Runners routines and rituals

Runners routines and rituals or Controlling the uncontrollable.

Runners like any other athlete develop coping mechanisms, routines and rituals. (or nervous ticks)

Listening to the same song, shaking you head from side to side, performing a particular stretch routine, making the sign of the cross or putting a certain shoe on first. Runners employ many methods in order to get into the zone, many of them with no logical basis. The objective is to try to block out the environment, focusing all thoughts into one, and above all reinforce the idea that everything is ok.

Superstitions, fixations, ideas or routines, call it what you want, but most runners need a 'safe place'. They need to repeat a sequence of actions, however insignificant, to help them concentrate and stay focused. If you did a survey many of us would admit to the same procedures, but each uses his own little mechanism to try to have a sense of control over something that is beyond control. The weather, injury or even failure, these are just some of the drawbacks of long distance running, but still most runners convince themselves that they can be overcome or avoided if they just keep following the routine.

Concentration, disconnection, abstraction, responses to fear, these are all area’s that can be trained and over a long race are almost evenly combined. Unfortunately, while most of us long distance runners are “elite athletes” and act as such to many extents, we neglect to take care of certain aspects that are more important than other. Many extremely talented runners have been left behind due to their bad habits, which they fail to deal with when their performance slumps.

Training daily, eating a healthy diet and resting is the bread and butter of any reasonably good athlete. Training the mind in order to face the pressure of the big occasion is also fundamental to optimizing performance. Being able to concentrate and manage intense moments of concentration is basic. Runners must know how to structure a long race and stick to the plan (if they have one) and focus to perform at their best. There are two types of concentration: introspection, used to loosen up, and fixation on outside factors. Rest is also crucial to avoid excessive fatigue, both physical and metal, which can affect overall performance. The better your performance, the easier it is to rest. If you are too self-critical you may analyse all the reasons why and will not disconnect.

Do not confuse rest with isolation, which can sometimes form part of the period before concentration can begin. Finding a place to eat alone, escaping or just a nap, are some basic mechanisms to release tension and drive away negative thoughts. Some runners reach such levels of concentration that they are little more than zombies, their bodies roaming the finish area after a race, but their thoughts elsewhere.

'Controlling the uncontrollable' also applies to fear, certainly my biggest enemy. In sport there are many types of fear and one of the most significant is the fear of failure.The natural human response to fear is paralysis, avoidance and struggle. Runners who take a big fall and jump back up without pause are crazy!' It is a common enough remark but there is little truth to it. The accumulated level of adrenaline is such that a runners first thought after a fall in the middle of a race is, quick, I need to get back up because the race is nearly over,' not 'oh dear, I fell, i could have broken something!

Often my fear appears later when in the cold light of day i think again about the damage i could have possibly done. This fear is more a friend than foe, as it helps me to recognize my limits. In contrast, excessive fear or panic may block logical though, becoming a handicap for a runner or indeed any other person.

In order to understand a little more the grey matter of a runner we see self-belief as another way to face reality. Very important indeed. There is scientific evidence that positive or indeed negative thinking influences brain responses. But be careful, your self-belief must come from an objective place. And humility must be your universal force. Think that it is best to be positive, without losing sight that in order to win, every battle must be fought first. Arrogance and overconfidence are a fast track to failure.

That said, when you see a runner or other athlete doing some strange gesture or following a curious ritual, do not be surprised, it is their way of trying to get a sense of control over something that is basically uncontrollable.

A Cylist’s life

A Cylist’s life

I occasionally drive a car, hence i am a motorist, i do my best not to fall into any of these groups. I also recommend you don’t waste your time reading this drivel, however if you do decide to read on - YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

I am a cyclist, i ride to work and i work to ride, as a long distance runner i find cycling to be an important part of my training regime (as is chocolate & biscuits).

Over the years i have experienced the pitfalls of cycling but have managed to stay in one piece and, through adopting a defensive riding style, i have managed to remain pretty much damage free.

This has not happened by chance, if you want to stay upright on the roads today you have to treat motorists with the contempt they deserve. Many of them are mindless narcissistic idiots who have little focus on anything but self. Harsh but fair.

