I know I have another big week lined up for me, have to fit in the following:
my last week at my job
my first After Dinner speech
a 10km race
100 miles
Nina and I are currently undergoing a renovation project. We have bought a big house in Blaenau-Ffestiniog, and are hoping to do it up, and put it on AirBnB. I originally thought I could do the necessary jobs after work, and on weekends. That has proved to be impossible for me. So then I dropped to 3 days a week at work. I was still not getting enough done. So I had to hand in my notice to go full-time on the project. It is abit scary for a few reasons. 1. We have no incoming wage until the house gets done. 2. I really enjoy the routine that paid work gives.
Monday mornings it is always so hard to heave myself out of bed and go to work, but by midday, I start to feel abit more human, and I usually recover on the job, and get my groove on. I am very aware of my own laziness, and, despite being hugely motivated by our project, I’m abit scared about NOT being paid to get out of bed any more and start work on time.
On my last day at work, I am being passed up iron guttering, I am hauling it onto scaffolding. I have to reach down in an awkward way to grab it. I feel my back go, but then it disappears. Saturday morning, I wake up and it has returned. I can’t believe I have hurt my back on the last day at work. I go for my run (in gale-force winds) and it only gets worse. I try not to tell Nina, as if vocalising it will make it more real. But we are going swimming, which will include throwing and catching the kids. I know my back won’t be able to do it. I tell Nina, and then sit in the shallow end feeling sorry for myself.
When we get home I nap for about an hour, then have to prepare for my first ever After Dinner Talk. Eryri Harriers, my fell running club, have asked me to speak at their Annual Award Ceremony. I am very honoured, and excited, so I want to put on a good show.
I am abit nervous when we arrive, so that helps with the back pain. The talk goes very well, if I do say so myself. I will put up a blog friendly edition on here soon! I know, I know, I am too kind.
I get to bed around 11pm, wake up at 6am on Sunday morning to snow and gales. Driving through it for 2 hours to get to the Trafford 10k, I give myself every excuse in the world to turn back. But it is either this race, or 25 miles on the treadmill. And this seems marginally less terrible.
I get out of the van at race venue, and for some magical reason, my back spasm has cleared, and my legs are feeling ok.
As soon as the gun goes, I decide what to do. This is not a day for killing myself. This race is part of the process for me, leading to Reading Half Marathon, and then Brighton Marathon. I don’t need to flog myself here in this hail storm. I can just take the edge off it, and live to fight another day. My body will still get the benefit of 6 miles faster than marathon pace.
I am in a nice big group, tracking new Kent AC signing, Chris Bus. Chris has excellent running form, light and springy, so I am content to sit behind him the whole way, hoping some of it will rub off on me. Some parts it feels a little too easy, but I know how quickly launching off into a headwind on your own can kill your enthusiasm, so I just sit in the pack, and try to relax, think about my breathing.
We get to the final km and are suddenly into a headwind. The group is picking up the pace and I am finding it hard to go with them. Whether I am actually tired, frozen solid, or just don’t want to hurt myself, I don’t know, but when the finish line is in sight, I muster enough to catch Chris and a few other guys for the very unimpressive result of 31.38 and 27th place.
Fine. I’ll take it. Actually really enjoyed the race, and catching up with teammates after. The drive home is much harder. My van getting blown all around the M56, I have to stop and rest for an hour, my feeble forearms are struggling to grip the steering wheel.
| 4/03/2019 | AM | PM |
| Monday | REST | 6tm |
| hard day at work. Wet and cold up on dangerous scaffolding | ||
| Tuesday | REST | 2 x mile in 5.13. 7 x 800m in 2.23 (2min rest). 9 miles total |
| harsh weather on track, rain and wind | ||
| Wednesday | 7tm | 16tm |
| Thursday | 8tm | 6 miles including 8 x 100m strides |
| terrible weather again | ||
| Friday | 9tm @ 7min miling | 4tm @ 6min miling |
| last day at work. Pint after | ||
| Saturday | 10 | REST |
| sposed to run 15, but too hard fighting against the wind | ||
| Sunday | Trafford 10k – 31.38. 4 miles @ 5.50 miling. 16 miles total | 10tm |
| long day. Get home and sleep like I’m dead for 2 hours | ||
| TOTAL: | 101 miles | tm = treadmill |
Non-Running Highlight Of The Week:
My kids totally stole the show at the After Dinner speech, confident one liners and comic timing, I was very proud.
Best Thing On The Internet This Week:
Nina and I watched The Dawn Wall, after seeing Tommy Caldwell in Free Solo. Similarly incredible story. Getting into my climbing. Although could never be a good climber, too much gear!
Thing I’m Digging This Week:
Freya Ridings – You Mean The World To Me
It sounds amazing on the radio, but I don’t understand the music video AT ALL. Maybe you could explain it to me…
