So, I've got my training pack from The Race, I've got my sponsorship page up and suddenly this next race is feeling a lot more real, it's not long at all. I keep thinking, "Oh March, that's ages off!" but of course, it's the first weekend in march and we're already racing through December. So I need to get my head down and get into the training. The training program is pretty busy, but sensible and doable, and that's the main thing.
The only trouble is, having moved to Northamptonshire, I'm now about as far away as I can be from the sea - and I've never really done much kayaking or cycling. So it's going to be an uphill struggle to get ready for this race in time, and as ever, I've left it late to be starting. However I think I should stop kidding myself and realise that I will always start late, I am lazy by nature. That might sound perverse for someone who signs up for extreme challenges, but really that's the reason that I do these challenges, to keep me moving, to get me off my backside and training - if I didn't have a challenge to work towards I'd end up fat and lazy. So, onwards and upwards, running, rowing, swimming, cycling and yoga will get me through it and if I can fit it in, then a few kayak lessons too, probably advisable if I don't want to end up sinking to the bottom of the Ata
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Well, it’s started, my triathlon training! Last week I set out my training plan and my plans for the year with regard to races to compete in. Seeing as I’m looking to compete in the Ultra Du Mont Blanc, I thought I should get some qualifying races under my belt, so I’m looking to compete in the 100 mile Cotswold 24 hour race in September so need to do a smaller ultra in the mean time to build up my distance. So I’m planning on the Cardiff Ultra in May. However this doesn’t focus on my triathlon training, so I’m still aiming for a sprint distance triathlon in the summer.
So, what training have I done? At the moment I’ll just stick to talking you through it, when I get a chance I’ll put up a full training program, including what I plan vs. what I actually manage to do. It’s pretty hectic and so will be keeping me busy most evenings, but as long as I manage my time well enough I’m sure I’ll still be able to keep a social life going too. It’s just going to take some adjustment that’s all. This weekend, I did my first Triathlon, well, that is to say I trained on the bike, in the pool and running all in one training session. I’ve managed to get my lengths (of an 18 m pool) up to 20 in a row without stopping. Which I’m pretty proud about, as at the start of Dec I could not complete 2 without feeling like I was drowning, the idea of doing an Ironman seemed a long way off! On Sunday I rode 20 km on the bike, then 8 km run before finishing with a 700m swim. I know this is the wrong way round in the training, but it was only because I wanted to end my session in the steam room and then Jacuzzi. How did I feel during it? Well, the bike was pretty boring, but then it was on a bike machine – I’ve still to get my bike! Then the run, again not exactly very inspiring as I ran on a treadmill, it’s been snowing pretty heavily this weekend so running outside wasn’t really an option. Well it was an option but I opted against it. And then the swim, I’m getting better at my swimming technique but I’ve decided that if I’m going to take this seriously I need to have a professional have a look at my stroke. So one of the personal trainers at the gym has agreed to have a look at my technique and give me a free 15 min session to see if I’m any good. We’ll see how that goes, no doubt he’ll be selling me many follow on lessons! The only negative of last week was my joining CV session with weights sessions, which meant that I was far too exhausted by the time I got to later on in the week and ended up having to take two rest days due to it. Not ideal, I think I need to ease myself into it a bit more. Unfortunately I was unable to complete the Cardiff Half Marathon this year, mainly due to my own reason, but also I had not done enough training for it, and with a possible mobilisation to Afghanistan rising on the horizon I didn’t want to risk it an end up injured before deploying.
So, what’s new in the Ultra Challenge world for me then? Well, training for Afghanistan once again. This time I’ll be deploying to Helmand, recently I had two weeks away with the 3rd Bn Royal Welsh to the Brecon Beacons attending our Battle Camp. Two weeks of training to get us up to the basic standard, ready for integration with our regular counterparts. It was a good camp, one that attracted much media attention with BBC Radio Wales coming as well as ITV news. At the moment I am training to run, however this is not for anything in specific but to ensure that while I have the time, I am building up from the basics to get my mechanics of running correct. Through doing this I am hoping to ensure success in the 2013 Yukon race, I know that seems like a long way off, but seeing as I’m going out to Afghanistan the training for this starts now. I am attending the Cardiff Running School where I’m put through my paces on the running machine and taught new techniques to ensure that I am running with the best efficiency as well as without the things that will cause me injury in the long run. In addition I am given stretches and ‘home work’ to practice to strengthen my core and stability. In the long run this will mean that I should minimise the chance of injury through bad technique. It does seem very strange running in this new way, but I’m assured that it will start to come naturally the more I do it. Ok so I should have started months ago, but as ever I kept putting it off and putting it off, now I've got the map and route through from Oxfam, it's suddenly become very real indeed! And I've not even started training really. I've got just about 50 days to get up to the level I was for the Sahara, ok it's not as long, but 62 miles in one day is going to kill me without adequate training.
