The Road to Mont Blanc pt.3

17th April 2025

To rest or not to rest?

That’s always my question. Last night, instead of going for a run, I watched a running documentary and ate pizza.

Tim and I had agreed we’d do a 10-mile run after work, and all day I’d been dreading it. The day had been windy and grey, and my body felt weary. Over text, I managed to negotiate a 5K interval run instead. Then, as the end of my working day approached and I headed to my car, everything in me hated the idea of that, too.

After a chat with Tim back at home, it turned out he didn’t fancy it either, so we hatched a new plan: PJs, pizza and a beer while watching a YouTube video of a couple running the TMB in four days. And it was bliss.

It’s something I’m working on. I always have such a mental tussle when it comes to resting. I try to rest one day a week, ideally ahead of a long run, but it can be tricky fitting in the miles as well as strength training, which always kills me.

I’m even going to have another rest day this week, the day we drive to the Lakes for an Easter break/training weekend. I think it’s going to be needed. The plan for this three-night trip to Glenridding is two back-to-back long runs with lots of elevation (and ticking off Wainwright, too, of course). On Saturday, a 20-miler with around 6,000ft, and on Sunday, the same distance again and around 5,000ft. Wish me luck. 

25th April 2025

What can you do?

This question is one of my secret weapons. After a terrible night’s sleep (another one!), I woke up to my 5.45 am alarm this morning thinking, ‘I just can’t face going for a run’.

My eyes burned, I could barely focus, and outside it was grey and miserable – like my mood! Rather than writing off the morning, though, I said to myself, ‘Well, if you “can’t” go for a run, what can you face doing towards your training?’ So I decided on a strength workout in the comfort of my own kitchen – all I had to do was shove on shorts and a vest, put my contacts in, stumble downstairs and grab my weights and mat.

So now I’ve got a 45-minute full-body workout under my belt thanks to that question. Sometimes I ask myself that question and the answer is a 10-minute abs workout or yoga. I’ve found this flexible approach really works for me – and some days the answer’s even ‘a big run!’.