I’m not going to run 100 miles this week. In, fact I bet that I won’t even make it to 90 miles. Oh, I’m going to work hard and all of that good stuff, but with two weeks to go I get to rest and -- gasp! -- relax.
That last part is easier said than done, of course. It’s what makes running and runners funny – they can crank out miles week after week through cold, wind, rain, sleet and snow, but if they are told they need to dial it back just a little bit in order for all of that hard training to manifest itself on race day, that’s just too difficult to understand.
I’ve been there. I can still remember the ’98 Marine Corps Marathon when I cut it way down to 100 miles in my first taper week.
Needless to say, things didn’t go too well on race day.
So here’s the deal: I’m going to go hard on Monday, Tuesday, and maybe Wednesday before going easy and Thursday and Friday. On Saturday morning I’m going to race a 5k and will consider an off day next Sunday.
Don’t bet on that, though.
Anyway, here’s how “Blast Week” shook out:
Monday -- 24 miles in 2:48:13
Started out at 6:50 pace and picked it up to 6:35 to 6:40 pace through 13 miles. It was an easy, easy pace though it did take a tiny bit on concentration because of the hills and windy conditions. About 90-minutes in, I met up with Jeff Kirchner and I ran with him for about an hour. The pace dipped a bit, but wasn't slow. When Jeff left I ran for another 22 minutes by myself and I picked up the pace again.
Even after 2:20 I still had some turnover and could have taken the pace to 6 minutes. I also drank on the run and did well with the Gatorade and Red Bull mix. Better yet, I did not stop running once.
I think I'm strong.
Tuesday – 16.1 miles in 1:53:25
Started out slow and a little tight after a long run yesterday, but the pace improved quite a bit after I got through all the hill repeats. At the end of the run my turnover was really good and I had no trouble taking the pace fairly high.
Wednesday – 18 miles in 2:02:35
Ran pretty hard over the first 10 miles at the Brick Yards. Felt pretty strong and the pace was easy even though I was running around 6-minute miles. At the end I tied up a little bit and I slowed in the hills, but I still had the turnover.
Thursday – morning: 15.3 miles in 1:39:02
evening: 6.2 miles in 41:39
Total: 21.5 miles
Ran steady the whole time even though my right calf and hamstring were a bit sore. My 5-mile splits: 33:10; 31:57; 30:55. This run reminded me of the old days. Better yet, I wasn't even tired at the end.
In the evening, I doubled up for the first time in a long time. Definitely kept the pace brisk even though my right calf was still a little sore.
Friday – 13 miles in 1:27:10
Squeezed in 13. It was extremely easy and I hope I can add another workout tonight, but it seems unlikely with a heavy rainstorm looming. The weather hasn't been good this week. Either way, not a bad run despite the fact that I was operating on very little sleep a day after doubling up for 21.5.
Saturday – 19 miles in 2:11:59
The first hour was all hills. I did tons of repeats and then held it together the rest of the way. The hills took a bit out of me... and then there was the wind. I didn’t plan on going so long but I miscalculated with my math.
Sunday – 11.5 miles in 1:16:41
Tried to keep the pace up-tempo but not too fast. Brisk is probably the correct word. Either way, I didn't feel tired or even the slightest bit winded during the outing.
That’s 123.1 miles for the week – my most since 131 miles in mid October of 1998.