99 Days To Go

Misogi Time

99 days to go. I’ve been up and down since my last blog, hence the long gap. I have had the goal to achieve my misogi—running the New York Marathon—in my head for a while. But it’s been a challenge. Which I guess is the whole point.

The kilometres have been clocking up under my ASICS shoes, but it hasn’t been a straight line. At 68, and carrying a lifetime of wear and tear, plus the lingering effect of my two serious cycling accidents, it’s fair to say my body hasn’t always cooperated. Some days I can knock out a half marathon distance. But some days my body seems to call it a day at around 15kms. There’s no pattern to it; some days the fitness is there, but the body says no. It’s hard to describe.

Last Sunday was a testing run for me. I knew from the start it was going to be a tough day. And so it proved to be. I started slow, felt okay, but then fell apart.

I spent a few days seriously contemplating knocking the New York Marathon idea on the head. Had a ‘poor me’ whinge to a couple of good friends. I didn’t get much sympathy back, and that’s fair. They know how I roll, and they know it would weigh on me immensely if I didn’t get the job done.

Back To The Lab

Learning One – Carb Up, Man!

I spoke to Dr David Dunne, the CEO of the Hexis nutrition technology business, and I got my Hexis app up and going again. I’m going to use it throughout the next 99 days. I have spent a good chunk of my career in elite sports nutrition, and so I am clued up on how to fuel during exercise. I’ve also spent some time focusing on increasing my protein intake to ensure I recover and maintain muscle mass. But …

As soon as I looked at my nutrition plan in Hexis—which looks not only at my base nutrition requirements, but also adjusts for my planned and actual training, it’s clear I haven’t been adding enough carbohydrates before my runs. I need to add another 500 calories to my current breakfast regime, and it be high in carbs. Setting off with the tank half full is a recipe for poor performance.

Learning Two – Warm Up. And Warm Down!

My excellent osteopath, Guy Gold, has spent some months getting my body straightened out. I feel so much better. I have an intermittent L5 lumbar and sacroiliac joint issue which has been with me since I was a youth, but he’s helping me manage that. And my osteoarthritis in my knees is a small issue. The right knee is worse, as it took a severe blow when I hit the tarmac last year.

But I’m under control, and in better shape than I can remember. There’s nothing I can do about wear and tear. Other than celebrate it. I can complain, or say all the injuries are badges of honour for a life well lived. I do know that daily mobility work and attention to strength work is key. It’s not all about the running.

I’ve got a simple warm up routine that takes five minutes. Crucial for older runners. And a four exercise warm down routine, which takes around six minutes. Both of these small adjustments make a huge difference. So with 99 days to go, I’ve made a side deal with myself to do the mobility work every day.

Learning Three – Slow Down!

When it comes to training, it’s about time on the feet, not about pace. I work with the excellent Coach Parry team—and indeed have a one to one session with Lindsay Parry on Monday. The key to me getting this done is to bank a lot of kilometres at a steady Zone 2 pace.

That’s about 7 minutes 30 seconds per kilometre. I can hold a conversation or sing along to my playlist at that pace. I do get overtaken by every other runner I come across at that speed. But I’m training for my race, not their race. 7:30 equates to a 5.5 hour marathon, and I’m good with that.

I also walk for 90 seconds every 2kms, and that helps immensely. Coach Parry’s team are strong proponents of walk-run for over 50s runners. And other high profile coaches such as Jeff Galloway have helped a lot of athletes over the years with this type of approach. I may even try a full run-walk-run approach. I’ll let you know.

I’m Fortunate

I look at the 99 days to go, and the day of the event, as blessings. I’m a fortunate man. My misogi is going to be the toughest physical challenge of my life. But I have the opportunity to tackle it. Many don’t, for a multitude of reasons, some of them tragic.

Every time I find a training session tough, I’m simply going to remind myself that I’m a fortunate man. I’m out there on the road, doing what I want to do.

That being the case, I’m going to use my challenge to raise money for a worthwhile charity. I’m blessed to be a friend of Chris Hoy. He’s well known for being one of the greatest ever Olympians. I’ve known him as a man who is deeply human, and who has always had the right word at the right time for me, especially in challenging times. Chris has been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer, and being the man that he is, has chosen to take it head on.

He wrote a book—All That Matters—that is a thought provoking look at the human condition, mortality, and living one’s best life. He also set up the charity Tour de 4 to raise money for cancer charities. I am going to do my small part for that cause, and raise some money along the way.

Healthspan Not Lifespan