I apologize for not updating my blog in almost 2 weeks. I've been very busy with work since I came off of leave. In fact, I just got back from a week-long leaders' training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. It looks as though I won't be posting much over the next 4-6 weeks. I'll be going to the field for some Army training beginning on Tuesday.
What do you do when you can't get out to train? This next 4-6 weeks will be very frustrating for me, because I won't be able to run very much. There's nothing worse then losing fitness when you're in great shape. I think my fitness will still be up there if I only miss a week or two at the most. But a month, I don't think so. My near-term plan was to run a half-marathon late September and a 10-miler and marathon in October. I'll most likely change my racing schedule because of all the training I'll miss. For now, I will have to try and squeeze in a run at every opportunity I get.
A little update on my training. I was fortunate enough to get in my workouts at Ft. Polk. It was unbelievably humid in the early mornings. I was out the door each day at 5am and would be drenched in sweat about 10 minutes into the run. This morning's run put me at 65 miles for the week. Not bad considering my busy schedule. Lately, I've been getting in quality workouts rather than high mileage. Every workout counts when you don't have all the time to train.
I did a progression long run this morning and it felt very good and comfortable. I ran the first 30 minutes averaging 7:14 pace, then the next 30 minutes comfortably at 6:45 pace, and then finished off the last 30 minutes on the track at marathon pace (6:00). The legs and body felt like it could go for another 5 miles at marathon pace. This was a good sign of my fitness, which I feel will be going downhill over the next few weeks. I'll try to stay positive.
2 comments:
A month off is a long time - but with the base your have - your body knows what it is doing. Just remember, as my high school coach always said - running is 90% mental and just 10% physical. Try to keep in shape with whatever you can do (instead of sitting on the couch) and expect it to take X number of days to get back in the groove when you return. Expect to be slow for that number of days - expect to hurt. Not sure if you ran in high school or college - but those summers that you at least took some time off - you always come back and come back stronger. Think of the positives of the much needed rest for your legs & body and how much fresher they will be. It is all mental. Give it 2 or 3 weeks - or however long (you know your body best) and plan for it to take that long to get back - and challenge yourself to be back at that time.
If you ache and hurt on return runs - you can take Cytovol from EAS. It is a glutimine recovery (fruit punch tasts good) that you add with water. Helps you recover faster so you are not sore and can keep putting in the miles each day. Just drink it after a run.
Thanks again for being in the Army! You'll be running fast soon!
There's no way you'll be able to run? Even 30 mintues a day? This seems very cruel and inhumane. I can't imagine taking a month off. there has got to be some way you can keep up some level of conditioning.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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