Man, its been a week since I posted. My quality of posts was always fairly poor, but now my quantity is suffering. That is not good people.
During the week last week I got all my training in, but I suffered while doing it. My workouts were: Hill Repeats – treadmill, recovery run – treadmill, tempo run – treadmill. 22.18 miles in total on the infernal contraption. So I was really looking forward to my long run. My plan was for a four hour journey over the hills and dales of Forest Park.
Saturday morning dawned dreary and cool and I headed down to the park. My sustenance consisted of two Gatorades, a black cherry Shot Blok, an orange Gu, a bag of orange Jelly Belly sport beans, and four fun sized Hershey chocolate bars. I left this food bonanza (except for one Gatorade which came with me) in the car trunk and started off around the Forest Park perimeter. First six miles, 8:54 pace. I ate a couple of the fun sized chocolate bars. Second six miles, 9:08 pace and the shot blok hit the dirt. At this point I’m feeling great and I’m on track for a PR marathon (not that it would count on a training run). The third six miles were more difficult, completing them at a 9:49 pace. My goal was to run to heart rate, and while the heart rate was steady, the pace was not. Fatigue setting in.
Right about the end of mile 18, the left leg started paining me a bit. I had started my fourth lap around the park, but decided that continuing to run would only exacerbate the pain for no real reason. So I turned around and headed back the way I came. I got to the car at 20 miles and called it a day. A bag of jelly beans and a fun sized candy bar survived to feed me another day. 3 hours, six minutes, 53 seconds on the trail and I kept the heart rate in line – average for the day was 154 beats per minute.
My ankle tendon was a bit sore on Sunday, but seems to be completely recovered today. So I guess these long runs are just working on strengthening the connective tissue, which obviously is the point.
So, I’m asking the blog-o-sphere to dictate my training plan for next weekend. I have the Little Rock marathon in three weeks. Remember that Little Rock is my Comrades qualifier. It will be the last all out race I run before the end of May so I want to be in peak condition for it. I was planning a 2 hour Saturday/three hour Sunday next weekend but I’m mulling over other options:
1) Go for another shot at a four hour long run and take the other day off.
2) Begin taper – run two hours on one day and an hour on day two.
3) Stick with the original plan.
Let me know what you think. I’ll let my readers decide my training fate!
Oh, my. You do not want your fate in my hands. I’m glad you survived your run in Forest Park. That is a hilly course, so I think your time spent there was plenty. I have no idea about your game plan, but whatever you decide to do will be the best idea of all. Good luck!
Mmm, I’d say stick with the original plan. You planned it for a reason.
When in doubt – taper!!!!
You have to qualify for Comrades? Are you close or will it be a shoo-in? Don’t mess up your training if it will screw with qualifying!
Stick with the plan, but rest if something acts up. Better to be rested. BTW, I have heard great things about Little Rock. Good Luck!
Missed the opportunity to vote, oh well. Probably good thing for you because, to me, training plan is an oxymoron.