Raring to go

I tried to get Graeme to come for a run with me today. I am feeling so huge and unfit and thought a little 30 minute run in the snow might be good. He wasn't up for it (surprise surprise) but I still didn't get out on my own because we ended up doing loads of bits and bobs ready for Christmas. The good news is we are now completely done and dusted and tomorrow is another day... I will get out tomorrow instead. I'll have to wear my 285 Innov-8's which will be fine as long as there is no ice and it's just snow! I ordered myself some Icebugs the other day. Unfortunately they won't be here until after Christmas (hopefully 29th December), but at least I will have a solution to running in snow and ice soon.

My trip to see the physio was enlightening. All the recent back ache I have had has all been due to a tight region in the thorax area of my spine. This, in turn, has been pulling on my lumbar and making it feel a bit tender. So, he pummelled my back for a good 20 minutes or so which was really painful (in a pleasantly relieving sort of way) and he showed me 2 stretches to do that will help everything work well (especially after doing heavy deadlifts). I am also seeing him once a month for a massage or whatever else that may be needed at the time. William said he thought this was a great idea as quite often you are unaware of an impending injury and a physio can often pick it up before it spirals out of control.
Surprisingly, the physio asked me about who I was getting trained by and knew who William was straight away. It seems our Tim has done quite a bit of ultra stuff himself previously... he was even in the SAS reserves! He asked about my training, and unlike many a sceptic before him, he was quite impressed that I was doing deadlifts, squats and XL running. He even commented that he hadn't seen me for so long so knew whatever I was doing must be keeping me injury free. He's looking forward to seeing how the run up to Basel goes with all of my training.

William also recommended that I go up to 3% bodyweight in my vest, so it is now 5lbs (ish) that I am carrying. Sounds like nothing but it actually feels rather heavy. After doing nothing whatsoever for 4 weeks, I doubt it will feel easy... but I don't like easy, so it's all good! I have double the amount in for walking Lincoln (which I haven't attempted yet as I only sorted all the weight out tonight in the sandbags). I put the vest on afterwards and thought JESUS! It's only walking though.... how hard can it be? ;-) I know one thing, I'm raring to go... I even feel like starting to eat better now (much to Graemes' disgust as he just wants to eat shit and get as fat as possible this side of new year). He says he will be at his perfect weight by the end of February... all I can say there is...hmmmm, we shall see! One thing is for certain... if he doesn't train like he should, I'm saying nowt and just going to let him get on with it. Let him do his own thing and I'll do mine. He will do OK whatever he decides to do though, I'm sure of that! (Lucky git) :-)