It's all in the planning....

I'm a project manager.
I mean this in more than a professional sense, it's not just what I do but it's who I am. It's quite scary really and it's not always something I'm concious of; however there is no doubt about it that I am far happier if there is a plan/list/map on hand for reference purposes. This doesn't mean I don't enjoy being impulsive or winging it, in fact some of my best trips have been where I've just followed my nose, but you will normally find a fall back of a guidebook, map or something similar in my bag - just in case!

The most recent case in point is the training plan for Highland Cross. I've always used a training plan to prepare for big events like this. I don't force myself to stick to it rigidly but it is a good guide for me to see what distances I should be running or biking and helps me to think about how I can fit it around my other activities (or work!). Truth be told, if nothing else, having a list to tick off milestones really helps me feel like the task of getting up to distance might be possible!

The real benefit of having a training plan was brought home to me this past few weeks since recovering from being struck down with laryngitis. It is just over 3 weeks since I was able to start training again after 2-3 weeks of doing absolutely nothing except sleeping. The training hadn't really kicked in before I had got ill so it left me very behind where I should have been. By having a plan I could adjust, I was able to work my way back on track. It's difficult to strike that balance between slowly increasing time/distance and pushing yourself to get back on plan, but it's much easier if you can see where you need to be so you can set yourself interim goals. I've never really thought about it in terms of the job I do but actually this planning and replanning is exactly what I have to do in my work as a Project Manager. Just like reading a map when you are out walking you don't need to refer to the plan all the time, and the plan isn't there to be stuck to, it is there to remind you of how you are going to get to where you want to be - if you need it - and most importantly it's ok to change the plan/route as long as it still gets you to where you want to be.

With this all in mind and the plan suitably adjusted, we've found some lovely local runs to do around Dunblane, Doune and Callander over the past couple of weeks. I'm so lucky that we live in such a beautiful area with plenty of walking routes around to turn into runs. We've possibly not got in enough hill running which seems odd considering we are surrounded by them here, but I am confident that will come now fitness is improving. I just need to plan them in! The good news is that if I can achieve our milestone this weekend of a ten mile run tomorrow, then we will have hit our mid plan target, which will be a huge relief.

So now I'm off to look at maps and guidebooks for some inspiration for tomorrow's route; after all, planning is what I do!