I like to put motorists into groups based on simple rules, which i make up as i go along, i also allow myself to name the groups, usually with something derogatory, this is because it amuses me and in my mind its ok.

Using what i call the “Ricker scale” i give each group a mark from 10, 1-4 are minor annoyances and any self respecting cyclist should spot these easily, scores between 5 and 10 are awarded to “special” people who excel, even for motorists.

Desperate Don the “Dick head” driver.

Desperate Don drivers are always in a rush and don’t care about other road users, in fact the more venerable the road user the less Don cares. Don is a bully who will squeeze through any gap, ignoring the cyclist who is in the way and the poor unsuspecting normal person who is unlucky enough to be coming the other way. Don scores 5 on the “Ricker scale”.

Pull out Pamela queen “Munter”.

Pamela is the motorist who pulls up to a T junction and takes time to follow the highway code, looking right, left and right again. Pamela ensures there are no other motorists coming from either direction before pulling out, directly into the path of an oncoming cyclist. The excuse for this manoeuvre is usually “i’m sorry i didn’t see you”. (despite the crappy dayglo jacket you are forced to wear and use of cycle lights even in daylight hours, all this and they “didn’t see you”) A keen cyclist can usually spot a Munter because they look you in the eyes before pulling out. Hence they only score a 6 on the “Ricker scale”.

Clark the “chocolate star fish”

Clark is often married to or partnered with a “Munter” and displays many of the same quirky behaviours. However Clark knows he is better than a “Munter” and has developed a technique called the “twat”. This technique takes time to perfect and the consequences of getting it wrong can be quite dramatic. The “twat” requires Clark to have patience and wait for the cyclist to be almost level before pulling out along side and gently drifting towards the kerb, forcing the cyclist to take evasive action or be squashed into the kerb. Obviously the cyclist can be accused of undertaking if this happens. Clark scores a 7 on the “Ricker scale”.

Brian the “Brain Donor”

Brian is a very desperate person, passing every cyclist you see is a must if you are Brian. No matter how stupid you look or how dangerous you have to drive you have to pass that cyclist. One of Brians favourite manoeuvres is to pass a cyclist, pull in front and brake for the queue of traffic that he is now moving very fast towards. It doesn’t matter that the cyclist will slow, pull out behind Brian and simply coast past the queue of cars in front, Brian included. Brian is dangerous because he doesn’t know he is a Brain Donor and Scores an impressive 8 on the “Ricker scale”.

Britney and Tyler

Britney and Tyler are Chavs, they Drive a Corsa 1.2 or Renault clio 1.2 with a noisy exhaust, a shopping list on the front wing and tyres that rub on the wheel arches. Britney and Tyler like to let cyclists get next to their driver door window before a bomber (see definition 5) falls off their joint into their lap, burning their crotch and causing them to turn right without bothering to indicate, taking the poor innocent cyclist along for the ride. It is also important to note, these vehicles often have smoked tail lights so they are impossible to see even if, by some strange coincidence, an indicator should be accidently activated. This is not the fault of the Chavs, many generations of in breeding and a poor up bringing mean they are destined to remain oblivious. Because of their unpredictability Britney and Tyler Score an 9 on the “Ricker scale”.

Taxi Drivers

For all of the above reasons Taxi drivers score a perfect 10 on the “Ricker scale”, any sane cyclist will avoid them at all costs.

This is mostly drivel written for the sole purpose of amusing me and allowing me to vent, all except for Taxi Drivers, our local Taxi Drivers are without doubt scum of the earth.

Wainwrights Coast to Coast

When i first though about running Wainwrights coast to coast route i intended to complete in 4 days but after some research decide 4 days would not do it justice and 6 would be better. 32 ish miles a day is enough to make it a challenge without spoiling the experience. Be sides that, i’m nearly 50 and 192 miles is an awful long way for an old man to run.

Initially i planned to run solo but after talking with some running friends and being asked by several if they could join me for a day or 2, i though it too good an opportunity to pass up, 6 days with friends totally consumed by running the Great British country side.

