RUN BRITANNIA: What I learned

RUN BRITANNIA

*For those that don’t have the time or inclination to read the article in full, you can jump down to read my four takeaways.?

It was just a running trip…

It was going to be an adventure of a lifetime. Five weeks away from the grind of day-to-day life, pushing the mind and body to the limit. Run Britannia was a new challenge dreamt up by a crazy adventurer called Jim. We were signing up to be Test Pilots for a new route to traverse the length of the UK, a runner’s route that avoided the dull and if I’m honest, slightly dangerous A roads often used by the world record holders. To take in some of the UK’s most scenic trails and coastal paths and in doing so, become the first team to take on the route.

It would be a journey that would test the strongest of runners, covering between 25 and 44 miles each day, over 35 days with just 4 rest days.

It was never going to be easy but that was part of the challenge.

Was it even possible for your average run-of-the-mill ultra-runner…?

The Preparation

As with all big projects, research, preparation, and getting the work done is crucial for success.?However, attempting to run 1000 miles over 35 days is pretty hard to prepare for. There is no frame of reference for what you are about to do, so downloading a generic running plan is probably not going to cut it.?I’ve run long distances (up to 100-mile events) and understand the mental toughness required to keep pushing through the pain.?

You have to do the work and get the miles in, respect the distance, and have an A, B, and C goal because there are so many things that can go wrong and that are out of your control.?It’s about getting yourself to the start line in the best shape physically and then having the mental resilience to problem solve to the end when the curve balls arrive, which they invariably do.

It’s just like business really.

Someone has a great idea, does some research, maybe brings in a specialist to help, plans like a ninja, double downs on risk assessment and works their socks off. Then out of nowhere, something that wasn’t anticipated, thought about, or had never been an issue before, slaps you in the face.?So, what do you do, you get back up, review where you are, and keep moving forward, adjusting whatever needs to be adjusted? You just get on with it because if you don’t, you run the risk of paralysis by analysis!

You just need to keep moving forward, remembering progress over perfection is key.

Life lessons learned

• You can never research and test the process enough.?There is always room to improve, tweak, and grow.?Continual improvement is not just for the QA team, it’s about life.
• Don’t work hard, work smart.?Time and energy management are SO important in achieving the best outcomes. Spend your time wisely.
• Bring in the specialists – no one is perfect, and no one knows everything, so invest in people who can help you improve.

The Challenges

It was always going to be a real test to complete RB, and I truly believe that all eight of us who toed that line felt we belonged there. That we have a real chance of completion.??After all, we had committed a shed load of money and time to give it a go!

In reality, we all suffered from injuries, some more debilitating than others, and out of the eight of us, only three completed every step. I won’t bore you with the list of ailments other than to recite what my osteopath said to me this morning, who by the way is normally very supportive and encouraging.

?‘Your leg is a mess’.?

That was it, as direct and blunt as that! It’s not broken but it’s probably as close to being broke without actually being broke.?So, I guess that’s quite bad and it's yes it's my own fault so now I have to suck up the fact that I am on the running bench for a while.

With ‘just’ 700 miles logged, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was disappointed.?In fact, I’m struggling to reconcile the difference between what my head thinks I can do and indeed what I have done in the past, with what it seems to be able to do now.?I swing from feeling completely numb to feeling like a complete failure, to furiously questioning everything. Scrutinising my training and miles logged, strength and conditioning, the research and preparation, to even my sanity.?The reality is my body is changing and at 46 I’m certainly not past it but I need to really start taking note of it. What I am learning in a very long drawn out and painful way, is that perimenopause and indeed menopause can be truly disabling.

What worked for you before doesn’t, the body needs more time to heal, you need to adjust nutrition and basically not attempt to run a crazy number of miles with a body that is popping and farting along like a car running on fumes ??♀?.

Guys, if you are still reading this, please don’t skim past this part. The reason why I mention perimenopause is not to embarrass anyone or because I need to find an excuse to help me live with the result but to shine a light on the topic. ?If you employ females, which I hope you do, you need to understand what this phase in their lives could mean and how it might impact work.?Don’t get me wrong, I’m no expert on the subject but what I do know is that it can feel like you have been hit by a truck and then run over again and again.?When you finally remember what you went downstairs for and found the teabags in the fridge to make the cuppa you desperately need to quench your raging thirst, you already need to sit down and take a rest.?Memory issues, concentration, chronic fatigue, mood changes, anxiety and that’s all happening before breakfast each day.??

Sounds extreme right!? Having lived with chronic migraine since a young girl, I'm no stranger to pain and fatigue but this life change is becoming a battle, so please be kind to us, do yourself a favour, and invest a little time in learning more about Perimenopause and Menopause.

