My first 17 miles

Yesterday we ran 17 miles.

It is almost impossible to believe this as I year ago I completed my first 10km run and then had to spend three days on the sofa recovering. Of course I felt a little sore yesterday and a little hungry but overall I was fine.

Running 17 miles is as much about the mind as the body and an important mind-set is critical. Yesterday I was tired, had a headache from work related stress and was in a bad mood but my mind was focused on the run and getting the job done. I ditched my watch, loaded up with gels and told myself: this is your time, make the most of it.

At ten miles I was feeling relatively fresh and content. I had really zoned out and was not thinking of anything special. I let my feet move in their natural rhythm, let me breathing calm down to something sensible and just enjoyed the run. At fifteen miles I was a little hungry but when we completed the magical seventeen miles it seemed that the run was over all too soon and that I still had some miles in the legs (which surprised me as Trevor had beasted me the day before with circuit training).

I am realistic to know that there are many more runs to do and challenges ahead but as we go into this week’s rest day I am feeling slightly more confident.

21st December 2011

A lot has happened since my last blog. It's an interesting time of year with everyone trying to get ready for Christmas, party's everywhere and training sessions being missed, it's all part of the Christmas routine........

For Philip & I no such luxuries training has to be the priority and therefore will not be missed. So with that in mind, since my last entry on the 14th, we have completed a 15 mile run (Philip's best by far, mindset was right and everything went to plan). This was followed by an
hours worth of cross training the next day, then a rest day with a short run on sunday.

Then this week so far we have run 8 miles on Monday, 1.5 hrs of circuit training Tuesday and about to go out on a 17 mile run ( Philip's furthest distance, without driving)

I will report back on how it goes..

I have already done 4 miles today with another client.

Then a relaxing cross training session tomorrow and then I'm away for Christmas and New Year, family duties, but no rest. Trainers and Kettlebells will be put in the car, hopefully to get some cold weather training ( especially as I'm in Slovakia)Philip has his own detailed daily routine to follow so no excuses for the intensity to drop off.

When I get back in January it is all very imminent, 8 weeks to go......

I still question "how did I get roped into this challenge"

Till next time

Trevor

Philip's Update

Training is now becoming very serious.

My life now consists of nothing more than training and trying to spend time with my family.

Since I returned from the US, last week, I have run

2 x 7 miles
1 x 4 miles
1 x 14 miles

And am about to leave for my first 15 mile run in a few hours.

Trevor still has worries about my fitness, mainly as after 13 miles I seem to struggle and is really pushing me. I have worries about the mental toughness needed to grind out the miles and this is leading me to hit the books on mental toughness, preparation and such things.

I am sure that I will be ok as each run is stronger and I feel fitter. The mind is slowly being dragged by the body now which is really the reverse of what we need. However, I feel that come next week when I have 17 miles under my belt I will be there mentally and ready to rock. Today, to see if it helps, I am going to listen to music all the way around.

My desk at home now resembles a war-room. There are notes on gels and when to use them, bits of paper with companies I need to contact for sponsorship scribbled on, a chart of the weather in Siberia and any number of inspirational quotes.

The next 12 weeks are going to change my life and by the time we get on the plane to Russia I will be fitter, stronger and more determined than I have ever been. I just hope that this is enough.

14th December 2011

14th December 2011

Sorry it's been a couple of weeks since my last entry, but life has been busy.

Philip is back from the USA now and training has stepped up in intensity. I have written a 7 day week training program for him right up to the Marathon ( which really is not that far away)

On his return Philip had to hit the ground running, which meant a 1 hr circuit training session, then rest day followed by 7 mile run then 14 miles the next day. He is coping well at the moment, but longer and harder days await..

The weather has been kind in training so far but colder and wetter weather is on its way..

Will keep you up to date on training

In training
Trevor

Philip's Update

Whilst Trevor is pushing the boundaries of good taste I am contemplating joining a Tai-Chi class.

A few days ago, on another continent, I did a nice solid nine mile run. My run took me through some of the richer parts of New York and then into some of the less rich parts (where I certainly picked up the speed). It was a nice soothing run and the weather was beautiful. I only planned to do eight miles but ended up doing more as I got slightly lost. It did, however, give me a good opportunity to clear my head, and work off some of the Thanks Giving turkey.

Today, in a very barmy part of Asia, I was out for gentle run as the sun began to rise (jet lag is a terrible thing….). I did not try to push it, just let the feet work and the mind unwind. It was warm and calm and serene – everything Siberia probably will be (with the exception, that is, of the temperature).

As I came back towards the hotel I stopped to watch a Tai-Chi class in the park. There must have been about 30 elderly people going through some of the most fluid and serene motions I have seen for a long time. It was beautiful to watch and looked like a lot of fun. I wonder if I can ask them to join in tomorrow morning?

Trevor's Update

A week has passed since my last entry. A lot has happened since then, training has resumed and I feel much better for it. Head is in the right place now.

On Saturday just gone I took part in a charity Zumba class in aid of our charity, as you can see from the picture I took it very seriously, the things I will do to help raise money for the charity.

The class was very good and my thanks go to Sue who put the class on.

We will be looking to do another one in January as well, although I’m not sure of what I’ll have to wear to that one……

My mind has turned to more training now with Philip, who will be back in a weeks time. Training will be upped in intensity with a mixture of running and cross training, and some long circuit training session, I need to be able to push Phil to his limits and then beyond.

This marathon will be extremely tough on the mind and body so the next couple of months will be tough but fun as well

Regards
Trevor

Thanks Giving Turkey Trot

I really don’t understand Thanks Giving.

