Last April, I ran 111km in 30 days as I trained for my half marathon. A combination of long runs, easy runs, mid-week runs and the odd hill training thrown in for fun.
This fall, I've been training for my second half marathon of 2012 (oh, and the Medtronic Twin Cities 10-miler which I am SO excited for!!). After Saturday's 20k, I entered the run into my spreadsheet and the grand total for the month popped up.
111km.
Despite skipping a long run to complete a triathlon. Despite missing a few mid-week runs in favour of resting my legs. No hill training either.
I like numbers and I love patterns.
I think it's pretty cool that two very different training months with two very different approaches to running and recovery can end up, essentially, identical.
At least on paper.
April - I was recovered from my injury and fresh after three months off and a few months of rebuilding my mileage. I was fast and frisky and ready to run.
September - I am wrapping up six months of non-stop training. I feel strong and confident - a solid runner. But I don't feel quite as fast as I did in the spring. Nor do I feel quite as bouncy. I feel like I've had a good season and I'm ready for a bit of a rest.
So, in the past few weeks, I've eased up on the number of runs as well as the distance I ran during the week - saving it for the long runs on the weekends.
I think it worked. My legs still feel good and I have no nagging aches or pains.
And apparently I still got a lot of mileage in.
One one one.
I like that number.
Whenever I see that number on my American BG meter, I like to say "JACKPOT!" out loud because it kind of looks like three bars on a slot machine. (In my mind at least.) Sometimes I get funny looks, but I don't care. They're just jealous.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping you hit it big in your upcoming races!
I too think it's neat to see those same numbers pop up even though the distance covered came by different training approaches!
ReplyDeleteSee you guys soon!