Training Log Archive: ultra_amyIn the 30 days ending Nov 30, 2013:
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Saturday Nov 30, 2013 #
Running (Long run) 3:30:00 [1] 18.0 mi (11:40 / mi)
Long point-to-point run from the Notch to Amethyst Brook via the RFT with Jason. It was fun, there were a few flooded out sections where the bridges were floating and frozen in the flooded trail...luckily I'm pretty light and stayed above the water. Anyway, we finished the run quickly, and tacked on Mt. Orient for good measure. Great to have a fun point-to-point, and good to see the entire RFT through Amherst. Not the most inspiring trails, but great to do a thru-run.
On another note - I have been training so much (even with this week, that's been a bit less mileage/time)...I am just flat-out tired. I wish I could push myself for a few more days before I taper for Hellgate, but I think it's best for me to relax and take a nice long taper until the race. It's been a long year of training!
On another note - I have been training so much (even with this week, that's been a bit less mileage/time)...I am just flat-out tired. I wish I could push myself for a few more days before I taper for Hellgate, but I think it's best for me to relax and take a nice long taper until the race. It's been a long year of training!
Friday Nov 29, 2013 #
Running (Long run) 3:30:00 [1] 18.0 mi (11:40 / mi)
Did a long run from Wendell State Park to my house with Meghan, and her brother (Matt) and his girlfriend (Victoria). It was fun! Victoria struggled, but seemed to have a great time - her and Matt joined us from Wendell to Toby. I was glad I was dressed warmly, because the pace was slow. But, after we dropped them off, Meghan and I enjoyed our run, but missed the turn to head up and over Toby and Bull Hill...so we opted to finish out the Mt. Toby course and just run to my house instead. Oh well. It was fun to run a point-to-point, and great to have company with Meghan's brother and the gf.
Circuits 45:00 [3]
Gym with Steph and Meghan. It was funny, while Steph constantly tells me that she hates me as I push us to do stuff, Meghan was quiet and didn't say anything - picking up the same weights that I was using. I was impressed...and then 18 hours later she sent me a text to proclaim how much she hated me. Mission accomplished. :)
Thursday Nov 28, 2013 #
Running (Race) 48:00 [3] 7.0 mi (6:51 / mi)
Ran the Feaster Five race. We warmed up a bit, and cooled down a bit...but clearly we needed more. The race was dreadful - my body felt like it fell into tempo running mode, so I held on to my 6:40 pace for the entire race (33:13 finish time). Bummer, I've raced so much better there before...but it is what it is, and that's what I could do on the day. In general, I'm a bit worn down, and need to repsect that my body is tired! I almost beat Joanie - I was only about 20 seconds behind her...this was my year to actually beat her! Next year for sure!!!
Wednesday Nov 27, 2013 #
Note
I took the day off - I've been feeling a bit worn down, and was hoping that a day of nothing would help that. But, I did have a long day of working, driving across the state, and all that...so whatever. I just think my body is ready for taper time!!!
Tuesday Nov 26, 2013 #
Biking 1:30:00 [1] 22.0 mi (4:05 / mi)
Easy spin with Sara, as we watched Olympic highlights from 2010 and this year's Ironman. Nice to be inside, as it was snowing outside.
Monday Nov 25, 2013 #
Running (Easy run) 1:10:00 [1] 8.5 mi (8:14 / mi)
Easy run around Northampton with Jess, Kelsey B., Karin, and Meghan. Frakin' cold, but good to share some company and stories.
Circuits 50:00 [3]
Did a few extra drills at the gym with Steph. Glad to get the first lifting session of the week under my belt - and my pull up and dips are vastly improving. Yay!
