Training for 100 miles: Road to 100: Week 7/16 : Insane Running

Training for 100 miles: Road to 100: Week 7/16

This is part of a series of posts regarding how I am preparing, planning, and training to complete the 100 miles Ultramarathon Umstead 100: Road to 100. For all the ultrarunning series here is Road to 100 last week’s post and for additional ideas follow the link. Training for a 100 .

By now we are near the key training weeks. Back to back solid double digits that are going to start putting a test on your physical endurance and your will. It is easy to start asking why? what is the reason to suffer? for all this time? This is where it is important to have a solid reason why you are pushing the limits of your physical and mental endurance. A weak reason could jeopardize the training, even if you started without a solid reason, there is still time to see the benefits of all that training you have done so far and the possibilities ahead of you.

After coming from a recovery week (A week where the total mileage and long runs distances are reduced to allow the body to recover) it felt really hard to head out and hit the road. Especially with a couple of winter storms, hitting the area. I had to dig deep and think about the reasons I want it to train for the 100 miler event. About how great I was going to feel when I completed the training runs. Of course, after a few miles, after I started, I always felt great and happy that I did go out, even if a couple of the runs this week were on the treadmill.

Assessment:

After that recovery training week, did you find it hard to head out to complete the long runs? What were those things, motivation that got you up and running to tackle the runs?.

Planning:

Take note of those little things that made you head out and complete the workout. Reflect on those and have them ready for the next time you are going to need them. Still, the road ahead of us is long, we need to be ready.

How is the plan going:

This week was another good solid week. The workweek long run mileage was decent, here are some highlights,

Monday Run: After some stretching and rolling I went for a short slow run on the treadmill. Since I had the day off from work and the weather was stormy with hail and ice falling for most of the day, I had the extra time and a treadmill accessible for a run.

Tuesday run: Easy run listening to audiobooks. After the storm and checking the roads and sidewalk, I decided to use my trail running shoes instead of the road running shoes, which provided the extra traction to tackle the few patches of ice that I encountered.

Wednesday run: Pressed the pace on this one after the 1-mile warm-up, semi Tempo run.

Thursday run: Another tempo-like run after the 1-mile warm-up.

Friday: Overslept so, no stretching or rolling, just pure rest.

The long weekend runs were good too,

Saturday: Ice overnight and plenty of snow. Decided to do the long run on the treadmill. Slow but entertaining watching some shows.

Sunday: I headed out to do about 16 miles, I was feeling great with the temperatures in the low 30s and sunny. I continue after the turnaround point and decided to make it a 20-mile run. I had the extra needed fuel with me and also gave me the opportunity to try a gel SIS that a friend provided last week to give it a try. The gel settled well, not my favorite flavor, but one that I might consider adding to another run for test.

This week actual numbers: