mixed results. The following clips are unedited, apart from the… Continue reading The Highland Fling – Tyndrum to Crianlarich
The Highland Fling
On a sunny day I took myself for a run on the section of the West Highland Way from Tyndrum to Beinglas Farm. This is the reverse of the way the route is normally travelled. On the way I tried out my new camera The infamous Cow Poo Alley was quite dry for a change… Continue reading The Highland Fling
Don’t Panic Mr Mainwaring
I have been feeling poorly these last few days. Might have been man flu. Might have been jet lag, but running was either rubbish or didnt happen at all. I had a reasonably good November/December where I ran every day for 32 days and started to build mileage sensibly, and even though a Christmas day… Continue reading Don’t Panic Mr Mainwaring