Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Week of 03/11/2007 - 03/17/2007 (Revised Base Phase Week 2)

A small breakthrough.

Finally the cough has gone away for the most part, unless something makes me laugh unexpectedly. The soreness has subsided, and the jogging feels *almost* almost normal. I want to do it right this time. Somehow I just want to make it through some extended training un-interrupted by catastrophe.

Being conservative feels counterintuitive. Its also kind of counter to my neurotic personality. I'm one of those people where the answer to every question is the same: Clearly, more mileage is necessary. Preferably, they should also be uphill both ways and run as close to your threshold as possible. Now that I'm starting to feel better, I'm also feeling that call of the wild, like I just want to go ahead and go crazy. I'm not exactly sure why I'm like this, but I figure I have to quell the crazy in order to avoid the next round of training disasters.

Sunday 03/11: All I have to say about this day is that my capillaries better be growing, and they better be liking it. 50 miles of biking and 11 miles of running at 150-160 bpm. New way to River Trail with Peter, fun until last 10 miles or so, after which I felt really, really bad. Hot and sunny, refused to wear sunscreen--burnt to a crisp.

Took 1 hour nap, then left for run at dusk. Followed 10.8 mile tempo course with short detour due to lack of daylight. Legs felt slightly groggy at first, but progressively better. Relaxed, thought about form a lot. Did not enjoy the pavement portions, but it was worth it not to be running circles around the North or South fields. This run took absolutely forever at 155 bpm.

Monday 03/12: 3 miles, 31 minutes at 145 bpm around North Fields at night in Nike Frees. Joined by Ian for latter portion, talked about running. Felt really good, not tired or sore at all. Core strengthening at the gym, then laundry.

Tuesday 03/13: 5.5 miles, 20 minutes warm up at 150 bpm (Frees), 20 minute of coordination drills, 16 x 100m striders with jog turn recovery in 8 grass laps (trainers), 23 minutes of cool down at 150 bpm around North fields (Frees - arch felt a tad bit sore maybe should have kept the trainers).

Combination of drills and striders is deathly. Body definitely not used to such stresses. Feeling better about form though. Definitely worse for the wear on the cool down, slower per lap of North field at same HR. Everything feels better than last week though. As they say, movin' on up.

Wednesday 03/14: 7 miles, 1:01:24, Huntington medians back up El Molino, then one lap of North Fields at 165 bpm. First training in many many weeks that could actually be classified as a "run" vs. a slow jog. Coordination drills, 4 x 100m striders, 4 x accelerations then core strengthening at the gym. Striders felt really really good for a change. Drills still sloppy and poor. They make me really tired. Not sure what to do about that. Need videotaping session.

Thursday 03/15: 3 miles, 31 minutes around North Fields. To borrow an entry from the Brain: "felt like basura". L arch feels questionable, was huffing and puffing but couldn't get the HR over 145, classic symptoms of fatigue. Decided wasn't worth it to try damage my body further by going on. Miserable day on all accounts.

Friday 03/16: 800 meters, warm up with KB prior to her successful record attempt (good to see new 10K record in sub-7 min/mile pace, congrats girl, you worked really hard and you really deserve this!). Oxy Distance Carnival to support the crew--big day for Caltech. Matt, KB, with impressive races. Great to see everyone, but felt really jealous of those running.

Some key competitors also had big results.... meh. Definitely sets the bar higher, but I feel extra motivated to exceed them (... some day). I just have to think of it in terms of losing the battle, winning the war.

Saturday 03/17: 8 miles, first attempt at tempo work = complete disaster. Woke up still full from yesterday's giant burrito. Dehydrated, hot. Intended: 2 x Arroyo tempo loops at probably 11:30's a piece, real easy, ~180 bpm. Actual: started out well, ~180-5 bpm, steady and controlled felt good, then HR started to climb coming down the second half of the first loop, tried to slow down but I guess I already had crossed the threshold, first loop in 11:15, then stomach started to complain loudly, cramped up early into the second loop. Felt dizzy and bad, HR totally out of control at this point, had to abort halfway through second loop, jogged it in.

Disaster. Something like 25 minutes a piece to jog from house to start of Arroyo tempo loop. This workout is cursed. A similar thing happened the last time I tried this one, except for without the gastrointestinal difficulties.

Target Mileage: 45 Miles
Week Actual: 38 Miles
Last Week: 40.25 Miles

Really looking forward to a short tempo session this week. Want to know if my body can still handle it. (um, the answer to that last one is, no. apparently. *big sigh*.)

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