So, I've started cycling to work once a week and will be building up to running to work once a week too, I've going to go back to Yoga to ensure that I keep myself from another knee injury and will start swimming after work too, hopefully this will all be enough to get me to the finish line in just over 50 days time. Meanwhile work is as busy as ever, but military and civilian, so that will be the added challenge of juggling this together with the training, but as it's probably clear by now, I like a challenge! Let the training commence!! It’s been a while since I last updated this, so here goes:
Firstly a huge thanks to fellow competitor Samantha, who put me in touch with another competitor, Sam, who happens to be doing his training here in South Wales. It’s a shame we didn’t make the connection earlier, as it would have been good to have had a training partner to spur me on. As it was it took someone the other side of the world to introduce me to someone who’s only about 30 mins away! Well, that's the power of the internet. Unfortunately I’ve not been able to train as much as I’d like. As those who visit my training schedule on my personal website (http://extremechallenge.weebly.com/) will know. This is down to my knee again. On the up side, Sam and I did a good 24 miles the other weekend, some of which was on the soft sand at Merthyr Mawr. It wasn’t running, but was at a good brisk walking pace and has given me the confidence that I can cover the distance at least. Last weekend I was meant to be doing a marathon a day Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but the medical experts put pay to that. I’ve been undergoing Physiotherapy for my knee, including Ultra Sound and Electromagnetic therapy. However it was decided I should go and see an Orthopaedic Surgeon to check. The physiotherapist and surgeon both being ex professional athletes knew I wouldn’t be pulling out of the event, and therefore I’d need a quick fix to get me through it before looking more long term on my return from the sand. So, last Friday I had a Cortisone injection behind the ligament joining to the outside of my left knee, which meant I was unable to run over the weekend. It felt sore for a few days but on Monday I ran home from work (10 miles) without a huge amount of problems. And I mean run too! It still aches, and still hurts but the positive from this is each medical professional I spoke to has told me that, “ok it’s going to hurt, but I can’t see it causing you any long term damage”. So this means I’ll just have to grit my teeth, man up, and keep reminding myself of the old military saying, “Pain is only weakness leaving the body”. Well, having had a sports massage and been suggested yoga, I finally let my housemate talk me into going, and I'm so glad I did. I can't believe I've been putting off doing it due to the stigma of going for so long. It's really relaxing yet hard work. And, I don't ache today...maybe there'll be a delayed ache tomorrow.
On the up side, during the whole workout I didn't feel my knee at all, even when lunging, so that's a bonus. Yesterday's was just normal yoga, on Monday I'm trying my hand at Hot (Bikram) yoga. My friend Ellie suggested it to me, but it seems (reading my fellow competitor's blogs) that there are a lot who are doing it. Great for our aches and pains, but also for the heat training. This weekend I'm going to head out to the beach again, and try to get a bit further than last time down in Cornwall. Hopefully the fact that I know what my knee issue is, combined with the knowledge of stretches, should help me get up an ok distance. I'm still well behind what I'd like to be running, so am still nervous mentally about the task ahead. My plan is to run/walk/crawl at least a marathon distance followed by a 10 miler on two consecutive days prior to the event. I had hoped to do a marathon followed by a marathon, but I think that would be hoping for too much at this stage. I don't want to arrive injured to the start line. I know the key now, is to make sure that I'm mentally prepared for what is, a massive undertaking. It is going to be FAR from easy, but as long as I have the mental ability to push my body through, never giving up and focusing on the end, I'm sure I'll be able to do it. I know already that I will be doing it with a great set of people. Some, who like me, will be doing their first event like this, others who are veterans who are already providing great advice and tips. I certainly think it's going to be a great atmosphere there and an amazing experience. Well here it is, the pain in my left knee that plagued me for so long during my last challenge, back again! And just when I thought I was doing well too. Having run the 22 miler, then cycled to work I was returning home, running the 9.5 miles back to Cardiff and half way through that nagging pain, that soon turned to excruciating pain, was back!
It's just so frustrating, just when I thought that I'd got over the plantar fasciitis, this happens. It's one thing after another! Well, it's too far down the road to let it stop me, so I've been stretching and lunging, desperate to get my knee back on track again. Ice packs, rest, elevation, ibuprofen...anything I can think of to get back on the road to success again. So, here's the way forward now, try walking to work as much as possible, at least that way I'll get the mileage in, even if I'm not doing it in the time I want, intersperse that with swimming and cycling and keep going to the gym. I'm also going to attempt yoga....yep I know, I'm going to yoga! Well, apparently it will help, and with so much time (not to mention money) invested in this extreme challenge of the Sahara, I'm not going to let anything stop me. I'm determined! Wish me luck! Well, I've done it, I've passed the 20 mile mark. It's given me a huge boost in confidence to have completed 20 miles finally. I've been meaning to do and wanting to do it for some time, but due to the ongoing plantar injury I've not been able to attempt it. However, having been to a free running workshop in Cardiff, I had some advice on nutrition and so laced my water with electrolytes and carried energy bars with me for the run. And what a difference it made too!
