....I (we) have been without a home computer for the last few weeks. The only Internet access i had was a at school and I try to use it minimally, therefore that meant really only checking emails. You don't realize how things have changed so much over the last 10 years with people (myself included) who don't know some one's ph number, and use emails a s their main form of communication (hell I've only been using a cell phone since early last year and even then I was forced with our waiting game of the little person who we now know as Carter)
In many respects much has happened during this time, but also very little. My running has been nothing more than maintenance. I don't think i realized how burnt out I was both mentally and physically. I have only been running 4-5 days per week, but it wasn't due to not wanting to get out. I simply kept on falling asleep at times from 6-7 o'clock.
I have had some nice runs (only a couple mellow fartlek workouts) including a great run in Belligham last week. For those who don't know I consider Bellingham to be one of the best places to go for runs anywhere. they have so many hilly trails that hook up with each other that you could go for hours and hours of running. I don't know the trails that well and got lost. I took Kao and only planned on 90 mins but alas we ended up at a wee over 1hr 45. It was nice and hilly so she had no problems keeping up (I only lose her when it's flat, but she gets a good break going up hill).
The day before i also had a dog run with me, but ti wasn't Kao. This friendly husky dog followed and I couldn't get it to go to where I thought it lived. In the end I took the dog back in my vehicle and took ti back to it's owners. It was kinda funny when i showed up and asked them if they owned a husky. they had been looking for it during the length of my run. Just another funny running story for the annals.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
'Here it goes again'...
....yeah a great video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI&feature=fvst (IMHO the best video I've probably ever seen).....and the theme of my training.
I've gotten to the point where I can at least run again with some semblance of respectability, but I also know there are some big holes. Hence, taking into acct I've gotten some fitness back, along with some better mechanics, I am going to essentially begin from scratch.
Some people like to roll from one phase of training to the next. I've always found it better to view my training as beginning from scratch. I don't know if it's a goal thing, forgetting any previous training/racing (both good or bad) or what, but I've always viewed training as starting from 'ground zero'. It's like I have no stress attached to training and it seems to flow much easier. I also find that it allows me to fully clear my head and have no preconceived notion of expectations...it's simply rebuild and go at it again (although in this case) have the advantage of at least having gotten 2+ mths of reasonable training in play.
It's kinda funny as since 2003 I haven't had an major debilitating injuries, but in the last yr I've had 2 Achilles problems that put me out for quite a while. I can really feel the lack of continuity with the second injury.
For now it's back to the simple grind of some fartleks, tempos and long runs....
Highlights of the week:
BC HS XCs. We had a nice grp of young kids run (mostly gr 8 and 9s) in the BC Jr Invite. It's not an official race, but it sure is great to be able to get the younger athletes into a race that says provincial championship. We had some pleasant surprises with our two gr 8 girls destroy our Jr Girl who had actually qualified for the Open race. On the other side the kid who we think has exceptional talent (gr 9) finished 10th in the Jr Boys race...and he does this off no real training (only soccer). So if we can get them out, mixed in with a few other young athletes our school could have a nice program.
Got picked up by a running room group (Matt Norminton) to to do the infamous H2H. I knew I could only do leg 1, but I was also concerned as i had committed to them before my BC XC debacle. to make matters worse I got my H1N1 shot on Wed and it really messed me up. I could barely run on Wed and Thurs. I still felt bad on Fri night. In the end I ran poorly, but at least I didn't blow up. Better yet I was able to keep the guys in at least 'spitting distance' and they were able to have some other strong runners make up for my 'slowness'. I didn't do haney last yr and I couldn't do the full on follow the car experience as i had to go to BC HS's, but I was able to hook up with some of the guys at the after party.
I've gotten to the point where I can at least run again with some semblance of respectability, but I also know there are some big holes. Hence, taking into acct I've gotten some fitness back, along with some better mechanics, I am going to essentially begin from scratch.
