The Training Week That Was… 10/15-21

With my November 10 race date quickly approaching, I am cautiously optimistic about my chances of meeting my goal of finishing the 50k. I am also trying to “stay the course” by continuing to work through my training plan, with an eye toward avoiding any of the pitfalls that can come from overtraining: injury, burnout, boredom.

In the recap below those miles I was schedule to run appear in parentheses. You’ll notice that I liberally switch “days,” but do try to adhere to the daily total. The total mileage I had been scheduled to run this week was 54 miles:

Legend: R = Running, w/A (with my wife, Anne). I've also noted increases (+x) or decreases (-x) from the previous week)

Monday: (Recovery Day)
Tuesday: (4) R 4.6 miles
Wednesday: (10) R 10.1 miles
Thursday: (8) R 8.4 miles
Friday: (Recovery Day)
Saturday: (22) R 22.3 miles
Sunday: (10) R 8.4 miles (6.4 solo + 2 w/Anne)

TOTALS--R 53.8 (-0.2 miles from the previous week)
Weigh-In*: 180 lbs. (+2 lbs.) [* took place at 5:00 a.m. on 10/1]

Psychologically, I am becoming more acclimated to the distances I have been running, and find myself less inclined to “beat myself up” over missed mileage goals and “off” days. Previously, I might have been a little despondent over my having fallen a hair short this week of my cumulative mileage target of 55 miles. Today, I am thankful for having completed a good week of training, with some individual, personal goals met and, more importantly, no serious injuries to report! Aches and pains, yes; anything I can’t handle or did not expect? No, thank goodness.

Only one more week of heavy mileage, and two weeks of training until I begin to significantly taper for the run…

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!