Make sure you are looking after the females in your world, be it family members or colleagues alike. ?Being supportive now will truly be an investment in the longer term for you. (Otherwise, we might just punch you! Only kidding)

My Big Take Ways

PLANNING: As the saying goes, ‘If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail’ and this is equally true in both business and endurance events.?Before you do anything, you do your research, you need to have a plan and you need to prepare for the adventure. You need to be organised and disciplined and you need to be super-hot on personal admin.?Once you become entwined with the ‘event’, whether that is running 100 miles in one go or building a business from scratch, constantly making decisions on the hoof can be exhausting, at times impossible, and usually, turn out not to be your best ones! If you have weaknesses, work on them, if you don’t have the skills, learn them or buy them in.

THE BIG PICTURE: When you commit to a challenge, whether that is to run the length of the UK, start a business or launch a new product, you need to have the ability to stand back, reflect on the journey and assess the experience in full.?What might feel like a failure, or a negative experience can actually transpire to be your biggest lesson. It could have more value and impact on others than you could ever conceive possible.?

When I returned home, I was greeted with a handwritten card from one of my fellow runners which I will treasure forever.

You expect to get praise from your partner and your mum, but in general no one else really cares.?They are not invested in the challenge, you've basically just gone for a run!?But to receive a sincere pat on the back from someone who is the queen of endurance running and managed to run 970 miles before promptly breaking her femur after falling in a bog is special. It was the reminder I needed to see the glass half full.?The motivation to stop the pity party and recognise the part I played in creating an awesome adventure that will be enjoyed by so many others in the years to come.

I DID MY JOB. The route and accommodation have been checked and verified, the medics have a better understanding of injuries and fatigue levels, and comprehensive training and admin plans can be provided to new recruits. This is not a failure, it's fault finding and continuous improvement.

TEAMWORK: Albeit a solo activity, running is rarely just that and an adventure on the scale of RB, you need a constant team of people feeding you, transporting you, and carrying your bag when you are simply too exhausted to move it.?Medics and doctors to keep an eye on you, patching you back together. The message is simple, be grateful, be generous, and try really hard not to take your team for granted.

ENERGY: Energy flows and affects those around you.?So, when you are in a team environment it is crucial that you are aware of the impact your personal energy has. This absolutely does not mean internalising your frustrations and feelings, you just need to have awareness and understand the impact it can have on others. When you are knee-deep in a bog, in a world of pain, pushing to get through to the other side, the last thing you want to hear is someone shouting how easy it was for them or acting like a diva because the route has to change and become extended by 4 miles!

Emotional intelligence, empathy, and knowing when to give support and when to give space are life skills we all need to hone!

THE POWER OF THE MIND: The word on the street is when you think you are about done, you are actually only about 40 % done.?It's probably David Goggin’s sprouting his messages about getting the work done and staying hard but I have to agree, the more challenges I put myself through, the more I realise how important mental strength is. To keep going, to reframe when situations arise, to see the positives and the long-term goal when your world feels like it is falling apart around you. Although I'm pretty tough in the 'field' I'm still working on this part, the fear of failure and all that comes with it.

It’s a reminder that when we push our boundaries even just a little, we grow, and we learn.?

So, are you supporting your team to grow, to become better and more rounded humans? Do you encourage your team to expand their horizons, offer flexible work options to support it, and provide support and training?

My Final Thoughts

The longer I was away, the less I missed home and the comforts that brought.

When I did get home, I realised that 90% of the ‘stuff’ that had taken a lifetime to accumulate was not really essential.?Yes, it was bought for a reason and at the time I’m sure I felt it was useful/worthwhile/crucial to my existence and success.?However, the reality is I managed perfectly well with just a 70-litre bag and getting those items washed every week. Maybe not as stylish, but it’s a reminder about overconsumption in a world that is imploding in on itself. ?I’m certainly not perfect, I bought a ton of gear to complete RB, but I’ve made a promise to myself to think long and hard about anything I buy in the future and I do repair and reuse, so it's a good start.

I missed some luxuries like a bath, a comfy bed, and a decent latte.?I missed the comfort of staying put for more than a day or two and not living out of a bag, but on reflection, actually, I didn’t miss that much. That’s not to say I want to find a corner of the globe where no one can find me.?Not at all, I just value things, people, events, and the planet even more.?I just want to experience more, keep pushing boundaries, and be less troubled by the news and consumed by the social scrolling (the irony is not lost!).

You don’t have to run the length of the country to expand your horizons, you simply need to be curious enough to try something new and believe in yourself.

Why am I telling you all this??

Because I was brave enough to try and hopefully, just maybe my journey will inspire others to step out of their lane.

Thank you to RatRace ??

To Jim, its all your fault, James, my tunnock feeder, Lorna, the running queen, Allie, the overachiever, Ross, you are just too nice, Martyn, speed walker extraordinaire, Amanda, or rather Calamity Jane and Joe AKA Fat Joe because he wasn't it

To the medics, the weekly crew, and especially Clinton.

#adventure #flexibleworking #worklifebalance #challenges #lifelonglearning