Some people like to roll from one phase of training to the next. I've always found it better to view my training as beginning from scratch. I don't know if it's a goal thing, forgetting any previous training/racing (both good or bad) or what, but I've always viewed training as starting from 'ground zero'. It's like I have no stress attached to training and it seems to flow much easier. I also find that it allows me to fully clear my head and have no preconceived notion of expectations...it's simply rebuild and go at it again (although in this case) have the advantage of at least having gotten 2+ mths of reasonable training in play.
It's kinda funny as since 2003 I haven't had an major debilitating injuries, but in the last yr I've had 2 Achilles problems that put me out for quite a while. I can really feel the lack of continuity with the second injury.
For now it's back to the simple grind of some fartleks, tempos and long runs....
Highlights of the week:
BC HS XCs. We had a nice grp of young kids run (mostly gr 8 and 9s) in the BC Jr Invite. It's not an official race, but it sure is great to be able to get the younger athletes into a race that says provincial championship. We had some pleasant surprises with our two gr 8 girls destroy our Jr Girl who had actually qualified for the Open race. On the other side the kid who we think has exceptional talent (gr 9) finished 10th in the Jr Boys race...and he does this off no real training (only soccer). So if we can get them out, mixed in with a few other young athletes our school could have a nice program.
Got picked up by a running room group (Matt Norminton) to to do the infamous H2H. I knew I could only do leg 1, but I was also concerned as i had committed to them before my BC XC debacle. to make matters worse I got my H1N1 shot on Wed and it really messed me up. I could barely run on Wed and Thurs. I still felt bad on Fri night. In the end I ran poorly, but at least I didn't blow up. Better yet I was able to keep the guys in at least 'spitting distance' and they were able to have some other strong runners make up for my 'slowness'. I didn't do haney last yr and I couldn't do the full on follow the car experience as i had to go to BC HS's, but I was able to hook up with some of the guys at the after party.
Monday, November 2, 2009
20/20 hindsight is a beautiful thing
....just when things seems to be coming along something (sometimes my own fault...sometimes not) have really bit me in the behind this fall. Such was the case this past weekend at BC XC.
My main focus for this fall was simple...stay uninjured, have fun and run Can XC. Except for the injury part I cannot honestly say that these three goals have been met. I find enjoying running is a byproduct of fitness and that will come, but for now it's a grind.
The shocking thing was not that I had an unexpectedly bad race at BC XC, but that I felt near death after about one lap. I ended up dropping out at just under 4km, as I had began feeling somewhat in a daze around 3km, but by the 4km mark I was literally feeling light headed. When I dropped out things even got worse and I felt like I was either going to pass out or be sick. In the end none of those two options occurred, but for the rest of the day I felt like my 'head was in the clouds'. I ended up going to sleep in the afternoon and then sleeping for over 12 hours that night. Even On Sunday I felt better, but when I went for a run I felt lousy again and decided to take the day off work. It was probably a good thing as I slept another 12 hrs and am still somewhat sleep even as I type this post.
One of the things I think I've done well is honestly assess why things have gone poorly in racing/training. In this scenario I can only think that everything over the fall came to a head on Saturday (bad timing). That being a whole lot of factors that I've been ignoring from training, work, coaching, parenting, marriage and just general life (any successful athlete has to have some semblance of selfishness and I have come to realize I have been trying to keep everyone happy, but me...in the end my first priority is only to keep three people and a dog happy). If I take any one of these out of the equation I think I am fine. The warning signs were there earlier in the last couple of weeks (I had to can my long run last Sunday when I woke up with dizzy spells and for some reason I had migraines this past week.... which I never have). I can see how those warning sign had shown themselves now, but at the time I was blind.
The only positive is that things are now much simpler for the rest of this fall (no focus races and HS XC ends this weekend). It's simply training with the odd race to keep me honest....a combination of this and recognizing how I have been spreading myself thin means some things will have to change. I've had life and training stresses impact me before, but I don't think I've ever had this much on my plate...something will have to change.
My main focus for this fall was simple...stay uninjured, have fun and run Can XC. Except for the injury part I cannot honestly say that these three goals have been met. I find enjoying running is a byproduct of fitness and that will come, but for now it's a grind.
The shocking thing was not that I had an unexpectedly bad race at BC XC, but that I felt near death after about one lap. I ended up dropping out at just under 4km, as I had began feeling somewhat in a daze around 3km, but by the 4km mark I was literally feeling light headed. When I dropped out things even got worse and I felt like I was either going to pass out or be sick. In the end none of those two options occurred, but for the rest of the day I felt like my 'head was in the clouds'. I ended up going to sleep in the afternoon and then sleeping for over 12 hours that night. Even On Sunday I felt better, but when I went for a run I felt lousy again and decided to take the day off work. It was probably a good thing as I slept another 12 hrs and am still somewhat sleep even as I type this post.
One of the things I think I've done well is honestly assess why things have gone poorly in racing/training. In this scenario I can only think that everything over the fall came to a head on Saturday (bad timing). That being a whole lot of factors that I've been ignoring from training, work, coaching, parenting, marriage and just general life (any successful athlete has to have some semblance of selfishness and I have come to realize I have been trying to keep everyone happy, but me...in the end my first priority is only to keep three people and a dog happy). If I take any one of these out of the equation I think I am fine. The warning signs were there earlier in the last couple of weeks (I had to can my long run last Sunday when I woke up with dizzy spells and for some reason I had migraines this past week.... which I never have). I can see how those warning sign had shown themselves now, but at the time I was blind.
The only positive is that things are now much simpler for the rest of this fall (no focus races and HS XC ends this weekend). It's simply training with the odd race to keep me honest....a combination of this and recognizing how I have been spreading myself thin means some things will have to change. I've had life and training stresses impact me before, but I don't think I've ever had this much on my plate...something will have to change.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
I swear it was Reider's fault.....
It's been a week of ups and downs ...literally.
Just as i think that things seem to be slowing down something else comes into play. Such was this week. I had Monday off and did a nice easy dbl run, but I had a dep\t meeting On Tues, a XC meet on Wed (where I had to stay longer and get all the gear for the race we're hosting) and parent teacher conferences on Thurs. I swear this week will be better (fingers crossed), but it's not entirely good. Julie is taking a friend of hers down to Maple Falls, which means no Carter and no dug. It will be a quiet place....the only real positive being getting work done, training and a Pro D on Friday. I am still contemplating racing on Sunday, but I am also thinking just get through the season healthy and get ready for indoors (yes indoors).
Kamloops (3 hrs from here) is hosting the Wld Masters (that evil word) Indoors and since I want to get back into track this could be a good short term motivational goal for the next handful of mths (I think my last indoor race was 2003).
I mentioned that last week I had chatted with Albert Reimer who is the XC/distance coach at Western Wash Uni. I used to compete against WWU in the NAIA, but they are now D2. Over the last few years they have really improved and I am sure that is in large part due to Albert. He's one of those character guys that got the most out of his abilities through hard work. You alays knew that if you lined up against Albert that he was going to race as tough as he could, irrelevant of his shape. I also think that the team is beginning to take on some of his character. He said one of the things that has been his greatest bane with his team is pure simple aerobic endurance. Since Al was the consummate harrier it`s no surprise that he mentioned hitting hilly trails (ala Arthur Lydiard and running all year around. it was one of those conversations where many young athletes see the season as the end as opposed to part of the building process. It`s one of those things where some young athletes don`t realize that good optimal distance running is pretty much year round (although that doesn`t mean hammering all yr around). One just hopes that many young runners fall under the influence of Uni coaches like Albert.
My Week:
Mon: AM 68 mins at Silver lke PM 38mins easy
Tues: 3 sets of 6 x 400m off 200m jogs with a 3-3.5min set break. Normally I like grinding this sort of session out based on time with no set break (egs 15-20 x 60 sec hard-med), but the chance to train with the lads overrode `normàlcy`. But it was a nice relaxed session. I ran with Geoff, Jon and Trvor on the first 3 and then dropped it down the second half. It was consistent and solid.