Monday, Day 1

I set off from St Bees in Cumbria, conscious of the long week ahead; i set a gentle pace and made my way across the first section to Enerdale Bridge. From here i took the high route over Red pike to Haystacks, if it’s worth doing its worth doing properly.

Way back in the early 90’s i was a motorcyclist, sunny Sundays were for terrorising motorists on the twisty A & B roads on the way to devils bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale.

There were a few years when i was really living the dream; my days were spent looking forward to the evenings and weekend when i would be out with my friends enjoying the fantastic local roads. Nothing else mattered and nothing was allowed to get in the way of a day out on the bikes.

Forget the dangers because they never really cross your mind, you are untouchable, indestructible and nothing can stop you. Close calls and near misses become a way of life and you push ever harder trying to find your limits, occasionally finding them but ultimately surviving to tell the tale.

Most of my 20.s and early 30’s were spent this way and only mortgage, marriage and children changed things. But what is a biker without his bike, he is nothing, he is a man on a road to destruction, a house and family are great but not very practical when you want to go out for a ride on your bike. Side cars are crap, they stop the bike from leaning over through bends and the kids would only scream when faced with a car heading straight for them.

Before you know what has happened you are just like everyone else, you now ride to work; you used to work to ride. Motorcycles are an expensive toy and when you have children they have to come first. Home building and raising a family is a challenge, which i failed completely. I abandoned all hope, all the trappings of a happy family life vanished and Vodka became my best friend. Halleluiah

After divorce and losing my home and family i moved to Scotland and began to work hard on self destruction. Its not as easy as it sounds but with hard work and perseverance i was able achieving my goal, smashed every night on cheap Vodka.

One morning whilst driving to work through the 5 or 6 cars that make up rush hour traffic in Kirkcaldy i decided that being behind the wheel after finishing a bottle of vodka only a few hours earlier was perhaps not the smartest thing i had ever done. That evening i bough a mountain bike from Halfrauds and my regeneration began.

Who would have guessed you could get high on endorphins? The seed had been planted and I was soon moving back to England and starting to rebuild my life around sport, mountain bikes took hold and my days were spent looking forward to the evenings and weekend when i would be out with my friends enjoying the country side around the Pennines. Nothing else mattered and nothing was allowed to get in the way of a day out on the bikes. (Sounds familiar)

To my credit i still found time for the occasional pint of larger and nip of Vodka but sport was in my blood and with some guidance from a wonderful woman i met, i was changing my ways.

A knee injury led me to a great phisio who recommend running as a good way to cross train, i had to build up the other muscles in my legs as my quads were comparatively too big. I was probably 14 years old the last time i ran anywhere, some 24 years previously, hence i was not to keen on the idea but like crack cocaine, it only takes one go and you are hooked.

Its an all to common scenario: A person experiments with an addictive drug like running. Perhaps he intends to try it once, for "the experience" of it. It turns out though, that he enjoys the euphoric effect so much that in ensuing weeks and months he does it again -- and again. Nut in due time, he decides he really should quit. He knows that despite the incomparable high he gets from running, the long-term consequences are perilous. So he vows to stop.

His brain however, has a different agenda. It now demands running. While his rational mind knows full well that he shouldn't run quite so much, his brain overrides such warnings. Unbeknown to him, repeated running has brought about dramatic changes in both the structure and function of his brain. In fact, if he'd known the danger signs for which to be on the lookout, he would have realized that the euphoric effect derived from running is itsself a sure sign that the running is inducing a change in the brain -- jyst as he would have known as time passes, he would run with increasing regularity, this change becomes more pronounced, until finally his brain has become addicted.
And so, despite his heartfelt vow never to run again. he contines. Again and again.

Running is now beyond his control. It is compulsive. He is addicted.

Tuesday i was joined by Paul Jackson, Wednesday Chris Armour visited

 and Thursday Leon Hockhem came up from Lincolnshire. These 3 days were the filling in the week long sandwich and i enjoyed them tremendously. Sharing the journey with friends was definitely a good idea.

