“How do you have time for that?”

74 days to go

Not that I am counting 🤥

And we are right in the time that honestly training gets fairly all consuming and a bit crappy some days.

You are close to an event

but not enough to get excited about it

(of course by that I mean buying new kit and snacks)

You are far enough away that the “ah I can skip this workout” thoughts creep in

But too close for that to actually be true and you really need to get them done

The niggles in muscles and joints are there

The training time mounts up so other things have to be missed to make time

If you are doing for charity you really need to get knuckling down to fundraising

and it starts to feel a bit all consuming.

Quite rightly people ask “How do you have time?”

When I have done things like this before I was baby free (and not also trying to move house) so arguably had more time to train, but, it was far harder.

However, this time round it is different

I can’t procrastinate

I can’t just do another day

I can’t avoid the rain

Well, I can.

But only if I want to the implode the rest of the days schedule and honestly not much is worth the drama that unfolds if that kid misses a nap!

So I am often reminding myself of Parkinsons Law to keep myself on track.

“…the old adage that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.”

or for me; the longer you give yourself the more faffing time you have, just get going.

So in practical terms how do you train for an ultra when hella busy?

1) Expectation management

I do not race to compete at the moment - just complete. I am not worried about beating anyone else or past me. I have no real goals outside of just finishing and being in 1 piece.
This not only takes the pressure off but also totally changed how I train for longer events as it is no where near as specific

2) It matters less how you get the miles in and more that you do get them in.

So if I need to split up a long run in to 2, that all good.

If I need to walk with Oli and stop half way for a feed for him and lunch for me, thats all good. Just complete the miles.

3) Strength training is non-negotiable

I am far more likely to have issues on the course from a niggle or from an injury than I am from mentally needing to stop (That work has been done over the last few years - I couldn’t have said that a few years ago). BUT, that doesn’t mean it need to be in the gym. Kettlebells, body weight, literally any way you can get some strength work in 2/3 times a week you are all good.

4) Split into “Key’” Runs and “Would be a good idea to do” runs

Keys runs are just 1 or 2 a week that cannot be missed the others, can be skipped if needed. Again, really takes the pressure off and if you are not going for a set time you probably don’t need as much milage/week as you think

5) Rest is as important as doing the runs

Sleep is a bit questionable at the moment, especially as I am usually working in the evenings so no early nights either. Unfortunately if you aren’t recovering your training is not helping you improve so last week I took a deload week to catch up. Combined it with the most challenging part of my month hormone wise as my training tends to be terrible then anyway and upped my calories to help recover. Its made the world of difference! Not only just from not training but it also opens up some extra space in the day for sleep that would have been taken by training sessions. win - win

Now, as I have said on previous blogs I have somewhat designed my life in this way and what works for me would absolutely not work in the same way for someone who does shift work for example. I can be more flexible and that is a huge help, but, it doesn’t change the amount of hours in the day and ultimately when training ramps up there are going to be some compromises.

No, we aren’t doing a lot of socialising at the moment

Time together is usually a long walk while Oliver sleeps as Dani is also training for a 100K later in the year

Every weekend between now and Race To The Castle is already planned out which I know to some seems insane

Ultimately something my first coach said to me really rings true

“Rosie, can can absolutely do anything. But you cannot do everything…well not all at the same time or very well.”