Wed: 64 mins plus 6 mins transition drills
Thurs: Student teach conferences and I didn`t get hm til late (these days really destroy you mentally). I ended up not running til almost 9 and did a mini monfartlek (took out the 90s) just to keep things honest (but i felt terrible)
Fri: 66 mins with dug (it`s the first run she`s been with me since being on seizure meds) plus 4mins transition
Sat: At Stanley Park...The plan was alternating 1000s (flat) with 2 x 500 (hilly). But on the first set of 500s Geoff Reid almost went down and I was in behind. I tried to not run him over and went down. I didn`t think it was that hard but the rest of the workout was a real struggle. Later in the day I could really feel my lower back and assumed that I had jammed by back or that it had tightened up when i fell. Even this morning it was really stiff.
Sunday: 2 hr 12 mins....I read an email from Dick at 9:10 (I fell asleep early on Sat...I should have know better) that some people were running at 9....oops....I headed down to Bby Lake around 9:40 and eventually hooked up with Trevor, Steve and Jon. About 5mins into the run Steve took off and I ran with T and J for the rest of the lap, did a half lap and hit the SFU trails. I accidentally messed up my watch and ended up running about 10min longer than planned, but alas not an entirely bad thing...
...all i want now is a nice standard week of training with no ìssues`.....
Just as i think that things seem to be slowing down something else comes into play. Such was this week. I had Monday off and did a nice easy dbl run, but I had a dep\t meeting On Tues, a XC meet on Wed (where I had to stay longer and get all the gear for the race we're hosting) and parent teacher conferences on Thurs. I swear this week will be better (fingers crossed), but it's not entirely good. Julie is taking a friend of hers down to Maple Falls, which means no Carter and no dug. It will be a quiet place....the only real positive being getting work done, training and a Pro D on Friday. I am still contemplating racing on Sunday, but I am also thinking just get through the season healthy and get ready for indoors (yes indoors).
Kamloops (3 hrs from here) is hosting the Wld Masters (that evil word) Indoors and since I want to get back into track this could be a good short term motivational goal for the next handful of mths (I think my last indoor race was 2003).
I mentioned that last week I had chatted with Albert Reimer who is the XC/distance coach at Western Wash Uni. I used to compete against WWU in the NAIA, but they are now D2. Over the last few years they have really improved and I am sure that is in large part due to Albert. He's one of those character guys that got the most out of his abilities through hard work. You alays knew that if you lined up against Albert that he was going to race as tough as he could, irrelevant of his shape. I also think that the team is beginning to take on some of his character. He said one of the things that has been his greatest bane with his team is pure simple aerobic endurance. Since Al was the consummate harrier it`s no surprise that he mentioned hitting hilly trails (ala Arthur Lydiard and running all year around. it was one of those conversations where many young athletes see the season as the end as opposed to part of the building process. It`s one of those things where some young athletes don`t realize that good optimal distance running is pretty much year round (although that doesn`t mean hammering all yr around). One just hopes that many young runners fall under the influence of Uni coaches like Albert.
My Week:
Mon: AM 68 mins at Silver lke PM 38mins easy
Tues: 3 sets of 6 x 400m off 200m jogs with a 3-3.5min set break. Normally I like grinding this sort of session out based on time with no set break (egs 15-20 x 60 sec hard-med), but the chance to train with the lads overrode `normàlcy`. But it was a nice relaxed session. I ran with Geoff, Jon and Trvor on the first 3 and then dropped it down the second half. It was consistent and solid.
Wed: 64 mins plus 6 mins transition drills
Thurs: Student teach conferences and I didn`t get hm til late (these days really destroy you mentally). I ended up not running til almost 9 and did a mini monfartlek (took out the 90s) just to keep things honest (but i felt terrible)
Fri: 66 mins with dug (it`s the first run she`s been with me since being on seizure meds) plus 4mins transition
Sat: At Stanley Park...The plan was alternating 1000s (flat) with 2 x 500 (hilly). But on the first set of 500s Geoff Reid almost went down and I was in behind. I tried to not run him over and went down. I didn`t think it was that hard but the rest of the workout was a real struggle. Later in the day I could really feel my lower back and assumed that I had jammed by back or that it had tightened up when i fell. Even this morning it was really stiff.
