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Unforeseen Victory
A Trail Runner's Tale of Pain, Perseverance, and the Unexpected
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Wadi Bih 72km through the Oman mountains is the setting. You have just climbed a vertical km up what is commonly known as “Butt F**K” hill (or so I was told). The reason being that by the time you get to the top, your glutes are fried!
I had run this race once before in a time of 8 hours 20 minutes, and I had a goal in mind to crack that 8 hour mark. Everything was going well and I had ascended “the hill” in great shape. There was another small climb and a nice descent to bring me to the 36km halfway point of the out and back route, and I was feeling very confident.
Then BANG. I could feel this pain surge up through my knee.
Confusion set in, and I started mentally backtrack through the race so far. I’d not gone over on a stone, not pushed too hard up the hill, I had warmed up. In my opinion, I had not done anything to warrant this pain.
Running became too much, so I downgraded to walking which over the course of a few more minutes downgraded further to limping. Admittedly, I am a fairly stubborn person when it comes to pain and expect every race to incur a decent bit of either physical or mental suffering, but this was different. I was limping along the ridge of the penultimate summit and took an anti-inflammatory, the stabbing pain now shooting up my leg into my hips. I was certain that my race was done. Stubborn as I may be, I know that shuffling along for 40+ km is reckless at best. As I was pondering how to stop the race and get myself back to either an aid station or a support car, I needed to pop to the toilet. As this is ultra-life there are no portaloos so a quick detour off the trail behind some rocks to take care of business was in order. I then stood up to get back onto the course, and the most bizarre thing happened….. There was NOTHING, no pain! The was pain completely gone, I could walk and run as normal!
Just goes to show you when you think you are done, you are probably not, yet your body might do some strange things to get you to stop.
Ultimately I didn’t make the sub 8 hour time cap that day, but came out of it with a good story and lesson learnt.
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’ll focus on pull-up development. Whether your goal is to continue building strict strength or you’re working to increase kipping capacity, we will cover progressions to help you advance your pull-up performance.
Thursday, we’ll work on handstand walks. Get ready to refine technique, build control, and develop confidence while moving upside down.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's hybrid session involves combining multiple elements from racing to understand the feel of transitioning between disciplines, followed by a lower-body endurance EMOM.
MOBILITY
Take your front squat mobility to the next level with this progression class focused on dynamic flow, stability, and control. Building on the foundations established in our previous session, we’ll reinforce improved mobility in the ankles, hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders while introducing active movement patterns and stability drills that directly translate to enhanced squat performance. Expect to move through controlled flows, tempo holds, and mobility-activation sequences.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Weightlifting this week is cleans. Working on speed under the bar and catch position, in the full squat. Spicy complex of clean pull, hang power clean, squat clean. Followed by some heavy clean pulls. Finishing with doubles on the back squats.
The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Session: LRC Tempo
This week we will be holding the tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 6 mins with a 1 min recovery. The sequence will be repeated 5x. Evening session only this week!
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
Today we will be running 800m intervals off a 2 min rest.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we will bridge repeats with IFE. Hill running is a great way to build some strength and power in your legs.
Monday:
Nothing like kicking off the week with some Back Squats! Before we get the engine fired up for some repeatable efforts! What will your times look like?
Strength:
A) Every 2 mins x 6 - 5/4/3/5/4/3 front squat
Conditioning:
Every 5 minutes x 6 Alt between
A: Park Run + 25 Wall Balls
B: 30/25/20 Cal Ass Bike + 25 Wall Balls
Tuesday:
Strength accessory to get the session started before we build to some heavy deadlifts! Then we hit a fast and furious workout.
Strength:
A) Every 75 sec x 12
1: 12 Incline DB bench press
2: 30-45 sec glute hamstring bridge
3: 20 sec straight arm side plank/arm
B) Deadlift Every 2:00 x 6 - 2/2/1/1/1/1 reps
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
30 Power clean
30 Burpees over the bar
Wednesday:
We're building to a tough single in the push press before we partner up for some working out!
Strength:
EMOMx10 - 1 Push press
Conditioning:
In pairs every 5 mins x 6 on a rolling clock
4 rounds
YGIG
6 STOH (60/40)
6 TTB
AMRAP - Cal Ski
Thursday:
Legs, legs, legs, then into a 12-minute workout where you rest during the run!!!
Strength:
A) Every 90 sec x 8 - 8 DB Box Step Up
B) Every 90 sec x 5 - 6 Alternating Barbell Reverse Lunges
C) EMOM x 8 Alt - 5 Goblet Spanish Squats & 3-5 strict knee to elbow
Conditioning:
12min AMRAP
3 Devils Press
6 DB Hang Cleans
9 DB Front Rack Squats
Car Park Run
Friday:
Long Weekend, so we're going to bring the fire this Friday to kick start the long weekend! See you on the floor!
