I was in a pub just over a week ago, off Victoria Street in London, with my mate Andy. Andy is a top bloke and a great athlete currently training for an Ironman Triathlon in June. At the moment he is pumping in the miles on both the bike and in the trainers in a bid to be on top of his game when he heads down to the south coast of France to compete in June.
We then started talking about swimming and Andy confessed that this is not something he has been doing a huge amount of in the winter and that putting the three together and racing in three months is beginning to concern him. When you see his training plan and records of what he has done its difficult to believe he can have any self-doubt. He will storm it!
This got me thinking as I often feel the same with Ultra’s and for me at least I only have to put one foot in front of the other. Its fine to do training runs of 10 to 20 miles a few times a week during the winter but come March and a quick look at the calendar always shows there are less pages to turn than there were at Christmas when entering the events seemed such a good idea.
A couple of weeks prior I was at a networking breakfast and the discussion was about the do’s and don’ts of starting a business. One, of the many, great suggestions was to eat elephant. When you have to do something start it and just get going. This is so like training, you may not get it perfect, but you have to start somewhere and when you look back the accumulative effect of all those training runs, and in Andy’s case rides, will only be known during the hard stages of a race.
Wednesday 10 March 2010
Monday 8 March 2010
You're going well!
This weekend was a great one for running. The weather was dry, sunny and cool (cold). The rain last week made the underfoot sticky but the sun was baking it dry, so just enough squelch and resistance.
I did the same run twice (extended pea field) both during sunset. The lowering sun over the river Deben really was a delight. And going late meant I only saw two dogs all weekend, which were together and on leads, bonus!
Yesterday I was coming down Sandy Lane and went past two runners coming up towards me. The first a friendly lady said hi. I skipped on 200 yards and saw the second, an older chap in his 70s. He was doing more of a fast walk than a run but it is a fair incline and long one too. As I went past he smiled and said ‘you’re going well’. Suddenly I felt an added spring and enjoyed the two miles home.
Over the remainder of my run it got me thinking about people who encourage me during work. Every time I see Adam Gray I get abuse but never do I leave a conversation or a meeting without a ‘you’re going well’ comment, like the one I got on my run yesterday. Thanks to that chap and Adam this is something I’m going to start doing more both on runs and at work to give others that happy, motivated, feeling.
I did the same run twice (extended pea field) both during sunset. The lowering sun over the river Deben really was a delight. And going late meant I only saw two dogs all weekend, which were together and on leads, bonus!
Yesterday I was coming down Sandy Lane and went past two runners coming up towards me. The first a friendly lady said hi. I skipped on 200 yards and saw the second, an older chap in his 70s. He was doing more of a fast walk than a run but it is a fair incline and long one too. As I went past he smiled and said ‘you’re going well’. Suddenly I felt an added spring and enjoyed the two miles home.
Over the remainder of my run it got me thinking about people who encourage me during work. Every time I see Adam Gray I get abuse but never do I leave a conversation or a meeting without a ‘you’re going well’ comment, like the one I got on my run yesterday. Thanks to that chap and Adam this is something I’m going to start doing more both on runs and at work to give others that happy, motivated, feeling.
Friday 5 March 2010
Opportunities from running
I’ve had two great runs this week. One was traditional and the second much more profitable.
Over the last month Simon and I have been running back from work once or twice a week – Simon is in great form at the moment and to be honest showing me a clean pair of heels. But on Wednesday my rhythm was back and it really was a pleasure to be going through the woods at night. The feeling of running fast through a tunnel was back – this time with light at the end of it!
On Monday I had a Dynamics CRM sales training day at Microsoft in Reading – great food, great talks and great motivational stuff. At the end of the day three xbox’s were given away. Two were given away with a draw for event feedback forms. When the final feedback form was about to be drawn Gavin Ingham, the motivational guy for the day, said ‘the days been about selling – so let’s not draw this one – who wants it?’
As you can imagine everyone put their hands up, Gavin then said ‘that is too easy, we have been talking about selling, attitude, reaching higher, going further for our clients...someone show me you really want it’
As soon as he started saying this my running instinct took hold – luckily i was on an aisle seat so jumped up, skipped down to the front and stood next to him. As Gavin finished he turned, looked a bit surprised I was standing there and I said ‘please can I have it?’. He kindly gave me the xbox.
It just goes to show when we go for a run we never know the opportunities that will come from it. On Wednesday it was for that amazing sensation when you feel at one with nature and yourself, but on Monday for an xbox.
Over the last month Simon and I have been running back from work once or twice a week – Simon is in great form at the moment and to be honest showing me a clean pair of heels. But on Wednesday my rhythm was back and it really was a pleasure to be going through the woods at night. The feeling of running fast through a tunnel was back – this time with light at the end of it!
On Monday I had a Dynamics CRM sales training day at Microsoft in Reading – great food, great talks and great motivational stuff. At the end of the day three xbox’s were given away. Two were given away with a draw for event feedback forms. When the final feedback form was about to be drawn Gavin Ingham, the motivational guy for the day, said ‘the days been about selling – so let’s not draw this one – who wants it?’
As you can imagine everyone put their hands up, Gavin then said ‘that is too easy, we have been talking about selling, attitude, reaching higher, going further for our clients...someone show me you really want it’
As soon as he started saying this my running instinct took hold – luckily i was on an aisle seat so jumped up, skipped down to the front and stood next to him. As Gavin finished he turned, looked a bit surprised I was standing there and I said ‘please can I have it?’. He kindly gave me the xbox.
It just goes to show when we go for a run we never know the opportunities that will come from it. On Wednesday it was for that amazing sensation when you feel at one with nature and yourself, but on Monday for an xbox.
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