Still, with the BGR recently recced in one outing and with the onset of some seriously springlike weather, it's probably not a bad time to reflect on how things are going and what I have learned. It's also a good time to challenge a few of the assumptions that I've made about preparing for this round, not least in relation to its impact on others.
In no particular order, here's a few rules of thumb that have come to be part of life when preparing for the BGR:
- Build up to the big training weeks
- Stretch often, but don't overdo it
- Eat plenty of good food
- See a physio regularly, even if you have no obvious symptoms - just get an 'MOT'
- Check shoes regularly and replace when needed - both road and fell
- Rest one day/week and slip in an occasional easier week
- Slip in some cross training now and again, esp upper body stuff
- Listen to youy body and don't be afraid to back off, esp during a tough session with your peers
- Warm up and warm down
- Don't neglect speedwork...
- ...but focus on feet climbed rather than distance run
- Long days are KEY, without them you will fail
- Practice vaious foods on the hill, and perfect the art of muching as you climb
- Don't try any new foods on the day
- Recce, recce and recce some more, esp in bad weather and at night where needed
- Stay positive - the mind is a seriously powerful thing
- Get out in all weathers
- Get plenty of sleep
And most importantly, as this week in particular has taught me,
- The BGR takes an unusual amount of time to prepare for and you can be forgiven some extra indulgence - but it is not an excuse to neglect the needs of loved ones.
(Alison's 'admin error' re the FLM will seem funny after she's breezed around the course at Stratford, but she needed more support than she got last week, and that was because of this BGR business. I'll be putting that right this coming week.)
Generally, things on the training front are going well. No DOMS after last week's efforts and a good run at Kinder Downfall, despite tired legs and sore feet.
A feature of this training week was lots of running but no long runs - a shift towards more quality. Long runs are vital but I think this was a canny week's training after the long days of last week which has provided a good balance.
Mon - rest
Tues - RC - 6 miles. Off road with the club, took it easy and let others do the efforts. Recovery run. right calf niggly. Probably about 600'
Weds - Straight up and down Moel Famau from lower car park. Saw Steve Bellis. Up and back inside half an hour - felt strong but took it easy - calf still a bit funny. 4M 1000'
Thursday - RC - 8 miles. Felt great - Harthill to Raw Head via steep slope and steps. Onto cornfield and some triangles there - felt OK. Ran back to club on TT route nice and steady. Probably 700'
Friday - Moel Famau and back up the ridge from the Clywd side. About 6 miles and 1600' - one hour. Felt good all the way round, calf much better.
Sat - 9 miles and 2800' - Horseshoe pass along ridge to end and back again. Ran all the way - getting better and running the steeper climbs. Pushed hard up Moel y Gamelin
Sun - KINDER DOWNFALL - 10 miles, 2500'. Ran 1:26? Around 60th from 250 - a good result for me, more so on tired legs. Fast decent hurt the calf so i backed off, which probably copst me a minute ot 2. Wanted to run with Martin on the way down but felt safer preserving the calf - was pleased to pass him earlier as he's a strong guy but he flew past me on that runnable section. C'est la vie.
Have also bid for a GPS (foretrex) and bought a Myo XP headtorch - quite like the kit buying bit of the BGR prep!
Weekly total - probably about 9000' and 35 miles - but plenty of qualty in there
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