Sunday Nov 24, 2013 #
Running (Easy run) 1:30:00 [1] 10.5 mi (8:34 / mi)
Ran with the coffee cake crew - and it was a wild run. I ran the first 3 or so miles with Todd and a few of the faster boys...and then at the top of Rattlesnake Gutter, we ran around a truck parked. The guy in the truck stopped us to ask us somehting, and it became pretty obvious quickly that this guy was in rough shape - he couldn't find his glasses, car keys, and wasn't making any sense, obviously hypothermic. The group ended up walking him down towards the Leverett Co-op while a few ran ahead to get help. [We found out today that he was likely a few hours away from dying due to the cold, his core temperature was 85 degrees...but he's in the hospital now and is stable.] After that adventure, I was cold for the rest of the run (couldn't feel my hands for most of it) and took it easy, running with some of the less-speedy guys as I warmed up. Fun to have a relaxing run...except for the adventure, which was intense.
Biking (Spinning) 1:30:00 [1] 22.0 mi (4:05 / mi)
Spun on the bike with Sara...glad to share some sweat with her even if she can't run.
Saturday Nov 23, 2013 #
Running (Long Trail run) 4:10:00 [1] 24.0 mi (10:25 / mi)
Long trail run w/ Kelsey - I actually felt pretty darn good, and we moved well - doing some easy Lithia Spring trails, then heading to Earl's Trails for a bit, and finishing by doing a 1-way traverse of 7 Sisters. I actually felt great and was still running up lots of the Sisters. But, glad to get in a long run.
Friday Nov 22, 2013 #
Running 43:00 [1] 5.5 mi (7:49 / mi)
Easy morning run w/ Karin...ran around Northampton. Not as stiff as I thought I would be considering yesterday's adventure!
Circuits 50:00 [3]
I was just dragging during our lifting session (with Steph), so it took a bit longer...but we got thru it. Ugghh!
Thursday Nov 21, 2013 #
Running (Tempo run) 1:05:00 [3] 8.5 mi (7:39 / mi)
I wish I could say this was an interval workout, but my legs would only turn over as fast as 'tempo' pace today. Abby and I warmed up 2 miles (well, we ran 2 miles...we were both frozen still after that run), then did 1.5 mile hard, 0.5 mile easy, 1.25 mile hard, 0.25 mile easy, 1 mile hard. The goal was Abby's Talking Turkey (6 mile) goal pace (6:10) - so I figured I should shoot for my Feaster Five (5 mile) goal pace (6:15). But, the legs just didn't want to kick it into another gear today - I ran 9:55 for the 1.5 mile (6:37 pace), then 7:20 for the next interval (it was short - but it was 6:20 pace), and 6:10 for the last interval. Cooled down back to the cars (2 miles). Just felt so hard today, but seems like my body didn't want to kick into interval pace, it just sat happy at hard tempo pace.
Running 2:30:00 [1] 15.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
Ran at Mt. Tom and Whiting Reservoir with Frank. I got there early, and did a bit of running on the M&M off Rt. 141 - I forgot how amazing that section of trail was! Anyway, soon enough we were running around Whiting, but I wanted to hit the trails. I guess I didn't give much thought to the fact that the cars were on the far side of Whiting, so I kept joining trail after trail...and we found ourselves over an hour into the run, but a ways from the cars. What was meant to be a 1-1.5 hour run turned into a 2+ hour run, leaving me with 2.5 hours when you added on my earlier extra miles on the M&M. Ooopsss!
Wednesday Nov 20, 2013 #
Running (Easy run) 1:02:00 [1] 8.0 mi (7:45 / mi)
Easy morning run w/ Abby...we did the loop that feels like it goes on forever, and did it in reverse - yet somehow, our pace was good. I think we were just moving to try to stay warm, since it was mega-cold!
Running (Trail run) 1:00:00 [1] 6.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
Ran up Norwottuck and to Goat Peak with Ashley. Felt good and strong on the uphills. :) Frakin' cold today!!!
Tuesday Nov 19, 2013 #
Running (Easy run) 1:05:00 [1] 8.0 mi (8:07 / mi)
Ran at the Holyoke Res w/ Frank R. and Greg. Was mostly on dirt roads, but did a bit of the trails behind - with a river crossing (totally back-country style). Felt good - foot is a bit tender on the trails, but not too bad.
