MDS 2009 - Keith

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Training Structure

With the Maggie's fiasco still fresh in our minds our thoughts have now turned to a structured training program. As a result a meeting was called and it was decided that our first objective is to arrange individual structured training programs aiming towards the Dundee half marathon on Sunday 1st July 2007.
Our theory is, that instead of training for the MDS two years away, select progressively more and more difficult events to train for this way we can “springboard” from one event to the other while not getting bored with the regime.

A quick search on the Runners World website discovered suitable training templates for our needs. This coupled with the fitness assessment results and advice from Helen Weavers at Dundee University, has given us a challenging program to follow for the next six weeks. Running five times per week with two rest/Cross training days the immediate difference to our normal format is the daily mileage. Normally we would run about 3 times per week averaging about 8-10 miles per run. This program makes us run 5 times per week averaging about 7 miles per run.

Having now completed most of the first week I notice an immediate difference. The distance is no problem, the different intensities means I'm feeling pretty fatigued. This is probably due to a combination of factors, some of the runs require a greater effort for short periods, not what I'm used to. Also, lack of sleep, I'm probably averaging about six hours per night at the moment and I know this will have to change.

This is only week one and I’m sure I’ll feel the benefits of the program reasonably quickly.

We also gave thought to our first fund raising evening, hopefully towards the end of the year, keep visiting the site for more details!!

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Bike Hike and Frustration!!

This entire process is a steep learning curve. The website, the charity work, the outside agencies, the training. You would think that with all this to worry about at least once we got to the start line of an event we would know how to complete the event according to our abilities.........

Saturday 5th May 2007 saw us at the start of the Maggie's Monster Bike and Hike 30 mile mountain bike 40-mile hike - the Great Glen Way, Fort William - Inverness. Completed in 2005 in a time of 17 hours, with greatly superior fitness beating this time would be easy right? mmmm

Here's how to make a hard job even harder.

We arrived late in Fort William on Friday night, which in itself didn't make much difference, but this panic seemed to follow us through the weekend. We set alarms in plenty of time on Saturday morning, but arriving at the start banner, still managed to be about twenty minutes behind schedule, this was no-ones fault, however manifested itself in a scramble to the start line just in time for the count down for the off.

We had discussed a more relaxed pace for the cycle preferring to keep our energy for the ominous 40 mile hike/run, however the pace was brisk and as we made our way along the tow path we passed several competitors very quickly gaining relatively clear ground, Seamus had had his wheat-a-bix and led from the off, he had about one hundred meters on James and I who had decided to slip stream each other to preserve as much as possible. We took turns to recover before taking to the front.

With about 200 yards of tow path left to go I was sitting on James rear wheel recovering, when for reasons only known to Jamsie he announced he would change lanes to the other tyre track, normally this would be fine however the path was exceptionally stony and loose stones at that, between the terrain and the speed we were travelling the front tyre stuck leaving him no where to go except up and over the handle bars, this was bad, only made worse by 15 1/2 stone of big guy plus bike landing on top him. I instantly jumped up and called to Seamus, unfortunately he didn't hear me and was sure that we were in his tracks. At this, my immediate reaction was to confirm James was alive (which he was as the queens english was systematically being annihilated) then a confused mixture of total and utter frustration and concern for James took over.

This manifested itself in a bizarre mixture of advice regarding his injuries followed by a torrent of abuse followed by stating I was going to repair his bike for him. It is testament to the organisation of the Maggie's that within 5 - 10 minutes of the crash not only had we flagged down the lifeboat who summoned a first aider riding an ATV (all terrain vehicle). Not only this but as we realised that both James and my bikes were bust beyond repair they had summoned the bike mechanics and replacements were whistled up.

Total damage - James had a badly bruised knee and lacerated hand, my blood pressure went up and a total of about 50 minutes were lost.

Arriving in Fort Augustus with a total "riding time" of 2 hours 33min for the 30 miles we were quite pleased, however this soon turned to dismay when we learned that Seamus who had pushed on had taken a wrong turn and had somehow added about 20 miles to the route. When he did arrive he was pretty tired and covered in dried salt from sweating, this was not a good sign considering what was to come.

Total damage - Blood pressure went even higher, air turned blue, a poor banana, which happened to be sitting nearby, was obliterated and the time lost increased by another hour and a half.

The good thing about being as close as we are, is that we can clear the air quickly, this meant we left Fort Augustus at about 12:40 hours (about 1 3/4 hours late).

We put all this behind us and pushed on, we made good progress to Invermoriston the 9-mile checkpoint. We had run most of the flat and downhill sections and had passed a lot of participants, which is always a big boost. Never one to pass up an opportunity we even had time to accost the film crew making a documentary of the race for future promotions, team hotrunning got their two minutes of fame!!.
Leaving Invermoriston to the sounds of Highland Cathedral sent my hairs on end, as it's a direct link to my other passion - rugby!