Sunday: 2 hr 12 mins....I read an email from Dick at 9:10 (I fell asleep early on Sat...I should have know better) that some people were running at 9....oops....I headed down to Bby Lake around 9:40 and eventually hooked up with Trevor, Steve and Jon. About 5mins into the run Steve took off and I ran with T and J for the rest of the lap, did a half lap and hit the SFU trails. I accidentally messed up my watch and ended up running about 10min longer than planned, but alas not an entirely bad thing...
...all i want now is a nice standard week of training with no ìssues`.....
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Racing...we talkin bout racing.....
Yep I actually raced on the weekend. I cannot say it was pretty, but it was fun...kinda. I felt after 2 weeks of doing some semblance of intervals that I'd jump in a race. Originally, I had planned on the Royal Victoria 8km, but we had plans to go down to Maple Falls for Thanksgiving.
I ended up running the western Washington Uni XC race. I've done the race before, but not for a while. It often interfered with some other races, but it was great to get down to Bellingham and see some people who I haven't seen for a while (WWU coaches Al Reimer, Bill Roe and Pee Wee). I had an interesting chat with Albert I'll post next time. I even bumped into (old guys will remember this name) the infamous Mike Lynes. Even UBC was there, so I knew I had to at least try and put in a honest effort against the young bucks. The final clincher was masters star Tony Young was there so I had to counter both old and Young (no pun intended).
I went out mellow and worked my way to the front after about a km. I felt great, but as soon as that happened I felt terrible. Although i had a planned down week I hadn't rested for the race (I did some hills on Thurs and out in a 7-8 miler on Friday night...I really hated that Friday run from 10-25mins of the race). In the end I hung on a couple of UBC guys (I still have some semblance of pride and ego in racing) and had a decent last mile with a good solid stride (although I had a 1:52 800m guys clipping at my heels). I ended up in 17th (I think) just over 33:20. The winner was 31:40ish (I think).
The race at least gave me an indication of where I am progressing. Two - three weeks ago i wouldn't have been lucky to go under 35mins on the course, so if I can get that sort of progression for BC XCs I'll be okay.
Mon: off...why...i just felt like not running..
Tues: 8 x 800m off 2 1/2 mins. Felt pretty good
Wed: legs felt a little beat up and simply put in a 70min run...easy
Thurs: Hills (20mins) of 4 x 20 sec -4 x 35 sec- 4 x 20 sec, etc....)
Fri: 53 mins easy
Sat: AM race 10km XC PM 38mins
Sun: AM 66 mins PM 35 mins
I ended up running the western Washington Uni XC race. I've done the race before, but not for a while. It often interfered with some other races, but it was great to get down to Bellingham and see some people who I haven't seen for a while (WWU coaches Al Reimer, Bill Roe and Pee Wee). I had an interesting chat with Albert I'll post next time. I even bumped into (old guys will remember this name) the infamous Mike Lynes. Even UBC was there, so I knew I had to at least try and put in a honest effort against the young bucks. The final clincher was masters star Tony Young was there so I had to counter both old and Young (no pun intended).
I went out mellow and worked my way to the front after about a km. I felt great, but as soon as that happened I felt terrible. Although i had a planned down week I hadn't rested for the race (I did some hills on Thurs and out in a 7-8 miler on Friday night...I really hated that Friday run from 10-25mins of the race). In the end I hung on a couple of UBC guys (I still have some semblance of pride and ego in racing) and had a decent last mile with a good solid stride (although I had a 1:52 800m guys clipping at my heels). I ended up in 17th (I think) just over 33:20. The winner was 31:40ish (I think).
The race at least gave me an indication of where I am progressing. Two - three weeks ago i wouldn't have been lucky to go under 35mins on the course, so if I can get that sort of progression for BC XCs I'll be okay.
Mon: off...why...i just felt like not running..
Tues: 8 x 800m off 2 1/2 mins. Felt pretty good
Wed: legs felt a little beat up and simply put in a 70min run...easy
Thurs: Hills (20mins) of 4 x 20 sec -4 x 35 sec- 4 x 20 sec, etc....)
Fri: 53 mins easy
Sat: AM race 10km XC PM 38mins
Sun: AM 66 mins PM 35 mins
Sunday, October 4, 2009
'Grind.....'
