Training Update January 2020

Train, walk dogs, work, eat, sleep, repeat. This is my life.

Ultra running training is getting real. And I’m getting really tired. 

My stats for January:

This year, or at least these winter months, my big training days are Monday and Tuesday since these are my days off now. 

The last two weeks my long runs have been around 15 miles and they are tough. I remember two years ago at this time I was doing an occasional 30 mile run. I can’t imagine getting back there but I’m working towards it. 

I really like having a training plan on Training Peaks and it synchs to my watch. When I start my run it knows what to do. Last week, the plan called for a Fartlek Workout. So 12-15 times I ran 1 minute at a slightly harder pace. My watch would beep every minute with “Fun Faster” and then the next minute “rest”. It was fun. 

Other Training Peaks workouts are a count down by miles or time. It makes each run interesting which is what I need to keep going. 

Last Week’s Summary:

From Training Peaks

Next up: add biking and more swimming. This should be interesting.

Running in the dark, time crunched

This morning I ran in the cold (zero degrees was the real feel) and it was dark (6 a.m.).

I don’t remember the last time I did this. Granted, my memory isn’t great but I think I would remember bragging somewhere online that I ran when it was very cold. Oh wait, I remember running in the cold and snow when I lived in Granby, Colo and was training for my first Ironman. But I don’t think I ever ran in both the cold and dark. I know I read every article about training for Ironman and ultrarunning. I know that so many articles talked about the time-crunched endurance athlete; the ones who wore up at 4 a.m., took care of the kids and still made it to their CEO job. I always seemed to figure out training during daylight all these years of endurance training.

“I think it is habit and my affection for the activity, rather than the sheer force of will, that sustains my running on a regular basis.” Sabrina Little

Today, this morning, was different. I layered up, wore a headlamp, a balaclava, and reflective gear and just got the training plan done. I sucked it up.

This makes all the difference. Tomorrow I plan to do the same.

There will hopefully be a lot of snow to add to the challenge.

This is my new challenge: to actually do every workout that is prescribed in my McMillian 50 Mile Training plan that I just bought and synched to Training Peaks. Buying this training plan is helping me reach my goal of finishing another 50 miler in 16 weeks, and later a 100 miler. I need to run in the cold and dark as training to finish a 100 miler. The next few days will test that will power and mental training.

There are 15 days left in the year. I’m planning to make them amazing and inspiring. We are all excited to end 2020. I’m motivated to make the best of it, make the best of every circumstance and end the year on a positive note. I have so much I want to do and accomplish.

2021 is going to be amazing. I’m sure of it.

Goals, Joy and Training

Now that I have finished my 4,000 in a year now it’s time to 

  1. Finish my grid (this will take years)
  2. Start training for Ironman Coeur d’Alene
  3. Finish a 100 mile trail run
  4. Ski – a lot

I’ve been following the 100 mile training plan so far. My watch tells me my training status is Productive – so that makes me happy.

Swimming has been difficult since the lanes at the Y fill up by 5:05 a.m. Biking is difficult because it’s cold however mountain biking is still possible. 

I mountain biked at Bear Brook this past weekend and since I was hiking every weekend my biking legs were a little ….. Under trained, let’s say. Sonja and Jay are so fun to bike with.

I’m considering a fat bike but haven’t looked into if I actually can find one. That could be fun.

However, I’m pretty psyched to ski. Gunstock is making snow this week and we are hopeful for a December 4 opening day. This is going to be so fun. 

These are the skis I’m considering. Aren’t they pretty and their name: Joy

https://www.head.com/en_US/sports/ski/joy

Everyone should have Joy in their life.

Racing Update Ragged Mountain, Gunstock Trail Festival

I deferred The Ragged Mountain Stage race to 2021. 

I’m not happy about it but it’s a fact. Facts are facts, or so says Andrew Cuomo. 

I am not trained or ready to race. But you know what? I love everything about July so I’m okay with it.

Mountain Biking. Swimming. Biking to dinner. Biking in new places. Biking with new people. I’m really bike ready. I’m not mountain running ready. Next year, I will be ready. I will race the Ragged Mountain Stage race in 2021.

It’s been a strange year. I will say that again, I’m sure. And while I’m not happy that I’m not doing the stage race, I will train for the Gunstock race. I will. 

Tomorrow I hike Gunstock, Rowe and Belknap. I think it’s a good sign that all these things are happening or not happening. 

2020 – anything is possible and stranger things have happened – two phrases I write a lot on this blog and have so many meanings and connotations. 

I will start again. Monday – 50 miler training. Starting again – I know how to do this!

Recovering from the Presidential Traverse, Franklin Falls Mountain Biking

This week I recovered from the 14-hour hike in the White Mountains last Saturday. It was a tough day. I realized after finishing that I just need to train better and get stronger for these long hikes. I want to have epic adventures and need to be strong all year long. I just started back to weight training mid-June and I wasn’t hiking for long periods of time. It’s time to get back at it.

I have some work to do.  

Franklin Falls mountain biking trails, Mighty Chicken

I rode Franklin Falls for the first time and the trails were spectacular. They are touted as not technical but I thought they were pretty challenging. Not as challenging as the the trails I ride in Concord but harder than Bear Brook. It was great fun discovering a new place and riding with Sonja and Jay. This trail system has very few rocks but so many roots. Mighty Chicken trail was mighty fun. I look forward to getting more familiar with these trails since they are just a 35 minute drive from my house. 

This week I ran, swam, biked and lifted weights. Not at the volume I should be doing but going in the right direction. What will be important in the next few weeks is long run/hikes back to back to get ready for the 3-Day Ragged Race (if it doesn’t get canceled). 

Coming Up:

One-Day Pemi Loop (July 23)
Ragged Stage Race (August 7)
Gunstock Trail Fest (September 20)
Another Presidential Traverse (Fall 2020)