Running (Trail run) 1:30:00 [2] 9.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
Ran w/ Brad at the Notch - ran Robert Frost Trail for about 45 minutes, then back through some of the jeep trails and mountain bike trails to get back. Brad let me lead for the first half, and we were cruising, I felt strong on the climbs, etc. Then, I think Brad got anxious about the impending sunset (and since HE told me to leave the headlamp at the car, he knew he had to get me back in time) - so he took the lead and I felt like he pushed the pace a bit. I felt good, but knew I was cruising a bit more. Alas, the sun set when we were about 5 or 10 minutes from the car, so there was a bit of stumbling around (no injury, luckily!), but the loop that he reported was 1:30 was in fact 1:30. Glad that even in the leaves and loosing the sunlight in the end, we still made the loop in great time.
Monday Nov 18, 2013 #
Running (Easy run) 1:00:00 [1] 7.5 mi (8:00 / mi)
Easy run w/ girls in Northampton - ran up the bike path and down Rt. 9, enjoying an early morning (warm!) run...glad to at least start the day. The foot is kinda achy, but ok...I think it's ultimately going to be fine, I just need to baby it a bit...
Circuits 45:00 [3]
Did weights at the gym with Steph - tried to work slightly different stuff from yesterday - did squats, lunges, bi-curls, step-ups, planks, bridges, pull-ups, dips. Was sore before I started, so I'll feel this more tomorrow!
Sunday Nov 17, 2013 #
Circuits 45:00 [3]
Did circuits in my house - DB deadlifts, squats, DB bench press, and DB overhead press. Plus, tabata situps (102, might be a PR!). Mostly thru the workout, a 20-lb weight rolled off the couch (where I was keeping them - like a genius) and landed on my foot. It's pretty tender, but hopefully will be ok with running. I don't think I broke anything - but I didn't run today just to not push it at all...
Saturday Nov 16, 2013 #
Running (Trail run) 2:00:00 [1] 12.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
Did part of the Movember course, but cut off below B17 and ran back via the trails there. Calf is a bit tight on the uphills, but feeling good/strong with my climbing - ran the whole way today, which is big for me. :)
Friday Nov 15, 2013 #
Running (Easy run) 1:02:00 [1] 7.5 mi (8:16 / mi)
Easy run around Northampton with Meghan, Karin and Apryl - glad I'm not completely dead after this weeks training (and yesterday afternoon's run)...yay! But, the pace was easy...
Running (Trail Run) 1:00:00 [1] 5.0 mi (12:00 / mi)
Did easy run/hike with Meghan up and over Mt. Norwottuck - felt strong but Meghan was dragging a bit. Oh well! Left calf is a bit tight. It got dark mid-way thru the run, so we slowed the pace to not fall!
Circuits 45:00 [3]
Hit the gym with Steph...
Thursday Nov 14, 2013 #
Running (Workout) 1:05:00 [4] 8.5 mi (7:39 / mi)
Did intervals w/ Abby around Holyoke. Warmed up ~2 miles, then did 1 mile (6:11, uuugghh!), 1200 (4:24), 800 (2:57), 600 (2:12), uphill 400 (1:38, and the legs were BURNING), downhill 400 (1:25). Recovery for each was about 1/4 mile easy. Felt like much as I have the strength to go faster, the legs just won't turn over any faster - so I just need to keep pushing that if I want to have a speed breakthrough. Cooled down ~2 miles.
Running (Trail run) 1:40:00 [1] 10.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
Met w/ Brad for a run at Mt. Tom...he's been a bit injured lately, so I can keep up, and his runs are always about an hour or so. Guess he figured some stuff out, cause he was ready for a longer run at Mt. Tom - he took me around a good long loop...it got dark about 1/2 way through the run...but it was good. Unexpected to run this long, but good for me.
Wednesday Nov 13, 2013 #
Running (Trail run) 1:25:00 [1] 8.5 mi (10:00 / mi)
Trail run w/ Sarah D. and Jason around Sugarloaf. We started with a run up and down the auto road...just to kill some of the headlamp running - then we headed up N. Sugarloaf to the bike trails, and came back up the back side of the mountain. I felt good, but the climbing was plentiful and tiring by the end. :)
Running (Trail run) 1:00:00 [1] 6.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
Ran w/ Ashley at the Notch - up Mt. Norwottuck, to Rattlesnake Knob and back. Felt good, leaves are getting to be a bit of an issue in some places.