..that's the sound of my training.....pure and simple it's a grind. But I can feel things happening (if slowly) so i hope that's a good sign.
It's been another busy week, but that's been more due to school cross country. We normally have races on Mondays, but the schedule has been all over the place. We had a Surrey race on Thurs, a pseudo club meet on Saturday and another race on Monday, but then we don't go again for two Wednesdays. We are even hosting our own race this year (apparently I get to create the course so beware....).
We have a nice grp of kids who come consistently and then of course the one who don't. Unfortunately, most of the really talented kids haven't been coming out. That drives me nuts when you can see a kid who would be a better runner than soccer, hockey, basketball player, but then again I would have rather been a hockey player (but 130lb hockey players don't exactly go far in this world).
But alas we seem to have possibly gained a star 8th grader. Kid won our Terry Fox run and we got him to come out for this weeks race. He placed 2nd, but it was to a club kid who trains consistently. Best part is he's a little guy who plays hockey (I don't know anyone like that), but obviously has some talent. We'll see.....
My week has been another simple week (how I like it) of long reps, hills, tempo and long run.
Mon: 68mins easy
Tues: 1600-1200-800-1600-1200-800 off 200m jogs (not pretty but i knew that was going to happen when I woke up that morning
Wed: 62min plus 8mins of 'transition/circuit'.
Thurs: Hills - We had a race that day so I ended up running in the dark on a road near my house Hills...the idea was to get in alternating circuits of 4 x 20 sec and 5 x 50+ sec hills and if felt good then add on a few mins for 30 sec hills)- 4 x 20 sec hill - 5 x 50+ sec hill - 4 x 20 sec hill - 5 x 50+sec hill - 3 x 30 sec hill - 4 x 20 sec hill
Fri: 60mins plus 5 min transition
sat: AM (whooohoo a double....)33min and then took some students down the Pre BC HS Xc race....
PM by the time I got home I was tired and ended up running down to a lit gravel trail near my house. The idea was to run out 15mins take 1min rest and then run back in a 10mins - 1min rest, take off from the exact spot and then 5mins. If i did it properly then I would be a exactly the same spot I started in....and I think I was 1meter short (seriously). The workout felt good, but the warm down felt like hell....
Sunday: me and Carta hung out all morning and I didn't get my run in til mid afternoon. A nice 2 hr and 8min around the SFU trails. Surprisingly the legs felt decent and the run was at an easy effort, but good clip.
In total around 90miles on 8 sessions...but in reality 85 off 7 sessions.
It's been another busy week, but that's been more due to school cross country. We normally have races on Mondays, but the schedule has been all over the place. We had a Surrey race on Thurs, a pseudo club meet on Saturday and another race on Monday, but then we don't go again for two Wednesdays. We are even hosting our own race this year (apparently I get to create the course so beware....).
We have a nice grp of kids who come consistently and then of course the one who don't. Unfortunately, most of the really talented kids haven't been coming out. That drives me nuts when you can see a kid who would be a better runner than soccer, hockey, basketball player, but then again I would have rather been a hockey player (but 130lb hockey players don't exactly go far in this world).
But alas we seem to have possibly gained a star 8th grader. Kid won our Terry Fox run and we got him to come out for this weeks race. He placed 2nd, but it was to a club kid who trains consistently. Best part is he's a little guy who plays hockey (I don't know anyone like that), but obviously has some talent. We'll see.....
My week has been another simple week (how I like it) of long reps, hills, tempo and long run.
Mon: 68mins easy
Tues: 1600-1200-800-1600-1200-800 off 200m jogs (not pretty but i knew that was going to happen when I woke up that morning
Wed: 62min plus 8mins of 'transition/circuit'.
Thurs: Hills - We had a race that day so I ended up running in the dark on a road near my house Hills...the idea was to get in alternating circuits of 4 x 20 sec and 5 x 50+ sec hills and if felt good then add on a few mins for 30 sec hills)- 4 x 20 sec hill - 5 x 50+ sec hill - 4 x 20 sec hill - 5 x 50+sec hill - 3 x 30 sec hill - 4 x 20 sec hill
Fri: 60mins plus 5 min transition
sat: AM (whooohoo a double....)33min and then took some students down the Pre BC HS Xc race....
