Warm up fling training week 1 completed!

 Sunday 4th May 2025

This is a much more positive post since the last one! After I had wrote that last post I was pretty flat. The weather was good that day & I was desperate to get out for a run somewhere. I hadn't ran at all that week (or done anything else). John (my husband) could see I was getting annoyed at myself for wanting to take some time for a run but didn't want to waste the day not seeing them all. He suggested we go to Lowther hill where he works frequently. I wasn't ecstatic about the idea and hadn't realised it was on the Southern Upland Way (it's lit a fire that's worth it's own post). The idea was I could go for a jaunt up the hill and he would take the kids to the park at Wanlockhead. Win win. It was a great idea & I really enjoyed it. You'll probably be reading this from knowing me through Instagram but won't be shocked I'm mentioning the fact I took my 1st wild dump on this hill. It was coming at some stage & I'm glad to get it over with now. Next piece of kit being bought is a poop shovel!

The week after that was uneventful & I marshalled at devil o the highlands footrace. It was cool to be on the other side of it this time & give something back. Seeing everyone I smiled so much that day & loved having Sharon as the checkpoint boss as I knew what to expect from last time marshalling at Balmaha for the fling last year.

Something else really cool happened on the Friday night. I got to meet Lucy Colquhoun who's the current female West Highland Way record holder. For 17 years. Incredible. She was very humble and we had a fascinating chat. I'd love to chat more with her and her dogs were cool as well!

That's the gap filled in from the week before, both things mentioned could do with their own write up but that's not what this post is about! 

I hadn't intended on making the last week 'week 1', but the devil lit a fire in me. People kept asking if I was envious about doing it this year to which I replied 'absolutely not!'. It's true, the devil would have ate me alive and spat me out if I tried it. The training has been non existent for 2025 & I have no idea how I managed so many miles on Falkirk ultra. My goal was to target marathon distance & I didn't think I'd manage that. So was shocked when I managed 29 miles. What that race done for me was - if I can manage 29 miles on inconsistency & poor diet, what will I manage when I'm committed? This prospect excites me.

Nic (my coach) sent out the plan for May to which we are base building again. I have had a loan of a turbo trainer from a fantastic pal (thanks Rachel) so the plan is 3 runs plus the turbo & strength & conditioning. I had a look at 'week 1' and decided to do this plan this week in preparation for next week. I tweaked the interval session to allow for time (I'll explain shortly) & decided to see how I would fare in a 'warm up' week. Here's how it went:

Monday - Nothing. S&C didn't happen as I was still tired from the devil. I woke up with the intention of doing it later, that didn't happen. Weather was good though & I got the washing hung out before work as well as sorting the family out for work/school. Bonus!

Tuesday - Intervals. My oldest has rugby for an hour on Tuesday night so here's my opportunity to do those. Planned next week's workout which took me over an hour to do (by Garmin's estimation). Didn't want to take a chance and be late collecting her so used an old workout I knew I'd manage in the time. Headed down to Mount Vernon park where I could do loops without crossing roads. It was a great session but gosh I forgot how tough they were! It's been far too long in doing them. Put on my Alphafly's for fun & they helped me smile around the session. Feeling good for completing this.

Wednesday - Again, no S&C as I forgot I had a meeting in the evening but got the washing done again! It's the small things eh?

Thursday - Turbo is on the plan but way too nice an evening to waste in the house. I check in all is well for heading up to Croy (a very last minute decision as it was almost Chatlerhault) & it was a great idea. A small loop up Castle & Barhill but some good elevation to try & find those hill legs again. This should probably have been a tempo session but I made up for it with Castle hill. If you haven't done it, I suggest doing so!

Friday - Rest day. I will implement yoga into this & a short walk as it says in the plan.

Saturday - Long run day. I need to prepare for these better the night before. Especially when they start getting longer. Another snap decision on the morning to go to the WHW start & get really familiar with the route. It might settle race day nerves. I started just before 8am and had planned 90-120 mins. Just an out & back. I jog walked a lot of it as it starts uphill. Through Mugdock it's deceptive as well. On the way back lots of hikers starting their journey & even a que for photos at the start. Longest I've ran for a while & felt good after it. Fuelling needs a close look but this will be getting addressed in the coming weeks.

Sunday - Recovery. Oldest at rugby again so a 45 min recovery run. Listen to a chilled podcast & feeling great I've ran 4 times this week. I'm starting to feel more like my old self again.

Things are starting to settle in the job & I don't feel quite as stressed out. In future weeks I plan on writing this blog post a lot earlier (it's almost 10pm & past my bedtime), write my mindset journal for the week & plan food. I'll prep my breakfast for the morning, sort the coffee then rest. Hopefully I'll get as good a sleep as last night which is the best I've slept in ages.

If you've got this far thanks for having a read! It's been good to reflect on the week & take this time to do so. Lots to think about for the next week which I'll document for next week.