There seems to be a lot of hype and build up, not least, or so it seemed as I passed through The Twin Cities, the moss mobilisation of about ninety per cent of the population with multiple suitcases. However, the day itself, seemed to be a lot of sitting around watching James Bond films and waiting for the turkey to cook. Clearly, I need to investigate this further as I am obviously missing something.

However, I did learn an important lesson on Thanks Giving…that of humility.

I registered for the local Turkey Trot which was occurring for the 34th consecutive year. Though billed as a ‘run for fun’ (as American’s don’t get the concept of a Fun Run) it still looked like an interesting proposition. Six-thousand runners, a flat five mile course and a great opportunity to gently poke some fun at the locals. The distance was a little strange being not quite a 10km and not really a long run. I was too long for speed work and too short for slowness. So as I lined up on the starting line I had no real game plan other than to get the job jobbed and head back from turkey.

Being halfway towards the back I missed the singing of the National Anthem and the opening bars of Chariots of Fire but as soon as the gun fired I was off muscling my way through the crowds. It took some judicious use of shoulders and elbows to get away from the main pack and find some space and within about a quarter of a mile I had picked up some pace and was feeling good. The weather was perfect, the sky was blue and there was a lovely vibe about the race.

My first mile was really quick (7min 52) and I was feeling really great when three old ladies ran past me discussing how best to cook mash potatoes with marshmallows. I shook my head, checked my pace which was still sub 8 min miles and watched them zoom off into the distance.

After that I was really furious and pushed myself. Racing over 5 miles is very challenging for me as I had no idea of pace and so I just went for it. The first four miles were ok but the last mile was really beginning to hurt. I pushed myself as hard as I could and crossed the finishing line on 41mins 16 seconds, which I was mightily proud of.

Whilst I tried to catch my breath (and not throw up), my wife wandered over and asked how things went.

‘Oh, it was a great run,’ I told her through gulps of air, ‘I was like a lean, mean, English running machine…totally kick Johnny Foreigner’s butt out there today…’

‘Really?’ she replied, ‘then how come that guy pushing his baby stroller came in about three minutes ahead of you?’

Which kind of took the fun out of the day.

But I did get a nice t-shirt….so it wasn’t all bad…I think.

Training in the USA

My ice run was cancelled today when I realised that my hotel was on the edge of a highway and that running would have put my life at risk. The lake that I planned to run around had bizarrely vanished and been replaced with a Wallmart.

Instead I asked the hotel to find me a gym and after a few phone calls I had the keys to a local sweat-box that I could use whenever I wanted.
It took me a few attempts to drive there (and I apologise to the very pissed off truck driver for almost running him off the road) but once there I was pleased to see that there were quite a few people working out.

After warming up I loaded up the bar for squats and did my first warm-up set. As I put the bar down and took a deep, happy breath a young guy wandered over and tried to engage me in conversation…however, I don’t speak Middle America and he soon left me, clearly thinking that I was some kind of retard. Later, when I was doing front squats a young girl came over to ask about the exercise (or at least that is what I think she asked as I could not understand a word she was saying). She too soon wandered off and went to confer with the original guy. There was lots of shaking of heads and shrugging of shoulders which clearly led me to conclude that they considered me a dullard that didn’t even speak English.

Later on, after a most pleasing workout, I went to a local bar for dinner. This again was less than successful and it was only by employing a man from Kansas that I was able to order dinner and avoid expiring from hunger. Middle America, it seems, is not my cup of tea.

Trevor's Update

Even Personal Trainers Struggle (Sometimes)

An insight of how Personal Trainers struggle as well, the last 3 weeks have been tough for me personally. I spend all my days motivating clients and classes, making sure they eat correctly, train in the right manner and that they are mentally strong for their challenge.

This is a job I would not switch for anything, I love being able to help and share my knowledge, and to see client achieve their goals.

Occasionally the demons hit us Personal Trainers and this is what has happened to me the last 3 weeks, my training has been poor by standards, the odd session here and there. I have lost the mojo, I have forgotten that to keep my fitness is as important as anything else.

My focus went towards the 16hr UltraRow that Phil & I completed, an amazing distance was covered of 174K and then I need to recover afterwards as well, then I picked up a niggling cold, not bad enough not to work but annoying enough to stop my training, on top of all this I have been decorating at home and that became a focus and not my training.

As any of my clients know you need a kick up the backside occasionally and I got mine yesterday, I had my body measurements done, 4 cms off my chest, 1.5cms off my arms (BUGGER NOT GOOD)

Or words to that effect were uttered.

My mind is now switched on and the training back in gear as of today, 5 weeks to regain those losses.

Three and a Half months to the Baikal Ice Marathon, I need to be in the best possible shape I possibly can be and I need to get Phil in the best possible shape that he has ever been in……

Trevor

Run America

Training is now taking place on the other side of the pond…

Today, I was up reasonably early and running around Long Island. It was a beautiful, late autumn day (or fall as the locals like to say…) and I went out to stretch my legs a little bit. Not being overly familiar with the area I kept the distance reasonably short and worked on the pace. It was, all things being equal, a lovely way to start a Sunday and added another 5 miles to the total.

Later, feeling overly virtuous, I went shopping and bought three new pairs of running shoes. The slightly weakened dollar and some cheekiness on my part made the prices very attractive and I ended up paying the same price for three new pairs of shoes as I did for the last ones I bought in England – which did make me wonder why more Americans aren’t out there pounding the streets on a regular basis.

Tomorrow, I have the first ice run planned and then it’s back to New York for a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, which at least will give me some kind of bragging rights.