Wadi Bih 72km through the Oman mountains is the setting. You have just climbed a vertical km up what is commonly known as “Butt F**K” hill (or so I was told). The reason being that by the time you get to the top, your glutes are fried!
I had run this race once before in a time of 8 hours 20 minutes, and I had a goal in mind to crack that 8 hour mark. Everything was going well and I had ascended “the hill” in great shape. There was another small climb and a nice descent to bring me to the 36km halfway point of the out and back route, and I was feeling very confident.
Then BANG. I could feel this pain surge up through my knee.
Confusion set in, and I started mentally backtrack through the race so far. I’d not gone over on a stone, not pushed too hard up the hill, I had warmed up. In my opinion, I had not done anything to warrant this pain.
Running became too much, so I downgraded to walking which over the course of a few more minutes downgraded further to limping. Admittedly, I am a fairly stubborn person when it comes to pain and expect every race to incur a decent bit of either physical or mental suffering, but this was different. I was limping along the ridge of the penultimate summit and took an anti-inflammatory, the stabbing pain now shooting up my leg into my hips. I was certain that my race was done. Stubborn as I may be, I know that shuffling along for 40+ km is reckless at best. As I was pondering how to stop the race and get myself back to either an aid station or a support car, I needed to pop to the toilet. As this is ultra-life there are no portaloos so a quick detour off the trail behind some rocks to take care of business was in order. I then stood up to get back onto the course, and the most bizarre thing happened….. There was NOTHING, no pain! The was pain completely gone, I could walk and run as normal!
Just goes to show you when you think you are done, you are probably not, yet your body might do some strange things to get you to stop.
Ultimately I didn’t make the sub 8 hour time cap that day, but came out of it with a good story and lesson learnt.
The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Session: LRC Tempo
This week we will be holding the tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 6 mins with a 1 min recovery. The sequence will be repeated 5x. Evening session only this week!
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
Today we will be running 800m intervals off a 2 min rest.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we will bridge repeats with IFE. Hill running is a great way to build some strength and power in your legs.
Monday:
Nothing like kicking off the week with some Back Squats! Before we get the engine fired up for some repeatable efforts! What will your times look like?
Strength:
A) Every 2 mins x 6 - 5/4/3/5/4/3 front squat
Conditioning:
Every 5 minutes x 6 Alt between
A: Park Run + 25 Wall Balls
B: 30/25/20 Cal Ass Bike + 25 Wall Balls
Tuesday:
Strength accessory to get the session started before we build to some heavy deadlifts! Then we hit a fast and furious workout.
Strength:
A) Every 75 sec x 12
1: 12 Incline DB bench press
2: 30-45 sec glute hamstring bridge
3: 20 sec straight arm side plank/arm
B) Deadlift Every 2:00 x 6 - 2/2/1/1/1/1 reps
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
30 Power clean
30 Burpees over the bar
Wednesday:
We're building to a tough single in the push press before we partner up for some working out!
Strength:
EMOMx10 - 1 Push press
Conditioning:
In pairs every 5 mins x 6 on a rolling clock
4 rounds
YGIG
6 STOH (60/40)
6 TTB
AMRAP - Cal Ski
Thursday:
Legs, legs, legs, then into a 12-minute workout where you rest during the run!!!
Strength:
A) Every 90 sec x 8 - 8 DB Box Step Up
B) Every 90 sec x 5 - 6 Alternating Barbell Reverse Lunges
C) EMOM x 8 Alt - 5 Goblet Spanish Squats & 3-5 strict knee to elbow
Conditioning:
12min AMRAP
3 Devils Press
6 DB Hang Cleans
9 DB Front Rack Squats
Car Park Run
Friday:
Long Weekend, so we're going to bring the fire this Friday to kick start the long weekend! See you on the floor!
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’ll focus on pull-up development. Whether your goal is to continue building strict strength or you’re working to increase kipping capacity, we will cover progressions to help you advance your pull-up performance.
Thursday, we’ll work on handstand walks. Get ready to refine technique, build control, and develop confidence while moving upside down.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's hybrid session involves combining multiple elements from racing to understand the feel of transitioning between disciplines, followed by a lower-body endurance EMOM.
MOBILITY
Take your front squat mobility to the next level with this progression class focused on dynamic flow, stability, and control. Building on the foundations established in our previous session, we’ll reinforce improved mobility in the ankles, hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders while introducing active movement patterns and stability drills that directly translate to enhanced squat performance. Expect to move through controlled flows, tempo holds, and mobility-activation sequences.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Weightlifting this week is cleans. Working on speed under the bar and catch position, in the full squat. Spicy complex of clean pull, hang power clean, squat clean. Followed by some heavy clean pulls. Finishing with doubles on the back squats.
