The long run...

Man!  The winter days at the moment have been spectacular!  Little wind, nice temps through the day and SUNSHINE!  So so good!  I have been fortunate to get out for some rad adventures in it including one of the most fun gravel rides I have done in a long time (with Damo and Blane), some beautiful walks and runs.  Training at the moment is going so so well and I am enjoying the accumulative fatigue with no niggles.  Perfect.

This level of training tiredness is what all us endurance athletes seek isn’t it?  Today I did a 20k run and a 4hr (100k) solo ride and far out….I tired!  But that good tired when you have crushed a day, struggled and feel satisfied you have worked bloody hard.  These long days out are so awesome to achieve and to be able to experience them more and more is what it’s all about.  Stacking training on training and feeling tired but FIT!

I have also been pondering a lot lately about what is coming.  My 200mile gravel bike ride at the end of August and the 50marathon project late September to November.  I am so so excited about them and the challenges they are going to present.  I am, at the same time pretty darn scared of the bike ride as it will be the furthest I have ever ridden, going through the night and on gravel….all new experiences.  Gold.  And then the marathon project is going to push me physically further than I have possibly ever been pushed.  Just under 300k weeks for seven and a bit weeks is gonna be incredible!

These challenges excite me, provide just the right amount of fear and serve a level of discomfort and ecstasy to my life not many get to experience.  For these things, I am so grateful.  I long for them, I desire them and I crave being in the middle of them, knowing the only way out is through.  These challenges show who I really am and what I am made of.  Strength through adversity!

So, training, prep, mental imagery and obsessive desire to get through my daily goals, challenges and races is what I live for.  Things currently are going so well, its not easy but I am stoked with where I am at.  Onward and upward.

I hope you are having a super week, getting out in this beautiful season and kicking some goals.  Much love friends.