All packed and ready to go!

I’m so excited, today I fly to Denver then drive to Crested Butte, Aspen for the start of the Mountain Ultra, can’t wait.

My training has gone as well as can be expected, yes I’ve missed a couple of sessions for various reasons but nothing that is going to make a difference – lets face it technical running really isn’t my forte but there is something very special about mountains you feel at peace with yourself, all your worries disappear, the views are stunning and you are in the moment, that’s what I’m looking forward to. I always think of my lovely South African friend when I’m in the mountains, its his favourite place and where he feels most at home.

My training last week was nice and easy, I had 5 sessions, 2hours hilly with pack, 15k hilly with pack, easy 10k, 1km repeats and 100m sprints (Usain Bolt I’m definitely not!) and two days off which worked well as I had so much sorting and organising to do.  This week I have done two easy short runs and will do another short run once I have arrived in Colorado to loosen up the legs and see if I can breathe then its race time. (information on the race itself can be found on my news section)

HWMBO is coming out with me to be part of the crew which is very exciting and great to share the experience.  He’s now an expert crew member so will be an asset to the support crew.

As always packing took longer than I thought.  Everything gets weighed even my space blankets to see which one is the lightest (sad I know) but grams that can be lost means a lighter pack.  I’m not sure how chilly it will be at night so I have taken shorts/short sleeved T-shirt or long version and will make the decision once there.  According to the weather forecast there is some rain so my waterproof has also gone into the case.

Food is always an issue with me as I don’t get excited by food, especially race food plus it has to be lightweight and full of calories.  I have opted for noodles of various sorts for my main meals, taken out of their containers, crushed and sealed in ziplock bags, nuts and seeds, twigglets (can’t go anywhere without them) sweets and of course my coffee with a bar for breakfast – oh yummy!  In everyday life I have black coffee but hate it while racing and go for cappuccino, always hits the spot.

My medical kit is usually extremely basic, but for some reason this series of races provide us with a very comprehensive list of stuff we have to bring, in my opinion its way over the top but I have to follow rules, consequently its the heaviest medical kit I have ever had!

Running kit has a lot of pink in and is of course all X-Bionics and my marvellous Hoka OneOnes dressed up with a marvellous pair of PINK dirty girl gaiters – how happy am I!

You can follow the race results here http://www.beyondtheultimate.co.uk/  and if there is signal HWMBO will be sending Tweets from my account (do I trust him!!!).  Don’t expect great things from me; don’t get me wrong I will do my best but this isn’t my natural environment, you would understand if you saw me attempting to rock-hop and run down steep rocky single track, I look rather comical!! BUT whatever happens I will enjoy myself as this is what my running is all about and why I do it in the first place to run, experience and see different parts of the world – SIMPLES.

Happy 26th Birthday to Son & Heir to Nothing!