Friday Chris Rainbow joined Leon and i, we set a gentle pace to the midday meeting point at Ingleby Arncliffe where Leon decided to rest for the afternoon. Chris Rainbow and i pushed the pace a little over a section of the Cleveland Way to Clay Bank Top and arrived a couple of hours early. So we decided to push on for a few more miles and meet up with Debbie and Leon at the Lion Inn on Blakey Road. We ran about 38 miles on Friday leaving only 25 for the final day.

On Saturday Chris, Leon and i ran gently stopping for luch along the way and finished in Robin Hood Bay, the last few miles were strange and my mind started to wonder back to previous years when motorbikes were my life, when i was living the dream.

Over 6 days, with the help of some good friends, i realised i am living the dream once again. I have a purpose, a reason to be here. The woman in my life is my running partner, even though she does not run. We spend our free time in the hills and mountains of Britain, taking on new and exciting challenges together, her presence completes my running.

Life has a balance where family and friends are as important as my running, they all exist together and without each one, life and the dream would not be complete.

Credits:-

Paul Jackson, Chris Armour, Leon Hockhem, Chris Rainbow and Debbie Sullivan. Extra thanks to Leon and Chris’s family who joined us as well. Without all of you this journey would not have been possible.

Redemption

Delirium

 

The High Peak Marathon

The High Peak Marathon is a 42 mile night time navigation challenge for teams of four.

Late December i got the e-mail from the organisers informing me that our team had gotten in, i was very pleased and in my usual obsessive fashion, i set about planning a training regime.

7 reccies in total, including the full section from Cutthroat Bridge to Snake top road twice, once in the dark with Chris R, and once during heavy rain with Ronnie T. The reccies were all good but the most memorable was Bleaklow with Chris A in deep, semi frozen snow at night. We spent 3 hours floundering around in the snow and only managed 7 miles; it was an experience i don’t wish to repeat... ever.

Soon enough the evening of the race came around, i had managed no further than 20 miles in one go but was happy with my fitness. I was lucky enough to pick up a strange groin/stomach injury that my phisio put down weak stomach muscles and scar tissue from previous inguinal hernia surgery. The week stomach muscles were a surprise as they have to work pretty hard to contain my ever growing gut.

The Friday of the race i managed to sneak out of work at lunch time and get a couple of hour’s sleep so i arrived at Edale village hall feeling fresh and ready to go. Impatience and an un-willingness to wait around for kit checks was a sure sign that the nerves were starting and perhaps a sign of things to come.

Our allocated start time was 11.33 and we were off chasing a steady stream of head torches up the first climb to Hollins Cross. I had one eye over my shoulder already watching the team’s starting behind us at one minute intervals. Now i have to say at this point that Chris A, Ronnie and i had talked about a race strategy in the car on the way to Edale, we would go steady for the first 5 hours or so and then pick up the pace and stay strong for the second half of the race.

Of course we stuck with the race plan and set off at a gentle pace, without regard to the steady stream of teams passing us on the first section across Lose hill and Win hill. What we actually did was get wrapped up in a seriously fast pace and chase down as many teams as we could.

As you would expect this strategy paid dividends and we were soon sprinting strongly into the first feed station at Moscar. Of course no one suggested slowing the pace down. Well maybe Chris and Chris had suggested numerous times that Ronnie and i were going way to fast and they may have had a point.

Moscar is only 10 miles from the start and was very crowded with teams cramming in food and drink ready for the 20 mile section over to Snake top road. My groin injury was beginning to hurt and i had a strange burning sensation in the nether region which was worrying. Food was definitely out of the question.

The short road section down to Cutthroat Bridge was a rest and i was sure i would start to feel better, i had gone from feeling happy and full of energy to lousy and tired, my stomach hurt and i was busting for a pee. However, having a pee just made things worse, it felt like i was passing hot water and even afterwards the feeling remained.

We continued on to the next check point at Derwent, i was struggling a little, dropping back all the time, losing the places we had gained earlier and wishing i could shake the feeling of needing a pee. At the Derwent moor check point i stopped for some food and was overcome with the feeling that I couldn't go on. Risking further damage to my groin could spoil the rest of my year.

