Sunday, May 31, 2009

Where Did My Energy Go? - May Training Recap

I ended the month of May with a less than a stellar run today. The plan called for a 4 hour run with fellow "ultra runner in training" RunninRob but from the very start of the run I just didn't feel right. I wasn't that concerned at first because I often feel sluggish during the first 30 minutes of a long run but then shake off the cobwebs and get into a groove. Today was different. The groove never happened. I can probably blame my Wednesday double that included a 5 mile tempo run for my fatigue, but knowing the cause didn't reduce the suffering I felt today.

I was not alone. Rob was battling his own demons today. His GAC Mother's Day 6 hour run, along with some recent speed and hill training took a toll on him also. Although we were maintaining our predetermined pace, we were both working too hard at it. When the trail got technical running at a decent clip became impossible. We finally came to a mutual agreement to call it a day at 3 hours. Less than what we wanted but still a good workout under the circumstances.


Long section of boardwalk crossing Meeting House Swamp (Not very swampy right now!)



Highlights for the month include 4 races, 3 of them first time races for me (MorFun, Soapstone Mountain and Trav's). Another first for me this month was running the 21 mile Wapack trail from end-to-end. Actually 22 miles for me because I got lost. I also set a PR for time on my feet at 6 hours and 48 minutes. This is not a record I want to break any time soon! On the downside, I didn't run over 140 miles for the month like I hoped to but I was pretty close.

May Training ReCap:

Total Miles: 134
Longest Run: 22
# of Runs: 18
Avg Miles: 7.4
Race Miles: 46
# of Races: 4
Avg Race: 11.6

Sleep should come easy tonight....

8 comments:

  1. Oohh boardwalk "envy." Be nice to your mitochondria.

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  2. I know what you mean Dan, at the end of my 50K I was at 6:28 and pretty darn ready to stop moving......I am still in awe of running that long as I think back and wonder how I actually did it.

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  3. I also tend to struggle the first half hour into a long run. Sorry to hear the break didn't come this time. Still looks really beautiful where you ran;-)

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  4. Getting through a run when you don't feel so great is good mental exercise. You did well to get three hours in! When I'm having a bad run I usually try to tell myself "I've felt worse" but sometimes I have to admit I really haven't felt MUCH worse. The good thing is that misery really does love company, so it was nice that you had runnin' rob along to share the pain.

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  5. Dan, congrats on a great racing month. I would not worry about the difficulties with this training run - perhaps your brain was trying to conserve some energy for whatever crazy race you have planned later this month! Ana

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  6. Dan, it sounds like a few of us who are trying to increase mileage for a Fall goal are struggling from time to time. I'm with you there. But for every hard week there is a refreshing one to follow. You'll be back out running strong before you know it. Run slow and run long!

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  7. I think we need to get dressed up like forest animals(squirrels, chipmunks, tree frogs, voles, foxes) and run around a very popular busy trail system.....we need to act really nonchalant and cool like there is nothing strange about Rob in bunny ears or KZ with whiskers or Emily with a big fluffy tail...hehe..then go stuff our faces with pancakes...I feel like I need to recapture some of the silliness and comraderie of why I run...and of course stuff my face with pancakes...

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  8. Michelle, that sounds like more fun than busting hump in a race. I'll be a woodchuck! I wish we could all get together for a run. I miss you guys.

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