Luckily I had a sudden day of fever and I had to have two days off last weekend. This partially eased the previous pain caused by stupidity. Last week, however, I managed to run only one workout (8x500m'200m, ~1.31) in addition to some ez runs embedded with some serious suffering.
This week I had a chance to kiss the treadmill goodbye since some of the road have lost their icy covering. On early Tuesday morning I ran 3x10min with accelerating pace. It was pretty cool to run faster outside for the first time since November. Only thing is that my legs haven't adjusted so much to running conditions with grip. No wonder that today's workout 5x1000m was exhausting. I actually quit after the first repeat and already started to change clothing. Only then I realized that there is no way that I could handle the obvious mental aftermath.... so I changed back and ran the rest of the workout with moderate effort.
I'm almost injured. I ran Sunday's LR (18 miles) only with my left leg since right one's usability was seriously hampered by some kind of nerve pain. As I don't give a rat's ass for being rational or indicating that 27 years on the road would bring some wisdom, I just enjoyed the sunny albeit icy conditions and thought that let's see what happens.
Since the last update I have had couple of awesome albeit busy weeks.
In short: on Monday's I've been punished by a treadmill during the acclerating 6 miler. On Thursday's the schedule has included either 8x500m or 5x1000m repeats. In both sets I have tried to run faster than I did a month ago. Just to make it sure that there's some kind of progression involved.
This weeks has, however, been pretty tiring. 4 deadlines arrived and then I started to lecture a brand new course. Thus, the psycho-physical -balance was unbalanced. Accordingly, I have felt sick several days in a row without really being sick. Good news is that this is gone. Even if today was -8F, it has been sunny. And by this time of year it only means that snow and ice will meet their maker anytime soon.
Thursday: Short hills Friday: 5x1000m (5:17-4:59/mile pace) Saturday: morning swim practice and afternoon 2.5 hrs Bike-Run-Bike-Run-Bike-Run workout Sunday: evening swim practice and "long" run.
Yes. I'm back. After being away for 1.5 weeks because of flu, it feels great to be back on the snowy and icy roads.
Before my lungs enabled any running I sneaked out for a swim on Sunday. After swimming 2000m in various forms of workouts lungs were trying to get out. It meant one more day off from running. Thus, on Monday I spent a moment on trainer with HIMYM the latter of which made this exercise pretty pleasant.
But then it was time to harness running shoes and head out... Tuesday ez, Wednesday ez + short steep hills in the parking garage of a mall close-by. Then yesterday I dared myself to join youngsters while they were punishing 1k reps. It felt great even if I had the brakes on (pace varied between 5.10-5.20).
But now this body is done. Next up a long run and then on Sunday I will continue the streak of triathlon specific training (bike-run-bike-run-bike-run workout). It's gonna be legendary.
Haven't been updating anything for awhile. Writing manuscripts has taken all the potential spare time.
Yesterday and today I have spent only by thinking about running due to a flu. Other than that the training has been quite steady lately even if I ran only 200 miles during January.
Weekly repertoire has been something like this: On Mondays I have had dates with treadmill and I've enjoyed acclerating tempos. Then on Thursdays I have joined a group of youngsters while they demolish 500m or 1000m reps. Then on Wednesday mornings I have done short steep hills (10x12 sec) in a parking garage of a mall near by. The roads are a mess as you can imagine, but it hasn't hindered the pleasures of long runs. On Sunday evening I have participated a swim practice in order to enhance the chances to keep myself alive while tackling with half-Ironman next Summer.
Road conditions are now insane. Every single road is covered with slippery, shiny ice. And now it started to snow again. This same snow storm stopped air traffic in Amsterdam and Stockholm earlier today.
I bounced back after an easy weekend. First workout after the sudden gluteus/hamstring syndrome took place yesterday. I ran a 5 miler on treadmill. I planned to do a 6 miler but got so bored and tired during 7.5 km so I called it quits. Sad but true.
2013 has started pretty nicely. No injuries yet. Today is, however, prone for them since I'm join youngster in their short (170m) intervals workout. Risky!
>BREAKING NEWS!!! My gluteus/hamstring held on only 3.5 runs out of 16.
Running on these roads is risky, too. I dunno what happened, but all of sudden roads are covered by ice. Oh yeah right, Finnish weather happened.
Number of miles conquered by running: 2311 Number of miles conquered by cycling: 685 Number of miles conquered by swimming: 4.5 Number of marathons completed: 0 Number of marathons started: 0 Number of Master's Indoor World Championships attended: 1 Number of Events completed at Master's Indoor World Championships: 0 Number of the best ever training plans started during 2012: 2 Number of running related disappointments: 2 Number of running races completed: 8 Number of bike races completed: 1 Number of adventure races completed: 2 Number of almost serious achilles tendon problems: 1 Number of 40th birthdays celebrated: 1 Number of kgs lost/gained: still don't care
After the Birthday 40k I took one week pretty easy. Then I found myself running workouts on indoor track, running tempo runs in windy 5 F weather followed by trying to not fall down on really icy roads (caused by continuous rain). Last 1.5 weeks has been fulfilled by vacation time and tomorrow the weekdays are back.
Year 2013 will bring some new challenges (Half Ironman in July) and old ones (Berlin Marathon in September). I'm really looking forward for them.