Tuesday Nov 12, 2013 #
Running (Easy run) 1:04:00 [1] 8.0 mi (8:00 / mi)
Ran w/ Abby before the day started...ran the highland loop in Holyoke. Felt good, relaxed pace.
Running (Trail run) 1:28:00 [1] 9.5 mi (9:16 / mi)
Ran w/ the Inov8 boys (Ben, Josh, Jim), so it might have been just slightly hard for me...but I stayed with them. Luckily, I was the one who knew the trails at Callahan, so they had to run my pace. But, I wasn't struggling so they took mercy on me. Of course, these guys run with GPS watches and told me exactly how far and how long we ran. Whatever...
Monday Nov 11, 2013 #
Running (Trail run) 2:35:00 [1] 15.5 mi (10:00 / mi)
Ran easy around Mt. Norwottuck and then Earl's trails w/ Frank. I actually felt good, but knew we were running easy and that was ok.
Sunday Nov 10, 2013 #
Running (XC Race) 1:00:00 [4] 8.0 mi (7:30 / mi)
Ran the xc race at Franklin Park. Once I had to forgo (and got replaced) for the orienteering race in Canada (sad!), I figured the silver lining was that I could head to Boston and close out the season with the team. Even if the hamstring hurt, I'm sure I could manage a quick 24 minute race. Then, I woke up and felt totally dreadful (headache, upset stomach bordering on puking)...but opted to head to Boston anyway. I warmed up a few miles, then ran the 6k race and felt completely flat - and on the verge of puking or passing out the entire way (thank goodness I wasn't in Canada doing a 3 hour race!)...so I ran as well as I could, finished in 24:04 (which is ok, but not great) and cooled down a bit as I cheered on the guys team. What a rough day!!! Silver lining? Hamstring was mostly ok...
Saturday Nov 9, 2013 #
Running (Trail run) 2:00:00 [1] 12.0 mi (10:00 / mi)
Easy training run w/ Jason at Mt. Tom. We hit up a good portion of the trails - laughed to find that my old '1.5 hour loop' now took much less time...glad to see that I'm getting faster - I had to keep adding on sections to make a full 2 hour run. We had fun - kept randomly running into other folks along the run, so that was great. It's actually nice when you're out for an easy day and don't care about the distance or the intensity, and that's when you run into people and stop to chat (guilt-free). Yay!
Friday Nov 8, 2013 #
Biking (Easy spin) 1:00:00 [1] 15.0 mi (4:00 / mi)
Did an easy spin...so I would do something today - and then I sat on a softball and tried to keep working out the hammie. Grrr! Otherwise, the legs are a bit tight in places (just telling me that I'm a bit tired and not yet recovered), but feeling pretty good considering...
Circuits 45:00 [3]
'Got firm' at the gym with Steph. I didn't think I worked things that hard, but I felt it the next day...so clearly it was some good strength work.
Thursday Nov 7, 2013 #
Running 1:04:00 [1] 8.0 mi (8:00 / mi)
Easy run w/ Abby around Holyoke. The hamstring was a bit twingy at the start of the run, then mellowed out and never caused bad pain. I will use the tennis ball at work to keep working it out.
Wednesday Nov 6, 2013 #
Running (Trail run) 1:05:00 [1] 7.0 mi (9:17 / mi)
Easy trail run at Ridge Road with Sarah D. Felt good, but the hamstring twinges a bit at the start of the run...then calmed down. I am clearly not quite recovered, because I felt the extended climb when we hit it.
Tuesday Nov 5, 2013 #
Running (Easy run) 45:00 [1] 6.0 mi (7:30 / mi)
Starting the running back up with an easy 6-mile jog with Abby. The hamstring twinges a bit at the start of the run, then mellowed out. When I was stretching post-run, it was very tight and sore...so here's hoping I can work it out this week.
