WUU 2k is just around the corner

It’s the final week before my first attempt at running an ultra-marathon – the WUU2k (Wellington Urban Ultra).

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My last training session was last Tuesday at the gym, where I spent an hour running up and down stairs, again. But this time I did it without having a 10kg loaded pack on my back. I may have overcooked things a little because my right knee is now giving me all sorts of grief.

So this week is all about relaxing and doing lots of small amounts of stretching. I learned a hard lesson just before the marathon, don’t do a hard core stretching session, because everything just gets really tight afterwards. I spent three weeks running on really tight hamstrings and calves, and it hurt – a lot. So the new and improved plan is to do short, light stretching sessions, but lots of them.
So far that seems to be working.

I got my race info pack last night and eagerly read through it, trying to glean any new information that might help me make it to the end.

I’m still in the situation that, depending on how I crunch the numbers, I either have loads of time to make the cuttoff at the last aid station at 4pm, or I am going to struggle to get there in time.

But at least now that I have run the ‘hard’ section of the course a couple of times I don’t think there is anything too scary out there. There are some steep uphill bits, but I plan on walking them (strategically) so that’s not a problem.

The weather for race day is looking ok. It will probably rain in the morning and then fine up during the day. It’s looking like it will be pretty cold though. It also looks like we will be running into a southerly wind. Bugger.

That means a very cold head wind for most of the race. There is a big dump of snow happening for much of the country this week (but not in Wellington) that will bring the temperatures right down. So I don’t think overheating will be a problem for many of the runners.

I’ve got all my gear sorted, including nice new socks. Mmmmm…..
They will make a big difference to my running comfort. They are nice and thin (on purpose, not because I have worn them out) and come up my ankles to give me a bit more protection.

I’ve also (I think) found a cunning solution to a problem that has plagued me forever when I’ve been running (and tramping/hiking). I often clip my inside ankle with the heel of my other shoe (to the point where my ankles start bleeding), and after a while it really starts to hurt.

I was planning on wrapping my ankles in a bandage to protect them for the run – not a really good solution, but better than nothing. But while I was in the $2 shop to pick up some required kit for the race, I saw something that might just do the trick. I bought a pair of elasticated wrist supports for $3.

These fit nice and snuggly over my ankles and with any luck they’ll provide enough protection that I won’t tear my ankles apart on the run.

And if they turn out to be annoying, it will only take a moment for me to remove them and just deal with sore ankles.

Everything else seems to be falling into place now, and I’m super excited to be getting out and running. This is a good way to be. I can feel my body champing at the bit to go running, and I’m trying to convince myself not to go out for a light run half-way through the week.

I need to just focus on stretching and relaxing and making sure I don’t pick up any injuries before the race. I’m hoping my knee will sort its life out and recover enough to last the distance, otherwise I’ll be hopping to the finish line. (you try hopping uphill, it’s not easy!)

I do have a positive feeling about the race though, and I’m sure my body will come to the party on the day and I’ll be fine. Reading through the blogs from last year, it looks like the organisers and volunteers go a bit mad on the day and really turn on an excellent and fun day – Start Wars themed aid stations, bagpipes, and cheering cows are just a few of the sights and sounds that featured last year (which was the first year of the race). Given that it was such a success, I’m sure there will be just as much wild and entertaining antics this year.

It’s going to be less of a gruelling slog up hill and down dale, and more of a quiet run from one entertainment venue to another.

I can’t wait.

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WUU 2k is just around the corner

Check out my stories here on Steemit

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Also don't forget to check out my Dad's blog