The 13 miles to Drumnadrochit were uneventful until I started to develop stomach problems. I couldn't figure it out, I was trying to graze as I ran and had kept sipping my electrolyte drink. What was happening? By the time we reached the last water station of the stage my stomach was swollen which, (as it is big enough as it is) made running very problematic. We reached Drumnadrochit and as the hopes of a good time were out the window, I was particularly looking forward to a massage, hopefully from a fit looking blonde, blue eye's, big b....... alas no, I end up with Bruno the very nice Frenchman. I would say however he was excellent and worth every penny!!

Feeling better, we left Drumnadrochit at just after 7pm still 2 hours behind where we had hoped to be. The next 20 miles were nothing short of a disaster for me. By three miles into the stage and halfway along the steep ascent my stomach finally packed in and launched my nutrition and hydration efforts all over the path. Feeling instantly better it finally dawned on me what the source of the problem was. In my effort to stave off the effects of hyponatremia I was inadvertently overdosing on electrolytes, my stomach had never been asked to consume that much salt since I last had a haggis supper from the Discovery Chipper!! I jettisoned my electrolyte mix and replaced it with plain water however the damage was done. My body wanted me to stop but we still had 15 miles to go.

Now my turn to be the butt of the frustration I trudged slowly onwards and frustratingly several competitors began to pass us. Memories of two years ago came flooding back, same race - same section - same scenario - different reason. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!
For the next ten miles I plodded onwards occasionally grunting at Jimmy or James but mostly in silence. I vomited another twice before calling on the services of the course doctor who fixed me up with a couple of stematol tablets to stop the nausea just five miles from home.

Total damage - blood pressure WHO CARES!! Another 50 minutes lost.

The last five miles were slightly more comfortable but in silence except for the occasional frustrated bark at the Jimmies we completed the race at about 01:30 in the morning. The times are yet to be confirmed and became irrelevant to us by the end. We ALL knew in our own ways we had blown the opportunity to prove to ourselves we were in shape. We were at least 4 hours later than expected and pretty miserable.

No one escaped, it's amazing how, in our own ways, we had each individually contributed to what turned out to be a disappointing day. Looking back, the positives to be taken were that we were all reasonably physically fresh, meaning that if I had been capable we could have pushed harder on the second and third stages making up big time. I have learned another valuable lesson regarding the electrolytes, and I'm sure that Jimmy and James have picked up valuable information for future events.

This event highlights to me that I could not participate in such a gruelling event or on-going preparation with anybody else other than my two good mates. You need to be surrounded by those who can tell it how they see it and also put up with you when your feeling a "little tetchy". Our respective competitive spirits came to fore on Saturday and I wouldn't have it any other way.
The mental toughness shown by James in continuing through the obvious pain of the crash, the physical and mental toughness of Seamus in adding twenty needless miles to his route and listening to my ranting before being slowed by my difficulties.
You have to be tough. I think we’re getting there.

I know the next time out we’ve got something to prove to the most important people out there. OURSELVES!

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Lot's Happening

My head is spinning!!

In the last 8 weeks we've built a website, printed our own business cards, personalised our running kit, heard ourselves on Radio Tay, Wave 102, seen ourselves on STV and arranged interviews with the Courier and Evening Telegraph, completed a fitness test, applied for several corporate sponsors, negotiated help with publicity material, held down a full time job and had to fit in training, not to mention spend time with our loved one's!!
This is only the second month in it's quite phenomenal the speed at which the momentum has gathered.

Even tonight I find myself pouring over the fitness test results as well as trying to work out a rough timetable for the Maggie's Monster Bike and Hike now just three days away.

How many Hours? How fast should we go? How much to eat and drink? When to eat and drink? What to eat and drink? Will my feet hold up? And probably the biggest question of them all for me - Will I suffer another epic "salty"?(Hponatremia).
This race holds a special place in my head and only on Sunday morning lying in my B+B scratcher will I know whether I can push myself to the limits I'll need to, with few ill effects.

We have an eight o'clock start on Saturday morning which, all things being equal will mean we'll have time to properly prepare and then constantly have people ahead of us whom we can aim to pass. This has a huge psychological effect and will hopefully keep us ploughing on. As a wee bit of interest, we've spoken with a Rab Lee from Edinburgh, he is participating in the MDS 2009 as well, however he also has a team in for the Maggie's they leave at seven o'clock so will have an hour on us straight away. Did I mention we're all a bit competitive...........

As for the test results I'll have to spend time studying the implications. Basically we're all pretty fit just now but obviously have significant improvements to make. Personally it's a bit of a relief to see on paper that maybe I'm not as far behind Jimmy and James's levels as I thought I might be. We're about to construct a proper structured training program which we should reap the benefits of in the long term.

Calling it a night. Am going to spend the next three nights drinking water, resting a sleeping!!

Cheers