This is part of a series of posts regarding how the InaseRunning group prepares, plans, and trains to complete the 100 miles Ultramarathon Umstead 100: Journey to a 100. For all the ultrarunning series, here is Journey to 100 last week’s post and additional ideas, follow the link. Training for a 100.

---

Alright, we already started our plan; one week down, and here we are in the second week. Like any good initial plan, there are going to be adjustments. Once we have that initial preliminary plan, we need to look ahead in the schedule to identify as many dates as possible that will make that week’s plan challenging to meet the schedule.

In this case, these kay days could be Vacation days, Holidays, Celebration milestones, events, and a few other things that can and will have to be taken into account. Perhaps, you might need to travel or have an activity that requires you to leave early in the morning, which is the time you normally go out for a run. Or vice versa, you need to spend some time preparing for a key presentation, which will eat up the time you have available to run in the afternoon.

Assessment:

You want to once again be honest with yourself about the time available and the important dates.

• Start comparing the plan with the calendar: Identify the possible days that might have conflict or could add stress and challenges to completing your training. Any birthdays, travel time, special anniversary,…
• Determine the flexibility of the conflicts: Sometimes, we can prepare ahead and adjust some of the dates, times,s and challenges. Travel time, or shift that travel or celebration date.
• Highlight the ones that are still problematic: Those days that you know there is no break or chance for adjustment. It could be like a New Years’ celebration with family.

The answers will help you get ready for the next step, the planning session.

Planning:

Now, let’s put what we learned and implement the changes in place. This is how I got about those adjusting for those days that offer conflict with the training plan,

• Add additional rest days for one of two days ahead of running events. Especially if I am planning to push the pace of those events.
• Some holidays provide extra time for longer long runs, Thanksgiving is an example of those.
• Other holidays interfere with your normal plan. Be proactive in moving workouts and long runs to fit within the allotted time.
• Traveling, can you fit an early run before the trip? Move a workout around or split that long run into two shorter morning and late-in-the-day runs.
• Are you still in the build-up mileage? Or at peak weeks? You might have to let go of that workout/run for that week. Sometimes that is the most optimal approach, and it is ok.

For example, this week, there was an event on Sunday, so we are having some rest or very easy flat miles on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s event.

How is the plan going:

Summary: Very decent week mileage, taking it easy, except for the Wednesday group run and the Half Marathon event on Sunday. Food needs a little bit more adjustment. Sugars were behaving well during the week.

Monday: I woke up early and did a little bit of yoga and an upper-body workout at the gym.

Tuesday: Great temperatures, I managed to do 10 miles at a decent pace, listening to a few podcasts, and the time passed by fast.

Wednesday: The morning run was another easy run in great weather. Testing a new video recording camera with a very light carrying stick. Group run in the afternoon was a different story. Fast runners were the only show at the group run, so I had to really push and press the pace a bit more than I was planning to do. Also, testing a new longer stick that is long, heavier, and challenging to hold, I was to say it was a little bit of a workout.

Thursday: Easy podcasting run in the morning.

Friday: Upper body workout at the gym in the morning.

Saturday: Easy podcasting miles to loosen the legs in preparation for Sunday’s event.

Sunday: Great event Bull City Race Fest Half, with 1-mile warm-up and 1-mile cool-down

This week’s actual numbers:

Week 2	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
Plan	Stretches & Rolling	3	3	3	Stretches & Rolling	Rest	15	21
Actual	Gym	10	13	3	Gym	6	15	44

Next Week Plan: Notable item – Events on Wednesday and Sunday

Week 3	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
Plan	Stretches & Rolling	3	5	6	Stretches & Rolling	15	10	39