Kinesthetic

I was over the moon yesterday to find my foot had taken marvellously to trail running... why have I put this sort of running off for so long? I suppose really hurting my foot walking through the Dene with the dog a week or so after my cortisone injection had put me off, but it's all systems go now!

I had emailed William to ask about run/walking as he has suggested trying numerous ratios and combinations. I was worried that running 3 minutes and walking 1 minute would be fine for an ultra but too easy for training... and the answer I got? "Well, run faster then! :-)" I set myself right up for that, didn't I? Anyway, I am to keep doing it throughout training, and I have decided to give it a go tomorrow through Hamsterley Forest on the red trail (which is apparently quite difficult because of the hills). It is 14 miles... so a perfect way to try a 3:1 and see if it helps with the stamina.

I mentioned earlier on in the week about how a smell affected my run and mood because it reminded me of horrible races. Today I began to use a technique to have the opposite effect... I would start associating a smell with success, strength and feeling fit. My new suncream came today and it smells of Shea butter (which is quite nice). I put a small amount on the back of my right hand and during my rebounder session (which I find very easy and I feel very strong during it) I kept smelling my hand and associating the smell with finding something easy and enjoyable. Hopefully this is the cream I will use for my ultra and it will (by then) hold some good memories. I know this sort of thing has a few people literally 'glazing over', but I am very prone to it... being the impressionable type. A smell for me can make me feel calm, happy, sad, excited... every kind of emotion... including tired (Piz buin). So, I'm sure I can get myself to feel energised by an aroma too!