Circuits 45:00 [3]
Hit the gym with Steph - we focused on waist-up for our strength today. I tried to do step-ups, and had to pick up a lighter weight than Steph! Legs are still very tired!!! But, hammered the upper body, and that felt great!
Monday Nov 4, 2013 #
Walking (Hiking) 1:00:00 [1] 4.0 mi (15:00 / mi)
So, I wanted to hike and then hit up the gym for a bit of lifting (at least for the waist up)...and yet Steph had it in her mind that there would be no lifting today...instead I needed to join her for a beer and a fried oreo sundae to celebrate my race on Saturday. Oh boy...so we walked, shared stories, and then I had a fried oreo sundae. Not a bad day at all. :)
Hamstring still hurts a bit, but nothing that is stopping me in my tracks today. I will do a ton of rehab to see if I can work out whatever is causing this...
Hamstring still hurts a bit, but nothing that is stopping me in my tracks today. I will do a ton of rehab to see if I can work out whatever is causing this...
Sunday Nov 3, 2013 #
Walking (Hike) 45:00 [1] 2.5 mi (18:00 / mi)
Hiked with Brian up Sugarloaf and back. Legs feel relatively ok (i.e. no soreness or stiffness!). The only issue is the hamstring, which is tender to the touch but doesn't really bother me walking.
Saturday Nov 2, 2013 #
Event: Mountain Masochist Trail Run
Running race (Ultra race) 8:39:00 [3] 50.0 mi (10:23 / mi) +2000ft 10:00 / mi
Mountain Masochist 50 miler...oh boy. The course is measured in 'Horton miles', so I don't know the exact distance but it's likely several miles over 50. It's point to point with the finish line being 2000 feet higher than the start line, but there is about 10,000 total climb in the race. Luckily, I've been working my climbing for the past month.
My pesky hamstring started barking at mile 2, and the pain was so intense that I thought I would have to drop (and that I would puke on the course). It felt like I had torn my hamstring. If I wasn't in the lead at that point, I would have walked back to the start - but I didn't want to seem like the idiot that shoots out of the gate and then drops insanely early in a race...so I just kept moving forward figuring that I wouldn't last the entire race.
Turns out that I can withstand a ton of pain, cause while it hurt I knew I wasn't doing any damage, so I just tried to ignore it and keep moving forward. Other than the hamstring, the rest of the race felt relatively easy - the miles ticked off effortlessly, I felt so strong on the uphills, and I enjoyed the full distance. I kept the lead for almost the entire day (one chick passed me at mile 22, flying like I was standing still...I passed her back on the huge climb from mile 25-29). It was one of those 'wind at your back' days where things don't seem to go wrong...it's been a while since I've had one of these, so I'm glad to have stuck with it and enjoyed an incredible day.
My pesky hamstring started barking at mile 2, and the pain was so intense that I thought I would have to drop (and that I would puke on the course). It felt like I had torn my hamstring. If I wasn't in the lead at that point, I would have walked back to the start - but I didn't want to seem like the idiot that shoots out of the gate and then drops insanely early in a race...so I just kept moving forward figuring that I wouldn't last the entire race.
Turns out that I can withstand a ton of pain, cause while it hurt I knew I wasn't doing any damage, so I just tried to ignore it and keep moving forward. Other than the hamstring, the rest of the race felt relatively easy - the miles ticked off effortlessly, I felt so strong on the uphills, and I enjoyed the full distance. I kept the lead for almost the entire day (one chick passed me at mile 22, flying like I was standing still...I passed her back on the huge climb from mile 25-29). It was one of those 'wind at your back' days where things don't seem to go wrong...it's been a while since I've had one of these, so I'm glad to have stuck with it and enjoyed an incredible day.
Friday Nov 1, 2013 #
Note
Travel day - Brian and I drove down to Virginia...so except for a bit of walking to shake out the legs along the way, it was a 'do nothing' day. Hope the hamstring is better by tomorrow...but we'll see.