ENFIN!
Make sure you shout "enfin!" in your head in your cheeziest french accent, and maybe raise a pointed finger for emphasis. That's the feeling I'm going for here. And the reason for this is that the weekend concluded my 100 mile training -- I now get to taper. Again. And knock-on-wood, this will be IT for real.
Friday night Iris and I did a full-moon run in Glacier National Park. Due to unannounced road closure before Logan Pass, we were forced to do our run in a less interesting bit of the park, though it was still pretty amazing compared to say, a midnight run through Newark, NJ. We ran 14 miles at a pretty decent clip, which was pretty tough for me in the middle of the night. The road was banked which resulted in much soreness and difficulty. It was a great idea in theory that just didn't execute as planned. Oh well.
Sunday Leanne and I ran in Herron Park and again endeavored on our relentless quest for the trail to Blacktail Mountain. Since the last effort (not counting last weekend's debacle) I obtained a rough map and a HINT from our friend Jandy. The hint took us on a completely new route that, much to our delight, took us to a single-track trail that took us 7 miles up and very near Blacktail Mountain. Leanne had to turn around to get home to do good deeds for elderly neighbors or something, so we did not explore further. After she left, I went back up on logging road, not in the mood to navigate dense forest alone (read: creepy!) and more in the mood for iPod tunage and sure footing.
Much of the run was just magic. The sky was an intense blueberry color and all seemed right with the world. Running felt easy and the solitude of the surrounding mountains provided an indescribable euphoria frequently felt in beautiful places. I thought to myself: this is good.
Somehow my spidy sense led me up to the same place Leanne and I found by single-track and I mentally mapped a huge area that was previously mysterious and unknown to me. I was really torn between continuing further than Leanne and I had travelled -- to see if it went to Blacktail - and saving this adventure for a time when we could all (including Iris, who too has tirelessly searched for THE ROUTE) adventure together. I started to feel hot (it got up to nearly 90) and thirsty and worried about my water supply. This was my excuse for returning back. The euphoria turned to tiredness and thirst and thoughts of dinner. All told, I ran 34 miles yesterday. It took me a really long time (maybe that's why it felt easy?) so the "time on my feet factor" was there.
I didn't bring my camera because I didn't expect the day to be remarkable or new.
I would like to reflect on my training heretofore. I feel like I've trained pretty hard, but last night as I reviewed by log I realized I've only run a few weeks over 80 mpw and a total of 7 weeks above 70 miles mpw. My longest run was 40 miles and I ran about 8 or so 30-40 mile runs. I have done some back-to-backs, though not since before the last taper. When reduced to paper, I'm not as thrilled with my training as I would like to be. But there's nothing I can do now but taper properly and get my mental game on.
Friday night Iris and I did a full-moon run in Glacier National Park. Due to unannounced road closure before Logan Pass, we were forced to do our run in a less interesting bit of the park, though it was still pretty amazing compared to say, a midnight run through Newark, NJ. We ran 14 miles at a pretty decent clip, which was pretty tough for me in the middle of the night. The road was banked which resulted in much soreness and difficulty. It was a great idea in theory that just didn't execute as planned. Oh well.
Sunday Leanne and I ran in Herron Park and again endeavored on our relentless quest for the trail to Blacktail Mountain. Since the last effort (not counting last weekend's debacle) I obtained a rough map and a HINT from our friend Jandy. The hint took us on a completely new route that, much to our delight, took us to a single-track trail that took us 7 miles up and very near Blacktail Mountain. Leanne had to turn around to get home to do good deeds for elderly neighbors or something, so we did not explore further. After she left, I went back up on logging road, not in the mood to navigate dense forest alone (read: creepy!) and more in the mood for iPod tunage and sure footing.
Much of the run was just magic. The sky was an intense blueberry color and all seemed right with the world. Running felt easy and the solitude of the surrounding mountains provided an indescribable euphoria frequently felt in beautiful places. I thought to myself: this is good.
