"Trail Running Is Good For the Soul"

During the last week the reality of my lack of training has really hit home. I have moments of absolute panic where I freak out about how unfit I must be becoming, or when I notice fat in places I haven't noticed it for years. Despite swimming and kayaking as much as I can, I simply cannot achieve the intensity and quantity of training that I do when I am running.There is a fear in the back of my mind that I just might not be able to get back there again, that I am just going to find it too hard to push myself back to that same level once my foot is better. So I have decided to remind myself of what motivates me to run. If I think about why I ran 100km once, I will push myself to do more when I am injury free once again. To put it simply, I love running. More specifically, I love trail running. I love the solitude, the rhythm of my feet, the structure of a training program, the beauitful scenery and the carnical atmosphere of a race. I always think of road runs, and distances up to marathon distance, as being hard and fast - the type of run likely to make my lungs burst. Trail ultras, for me at least, are slow. When I am out there for that long, going up and down hills, I simply can't run fast. If I get to that lung bursting speed I know I will blow up. So although people think I'm crazy, I think I'm actually taking the easy option. The challenge of an ultra is the endurance, not the speed, and that is the challenge I love. Last year in September I took on the challenge of 100km in the Glass House Mountains. It was undoubtable one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The challenge of pacing myself and managing an injury, nutrition and fluids was incredible, yet so much fun. It was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. It was good for my soul. So when I get better, I want to tie up my laces and start all over again.