Social points

Running in the fog is no fun. I landed, what could only be described as a diving, front rolling, dive bomb off a rock today [if it was an olympic diving event, I think it would have been a good 6]. I seriously have no idea how I did not pick up a serious injury.

As I lay there working out which bits of me still worked, I was surprised that everything was moving and no cuts? As I looked up, I could see I'd dropped about 4 meters. I'd simple been running, lost my path line and took a small stumble. I was on a hill at about 400m. It really brought home that we'll be running and hiking up hills 1300m plus, with sharp inclines and B-I-G drops. For just a second I must have turned to see where I was instead of pausing and moving on. I finished the run, jumped in the car and pondered on my brush with broken bones.

I'll certainly be watching where I put my feet in future...
-Darren

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day light at the end of the tunnel.. oh now I see that fallen tree on the tracks

Training as Darren says, has finally become the norm again the Christmas break really messed both of us up.

Also the same as Darren I have given up alcohol completely and haven't touched a cup of tea or coffe since new years eve. It has been a roller coaster of a ride cutting out the caffeine lead to headaches and fatigue like never before for over 4 days. The benefits have been finally getting a really good nights sleep, which really helps with recovery after all the sport.

I've managed to finally get a routine going Gym Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays plus a swim on Thursdays. Really looking forward to training this weekend, that is if I don't break something.

Ah well another early night small sacrifice's for the biggest of gains.

Bryn

Life's a changing

When I've listened to people say things like "...this experience has changed my life", I've shrugged, thought it over dramatic and changed channel or if in person glazed over. If I dig deeper in to this, it really means I need to find my own life changing experiences, without them I guess I'll just be another guy in the pub when I'm 60 looking back on my life referring constantly to the joys I never had and the experiences I never felt.

Oddly enough this event and subsequent mini events around organising and training for the UK Everest Challenge, is really making a difference. I've been suffering for the last four weeks with a bit of depression and lack of energy. Since late December, I've been constantly tired, grumpy and not in any training zone. Yet I'd be out in all weathers and running, hiking through the kilometers.

My commitment was there, but my body was not.

There's been a lot going on, giving up caffeine, reducing beer, cutting back on alcohol in general, learning what to eat healthy all over again and really pushing my training. If you change your diet, eating habits and give up caffeine, there's just going to be a few teething issues. I thought I was prepared, but I was surprised at the lack of core energy to do anything other than, training, eat and sleep after work.

The great feeling is in the last few days I can now see the reward. It's like a huge chip removed from my shoulders.

My belly is shrinking and my dormant muscles are waking up!

This weekend we are going to expanding our distances for training, with a huge 45Km hike/run planned for early February, North Dartmoor to South Dartmoor.
Bring on the hills...
-Darren


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Moments

Good days and bad days
Good thoughts and bad thoughts
It's knowing that the aching thighs and stiff calfs, tired mornings and 27 days of not a single beer, cup of coffee or even tea is all going to be worth it.

we've got about 7 months left and that scares me sensless, hey ho let's keep on going.

Bryn

Hill running

During the week sitting at my desk, I devised a nice training session for this Sunday. We would jog down Bone Hill road to the base of the road and jog up, twice! Sounds nice and easy, but for Bone Hill is a wicked mile and half of straight up all the way. It's a really calf burner and lung blaster!

I felt this week we have had so much rain we were in danger of giving ourselves an unnecessary injury. It's a bit like dancing on ice but without the skill and skates. Pretty much one of use has fallen in the last three weeks, luckily without any major incident, more embarrassment really as one laughs hysterically at the others muddy misfortune.

Tarmac and I don't really get on, but with road events coming up in seven weeks, I need to get on with it. It was a good choice the ground was awful, all we'd have done is cut up pathways/tracks and get soaked.

After an hour of road work, I was comfortably done. I can feel my calf is still not fully recovered and it's strapped again, but nothing like the old pain of three weeks ago. It's quite odd that Bryn and myself are very much different runners, I'm comfortable off road, the ground suits me very well. Bryn works well over rough ground, but pulls backs on the hills, yet on tarmac he's completely at home. But I guess with a challenge like ours, it pays that you have two people who can drive the other on.

BRING ON THE HILLS!
-darren

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Training days are never boring

Bryn's entry this week painted the picture well. We had the lot snow on the way up the moor, we actually had to ditch our car [my thermo had -4 on the dash] as the snow and ice was skidding the vehicle something chronic.

We started in the snow, walked in to dense fog, then the snow and hail started just befor the wind really started cutting in to us, when we finally made it to the car it was raining! Our kit is working our very well, the support we have been getting on the equipment front is really making our training sessions, more a pleasure than a pain.

My calf was tense but we did well in the conditions. Anywhere you can build a snowman has gotta be chilly!

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