Ok, so I'm aching today, but I'm not feeling too bad really. 20 miles, that's Cardiff to Newport and back! Running out, other than the bordom of running, wasn't an issue. The route back, the last 5 miles were pretty painful. It was here that I was feeling the lactic acid build up, my muscles were really starting to ache and strain at this point. Running through the centre of Cardiff, with sweat dripping off me...I must have looked great! No but seriously, I was doing ok, running most of the way until I got to the crossing opposite the castle, the green light for me changed just as I got to it so I had to pull to a stop suddenly as a bus sped in front of me. That was a mistake (well not a huge mistake as if I'd carried on I'd have been knocked down by a bus) but pulling up suddenly, rather than jogging to a halt made me hit 'the wall'. My body just sent pain through all the muscles in my legs, screaming out for a break - and I nearly did actually scream out! Thankfully I managed to get going again, it was a case of having to run, as walking left my legs stationary for too long and allow to cramp to set in. I fell back across the threashold of my house and crawlled into the living room, trying to figure out where to start on stretching off. But, I did it, 20 miles completed and the next day I felt pretty ok, I'll be going for a run tonight, so hopefully I'll be able to cope. Marathon distance is getting ever closer. I had the forms through from the organisers, and you have to state the longest distance you've completed prior to this event - thank goodness I could now include the 20 miler...soon to include the marathon disance too! Before I sign off for this entry, I want to just comment on the friendliness and generosity of strangers. Last week I was on my PRINCE2 Project Management course, and having mentioned my marathon to the group over lunch, they offered to sponsor me! They had only met me the day before, but already they were willing to donate money to these two wonderful charities. Thank you very much guys, fingers crossed we all passed, and thank you for your generosity. It's been just over 11 months since I was sat at work and had the phone call for Afghanistan, and here I am again - and nothing's changed. For me a lot has, I have seen and done a huge amount since then, but life is back to normal once again, and I can get into a routine again.
The plan is to walk, run and cycle to work about every other day. That's about 9.5 miles and should help with my training no end. I plan to run a marathon distance in the coming weeks so I can really start to get back into things as well as build up my confidence for this extreme challenge. A Sahara Ultra Marathon, even for charity, will be a hard things to push myself through. My aim is to complete a Marathon distance this month, and a back to back marathon next month, before I start the wind down to the event. It's scary seeing on my front page on this website that I've only 67 days to go before the event kicks off. I keep getting updates from the organisers...time to pick up the pace and get stuck into this training. Why is it, that no matter what the distance (over 3 miles) I end up having the first 3 miles in a fair amount of pain? I guess it's just my body taking that length of time before it realises that it's got no choice and has to keep going. Oh well, three miles isn't too much really out of the amount that I've got to do!
Yesterday was my first 14 miler since Afghanistan, when I first did my Plantar in. And, well it was ok. I had some niggles for the first three miles, while I had to sort my arch supports out. I'm never quite sure how much the supports actually do and how much is mental. Well, I started eith them on both foot, then one on one off, then both back on again. I've decided that the best bet is support fairly tight but shoe not tied too tight. I think it's because the shoes are two sizes too big to allow for the expansion of my foot in the heat of the Sahara. As for the rest of the run, well I was tired by the end, and my right hip was begining to give me a fair amount of jip by the end...just how do you stretch a hip? But, however on the up side, I completed the distance in just over 2 hours (not a great time, but I'm going for distance) The route was lovely, I've not really been only the Taf Trail before, and it's pretty lovely. It's nice and flat, which is good for the moment, but I'll have to do some hill and sand training soon. I'm off on an army course soon for three weeks, so it may have to be back on the treadmill for the next three weeks, but I'm hoping by the end of July I'll have completed my first marathon distance, then in August the plan is to run the length of the Taff Trail (53 miles)....and it's then that I'll be feeling more confident about the final race. |
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Edward MattsEdward has completed many challenges including the 3 Peak Challenge, the Caerphilly 31 mile summit challenge, walking the Pennine Way, the 1200mile from Land's End to John O'Groats and most recently the 156 mile Sahara Ultra Marathon. In the process he has raised £1000s for charity. Archives
November 2015
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