PM by the time I got home I was tired and ended up running down to a lit gravel trail near my house. The idea was to run out 15mins take 1min rest and then run back in a 10mins - 1min rest, take off from the exact spot and then 5mins. If i did it properly then I would be a exactly the same spot I started in....and I think I was 1meter short (seriously). The workout felt good, but the warm down felt like hell....
Sunday: me and Carta hung out all morning and I didn't get my run in til mid afternoon. A nice 2 hr and 8min around the SFU trails. Surprisingly the legs felt decent and the run was at an easy effort, but good clip.
In total around 90miles on 8 sessions...but in reality 85 off 7 sessions.
Friday, October 2, 2009
falling asleep on the couch....
..is not conducive to getting things done at night. The last few weeks have been really busy and when they are not I am trying to spend every second with Carter before he goes to sleep. As a result I've been falling asleep on the couch, waking up in the middle of the night and then having a lousy sleep til I get up for work.....I am my own worst enemy.....
Things are settling into place, but then again when that seems to be happening something else seems to take it's place.
Training has been solid, although not spectacular. I do not get back into racing shape easily, but then again it's also some of the training choices I make. Some people gradually build up volume. I have found the opposite, at least in regards to hitting my 'sweet spot'. I tend to keep the volume at a decent level, and let the workouts fall where they may. It means some really ugly days at first, but some much much better days later on. The only issue is in having enough time to actually have the training adaptation to occur.
That's kinda where I am right now. I am supposed to be racing at a decent level in the next 2-4 weeks, but with my recent session things look well downright ugly....but as always there is hope that I am simply tired.
Last week was my first real week of intervals, but the greater stress was a hill session i did last Tues. Normally the hills would have been on Thurs or Sat, but the long intervals came down on a Thurs and I did my hills on a Tues. They felt great, but the next day I knew I had bit off a bit more than I could chew as my run was brutal and by Thurs I could feel my legs were pretty beaten up.
Then on Sat I did a nice tempo but we were at our new place and I couldn't find any dirt trails. Therefore I ended up doing it on the roads. Normally that would be a huge deal, except that I hadn't done any real run on the roads longer than 20 mins (as part of some longer run). My legs went from kinda beaten up to totally beaten up and by the next round of long reps I knew it was going to be messy. But at least things were consistent from beginning to end.
That's one thing I have come to accept...the process isn't always pretty, but ti's better to have crappy session and keep up the volume than have great workouts, but having backed off. Now it's simply hoping the legs come around in time.
Things are settling into place, but then again when that seems to be happening something else seems to take it's place.
Training has been solid, although not spectacular. I do not get back into racing shape easily, but then again it's also some of the training choices I make. Some people gradually build up volume. I have found the opposite, at least in regards to hitting my 'sweet spot'. I tend to keep the volume at a decent level, and let the workouts fall where they may. It means some really ugly days at first, but some much much better days later on. The only issue is in having enough time to actually have the training adaptation to occur.
That's kinda where I am right now. I am supposed to be racing at a decent level in the next 2-4 weeks, but with my recent session things look well downright ugly....but as always there is hope that I am simply tired.
Last week was my first real week of intervals, but the greater stress was a hill session i did last Tues. Normally the hills would have been on Thurs or Sat, but the long intervals came down on a Thurs and I did my hills on a Tues. They felt great, but the next day I knew I had bit off a bit more than I could chew as my run was brutal and by Thurs I could feel my legs were pretty beaten up.
Then on Sat I did a nice tempo but we were at our new place and I couldn't find any dirt trails. Therefore I ended up doing it on the roads. Normally that would be a huge deal, except that I hadn't done any real run on the roads longer than 20 mins (as part of some longer run). My legs went from kinda beaten up to totally beaten up and by the next round of long reps I knew it was going to be messy. But at least things were consistent from beginning to end.
That's one thing I have come to accept...the process isn't always pretty, but ti's better to have crappy session and keep up the volume than have great workouts, but having backed off. Now it's simply hoping the legs come around in time.
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