Like a Phoenix from the ashes, so again rises my desire to train, sweat, and burn. It really is amazing, this cycle which can reach amazing lows (such as my 2001 "retirement") and highs (my 25Ks, my marathon). In the past few weeks I've had this general sense that I wanted to start "running again regularly," though have not been doing so on any sort of schedule. I just knew I wanted to be in decent shape for the "Weekend at Dan's Pad." But seeing those runners, & walking the trails out at Afton; well, that's done it.
I get myself so worked up in my own mind. I am now obsessed with running the Afton 25K trail run: http://www.aftontrailrun.com/ Only problem is, it's less than 4 weeks away. The sort of training I'm considering goes against years of wisdom and experience I have with respect to training and injury prevention, but my thinking is this: I have some running capital, and I intend to spend it.
The last two 25K trail runs training programs I have undertaken have been over a period of 12 weeks each, with the idea that I was running enough to swing a 5-6 mile "long run" at the end of the first week. And even after that training, I was hampered by cramps for the last couple of miles on race day. So 4 weeks of training? What am I thinking? Well, here's my thinking on the "running capital":
1. Is it possible that I have more built up reserves, due to my years of off/on running, and can get back up to speed in less time than I have previously realized?
2. Is it possible that my training has not traditionally been very efficient? It is generally 2 short, relatively easy (3 mile) running days sandwiching a tougher, longer "tempo day" midweek, with a long run at the end of the week. Towards the end of the training, the easy runs get a little longer, but looking back at previous schedules last night, I was surprised that the 3 mile distance for those continued through week 8 or so. Is it possible that after the first couple of weeks, I am getting very, very little benefit from those short runs?
3. Injury prevention: hydration & stretching, for both of which I have poor track records. In such a small window, could I do the stretching and water-consumption I need to in order to recouperate and keep my body lithe?
Last night, all these crazy thoughts welling up in my head, I set out on a favorite 7 mile run; not sure I could necessarily even finish it. I did. The best time I have ever recorded for that route is 54 minutes. Last night's time: 1 hr 11 minutes, and I was pretty much maxing myself out. Ouch. That's off about 2 minutes a mile, and is gonna have to change significantly in the next few weeks. How sore I get from that run will also play a major part in determining the fate of my next month.
No guarantee I can pull this off. Hills at Afton are no joke, and not to be dismissed or underestimated. It's a grand experiment (I'll be trying to get in 4 runs a week, with two of them being 7+ miles and a long run that go from 7 to 10 to 13 on consecutive Sundays prior to the race. If I can't keep up the schedule and/or if I can't manage the Sunday distances, I'll know I set the bar too high and pull out. It's definitely gonna take some focus & guts. But my single-mindedness, at least over a small stretch of time, is also not to be underestimated.
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What the hell are you trainning for? Just kidding. :) I hope that you get to where you need to be without injury. You sir, are a glutton for punishment. On the flip side, you could be getting tremendous rewards from your effort. God's speed!
Thanks. I definitely have a bit of the GFP in me-especially in the short term. It's about half of what drives me in these instances.
But thanks for the words of encouragement. Will definitely have a followup post or two on this endeavor.
Just make it short. :) Just kidding again.
No real insight here. My general experience is that I can run about twice as far as I ever 'train for' though not necessarily at speed. Never tried a run that far with that many hills.
Basketball season here may have ended last night. Participation wanes as the weather improves though we squeaked out a few more weeks this year than in previous years. Plan to switch to some running and swimming now that the season has ended. Hope to be in reasonable shape by the end of July.
The hills are nuts. For both that and the other trail race I did, I had run pretty much the race distance at least once while training, no problem. But it was the hills that made me seize up with cramps. I'll try to combat that all I can with more (albeit over less time) long, serious runs and more general day-to-day hydration.
Good news-not particuarly sore today-just a little. Credit to my post-run stretching & water consumption I think...
Bananas also critical to avoid cramps.
Seriously.
Really? Just pre-activity, or during?
The potassium in bananas neutralizes the lactic acid that is the cause of cramps. Before would be fine for most runs. During for a long one. Also good source of quick energy.
I'd heard once that bananas w/peanut butter is an amazing energy food. Personally, I've found that PB gives me stomach cramps before heavy duty aerobic activity.
I wish you luck in your embarking on the excercise too, by the way. Don't feel obligated to train your ass off. Not sure whether I mentioned this, but there's no official, competitive trail run happening in Minnesota over that weekend (a summer rarity). Any runs we will do will be purely for love of running.
Not training for the trip - just need to maintain a fitness level through the summer.
Ran last night - 88 degrees and humid. Not bad, though I follow a running plan that attempts to keep my lungs and legs at more or less the same level. That occasional involves walking for a block or two in the middle of a 5 mile run. Little sore this morning - my left knee mostly. Need to get some new running shoes.
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