The second week of the second block
I have this week continued with my training plan, perhaps not directly according to the plan, but I have managed to get the distance I wanted anyway. Following a training plan, is partly something that trigger me, partly something that I have a problem with. The biggest problem with following a training plan is that it takes away parts of what I love with running; just to be able to go out for a run.
Living a life, that normally is very much planned. Goals that needs to be reached at work, short a long term plans with lists and list of things that has to be done according to deadlines in order to reach our desired goals. This is exactly what running isn’t for me; nor do I want it to be. Though; I do want to be able to run 100miles, and still feel ok; so I guess a slightly more structured approached to training might be needed.
I have previously tried scheduled training with a run streak, but I quickly discovered it wasn’t for me. It became something I “had to do”, not something I wanted to do. I have also tried the 10 months towards 100K training plan with Pace on Earth. This was a well invested training plan where I learned a lot, but also here it was close to cause the feeling of must for me, rather than running just for joy… so its with uncertainty I have this summer started my new training plan.
My current training plan is, that I got from a good friend and running coach is divided in 3 weeks of weekly milage increase, then a week of rest before I continue with a second block of weekly slow milage increase. If I would have followed it by the book, I would have had runs planned Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and then whit a long run on Saturday and a recovery run on Sundays. Though, I have decided not to follow it by the book and try to run the runs I want to. There are too many fun community runs that I don’t want to miss. So my current goal is to almost follow this training plan, but on my terms. Trying to get the “correct” milage in. So this week was my second week, in the second block. The rest week between the two blocks became 3 weeks due to Kia Fjällmarathon, but now I’m back to the training plan.
Monday – Always with Team Nordic Trail
The week started well with long hill intervalls with Team Nordic Trail. Malin thought us how to use the “correct” muscles and think of both body position and the usage of the arms. As this was suppose to be a rest day, and it certainly wasn’t, I was now on a positive balance according to the training plan.
Tuesday – Rest day or fun on the dump?
Tuesday morning I had the option to take the Mondays rest day, or join a group of running buddies who had decided to spend it on the old “dump” – Väsjöbacken. Väsjöbacken is apparently an old dump that was repurposed to a ski slope, and I do not complain. Its a fantastic dump that has given me hours of joy, but during summer and winter.
This morning I felt great and strong, and I wanted to try my first over a few years attempt to run fast. Since my injury I have been running slowly, but now when the pain is close to gone, the great feeling of running fast is slowly coming back. On the second downhill I gave it a go, and I managed to beat my old record with several seconds. The downhill run almost became faster than what my legs could handle and I was close to falling half way down the hill, but I managed to stay up. The second half of the downhill I took, slightly scared at a slower tempo. If I can take the steeper first part in a more controlled tempo, and increase speed at the second half, I believe I soon again can beat my current record.
After this morning, I was now slightly a head of the training plan..
Wednesday – Time for the first rest day
What was meant to become the first of two rest days, became my only rest day this week. But, not with complete rest. Leon asked if we could take the bikes for a ride, and of course we could. Thats why I bought my mountainbike. To be able to come out on the trails, even when I’m in need of a rest. We had a great time together.
With not following the plan and having a rest day when I was supposed to run, I was now on a negative milage according to plan.
Thursday – Mandatory Team Nordic Trail training
Perhaps not mandatory… but something I really want to do. The Thursday morning training sessions with Team Nordic Trail is always fun, awarding and something to look forward to. This week Jacob gave us a tough session with long intervals in Fiskartorpsbacken. Join us next week 😉
Friday – Rest or the dump again?
I now had the opportunity to take a rest day, but its close to impossible when Jacob organise fun runs at the ski slope. This morning we spent trying to find the best trail up the hill. A very fun training session that Jacob Wollberg has created and call, Barkley Beginners. Oh well, I guess I train to rest another day… 🙂 Now back according to plan on the weekly milage.
Saturday – The day for the long run
According to my training plan, its on Saturday I should test my self. But also here, I have decided to change the training plan slightly. I will perhaps run slightly shorter on Saturdays, and then do a longer run also on Sundays. Back to back long runs. I think that’s better for me, and I get a chance to start running on Sunday with tired legs.
This morning, I shared the trails, as I often do, with the deers in Ursvik. Beautiful animals who I guess wondered what I did, disturbing them in the middle of the food.
The long run felt good all the way through, spent the second half of Ursvik Extreme running with a running buddy from Team Nordic Trail who I met up on the trail. It’s funny to reflect how much easier the run become, when having someone to chat to.
As many other days this August, it was a very warm day and I don’t think I had enough salt and energy during my run. I felt tired most of the day. But in the evening, it all felt better when we together enjoyed some crayfish, as very typical in August.
Sunday – Time to close the weekly goal
I started Sunday early, put on my long run shoes – Altra Olympus and went on the same run as the day before. My legs felt much better than what I would have thought they would. Perhaps the (vegan?) crayfish did the trick. I had another great run and manage to close the week, reaching the weekly running goal.
The Altra Olympus 3.5 running shoes are extremely cushioned, and they feel very heavy. But I want to get used to them, as I feel I will need the extra cushion on my extra long, long runs. With this morning I realised, I’m starting to like them. They, as my legs felt lighter than I thought they would. Perhaps time to upgrade to the new, according to spec, lighter Olympus 4. If not for the weight, I guess that they are the newest model, is a good enough reason.
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