Trying yet again to to keep up endurance

I find it hard to commit time to long, slow runs or walks. By this I mean over 30km or 6 hours of walking.  Even with a week's holiday that pattern doesn't fit in and I often only mange a few short runs. Today I was fortunate to have some annual leave to take, lovely weather and nothing else pressing to do. However I'm out of practice and didn't want to over do things. So I decided on a walk/jog to Hathersage which is 32km round trip from home.

I also took along my poles which I rarely use as I'm not well practiced and find them an overall hinderance. How would I get on with them today, how would they fit onto my Harrier pack? I found them useful on uphill sections, which I'd already decided to walk, with a bit of arm effort I felt I'd got a good ascending pace. On one or two easy level bits I was able to use them whilst jogging but anywhere else they went back on the pack. That wasn't ideal either as they fit horizontally at what turns out to be elbow height so I was aware of them if I was swinging my arms. So I had to put the tip covers on to reduced the risk of injury. Jury's out currently....

Despite the leisurely pace I tired on the return leg, dragging my feet and managing to trip over a teeny rock. Luckily I'd enough water to rinse off the various grazes. (My ribs still hurt a few days later).

Whilst on holiday I'd seen the Southern Upland Way and fancy a go at that - so I need better long distance pace. I'm not thinking of running 214 miles but due to the lack of settlements you're committed to some pretty long days. 

Hathersage 20 miler

 With an extra bank holiday for Monday, I felt that I could afford to get a bit extra tired today. I'm hoping to do some more long runs in the (near) future so in my very casual training plan there's a ned to get some longer training runs under my belt. The Cuckoo Way was certainly completed with too little training and I think I was lucky to achieve my goal. Another day I might not be so fortunate. 

A circular trip to Hathersage from home is around 30km which is 50% more than my traditional Saturday run so this felt to be perfect. On the way out I discovered a permissive path to  the south of the Redmires reservoirs which avoids around 1.5km of rather dull tarmac. The old byway to Stanedge Pole and beyond is mostly runnable as the gradient is fair and the stones not too sharp. It gives a great view of the Kinder plateau in the distance.

It's an easy and picturesque descent into Hathersage although I was just in time as the course was laid out for the Fat Boys Stanage Struggle and competitors were jogging up to the start area. A little later and I would have been swept back uphill.

After coffee and half a flapjack I headed for home via Mitchell Field, Higgor Tor and Oxstones. Much of the ascent had to be walked! Altogether there was just over 800m of ascent so not too trivial. Close to home my legs were very heavy and again the pace dropped. I'm happy that even with a cafe stop my pace was below 8:30min/km.

Carry on swimming

I've put a bit of effort into my swimming this week and although no 'long' swims I've managed some interval work and practice at bilateral breathing, as well as testing my arms with the paddle. In total I've swum around 5km which is the most for many month although I appreciate that this is only really a day of training for some!

Some single lengths have been at 2:05min/100m pace and I've completed 100m sets at under 2:20min/100m with bilateral breathing. These intervals show that I can now generate some power as required but the endurance aspect is probably the deficiency now. I've done a few longer sets with the ToyBuoy to facilitate this but must work to get over 15 minutes.

This morning @fairplay_al arranged for the circuit group to meet at Hathersage pool for a dawn swim.

This morning's dawn from https://twitter.com/fairplay_al

Previously the various systems to swim at Hathersage have put me off but today it was very simple and I'm now tempted to return as it was a very pleasant swim.

My left arm feels distinctly fatigued now, hopefully it'll settle before next week.