Minimal Mileage

There has been a serious lack of training in the lead up to the Highland Fling, After the D33 I was forced to rest another week due to my Toe injury, which is still causing grief but it looks like I will just have to put up with it at the moment as the X rays never showed anything so I am none the wiser.

Then on my second Run with Ross and Kevin which was lets say very interesting indeed.

A couple of miles from the house my calf tightened quickly and there was some pain, at first thought I may have pulled a muscle but in the morning there was some bruising and pain, just what I needed a tear. Oh well no more running for a few weeks, well it was actually 3 weeks till it fully healed and just over a week till the start line of the Hoka Highland Fling 53 miles, Scotland's biggest Ultra Event.

So with not a great start to the year I will line up for my second Ultra of the Year, The question is will the 30 miles I have banked in the last 5 weeks see me through, well I will soon find Out come Saturday.

If Your Running, See You Saturday.

Safe Runnings :-) 

4th Running at the D33 Ultra

                                                        Cookie @ D33side 33 Ultra

After making a Decision to Cancel our accommodation for the weekend which was not easy to do, But the right Choice. This left an early morning start of 4am to get Organised and set for the journey northwards.

Arriving @ Duthie Park around 8am the place was already busy, It had a great atmosphere as Old friends met up after the close season and the excitement and nervous energy of Runners who where here for there first Ultramarathon It was a great Place to be on a frozen Saturday morning.

I didn't have much expectations for this race as I knew I hadn't put the training in or the training I wanted, I was also worried about my Big Toe problem, Which indeed did lock up half way round, but the painkillers where working and held the pain in Check.

Anyway all on the line and it was good to wish friends a good Race Before The Boss Man George gave us the Go. I settled Quickly and was running on my own, I was aware that I was moving at 7.40pace  but this felt easy So I maintained it, with the notion that I will slow and hurt anyway so keep it there.

A couple of mile out from the half point I caught up with Ross Lawrie. Who was moving well, so we Ran together and He has such passion for his running and what it brings to him, Ross stopped at the checkpoint and I ran through, I didn't have any drop bags as I was running with 4 gels and a handheld which I only drank about 400ml and took a gel at the 3 checkpoints and one for the last few miles.

On the turn around I was saying hello's and well done's to the runners coming towards me It was great seeing people out there enjoying themselves and putting in all their effort and encouraging each other at this point it just motivated me more, I was still Running well and holding sub 8m/m pace and was starting to wonder would the crash come and when would the pain begin, However none of these happened.

I passed through the last checkpoint at 24 miles and realised if I could hold a sub 8.30pace I would be in for a Nice Afternoon. However there was still 9 miles left and the last 3yrs I have collapsed and shuffled the last 3 at around 10-11m/m pace, But not today I was feeling great the legs are feeling strong and am still Happy.

I took my last Gel with 6 miles to go, I had slowed my pace to ensure I didn't blow up and I was going to finish strong, I think when you realise your having a good day it just lifts you and pushes you On, Maybe I did want something today Maybe this Run did mean something. I know it did for Little Miss PettiteFeet Antonia, My she came from nowhere about 3-4 miles out said her hello's and was off, What a finish.

I was a about a mile out and Caught George Salmond who was running his first Ultra coming from Marathons and Running well, Well Done George. He told me to go for it, but there was no need I was Happy and we chatted away the last mile and into the park, Both off us crossing the line together. To collect our goodie bags and a Big Hug from Karen and George. A great Finish to a brilliant Day.

Well Done all the D33 Helpers it must of been Tough as the conditions where Not pleasant, But you all Rocked.

A Big well done to Fellow Ochil Hill Runner Kevin Brown who Smashed a 51min P.B See you at the Fling

Sorry Lorna Mcmillan am Sure you will get me back, See You At The Fling ;-)

Marathon Distance 3hr 25mins
30 miles 4hr
33 miles 4hr 28 mins

Shoes Hoka stinson b evo's
4 Gels
400ml Isostar

                                                                             

                                                                             
                                                     Cookie After a Hard Day @ D33

Safe Runnings      

Less than 7 days

Well with less than 7 days to my first Ultra of the season looms. In terms of Training and preparation, well that has not been going to great. I am away behind compared to the previous 3 yrs in terms of mileage for the year.This is about 110 miles of a difference.However I am not to worried as my Target Race is not until September which is still a long way off.

I had planned to up my mileage every month in 2013 to reach new targets but already that has not happened. I have managed a nice few hikes and a couple of hill runs in the last 4 weeks some might say not great leading up to the first Ultra of 2013.

After this Lay off, well just couldn't be bothered period, I did try and focus on the race and get back out and pick up some miles, but a slight problem with my toe joint has now become a big problem, You see for many weeks I have had a severe pain in the joint of my left big toe, and the pain intensifies when running/walking, I got stopped yards into my come back run last week where the pain was to much.

On further inspection I noticed I could not move my big toe, resulting in not being able to move any of the remaining toe's. So I first checked with Dr Google and came up with Hallux Rigidus, Rigid toe resulting in the deterioration of the big toe joint. I have been given strong pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs from the Doc to see if it will clear any infection around it. He said 4-5 days and it should clear if it doesn't then it's an X-ray to find some answers.

In the meantime I have moved back onto a stiffer sole shoe to try and give some protection rather than my  minimalist shoe's. Yesterday I decided it was time to get out and run as I don't think there's a quick cure for my toe and rest doesn't work as it's had plenty of that. So I headed of to meet up with some like minded individuals to put some miles in on the Hills and trails around the Pentland Hills.

This was a great Outing with Snow blizzards and frozen winds and horrible underfoot conditions, Just what the Doctor Ordered. I felt strong through out and this gave me back some confidence on looking at next week. I cut short at 12.5 miles only for precautionary reasons and trying to be sensible. Also didn't have any pain killers for the Toe. I managed a easy 7 miles today in my hokas and they seemed to help support the toe with a stiffer sole and the rocker motion still allowing my to forefoot plant and toe lift, Think I will be using the Hokas next week to limit toe damage.

So the D33SIDE 33 on Saturday, well I have brought my time down over the last 3 runnings of the race, my limited training isn't bothering me, I think I feel more ready and fresh after the slow start to the year, I will only find out come Saturday, and Hope the Toe Behaves.

Oh and meet my new wee Girl.
Safe Runnings