I’m restarting the Training Log, in an effort get this blog consistent. I hate to be that runner who is narcissistic, preening, exhibitionist-prone, and self-centered… you know, the way that I’m always outside, running instead of entrenched in my home, watching television and surfing the Internet like a proper human. But it’s something I can write about without having to search for a topic. Because I’m always training.
I have three races on my calendar for the fall, the big “A” race being a 50-miler in early December. Finishing that 50-miler — The North Face San Francisco, on many of the same trails of the Miwok 100K — will qualify me to enter the lottery of the most prestigious and difficult ultra in the world, the UTMB in France — which is in proximity to our Alpine condo — for next August 2015. Essentially, I am already in training for the UTMB. Because it’s a dooooozy.
But not this week. This summer’s weather being simply wonderful, I have been running more than expected. In much of July and August, I had 60 mile weeks, on trail and road, loving the early sunrise coupled with pink-tinged sunrises during 10-miler weekday runs. This week I took it easy.
Saturday August 9: 6 miles, flat and easy, early morn. I know we would be headed up North to bag a few 4K-footers.
Sunday August 10: Finished the Mt. Whiteface and Mt. Passaconway loop. About 11-12 miles total, with (wild guess) 4K elevation gain. I was a bit deprived on nutrition overall and babying my knee on the downhills.
Monday August 11: 6 miles easy. Quads a bit sore from the hike.
Tuesday August 12: 7 miles, some hill sprints and pushing the speed.
Wednesday August 13: 60 minutes swimming. Lots of triathlon men in the pool, huffing and puffing after a lap. I kick water in their faces on the flip-turns!
Thursday August 14: 6 miles running to and from gym, circuit workout. My shameful secret of the summer: I have not been keeping up with my core and lower-body work at the gym. I know this only invite injury and doom, so I’ve vowed to resume the kettlebells thrusts, the squats, the deadlifts, the wall sits, weighted planks, etc etc etc. Surprisingly, going through the circuit my legs felt great — increased blood flow, perhaps — and I jogged home from the gym on a beautiful cool morning, feeling great.
Friday August 15: 60 minutes swimming. After yesterday’s weights, my glutes were tight and my hamstrings were downright sore, so I headed to the pool. Unfortunately my shoulders were also sore — probably the kettlebell work — so I was definitely moving at a leisurely pace.
