Preparing For An Ultra - Lessons my Children Teach Me!

After the Edinburgh Half Marathon, its just 3 months now until my Ultra Distance Adventure Race - Scotland Coast to Coast (105miles in 2 days).

My training is now moving to different levels, including more cycling and hill/fell running for longer distances.

On June 6th, my fellow Deerstalker from the event in March and I completed our first Duathlon.  Located up near Dundee in Scotland, it was considered a 'sprint' distance with a 5k run followed by 20k cycle.

Given the amount of rainfall, we could quite easily have made it a Triathlon and had to swim parts of the course!

Our race line-up arrived via email the day or 2 before and to our horror, it was just 31 competitors long with virtually every other person affiliated to either an athletics, cycle or triathlon club........perhaps we had gone a little bit more ambitious than our capabilities should allow!

A Colleague of Craig's (called SatNav following this event - revealed later) joined us and at the start, we agreed he would set off and Craig and I would keep a steady pace moving together.

Needless to say, by the time we had reached 2.5k, the fog had descended and Craig & I might as well have been on our own for we could not see anyone....

At 400m from the transition, SatNav passed us on his bike, smiling and looking relatively fresh.

 We got onto our bikes and commenced the 20k circuit.  At 7.5k we were feeling good and thought we didn't have far to go.......we forgot it was 20k and not 10k!

A fast downhill section helped, but then a long drawn out steady incline for 5k, with the steepest section at the end had us both 'blowing' hard.

Our morale and spirit was dented further as we had 2k to complete and passing us by were other competitors......who had finished, packed their bikes in their cars and were heading home!

We finally crossed the line, together, 1hr 26mins later and very wet!

At this point, the organisers were brilliant and gave us plenty of support and congratulations.  Then we realised someone was missing!  For a moment we were elated to find out we weren't last......then it became apparent another competitor may be injured or lost.  The missing person was identified as Craig's colleague.

SatNav & Craig

 Search party organised, patterns established we were about to set off in search when through a side entrance to the park cycles the missing person........whom is now referred to as SatNav! 
After much ribbing and hilarity, we packed up and prepared for the 100mile drive home - stopping off to grab a quick drink and agree our next adventure........the Sandy Slither 10k (Coastal/Beach 10k in Fife) on 4th July!


On Saturday 10th June, my Daughter's and I decided to go orienteering as part of their Scout map reading practice.  We spent a good 3 hours wandering around our local country park, following the maps and getting plenty of fresh air.  Both had been at their Zumba class that morning already and we had a family 5k fun run to do the following day.

Team Kelly!

Sunday 10th June and its the Glasgow East End 5k.  Advertised as a family fun run, its all about the participation and not the time completed.

Both girls wanted to set a target of finishing under 40mins so I agreed to pace them accordingly.

The first 1k was hard, navigating through walkers, dogs, pushchairs and the odd pot-hole.

34mins later they crossed the line, holding hands and with a huge sense of achievement.  They had run hard, at one point wanting to give up and not believing they could do it - but they did and did so really well!

Proud Dad Moment

 
Sat rummaging through their 'end of race goody bags', I asked them how they felt.

'Fine' was the reply.
'Really? You said 10minutes ago you were so exhausted you couldn't finish!'
'No, we're fine now'
'That's good.  Remember how you feel just 5mins after finishing so that when it gets tough next time, you can remember this and tell yourself you can do it and will be fine afterwards!'
'Yes Dad......oooooo can we have one of these sweets please?'

Putting aside the fantastic time they ran it in, my pride as their Father was built solely around their effort, determination and spirit to keep going when their mind told them to give up.

That memory is firmly etched in my mind as I now prepare for the hardest physical event I have undertaken since leaving the army many years ago.  If my kids can do it and show true grit and determination, then I have got to do it too otherwise how can I be a role model for them and their future development!

Thank you Lauren & Georgia.........love you loads xxx!  This one's for you!