Running 1000km and questioning why? - February 14th 2014
14th February 2014
Do I like running? No, I am pretty sure I don't. This weekend I reached a 'small' milestone in that I have done 1000km of running in training. Whilst I unwittingly completed the 1000km, I was no doubt probably trying to answer a question that plagues me on most of my long runs... 'why am I doing this again?'.
I am not convinced I can ever honestly say I have enjoyed going for a run. I don't consider myself 'a runner' and am most definitely not one of those people who gets agitated if I miss I run - on the contrary, I have to really convince myself that getting out on the road or treadmill is a good idea.
Why do I do this?
Good question. Having just run 133km this week (more than 3 marathons) I should probably have quite a well developed answer to this. I am not sure I do. I think the drive I have is much bigger, proving to myself and others that it is possible to achieve things that most think are 'impossible'. I think I tolerate the running in that bigger picture.
It is however fair to say that I love the sense of exploration. Not necessarily in terms of what I find on my runs - almost every single long run I do in Johannesburg is exact the same route - more the sense of exploring what is possible for me, discovering what my boundaries are. I can distinctly remember at least 3 runs that I did actually enjoy - each and every one was where I was trying to break a new distance, 80km, 100km and 160km. It wasn't that I enjoyed the running experience... it hurt like hell; my feet were on fire, I was a sweaty mess, my legs ached and on at least two of those occasions I had no iPod power left...
It was seeing how far I could go, seeing how long I could tell my body to carry on before giving in (something I have still never done). Running alone through the night along a misty and deserted Thames Path in a part of the country I have never been before (who would run to Maidenhead?!) was genuinely a life changing experience for me - I was discovering something new and experiencing a sense of freedom and exploration I hadn't had since I was a child.
These runs were seminal experiences in my life. Sadly now I am having to spend 10-12 hours a week running up and down to try and get fit enough to experience a run where I rekindle those feelings. I live in hope that the MDS can deliver.
Updates
Mission accomplished - April 24th 2014
Mission successful! I completed the Marathon Des Sables after 6 days of running, walking and hobbling the 250km through the Sahara in temperatures that went up to 54c (130f). The race... more »
Being light on my feet - March 20th 2014
I may be injured, but I am lighter than I have ever been. In just 6 months, I have lost over 10% of my bodyweight and am going to be hauling a lot less mass around the desert. At least one thing... more »
AAAGGGHHH, what is wrong with my leg?! - March 18th 2014
My last run... my very last long run, just 5km to go out of the 28km and BANG! Massive pain down the outside of my leg. Hmmm... I can't run. I can barely walk. This really isn't good at... more »
Injury and optimism - March 11th 2014
Hearing the words 'Sorry, I can't sign your medical form as you have a heart defect' did come as a bit of a surprise to me I must admit. A heart defect eh? That doesn't sound... more »
The weight of things - March 7th 2014
£12.99 for an 11g spoon? Absolutely worth it. £400 on a 535g ultralight sleeping bag? Seems reasonable. 7.45 calories per gram of macademia nuts - best stock up. I have even... more »
How hot is 'hot'? - February 28th 2014
Experiencing extreme cold was quite horrific at times. I regularly worried about bits of my face, hands and feet falling off. Extreme heat however, presents a whole host of other problems.... more »
Breaking my Marathon PB - February 22nd, 2014
Late flight, a greasy burger for dinner and a 3am start. Far from ideal preparation for what was only my 2nd ever timed marathon. Could I beat my marathon PB? Well, that wasn't going to be... more »
Running 1000km and questioning why? - February 14th 2014
Do I like running? No, I am pretty sure I don't. This weekend I reached a 'small' milestone in that I have done 1000km of running in training. Whilst I unwittingly completed the... more »
Deemed 'crazy' by royalty - January 23rd, 2014
I was once taught the concept of 'mirroring', matching one's facial expressions and body language to the person you are talking to - helping ensure they are comfortable. I appear to... more »
Christmas 'training' - December 26th, 2013
Despite having lived in Torquay for 18 years, I don't think I had ever once been running. Why would I have done that?! So, it's Christmas, and I need to run a marathon. This was easier... more »

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