Operation Spartathlon Fit

Operation Spartathlon Fit.

As most of you know I have entered and will be running in the 30th annual Spartathlon the weekend of the 29th/30th of September. This is a race that I have ben dreaming of since I first heard of it a couple of years ago, I think on James Adams Blog and have fantasised about doing it since then.

Spartathlon is a 153mile Ultra across Greece from Athens to Sparta and is well known for being one of the hardsest there is around. Not only is it a very long way in Greek heat but it’s on hilly roads and has a couple of mountains to get over after 100miles in! The cut off’s are the really challenging bits and start off really tough with only 9:30 to complete the first 50 miles and then they soften a little bit but the whole thing must be completed within 36 hours to get a finish. I wont bore you with all the history but please read the info on their website and the Wikipedia page to see just how tough this event is and how historical the run is. I like history and this run is the most historical of them all. I also like the fact it is really hard and that you have to kiss the foot of king leonidas to finish.
To me at least it seems like the ultimate challenge to emulate such a historic run.

You have to kiss the foot of King Leonidas to finish

Now I am fairly fit and have done a few ultra’s but to get into this event you have to prove you are capable just to be allowed to enter. the minimum entry requirement is either a sub 10:30 100k time, completion on any race longer than 200k within the time limits, finished the race before or attempted the race before and completed at least 172k with 24:30. I completed the 100k in 10:29 two years ago and last year completed GUCR which is over 200k so I have the qualification races in the bag. but I am not naive and know that this will easily be the toughest race I will have attempted and possibly will ever do. so I had better prepare properly for it.

I have now paid for this race, a total of about £1,000 with accomodation, flights, airport parking and renewing my passport including takin Sue my Fiance along for the ride (she can arrange the funeral!). The fee includes food and accommodation for 6 days plus the race and transport during it.
As I have no paid all that money I had better train!

My own Greek Message – Final  entry paperwork

I already do around 50+ miles a week and I am reasonably fit but I am also reasonably fat and it is both those things I need to really work on.
I weigh about 15st6lbs on average and really need to take this down to around 13st6lbs to get to a much better running weight for me.

So I have set myself some targets to achieve the level of fitness I need to give myself a real chance of making it to Sparta inside the cut off’s.


My targets are:
Running
Step up my mileage so that I am running up to 100 miles a week in training and always at least 50+miles a week as a minimum.
Include more Hill, Interval and speed sessions into my training to build up my speed and make me faster.
Run at least once a day apart from one rest day each week.
Include more cross training such as cycling and gym sessions to improve my strength.
Weight
I need to lose 1stone this month and 1stone next month, by eating better and eating less in the evening after 7pm as this is something I do too often.
I will log my weight each morning and post it on my training blog to keep track on it and make it public to try to ensure I stick to it and reach my goals.

If I work hard and stick to the plan I should get to the race in the best condition to reach that statue and finish the race.

It will be a long tough road to the start and a tougher road from Athens to Sparta but I Will get there.