The Road to Mont Blanc: Part 5

2nd June 2025

It’s amazing what a little bit of time off (and fear!) can do for your motivation.

It’s just over four weeks until I fly to France for the TMB, and I haven’t been on my A-game recently.

My confidence took a bit of a knock a couple of weeks ago, after doing a recce of two of the three ‘rings of hell’ that make up the Tough Trails ultra I’m running not long after the TMB.

The first ring was 10 miles, the second 15, and the total elevation was around 5,000ft. I found it so hard. The terrain was energy-zapping!

My focus was purely on not tripping over – and I failed at that, catching my foot on a rock on a steep descent and busting my knee on another rock. I think the only mile I enjoyed was the last one, knowing it was almost over!

You ask your body to do a lot when you’re training for an ultra, and I think it was pushing back. As was my mind. And with a music festival coming up, I couldn’t wait for four whole days when I didn’t even have to think about running…

While I had a great time at the festival last weekend, I’ve actually had a better time this weekend: running around the Peak District! Turns out a little mental and physical break was all I needed to get my love for it all back again.

Yesterday’s run was bliss –  a 17-mile, not-too-hilly route from Monyash through Lathkill Dale, finished off with the best tuna mayo roll of my life from a café I’d set my sights on at the start. The scenery was stunning, the sun was shining, and I had Tim and Arlo in tow.  

Now I’m over my slump, I’m feeling fired up for my final four-and-a-bit weeks of training before taper time. I’m planning on a minimum of 50 miles a week (hopefully throwing in a 60-miler, too), with three strength-training sessions, a bit of yoga, and back-to-back long runs the next two weekends. I’ll be getting on that plane in the best shape of my life!