What are you training for?
Many endurance athletes have a love/hate relationship with this question. "My sanity" or "my health" are common responses given by reticent runners...Do I have to be training for something? Can't I just run?
In my case, apparently not. At a certain point, most of us want to put ourselves to the test and enter a race. The goal may be just to finish, or it may be to run a certain time or finish in a certain place. In some extreme events, the goal is to survive. We may be training for our well-being, but having that secondary motivation of an upcoming race or races gives structure and purpose to the routine. Jogging 5 miles a day, while good for you, can get boring pretty fast. Variety and challenge...that's what life is all about!
This is just a long-winded way of saying that I have a few races planned for the spring:
St. Patrick's Day Human Race 8k, March 18
American River 50 mile, April 7
Superior Trail 50k, May 19
Should be fun! I've been running quite a bit, and have done a few workouts the last couple of weeks as well. I'm giving the "back-to-back" long run days a try, on an every other weekend basis. Having never done this before, I have no idea how it's going to go.
Two weekends ago, I did 18 on trails on Friday and then 17 on Sat. on the roads. I felt good on Saturday, but then was pretty tired for a couple days. Last weekend I did one long run of 22 miles with 15 at 6:00 pace, and that felt a lot harder than it should have. However, I had a good session of mile repeats with short rest at 5:00 pace on Tuesday, so that was encouraging.
This weekend I'll go back to FRI/SAT longer, easier runs. I'm not sure exactly how far I'll go, but I'm thinking I ought to build up to a weekend where I get in 50 on the two days, given that I'm going to be racing that far. So far the only thing I've learned in my previous 50 milers is that I have no idea what I'm doing. American River is about half on a paved bike path and half on trails, so I'm trying to keep a mix of terrain in my training. Currently, Minneapolis is covered in about 6 inches of slush, so that's the only option right now.
The way this winter has gone, it'll be clear again within a few days, and we'll be running in shorts before you know it.
looks good man!!!
ReplyDeleteThe first time I stopped racing, about 15 years ago, I quickly found I also stopped running - and gained 30 pounds; if I wasn't training, there was no motivation. Running for health or to socialize just didn't work for me, so I know what you mean. I had to stop thinking of myself as a guy who used to be fast and challenged myself by doing races where I knew I wouldn't be competitive, but where I'd learn something.
ReplyDeleteBack to back long runs, I think, make sense if you're training for a race of 12 hours or more, but might not be useful for a fast 50. Running, say, a hard fast 15-20 on Friday, with a very slow run (preferably trail, where it's easier on the joints and you have to go slower anyway) on Saturday of up to 30 might be a good plan, but not every week. If the two runs leave you tired two or three days later, when you'll probably be trying to get in some speedwork, I'd back off.
trail mix 50k, which will be my longest run ever, let alone race. boo ya
ReplyDeleteNice, Vinneeee. Going barefoot?
ReplyDeletehuarache sandals. home made.
ReplyDeletei don't know whats going to be on the trails, so im playing it safe.