Somehow my spidy sense led me up to the same place Leanne and I found by single-track and I mentally mapped a huge area that was previously mysterious and unknown to me. I was really torn between continuing further than Leanne and I had travelled -- to see if it went to Blacktail - and saving this adventure for a time when we could all (including Iris, who too has tirelessly searched for THE ROUTE) adventure together. I started to feel hot (it got up to nearly 90) and thirsty and worried about my water supply. This was my excuse for returning back. The euphoria turned to tiredness and thirst and thoughts of dinner. All told, I ran 34 miles yesterday. It took me a really long time (maybe that's why it felt easy?) so the "time on my feet factor" was there.
I didn't bring my camera because I didn't expect the day to be remarkable or new.
I would like to reflect on my training heretofore. I feel like I've trained pretty hard, but last night as I reviewed by log I realized I've only run a few weeks over 80 mpw and a total of 7 weeks above 70 miles mpw. My longest run was 40 miles and I ran about 8 or so 30-40 mile runs. I have done some back-to-backs, though not since before the last taper. When reduced to paper, I'm not as thrilled with my training as I would like to be. But there's nothing I can do now but taper properly and get my mental game on.
8 comments:
YOU ARE SO READY!
And, thanks to you and Leanne for waiting for me to discover the missing link to Blacktail.
Haha, the missing link. All of you ladies will be shocked and overjoyed when you put all of it together. You all might even stop running with the mission accomplished. Just kidding.
Your training looks great, Danni. Seriously, fabulous. Don't doubt yourself one bit. Are you tapering 2 weeks or 3? If 3 weeks, do one VO2 max workout and one lactate threshold-ish workout per week for the next 2 weeks, then rest the third week. If your taper is 2 weeks, just do one week of included speed. Just some stuff to sharpen your leg turnover and slightly increase your LT, which both be of use.
You are going to have a great race, I can feel it already! ;)
Meghan
Well as I sit here with the sun having set and fully realizing I totally blew off the meager 30 minutes of running I was going to do today, I hold up a virtual goblet to you Danni and say "ENFIN" with an exaggerated French accent, here's to tapering and trying not to feel guilty about it! (It's hard to take full satisfaction out of a taper when, unlike you, I don't have much to taper from.) Enjoy the extra time, mon amie! And do what Meghan says - that sounds very learn-ed!
No prob Iris.
Meghan, I'm doing a 3 week taper. I've learned that I perform much better with 3 weeks (at least at marathon distance, who knows about ultra distance). I will do as you say -- in fact I will run a 5k this weekend for the first time in more than a year :-)
Kendra, since you have a big race this weekend I think it's only right that you blow your 30 minutes off! Good luck chica!
I think that your training sounds great, Danni. I truly believe that rest is the most important thing before a hundred, anyway, so enjoy your taper and get a lot of sleep.
I think that you'll do really well at Headlands and I hope that we can provide with a really good 'first hundred' experience out on the California trails. (I know that they're not the CA trails you'd PLANNED on running for your first, but they're beautiful ones, nonetheless.)
So many of us are looking forward to seeing you next month! Take good care until then!
Sarah (PCTR)
Hi Sarah! Thanks for the visit. I'm REALLY looking forward to Headlands and looking forward to meeting you! I've heard nothing but great things about PCTR races of course so I have no doubts about whether it will be a great race.
I like sleep so resting up shouldn't be a problem.
"Much of the run was just magic." I loved this part!!! Now on to a Headlands to show what those high miles stand for, Danni, you'll be awesome, and you will have fun for sure!
GREAT training Danni. It looks like you have put in some stellar miles there. I think you will have an absolutely fantastic run at Headlands. I am envious, getting to train in the mountains in northern and then race along the coast in California. It doesn't get any better. Meghan is right about the taper tactic. Also include some nice fast walking in there also to keep your legs moving without the impact of running.
Cheers, Paul
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