Unfortunately Chris, Chris and Ronnie came to offer help at the wrong time a got a mouth full of abuse for their troubles. Only 2 hours in and with as much as 9 hours left to go i was done, i made my mind up to quit at the next road crossing. Unfortunately this meant going all the way to Snake top road.

You know you have good friends when they are willing to put up with your moaning and move on like it hadn't happened.

Over the next few miles, we past Lost Lad and continued on to Sheepfold Clough. My team mates did a great job of bringing me round and before i knew it i was feeling strong again. Failing was not going to be an option and i felt stronger as the miles passed.

Around Swains Head Chris A began to feel the early pace and there was some talk of quitting at Snake Top road. Chris is a strong, experienced runner and was just having a tough patch, there was no chance he was going to quit. We eased the pace slightly and by Bleaklow Stones he was moving well again.

The frozen ground made the going good even across the nightmare that is Bleaklow and we made good time between the following 3 check points to Snake Top Road. We were greeted by day light, bright, clear skies and blokes dressed in women’s cloths.... I began to think my 2 hobbies had crossed paths until i realized the check point support crew were in fancy dress. Phew.

Copious amounts of hot tea and Banana’s were consumed, i refilled my water bladder and we were off again, happy in the knowledge that we only had 12 miles (ish) to the finish in Edale.  Featherbed Moss over to Mill Hill is a drag but we were in good spirits and goind well. Even the burning in my nether region was starting to ease.

A few weeks Earlier, Chris R, his brother Den and i had reccied the kinder scout section, it had not gone to plan (despite my extremely competent navigation skills). However Chris R navigated the second Kinder reccie and all went to plan so i was confident he would not allow us to get lost this time.

The last climb was the long drag over Brown Knoll and Chapel Gate to Rushup edge, we were going well and making up places all the time. With only Hollins Cross to go and the final descent into Edale Ronnie decided he had been left out and fell on his dislocated rib. Any ordinary man would have stayed down but Ronnie was soon up on his feet clutching his chest and wheezing as he desperately tried to run and breathe through the pain. That man is a machine.

We made Edale village hall in 10hrs 9 minutes, finishing 10^th overall and thoroughly exhausted, it had been a great experience and i think, with the help of my friends, i may have conquered some demons along the way.

HPM Reccie number 3

Im really not sure if its a good or bad thing, getting obsessed with things so easily, however i am aware that its part of my personality and therefore a part of who i am.

Cuthroat Bridge

The High Peak Marathon is a 42 mile night time navigation endurance challenge for teams of four. The route traverses the Derwent Watershed. Starting and finishing at Edale Village Hall, Derbyshire. 

A couple of years ago i was lucky enough to compete in the HPM, this is definitely one of those races you can’t do just the once. If you can find 3 other people daft enough to join you its definitely worth a go.

Derwent Edge

This year our hardy team of 4 were successful with our application for a place, the race is on March 1^st this year so only 2 months between finding out we have a place and race night. Bloody hell, 2 months is not enough to prepare for a night time navigation challenge that takes in Bleaklow and Kinder scout!!!!

Red dot in the distance is Ronnie.

Hence my obsession with reccies, 2 weeks after finding out we had a team in i have managed 3 reccies of Bleaklow. I should confess that Ronnie has joined me for 2, which just goes to prove neither of us is playing with a full deck. So Bleaklow, the name means exactly what its says, this is one of the bleakest area’s in the Pennines, it is a boggy hell on earth, a festering land of peat and mud designed to punish anyone daft enough to venture into it nest. Its a big boys playground.

Lost Lad

This weekend Ronnie and i reccied the section between Cuthroat Bridge and Snake Pass (A57), 19.5 miles, 3618ft of ascent in 5.42 hrs. Not a fast pace but we tried to focus on navigation as the race will be in darkness.

Boggy Hell

7 Weeks left before race night, hopefully enough time to reccie the whole route in daylight and perhaps repeat this route over night.