I know it's been a while since I've put training numbers up here, so I'll post a few for you this time around. But I'm afraid a few is all there is...
Sunday, October 11: AM - Running around the BAA HM Course during and after the race.
Totaled about 75 min (~13 Miles) w/ 4-5 Miles being at 5:30-5:45 pace.
Monday, October 12: PM - 8 Miles, 55 min on the Bentley loop
Tuesday, October 13: AM - Chiro w/ Dr. V.
PM - WO w/ Team @ BC Res - 22 min w/u, 16 min c/d
20 min Tempo (~5:15 pace), 5 minR,
4 x 1min on/ 1 min off, 4 minR
5 min Tempo (~5:00 pace)
(~12 Miles)
Wednesday, October 14: 0 Miles
Thursday, October 15: PM - 10 Miles, 72 min @ Lincoln Woods
Pedestal and Myrtl Routine
Friday, October 16: 0 Miles
Saturday, October 17: AM - Solo WO before work
60 min w/ 6 x 3min on/ 2min off in middle (~10 Miles)
Sunday, October 18: 0 Miles
Monday, October 19: PM - 9 Miles, 60 min @ The Fells
75 min core/strength/balance
Tuesday, October 20: PM - WO w/ Team @ BC Res/HB Hill
14 min w/u, Team Drills, 16 min to the Hill, Hill Sets, 16 min c/d
6 x (90sec, 60sec, 30sec) up w/ ~equal rest down
(~14 Miles)
Wednesday, October 21: 0 Miles
Thursday, October 22: AM - Massage w/ Carly
PM - 7 Miles, 48 min on the Bentley loop
At first glance, it may seem like some decent training, but if you look a little closer, you'll see a bunch of zeros thrown in there, which is never good. Right around the time I last posted, my left plantar was getting really bad and I started taking 2 or 3 days off per week to try to manage it. I've continued doing workouts during that time, but I typically am not able to run the next day after a hard workout, which is the main reason I've been missing 2-3 days a week. Because of this, I've only been averaging about 40-50 miles per week for the past 2 months, which does not bode well for my overall fitness. Despite the mediocre training, I do still plan on racing Mayors Cup with my team this weekend. Why? Because I like to compete and I want to help my team out. Though my training has been less than desired, I know I still have the ability to compete well and run tough, especially in a cross race that looks to have a sloppy forecast. I've been really anxious to start training hard again and get in ridiculous shape, but I just haven't had that privilege yet. It's been extremely frustrating as you can imagine. I don't want to take time off from running completely, so I've been doing everything I can to get this plantar healthy while running as much as it can tolerate, hoping this thing will just run its course and let me move on.
I have had a few points in workouts, where I've been able to get after it a little bit more and see what there is in the tank, but the majority of my workouts have been on the tail end of my teammates, testing things out just one interval at a time. These limitations have left me hungry for those feelings of extreme muscle fatigue, lactic acid build up, and burning lungs... all things I'll be able to venture into on Sunday. As long as the plantar can hold up, I feel like I'll have an advantage over other guys that are at similar fitness. As some of you have seen in the past, I often have the ability to race well off of mediocre training and arguably run beyond my fitness. Because of my experiences and investments in this sport, I feel my mental toughness is almost always further along than my physical toughness. I am a competitor at heart and I desire nothing less than opportunities to test those competitive abilities. I know I am a ways away from PR shape this weekend so don't expect anything spectacular, but if I can compete well and help out my team, I'll be satisfied.
I recently saw a
Flotrack interview with Keith Kelly, who I've long admired as a tremendous athlete in our sport and have always enjoyed talking with at races and events. It was a great interview and I felt I could relate very well to the things he was talking about. Though Keith's accomplishments and setbacks have been on a much higher level than my own, I feel the principles are still similar. Like Keith, my passion for the sport and desire to compete may be the reason for both my successes and my set-backs. But Keith keeps plugging away and he has had some success after those many struggles, just like so many others I know. There is always hope. So I'll keep my chin up and keep plugging away as well. This Sunday will be a bench mark in that process and I'll look forward to seeing how tough I am at this stage in the game.
(Photo courtesy of Puma Running)
