Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Training Review 9

I've just finished reading "Born to Run" by Chris McDougall. This has got to be one of the best running books I've ever read. It's motivated me to the point of signing up with his coach Eric Orton. Over the next 20 weeks, I'll be using a couple of Eric's pre-canned beginner plans augmented with my weekend long-runs to get me in shape for completing the "Spirit of the Osage-50K" in Oct. After that, if the cost is reasonable, I'm going to be seriously considering working one on one with Eric to get me through my first 50 and 100 milers.


Here is last week`s training review:

Monday: Aerobic condition test to establish heart rate training zones. 20 min warm-up, 6 min sprint, 10 min cool-down on flat course.

Tuesday: Foot-Strength training - 45 mins, easy running in Vibram Five Fingers over slightly rolling terrain.

Wednesday: Hill training - 20 min warm-up, 12x 20 sec hill sprints w/ 40 sec recovery, 20 min cooldown

Thursday: Full rest

Friday: Endurance training - 10 min warm-up, 30 min alternating pace in Zones 2 and 3, 15 min cooldown

Saturday: Smacked my shin hard at work on Friday. No run, but spent 9 hours doing heavy yard work removing stumps in the yard.

Sunday: 3 more hours have yard work to finish stump removal.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Training Review 8

This week has been miserably hot and humid, with humidity in the 80's and temperature in the mid to upper 70's by 6am. If this is any indication of what the summer is going to bring, I'm not looking forward to it.


Here is last week`s training review:

Monday: full rest

Tuesday: Run 58 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Wednesday: full rest

Thursday: Run 55 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Friday: full rest

Saturday: Run/Walk 2 hours, 42 mins on slightly rolling terrain. The heat/humidity were miserable by the time I finished. I'm going to have to make sure my long runs are started before 6am.

Sunday: Run 60 mins on slightly rolling terrain. The heat/humidity were even worse today.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Training Review 7

This week's weather was a bit more cooperative. Though the temperature and humidity are starting to climb, I didn't have to abort any planned runs due to thunderstorms. The temperature and humidity is something I'm just going to have to live with.

I'm now 4 weeks into my low-carb/high-fat diet and energy levels are doing great. My focus over the next several months is on improving my overall aerobic base, so I've broken out my heart rate monitor to make sure my heart rate remains around 75% MHR. Yesterday's long run was a key indicator that I've got a ways to go. This was my first 20-miler in over a year. Early on I was able to maintain a steady 135-140 HR. However, around the 11-12 mile point my HR started to climb into the 160's even though I was maintaining a constant pace. I guess I'll just have to monitor this over the next couple of weeks to see if my overall endurance is improving or if it looks like I may be over training.

Here is last week`s training review:

Monday: full rest

Tuesday: Run 62 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Wednesday: full rest

Thursday: Run 59 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Friday: full rest

Saturday: Run/Walk 3 hrs and 41 mins on slightly rolling terrain (Added a bit of Fartlek during the final 2 miles, just for the fun of it.)

Sunday: Run 62 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Monday, May 17, 2010

Training Review 6

Due to several rounds of severe weather, last week ended up being a major recovery week. While I don't exactly enjoy running in the rain and wind, they usually don't prevent me from getting on the road. On the other hand, thunderstorms are a completely different story. On the upside, the inflammation in my right knee is gone. So, all in all, while mileage was limited this allowed the body to recover from any lingering aches and pains.


Here is last week`s training review:

Monday: full rest

Tuesday: Run 59 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Wednesday: full rest (Major Thunderstorm)

Thursday: Run 60 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Friday: full rest

Saturday: 15 minutes strength training (Major Thunderstorm)

Sunday: full rest (Scattered Thunderstorms)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Training Review 5

It's the second week of the low-carb diet and while Wednesday run wasn't great, I think that was more from the high temperature than it was diet. I've actually got more energy now than I had previously.

I've also been closely monitoring some slight pain in my right knee for the past week or so. Consequently, when I woke up yesterday and a major front was coming through with 25+ mpw winds I opted to take a second rest day and give the knee a bit more recovery time. It has bothered me worse in the past, so I'm not real worried about it. This just means I need to break out the knee strap again for awhile.


Here is last week`s training review:

Monday: Run 59 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Tuesday: full rest

Wednesday: Run/Walk 99 mins on slightly rolling terrain (83 degrees)

Thursday: Run 53 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Friday: full rest

Saturday: full rest

Sunday: Run 2 hours, 25 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Training Review 4

Another week down, weekly mileage is back to 40+ mpw and the body has not complaining. I hope this remains a sign of good things over the next few months, especially with the changes I've been making to my diet. Over the past couple of weeks, I've been keeping track of everything I eat and I was amazed at the bad dietary habits I've picked back up over the past couple of years.

In order to remedy this and to encourage the body to use fat more as an energy source, I'm incorporating some of the ideas from the Primal Blueprint into my daily lifestyle. The one that is going to prove the most interesting is elimination of all processed sugars and grains. I'll be changing from a high-carb/low-fat diet to a high-fat/low-carb diet while maintaining my calorie intake.

The one exception, I will be making is the use of energy gels for the long runs. But I have a feeling the next couple of weeks are going to be interesting from an overall energy perspective. However, I also think I'll be better for it a month from now.

Stay tuned and see if I feel the same way in 30 days.



Here is last week`s training review:

Monday: full rest

Tuesday: Run 54 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Wednesday: Run 87 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Thursday: Run/Walk 60 mins on slightly rolling terrain while fighting 25 - 45 mph winds

Friday: 1.5 hrs light cross-training (Yard Work)

Saturday: Run 2 hrs 23 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Sunday: Run 55 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Training Review 3

This week was a recovery week. Considering I've gone from maybe 3-4 runs a week with no plan of what I was doing to a focused 5-day/week training plan, I've totally blown the 10% rule over the past 3-4 weeks. However, considering my focus is on ultra-running with the inclusion of walking breaks and long, slow miles, I don't feel too bad and I'm comfortable that I'm not over training.

I've also begun experimenting with nutrition while on the run. Even though the long runs are still fairly mild, I felt it best to start incorporating some plan for maintaining energy levels once the miles start building up. This week, I tried CLIF Shot Blocks. I've used gels in the past and will be trying E-Gels in the near future, but I like the shot blocks for being able to fine tune intake with smaller portions.

During my run on Saturday I took one block every 2 miles with a couple swallows of water and I was able to maintain a steady pace up all of the hills that I'd previously had to walk. Was this the caffeine and carbs providing me the energy or simply my getting into better shape. At this stage it was probably the latter, but once the long run miles go over 20, I'll be depending on the extra carbs.


Here is last week`s training review:

Monday: full rest

Tuesday: Run 55 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Wednesday: Run 88 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Thursday: full rest

Friday: Run 57 mins on slightly rolling terrain

Saturday: Run 89 mins on slightly rolling terrain (Rain)

Sunday: Run 54 mins on slightly rolling terrain while fighting 20 mph headwinds over most of the last half