Monday, July 18, 2011

Fortnight Ending July 17

Mon - 5 miles (500'). With Joe to South Mineral Creek and back on last couple of miles of the Hardrock course.

Tues - 6 miles (1,000'). With Joe from Hwy 550 rock bridge into Ouray and back on Hardrock course.

Weds - 3 miles (500'). Off Engineer with Pete and Joe.

Thurs - 0 miles.

Fri - 104 miles (34,000'). Hardrock 100.

Sat - As Friday.

Sun - Er, no running.

Total: 128 miles (36,000')

Mon - 0 miles

Tues - 0 miles

Weds - 0 miles

Thurs - 7 miles (1,700'). Towers. Legs felt decent, but no power whatsoever. Ran a 36 something to the top on what felt like a 32-something effort.

Fri - 4.5 miles (800') easy. Falls loop. Felt like hard work again.

Sat - 21 miles (5,300'). Lost Lake, Mt Dunraven, Mt Dickinson.

Sun - 6.5 miles (1,500') easy. Falls - Spring Creek - Stout - Herrington - Spring Creek - Soderberg. Went super easy, felt awesome. Great to be back running Horsetooth trail.

Total: 39 miles (9,300')

A big race followed by a recovery week basically.

Recovery from Hardrock has felt a whole lot better than is the case for other 100s I have run, and, quite honestly, some road marathons I have run. Still, I took the first half of the week off, but was feeling decent enough by Thursday that I wanted to get out and run.

Got a couple of comments on my Mt Dunraven/Dickinson post from runners I respect immensely about not rushing back into things, but quite honestly mellow outings like that really help with my recovery. They also serve to remind me why it is that I actually run in the first place. Besides, Dana and the kids were not back from Michigan until the evening, so it would have been criminal to let the free day go without getting out and exploring.

Anyway, the plan going forward is to build back into consistent running with a focus on quality over quantity as the legs allow. If I've lost anything in the netherworld of tapering/racing/recovering/racing, I think it's some aerobic fitness, so that will definitely be my focus as I get ready for Sierre-Zinal and UTMB next month.

Hoping I can sneak out for an early morning in the mountains this weekend. Maybe the five-peak Mummy loop from Pingree Park. A classic that I am yet to do.

Hardrock pacing reports from Brendan and Scott, if you're interested.

8 comments:

  1. "[Outings like that] also serve to remind me why it is that I actually run in the first place."

    Amen brother!

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  2. Hey your name popped up on the SpeedGoat 50K entrants list - what a surprise! Looking forward to it!

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  3. With a disappointing run last year and Karl upping the ante this year, I couldn't resist...

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  4. Was wondering if you were going to jump in and have a go for the $$. Looks like Joe is running as well, so it should be a good race up front for you fast guys.

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  5. While I have only run a measly 52 for my longest run, I agree with you in that sometimes the marathon, where you run a fast steady anarobic pace the whole time, seems to take longer and is more painful to recover from than an ultra!

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  6. I briefly (VERY briefly) thought about signing up for Speedgoat. But since my marathon went so well, the focus has really shifted towards getting that OTQ. In any case, Andrea and I are starting to make a habit of doing our long runs on dirt roads / trails in Park City... so if you're around the day after speedgoat and want to get in some running, you're welcome to join us.

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  7. Interesting to see how you "pro runners" balance parenting..."would have been criminal to let the free day go without getting out and exploring". As apposed to those non free days with the fam?

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  8. Jake - not sure if you'll get this, but I may well be up for a couple of miles if you guys start early.

    Anon - glad you had 'pro' in quotation marks, because I'm certainly not making a living from running. But, yeah, just like anyone with a time-consuming passion and a family, it's about balance and making time when you can. Invariably that means getting up very early.

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