Last year was all about training for the Transalpine. So our focus was
on getting to a place where we could get up day after day and run the
marathon distance. This year I'm training for a 100k race (the RAT) and
so my training focus during this peak period is a bit different. At the
moment it's all about massive days on Saturday - the sort of days that
almost make ironman training sessions look short!
And this, combined with my recent trips to Chamonix with the Trail Running Team and the Isle of Wight with Brett and my bros, has caused me
to compare single and multi-day racing / training and think about what I
prefer.
What I've realised is that I prefer multi-day. And that it doesn't have
to be about doing a race. I enjoy the journey, the adventure and the
camaraderie. I enjoy the fact that the adventure is spread over several
days and that at the end of each we can reflect on the day that's gone
as well as plan for and look forward to the next.
Recently, I've found my Saturday runs getting longer and longer to
the point where they're not much fun anymore, especially given all the hot
weather we've had recently (not that I'm complaining!).
At the extreme end of the multi-day concept is Jez Bragg's journey that
took him the length of New Zealand. What he did earlier this year really
inspires me. The places he saw, the people he met, the wealth of
experiences he built up. But there are more accessible adventures closer
to home and I've found myself building a list of these - the GR20, Offa's Dyke, the Southwest Coastal Footpath, Hadrian's Wall, the Welsh Castles relay route,..... Suffice to say that there's enough I want to do to
keep me going for some time. And I want to spread it over a few days and
savour the experience rather than rushing to do it in one go and
pushing myself into a very dark hole.
So I guess this is all a useful learning and will help me know how to
plan future seasons to make sure I'm enjoying myself as much as
possible. One thing's for sure - it certainly doesn't mean I'll be
slacking off, especially given the list I've now committed to "paper"
above! Here's to it...
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