6 Weekends To Go & Still On Track...

Another week down and another week closer. So far so good as far as training goes, physically everything is starting to gel really well although I still feel all over the place as far as my thoughts go with regards to the actual race itself. Last weeks training totalled 55 miles walking, 10 miles cycling and 4 miles running for a grand total of 69 miles. The run and cycle was an unplanned and unexpected bonus so they were both done with enthusiasm!

• Monday was my well advertised Sloc walk. Alan dipped into work in the morning and got stuck there, Dave and Mathew both had niggles and wisely opted to rest up. Dipsy here ventured around on his lonesome. Left Rushen church, up the Sloc, right at the Round Table into Colby, back to Rushen Church and repeat the entire route. I planned 23 miles and as this was just shy I made sure of the distance by nipping into Port Erin to make a total of 23.03 miles. Monday was hard going. Armed with a total sun block already on I started in cloudless skies with the sun pounding down on me whilst fighting every step of the way into a gusting headwind all the way to the Round Table. My time was 4h and 58 with an average pace of 4.6 mph which I was pleased with considering the climb and winds. I also found myself cursing the fact I laughed at Steve Partington and his exploits dodging sheep in the firemans walk, I had a herd of cows to negotiate through, of which I took a picture on my mobile and sent it to my wife! I must admit I feel glad all my hill work to date has been of quality because my legs did ache for a few hours after. PS. will find another sun block because I got wind burn, I can recommend any after sun with aloe vera works well!
• Tuesday was a weights day in the gym. No walking.
• Wednesday I combined 2 routes over a distance of 15.5 miles again hard going dew to the hot sun. The main problem I am having is that carrying 2 to 3 litres in a Kamelback is still carrying excess weight and sometimes the straps do have a habit of rubbing. Nonetheless will be glad when walking in the Parish because will not be wearing this.
• Thursday saw Alan and myself pounding the streets of Douglas. We combined speed and hills. Start point was the NSC to, Crellins Hill, Broadway, The Arches and Blackberry Lane and back. Hard work and didn't stop this one until 1030pm. Again legs achey tired but not too bad.
• Friday was a walk into work. Run with a client and walk home again. Once arrived home a big sigh of relief, time off for good behaviour and no more walking over the weekend.
• The cycles I got in were 5 miles on Monday and 5 miles on Wednesday. No speeds involved it was just nice to spin the legs and go easy doing some light training for a change.

As you can see no real problems at all here. The mileage is still progressing nicely, no real injury worries and physically feeling great. Now the problem. I am considering one or 2 race day options here. Plan 1. Start of nice and slow, keep with a pace and stay at it to the end. Resulting in hopefully bettering my time from last year and avoiding the majority of the pain I so vividly remember. Plan 2. Dare I say it...race it!!! Now I am split into 2 here. I quite clearly remember one of the main reasons for saying never again before, mainly due to the training workloads that were involved with this. This year has been no different, in fact this year to date has been twice as bad because the training has been planned and followed to the letter with very few exceptions. I have not really missed a planned training session at all and it is now at a point where I can quite happily say I am cheesed of with the mammoth effort that is involved with the walking sessions. I can now appreciate the effort it takes to prepare for any sport discipline or sporting event. The only reason I feel like I could race it, walk it fast as opposed to slow, is the fact I know I have put the hard work in with the training sessions and have given myself every chance of having a go at a good time. I do feel so much stronger than this point last year and I now know what it is like to complete the course. If I do the Parish again I am sure of one thing, I will not be putting in the time that I am now with regards to the hours walking I am currently doing. No way. It has taken over my life and I must admit I didn't see it coming but it has and I can't do anything about it. With regards to what I will do I feel my decision has to be made nearer to, or, on the day itself. I have to see how the rest of the training goes, whether or not an injury comes into play, how I feel on the day and most importantly if it is going to be a hot day or not. In a weird way writing out my thoughts sort of helps with the decision making so from now on in- minimal moaning and let my feet do the talking!

As far as next week goes I am really looking forward to Monday. Alan is picking me up in the morning and we are driving to Lezayre and walking back to my house for my 24.5 mile session. As you are aware I, unlike many others, do not like this stretch of the course, especially the run out of Maughold so I will hopefully be putting a few demons to rest that are associated with this particular part of the course. Again, I must say that I am looking forward to this as part of my training plan was to walk more of the course. This part is the last important part for me so I am keeping fingers crossed that it all goes well. As far as the rest of the week goes it will be similar again to last week with the addition of another spin session on my Trixter bike and building on my mileage from last week. I am hoping to get to walk appx. 56.5 miles with some weight work in the gym, another outdoor cycle and maybe another easy run. It sounds a lot but this is now done with 2 days rest in a week and it seems like I have the right balance with the workloads and the rest periods, so for the moment I will plough on. Am still apprehensive but it is now tinged more with a certain element of excitement and dare I say it,  with only 48 days to go I can't wait.