Eight weeks to go. The training is progressing though sometimes it feels like really hard work. I've been going through these gates a lot recently. But are they the gates of heaven or hell? Going one way leads through into the deer park. Past the church and the obelisk. It can lead to a wonderful world of antlered deer stags, ice houses, world heritage, buzzards, the foothills of the dales, and a cafe with scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Heaven on earth. But it also leads to a very long mile uphill - the 'Studley Mile', up to it's very own Barkley gate at the top which I have to touch to complete a strength sapping speed interval. Eight minutes of hell doing each hill effort. Only to have to turn around and repeat, again and again. Or onwards through those gates at the top to do another 23 miles to complete a back-to-back-marathon-long-slow-trails-weekend. The thought of doing it is daunting. Going the other way through the gate is usually good. It'...
Any recent doubts are beginning to subside. I think I may be able to do this. The knee is behaving and allowing me to not only do the heavy strength exercises and cycling, but I am actually running. Outside. Any surface.
The cycling is continuing - but now with the added endurance and sprint sessions. My coach is confident. I'm confident. The running distances are building. Carry on - onwards and upwards.
Forget the Great Reset back in August, this is no conspiracy theory - it's actually happening. It's 'Reset: take two'. I'm not going to be able to test out as much as I would have wanted, but there were times I didn't think I'd get here, so I'm thankful. My aim is to give it my all and then reassess in March for the final push, hoping that the knee is up to it.
The animals are out in force to guide my way again, although some more as spirit guides than others. A run/walk around Dallowgill moor was led by a gloriously gliding kite, circling around, but leading my way. More birds of prey seen further up the valley. The other animals less fortunate: a string of road kill. A rabbit providing food for the kites on a long cycle ride over in the Vale of York. A rat overcome with exhaustion from the excess rain and swell of waves breaking over the harbour wall at Hartlepool parkrun after Storm Darragh. And topped by a squished weasel laid out on the Dallowgill Moor road. But all still helpfully posthumously pointing me in the right direction.
What a morbid carry on.
I'm testing equipment out. The watch is now behaving. It's tee-total. Spot on. I absolutely love my ultra pack that I bought for a song when the Inov-8 shop opened in York last spring. I've not really had the chance to use it properly up until now but I can see how it's going to become my best friend. I'm even hoping for something from the north Pole (?!) for Christmas.
My next challenge is testing out different foods on the go again.
Back to the carrion. How did I know it was a weasel and not a stoat? Well, a weasel is weasily recognised, and a stoat's stoatally different of course (© all xmas crackers each and every year).
Carry on.
Great news that you are back to serious training that takes you outside to the wild and windy moors. Birds of prey are mesmerizing as they seemingly effortlessly catch a thermal and spiral up, round and round. They make your heart soar with them. Just make sure you keep one eye on the track they are guiding you along. Don't want any accidents. Sad about the flattened fauna. Found a fauna casualty in the stables a day ago. Not easily recognisable given it had blown up to the point of bursting with the humidity and 39C temp. Appeared to be either a Rakali (Australian water rat) or a Ringtail Possum. Investigating with a long stick and holding my nose I went with the Rakali. Just wondering why I can't see any comments on your blog, not even mine and wondering whether mine get through. Never sure as we live in a mobile blackspot so reception is unreliable.
ReplyDeleteHi Yorkshire born Aussie. Just worked out how to find and approve comments on this website! Please direct message me via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bruce.willoughby.12 if you have facebook. We are connected!
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