Training Update

Training Update

I just completed a ridiculously intense 2 weeks of training, with a spotlight on running -- crunch time to get me ready for that Ultraman Day 3 52 mile run.  Almost 25 hours this week, including 60+ miles of running -- by far the most running I have ever done in a week.  The good news: my running is progressing very well.  My endurance is huge and I am gaining confidence in my ability to handle the double marathon.  

The bad news: by Sunday I was totally spent.  Had nothing left in the tank and had to cut my 6 hour ride short; I was borderline hallucinatory and couldn't push my HR above 100;  indicia of extreme fatigue and overtraining.  Despite my obsessive / compulsive urge to get the 6 hours in anyway, I know myself well enough to know when my training becomes counterproductive, so I called it a day.  I suppose this is somewhat good in that it indicates that I gave this 2 week cycle everything I had -- took it all the way to the line.  Today is my first rest day in 2 weeks and this week will be a rest week (16 hours of training is considered a rest week!).  Then this weekend I will attempt that 40 mile run.  I am actually getting excited about it.  And after this past 2 weeks, I have greater confidence in my ability to get it done.

It was a very hot week in the West Valley with temps in the 96 - 98 degree range, so it was a great opportunity to acclimatize to what it will be like in Hawaii.  In particular, I tried to time my runs for the hottest part of the day to work on hydration and nutrition.  Here's how last week went down:

Monday: 3800 yd swim workout followed immediately by 2 hour Z2 (32 mile) ride

Tuesday: 1 hour 45 minute (13 mile) run

Wednesday: 3 hour 45 minute (60 mile) ride

Thursday: 4000 yd swim workout followed immediately by a 2 hr 15 minute (17 mile) run

Friday: 4300 yd swim workout followed immediately by a 3 hour Z2 (50 mile) ride

Saturday: 2 hr 45 minute run in the morning (20+ miles); and 90 minute (11 mile) evening run -- 31 miles of running in one day!

Sunday: was meant to ride 6 hours, but as I said, I was toast.  Put in less than 3 hours of weak effort and had to call it a day.