I pushed up to 70 miles a week for a few years and honestly didn’t see any performance improvement over 40- 50 miles a week that I had done for many years. So I’m back to 40-50 in my old age. About 10 hours a week.
Yes! I see several every summer. They waddle in a way that gets their quills moving side to side, then they use the momentum to “throw” the quills off their back. You just have to keep your distance and walk around them—not always easy if it’s a single track with a cliff on one side. The real problem is having a dog get near them. Our family dogs have been “porked” over the years, getting quills in their nose, which takes pliers to painfully remove.
Yes to semi-rad! Always funny, and often some deep insight to go with it. Your list is a good addition to his (and I have personal experience with many items from both). Here's one from mine: returning to a remote trailhead at the end of a long run and realizing your keys are locked in the car (extra credit if it's happened more than once).
I've been using 40 miles as my "mandatory" weekly base for a few years now, and I agree -- it's a comfortable number that keeps me in the game without being overly stressful. Honestly, I'm afraid that for me, a week with less than that would be a step onto a slippery slope that I'd never recover from (and the thought of allowing a slump and then having to get back in shape is frightening).
If you peak at 60 or 70 or 100 or whatever, does that mean you hit that for 1 week, something like 2-3 wks before a 100, or do you try to hold that peak mileage for a few weeks in a row?
For me, it's generally 3 weeks in a row. I tend to design my training blocks with an easier cutback week every four weeks. So it'd be the 4 - 6 or sometimes 5 - 7 weeks prior to an extra-long ultra, followed by a reduced-volume but still solid cutback week, followed by tapering.
Awesome! Great peak! I’m looking at Mace’s Hideout down near Pueblo in June, so need to start figuring out weeks. For now, I’m hitting ~40 mi and 8-10 hrs for now.
What went wrong on my run Sunday? I slid sideways on a wet bridge and discovered that I still bounce at 40.
I also had my first 40+ mile week in a very long while, and my first back to back (10/15) since September. I've never been a high mileage runner, I usually hover in the mid 30s to 40s range most of the year, peaking in the 50s or 60s for a late summer 100. It's easy to get wrapped up in thinking that you aren't doing enough when you read about weekday runs of 60-90 minutes with speed work thrown in, but 10k-marathon plans will have workout in the 30-60 minute range, and you still get faster.
What went wrong, not today but memorably: Hard, flying faceplant at 10-mile point of local trail (dang little roots everywhere!) directly in front of a Boy Scout troop out for a hike. Knocked the wind right outta me, prompted 15 boys + leader to run over and offer first aid skills, but at least didn’t break a rib or need a carry to the trailhead…..
Oh, a second one: Trail eroded away in yesterday’s crazy storm, leaving a 20-ft cliff on either side of a muddy mess.
You probably gave the Scouts a good life lesson in falling and getting back up! And also, the importance of first aid. Take care in these strong storms.
Haha that was good!!! Not sure if this is the right place to ask but how did you come back after covid? I just got it for the first time currently on day 3. I’m anxious because I’m supposed to pace a friend for her 100 on 2/4 😳!
hi Amy, I detail some of it in my covid post...it really depends on how much it gets in your lungs and how fatigued you are. With at least 2 weeks, you should be OK! Good luck.
I pushed up to 70 miles a week for a few years and honestly didn’t see any performance improvement over 40- 50 miles a week that I had done for many years. So I’m back to 40-50 in my old age. About 10 hours a week.
Good job! May I ask, what is your "old age"? I'm 53.
Are porcupines a common thing where you live? Can't say I've ever seen one in the wild. What do you do if you meet one on the trail?
Yes! I see several every summer. They waddle in a way that gets their quills moving side to side, then they use the momentum to “throw” the quills off their back. You just have to keep your distance and walk around them—not always easy if it’s a single track with a cliff on one side. The real problem is having a dog get near them. Our family dogs have been “porked” over the years, getting quills in their nose, which takes pliers to painfully remove.
Yes to semi-rad! Always funny, and often some deep insight to go with it. Your list is a good addition to his (and I have personal experience with many items from both). Here's one from mine: returning to a remote trailhead at the end of a long run and realizing your keys are locked in the car (extra credit if it's happened more than once).
I've been using 40 miles as my "mandatory" weekly base for a few years now, and I agree -- it's a comfortable number that keeps me in the game without being overly stressful. Honestly, I'm afraid that for me, a week with less than that would be a step onto a slippery slope that I'd never recover from (and the thought of allowing a slump and then having to get back in shape is frightening).
Tiger Beat, Choco Tacos and Legos. I enjoyed everything about this post.
Thank you Amie! Yeah, those are blasts from the past :-)
If you peak at 60 or 70 or 100 or whatever, does that mean you hit that for 1 week, something like 2-3 wks before a 100, or do you try to hold that peak mileage for a few weeks in a row?
For me, it's generally 3 weeks in a row. I tend to design my training blocks with an easier cutback week every four weeks. So it'd be the 4 - 6 or sometimes 5 - 7 weeks prior to an extra-long ultra, followed by a reduced-volume but still solid cutback week, followed by tapering.
Awesome! Great peak! I’m looking at Mace’s Hideout down near Pueblo in June, so need to start figuring out weeks. For now, I’m hitting ~40 mi and 8-10 hrs for now.
What went wrong on my run Sunday? I slid sideways on a wet bridge and discovered that I still bounce at 40.
I also had my first 40+ mile week in a very long while, and my first back to back (10/15) since September. I've never been a high mileage runner, I usually hover in the mid 30s to 40s range most of the year, peaking in the 50s or 60s for a late summer 100. It's easy to get wrapped up in thinking that you aren't doing enough when you read about weekday runs of 60-90 minutes with speed work thrown in, but 10k-marathon plans will have workout in the 30-60 minute range, and you still get faster.
Well put!
What went wrong, not today but memorably: Hard, flying faceplant at 10-mile point of local trail (dang little roots everywhere!) directly in front of a Boy Scout troop out for a hike. Knocked the wind right outta me, prompted 15 boys + leader to run over and offer first aid skills, but at least didn’t break a rib or need a carry to the trailhead…..
Oh, a second one: Trail eroded away in yesterday’s crazy storm, leaving a 20-ft cliff on either side of a muddy mess.
You probably gave the Scouts a good life lesson in falling and getting back up! And also, the importance of first aid. Take care in these strong storms.
Haha that was good!!! Not sure if this is the right place to ask but how did you come back after covid? I just got it for the first time currently on day 3. I’m anxious because I’m supposed to pace a friend for her 100 on 2/4 😳!
hi Amy, I detail some of it in my covid post...it really depends on how much it gets in your lungs and how fatigued you are. With at least 2 weeks, you should be OK! Good luck.