Taking on the coast with the most
Recently I have been increasing my training in terms of running, hiking, gym workouts and sauna/ steam sessions in preparation for my next big race.
In less than a month I am off to Cambodia for a 140-mile race over a week that will push me to the limits. This week I am almost at my peak training point in terms of distance and will hit around 100 miles for the week by today.
While some training is just a long slog, other days it can almost feel effortless, like earlier this week when I did back to back half-marathons with friends.
One of these was local and the other was over the Seven Sisters on the South Coast with my fellow prostate cancer sufferer Paul. The Beachy Head area is one of my favourite places, having spent childhood holidays walking there, so returning always evokes happy memories.
Although I wasn’t surprised that we met others like us enjoying the beauty, I was surprised just how many South Koreans kept on arriving, almost continuously.
My later research indicated that the area has become huge on social media with them and they flock there in their thousands, occasionally tragically, to take photos of themselves on the cliff edges. It was a surreal experience but I am happy that more people are discovering the beauty of Britain’s countryside – just not so close to the cliffs!
Come Wednesday I was back to more lonely runs in the midst of Storm Ciaran. I do love the extra challenge that bad weather brings to a training session when my mind is screaming at me to get back in the warm and dry. However, that does help me prepare for race day when the conditions could be horrendous and the satisfaction of beating the elements is great when I get home.
So I guess this week is like all aspects of life, there are easy days and hard days, the trick is to find enjoyment somewhere in every one of them – even when it’s raining!
‘‘ The Beachy Head area is somewhere I have happy childhood memories