Category: Ultrarunning

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Week 26 – Training for Leadville

Training for Leadville

This is the last week of training before the real training starts for the 25 week training plan for Leadville. Not to say that I haven’t been pushing it; I have. Saturday’s 16 mile course was hilly with 1,123 elevation gain and a post-run recovery hike with the dog. I was sore before bed and woke up Sunday morning groggy; but not sore.

Sunday morning I couldn’t imagine running 10 miles. But after a lot of coffee and a breakfast of eggs and toast, I headed out. I completed the 10 miles and actually felt pretty good during most of it. I hiked and ran in a wintery mix, snow and rain. My heart rate has normalized on tough hills and I don’t feel like the hills are killing me anymore.

I’ve been reading so many website and blogs about gear, training and nutrition. Saturday night I ordered an Osprey hydration pack for long, mountain runs.

I’ve been watching Ryan Clayton videos: I like that he doesn’t post videos that have him explaining something while he runs. Okay, maybe he does once in a while. Ha. I like his athletic background and video style; I can learn a lot from his YouTube channel.

I also read Heather’s blog/website, Relentless Forward Commotion. I find her tips and exercise ideas really helpful as I build miles and try to get stronger.

I’m trying a new gel. I notice that some backpacker/hikers use Muir products so I thought I would give it a try. I’m typically a Hammer devotee because it works for me, but I will give it a try.

PS: I also love my Injinji socks. I wore these on my Saturday run and seriously, I didn’t even think about my feet the entire time. That has got to be a good thing.

Average Weight: 158

Average Resting Heart Rate: 50

Training Time: 9:28 (includes weight training)

Total Vert: 3,286

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The Road to Leadville: Week 27 Recap

Week 27 went well. I did all the miles on the plan: 36 miles.

Two days were spent running on the treadmill due to weather; mainly icy roads and sidewalks. But both weekend runs were outside: Saturday morning temperatures in the 30s, Sunday sunny and cold.

I smiled and was happy for 90 percent of Saturday’s 14 mile averaging 10:30 min miles which is really good for me. The course was hilly with a 933 ft. elevation gain so I’m making progress and getting stronger. I had the same pace for the Sunday 8 miler but this course was relatively flat. I’m just getting used to back-to-back runs; the 8 miler felt slow and was a bit painful. I’m ready to ramp up the miles and get back on trails.

I had a deep tissue massage on Saturday which was painful but needed.

I did weights/core three times this week and loved doing it. I’m adding more weight slowly and trying different exercises. I added Box Jumping this week.

Average Weight: 158

Average Resting Heart Rate: 48

Training Time: 7:05

Next Week’s Plan:

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It’s a Wrap, on Winter Warrior 2019

On the coldest day of the year I walked 5 miles outside. 44th Place.

Now I can run inside if I need to, which I wasn’t doing in January to get miles in for Winter Warrior. Feb. 1 marks full-on Leadville 100 Training.

Today also marks the end of week 2 weight training. I felt comfortable doing some real weight training today with a bar for squats and some true dead lifts. I can’t wait to increase weight in the weight room next week. Feeling strong and ready for Leadville weight and run training.

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Save the best for last

I had the best mileage-wise training week this past week. I hit 50 miles, probably for the first time ever. This is good – going into 2019! Now I just need to keep the momentum going.

  • Winnie on the Tecumseh Trail. It was perfectly groomed.
  • A view from the Waterville Valley ski resort. I didn’t want to get closer in case a skier was coming down the slope.
  • The summit of Tecumseh

Today I hiked to Tecumseh with Winnie to start the New England 4,000 footers. I hope to hike them all in 2019. I still have one more summit to finish hiking all the NH 4,000 footer.