Training Log Archive: ebuckley

Event: SLOC - Meramec State Park
 

Warmup (15 min) and down.

I'm usually pretty good about respecting recovery times, but some days you just have to go for it. As noted yesterday, was planning to run the Bubba as tempo and then jog/walk the orienteering. Didn't quite work out that way.

Bubba XC. Andy didn't show up this week so suddenly this was an opportunity to win a running race outright (which hasn't happened in a couple years). Ran the first lap with the leaders trying to see what was in the legs. Got the feeling I was having less trouble than the others so I tried a surge through the start/finish and got a gap of about 10 seconds. It didn't get much bigger than that and I was definitely coming apart at the end but, there it is, an overall win. I don't think that's going to happen too many more times in my life, so recovery can wait.

Then out to Meramec for the SLOC meet. Bill and Rob wanted me to run Red so we'd have 4 on AP. I'm not quite sure why having an AttackPoint ranking event was so important but I'd already trashed my legs, so I was game. Actually felt OK as the course was darn near flat by Meramec standards. Two big grunts, which I walked, but everything else was pretty easy to get over. Nav was a bit on the easy side and, since I wasn't exactly moving at warp speed, I was pretty accurate. It all added up to a pretty respectable run and another win on the day. Some days your body surprises you, but I can say for sure that I'm not surprised at how bad my legs feel right now. Those pups are whupped.

C • Mostly... 6

Yaya had been trailing along all day and generally running around while I raced. I asked her if she wanted to do the Yellow course and wasn't at all disappointed when she suggested we just get a few controls. We hit the cave, becuase it's really cool and another rockface and came in.

Red - Splits

Grass and gravel path at a reasonable training pace. Easy, for sure, but definitely running. The extra day and softer surface had my legs working without much complaint. Still not ready to race tomorrow, but perhaps we'll be able to at least run the XC as tempo again. No chance of hammering the hills at Meramec, so that will just be an easy day in the woods. Weather looks good, so I'll bring Yaya.

A jog-like activity round the hood. Calves are still very sore.

Easy walk. Legs are getting better so this will be the last walk I log.

Before the soreness wears off and I start thinking that it was less effort than it was, a few notes about NY:

The first half was darn near perfect. If I can do that consistently, I'll break 3 for sure one of these times.

It would be helpful to have a better sense of the pace. I was checking my HR every couple minutes which worked, but I'd rather be able to hold the pace by feel. More marathon pace runs were in order (I only did one for this whole cycle). I think 2-3 per month in the three months leading in is reasonable.

There is clearly some psychology at work here as well. I need to train down to a 2:57 pace so I'm not so freaked about being right on the edge of failure the whole way. I'm pretty sure that's doable, though I'm not getting any younger; sooner or later there will be no more speed to be had.

Multiple long (6-hour +) races in the months leading up are a really bad idea. Not only do they cut into training because of recovery time, but they make it really hard to keep a leash on the G. I think my original goal of 170 at the start line (training weight of 165) was right and I was just too lazy to make it happen.

In exchange for the 5 pounds around the middle, I'll add a couple ounces to each shoe. No injury, but my feet hurt to the point of distraction near the end in the racing flats. An 8-ounce trainer probably would have been perfect.

C • pace runs 9

More walking around Norwalk.

Walking around Norwalk, CT.