Wadi Bih 72km through the Oman mountains is the setting. You have just climbed a vertical km up what is commonly known as “Butt F**K” hill (or so I was told). The reason being that by the time you get to the top, your glutes are fried!
I had run this race once before in a time of 8 hours 20 minutes, and I had a goal in mind to crack that 8 hour mark. Everything was going well and I had ascended “the hill” in great shape. There was another small climb and a nice descent to bring me to the 36km halfway point of the out and back route, and I was feeling very confident.
Then BANG. I could feel this pain surge up through my knee.
Confusion set in, and I started mentally backtrack through the race so far. I’d not gone over on a stone, not pushed too hard up the hill, I had warmed up. In my opinion, I had not done anything to warrant this pain.
Running became too much, so I downgraded to walking which over the course of a few more minutes downgraded further to limping. Admittedly, I am a fairly stubborn person when it comes to pain and expect every race to incur a decent bit of either physical or mental suffering, but this was different. I was limping along the ridge of the penultimate summit and took an anti-inflammatory, the stabbing pain now shooting up my leg into my hips. I was certain that my race was done. Stubborn as I may be, I know that shuffling along for 40+ km is reckless at best. As I was pondering how to stop the race and get myself back to either an aid station or a support car, I needed to pop to the toilet. As this is ultra-life there are no portaloos so a quick detour off the trail behind some rocks to take care of business was in order. I then stood up to get back onto the course, and the most bizarre thing happened….. There was NOTHING, no pain! The was pain completely gone, I could walk and run as normal!
Just goes to show you when you think you are done, you are probably not, yet your body might do some strange things to get you to stop.
Ultimately I didn’t make the sub 8 hour time cap that day, but came out of it with a good story and lesson learnt.
Monday
Time: 5:59pm
Session: LRC Tempo
This week we will be holding the tempo pace (7/10 effort) for 6 mins with a 1 min recovery. The sequence will be repeated 5x. Evening session only this week!
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Session: Track Tuesday
This is your chance to run fast with the wider IFE community and coaches. Come ready to run fast and have fun.
Wednesday
Time: 5:59am & 5:59pm
Location: InnerFight
Session: LRC Intervals
Today we will be running 800m intervals off a 2 min rest.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Common Grounds
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we will bridge repeats with IFE. Hill running is a great way to build some strength and power in your legs.
Monday:
Nothing like kicking off the week with some Back Squats! Before we get the engine fired up for some repeatable efforts! What will your times look like?
Strength:
A) Every 2 mins x 6 - 5/4/3/5/4/3 front squat
Conditioning:
Every 5 minutes x 6 Alt between
A: Park Run + 25 Wall Balls
B: 30/25/20 Cal Ass Bike + 25 Wall Balls
Tuesday:
Strength accessory to get the session started before we build to some heavy deadlifts! Then we hit a fast and furious workout.
Strength:
A) Every 75 sec x 12
1: 12 Incline DB bench press
2: 30-45 sec glute hamstring bridge
3: 20 sec straight arm side plank/arm
B) Deadlift Every 2:00 x 6 - 2/2/1/1/1/1 reps
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
30 Power clean
30 Burpees over the bar
Wednesday:
We're building to a tough single in the push press before we partner up for some working out!
Strength:
EMOMx10 - 1 Push press
Conditioning:
In pairs every 5 mins x 6 on a rolling clock
4 rounds
YGIG
6 STOH (60/40)
6 TTB
AMRAP - Cal Ski
Thursday:
Legs, legs, legs, then into a 12-minute workout where you rest during the run!!!
Strength:
A) Every 90 sec x 8 - 8 DB Box Step Up
B) Every 90 sec x 5 - 6 Alternating Barbell Reverse Lunges
C) EMOM x 8 Alt - 5 Goblet Spanish Squats & 3-5 strict knee to elbow
Conditioning:
12min AMRAP
3 Devils Press
6 DB Hang Cleans
9 DB Front Rack Squats
Car Park Run
Friday:
Long Weekend, so we're going to bring the fire this Friday to kick start the long weekend! See you on the floor!
GYMNASTICS
This Tuesday, we’ll focus on pull-up development. Whether your goal is to continue building strict strength or you’re working to increase kipping capacity, we will cover progressions to help you advance your pull-up performance.
Thursday, we’ll work on handstand walks. Get ready to refine technique, build control, and develop confidence while moving upside down.
HYBRID FITNESS
This week's hybrid session involves combining multiple elements from racing to understand the feel of transitioning between disciplines, followed by a lower-body endurance EMOM.
MOBILITY
Take your front squat mobility to the next level with this progression class focused on dynamic flow, stability, and control. Building on the foundations established in our previous session, we’ll reinforce improved mobility in the ankles, hips, thoracic spine, and shoulders while introducing active movement patterns and stability drills that directly translate to enhanced squat performance. Expect to move through controlled flows, tempo holds, and mobility-activation sequences.
WEIGHTLIFTING
Weightlifting this week is cleans. Working on speed under the bar and catch position, in the full squat. Spicy complex of clean pull, hang power clean, squat clean. Followed by some heavy clean pulls. Finishing with doubles on the back squats.
The Monday Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: The Loop Cafe, Nad al Sheeba
Track Tuesday
Our weekly on track speed session! For any level of runner looking to build their run speed, threshold and Vo2max fitness and run with the best running community in Dubai.
Time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Dubai Sports City Sports Park
Wednesday - Indoor Ride
Our community program is delivered via TrainingPeaks for AED 750 p/month. If you're interested to have a plan to follow, email tw@innerfight.com
Thursday - Endurance Strength
A strength class focused on key movements for endurance athletes to help avoid injury, build speed and develop strength.
Time: 06:30am
Location: This is a paid class session at InnerFight HQ. If you're interested to join, email winning@innerfight.com
Friday - Coffee Run
Our weekly tempo run. Sessions are built on an RPE scale and accessible to all levels of runner. We start together, run hard then finish together and chat about it over a coffee and breakfast.
Brief time: 05:54 am
Start time: 05:59 am
Start Location: Common Grounds
Wadi Bih 72km through the Oman mountains is the setting. You have just climbed a vertical km up what is commonly known as “Butt F**K” hill (or so I was told). The reason being that by the time you get to the top, your glutes are fried!
I had run this race once before in a time of 8 hours 20 minutes, and I had a goal in mind to crack that 8 hour mark. Everything was going well and I had ascended “the hill” in great shape. There was another small climb and a nice descent to bring me to the 36km halfway point of the out and back route, and I was feeling very confident.
Then BANG. I could feel this pain surge up through my knee.
Confusion set in, and I started mentally backtrack through the race so far. I’d not gone over on a stone, not pushed too hard up the hill, I had warmed up. In my opinion, I had not done anything to warrant this pain.
Running became too much, so I downgraded to walking which over the course of a few more minutes downgraded further to limping. Admittedly, I am a fairly stubborn person when it comes to pain and expect every race to incur a decent bit of either physical or mental suffering, but this was different. I was limping along the ridge of the penultimate summit and took an anti-inflammatory, the stabbing pain now shooting up my leg into my hips. I was certain that my race was done. Stubborn as I may be, I know that shuffling along for 40+ km is reckless at best. As I was pondering how to stop the race and get myself back to either an aid station or a support car, I needed to pop to the toilet. As this is ultra-life there are no portaloos so a quick detour off the trail behind some rocks to take care of business was in order. I then stood up to get back onto the course, and the most bizarre thing happened….. There was NOTHING, no pain! The was pain completely gone, I could walk and run as normal!
Just goes to show you when you think you are done, you are probably not, yet your body might do some strange things to get you to stop.
Ultimately I didn’t make the sub 8 hour time cap that day, but came out of it with a good story and lesson learnt.
Wadi Bih 72km through the Oman mountains is the setting. You have just climbed a vertical km up what is commonly known as “Butt F**K” hill (or so I was told). The reason being that by the time you get to the top, your glutes are fried!
I had run this race once before in a time of 8 hours 20 minutes, and I had a goal in mind to crack that 8 hour mark. Everything was going well and I had ascended “the hill” in great shape. There was another small climb and a nice descent to bring me to the 36km halfway point of the out and back route, and I was feeling very confident.
Then BANG. I could feel this pain surge up through my knee.
Confusion set in, and I started mentally backtrack through the race so far. I’d not gone over on a stone, not pushed too hard up the hill, I had warmed up. In my opinion, I had not done anything to warrant this pain.
Running became too much, so I downgraded to walking which over the course of a few more minutes downgraded further to limping. Admittedly, I am a fairly stubborn person when it comes to pain and expect every race to incur a decent bit of either physical or mental suffering, but this was different. I was limping along the ridge of the penultimate summit and took an anti-inflammatory, the stabbing pain now shooting up my leg into my hips. I was certain that my race was done. Stubborn as I may be, I know that shuffling along for 40+ km is reckless at best. As I was pondering how to stop the race and get myself back to either an aid station or a support car, I needed to pop to the toilet. As this is ultra-life there are no portaloos so a quick detour off the trail behind some rocks to take care of business was in order. I then stood up to get back onto the course, and the most bizarre thing happened….. There was NOTHING, no pain! The was pain completely gone, I could walk and run as normal!
Just goes to show you when you think you are done, you are probably not, yet your body might do some strange things to get you to stop.
Ultimately I didn’t make the sub 8 hour time cap that day, but came out of it with a good story and lesson learnt.
One-Hour Workout: Revving Your Swim Engine
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