Weekly Log: 5.19.14 - 5.25.14

It's finally here - the week of my big Spring race.  I was looking forward to dragging my whole family up to Vacationland to stay with college friends but now that Ezri's infirm, I'll be going up solo.  I'm bummed as I was looking forward to the family getaway.  Anyway, Ez's injury has been the focus of the past week and thankfully she's starting to adjust to using a wheelchair which increases her mobility considerably.  Watching her tool around in it was a welcome sight.

So...Pineland time.  I think about my training.  Was it enough?  I mostly just increased my mileage higher than ever.  Didn't follow any particular training plan.  Just ran a bit more (with a paltry amount of speed work.)  But since my goal is simply to run a strong, consistent 50k I think this approach will be sufficient.  So long as I don't blow up.  I've taken to laying out my goal posts in my weekly log prior to my big races (hell, it worked last fall.)  I feel like it keeps me honest and gives me extra motivation to not screw up.  So with that being said:

A Goal: Sub-4 hours
This is a ludicrously optimistic goal and likely out of my league.  We're talking 7:45 miles here.  When one starts thinking about their potential in a road marathon plus a measly five more miles...why it doesn't seem that fast, does it?  Of course there's a world of difference between road and trail and those five miles will probably feel like a blister on my soul.  Still, I destroyed my A Goal last October at NipMuck so I felt like I should have an appropriately unattainable goal for this race.

B Goal: Sub 4:15
Alright now we're getting into the realm of possibilities.  While sub-4 is probably a pipe dream I think I'm very capable of coming in under 4:15.  That would be a badass time and put me up near the top of the standings (based on previous years' results.)  This would involve low 8 minute miles which I know I have the endurance for.

C Goal: Sub 4:30
The third goal post.  The back-up goal post.  9 minute miles.  I feel that I should easily come in under this time and if I don't, it means I screwed up.

Monday - East Providence, RI - 3.2 miles

I started this very easy week with a quick loop through East Providence to hit up the bank and Cumbies.  Immediately I felt all sorts of twinges and pain in my feet and legs.  I'm falling apart.  What are you doing running you fool!  Rest for the weekend!  After a mile my legs sorted themselves out and the negative voices quieted.  I always become super-paranoid about injury the week of a big race but in the end my body holds itself together (knock on wood.)

Tuesday - 0 miles

260 push-ups (standard/military/wide/decline) 40/30/40/20/40/30/40/20

Another day home with Ezri who woke up angry but mellowed as the day went on.

Wednesday - Caratunk, Seekonk, MA - 4 milesd

More easy miles, this time back at the Caratunk Refuge.  It was hot and it seemed like the plant growth along the trail had increased dramatically from last week.  It wasn't long into the run when the bugs began to swarm.  They weren't too bad but I can see this place being dreadful in a few weeks.  I may have to steer clear for the summer.  Water hazards weren't as bad as last week and I was finally able to run around their muskrat pond with fear of submersion.

Thursday - 0 miles

230 push-ups (standard/military/wide/decline) 40/30/40/20/30/20/30/20

Friday - East Providence, RI -  3 miles

Checked out various trails around the 10 Mile River Bikepath.  There was a nice stretch of singletrack alongside the reservoir (along with a lot of swampy bugs.)  On the other side, dirt bike trails wound their way through the woods and past murky ponds to nearby train tracks.  I found a large section of ATV trails set up for paintball with tarps and blankets tied to trees every which way.  Watch out!

It was humid and I kept the pace easy.  I listened to my body and everything sounds good.  I'm as read as I'm going to be for Sunday.

Saturday - 0 miles

Sunday - Pinelands 50k, New Gloucester, ME - 31 miles

4:05:56.  7th overall.  2nd in Age Group.  Great race and great experience.  Report to follow.

Weekly Mileage: 41.3 miles

Year to Date: 841 miles

Weekly Log: 5.12.14 - 5.18.14

T minus two weeks until the Pineland 50k.  Time to start obsessing over the weather report (long range forecast looks wet and I heard the farmland course gets muddy quickly.)  I'll be dropping the mileage into the 20s this week.  Nothing crazy at this point.  I plan to listen to my body and get to the starting line rested and healthy.

The bigger change this week will be helping Ezri recover from the three broken bones in her leg. She'll be spending a lot of time on the couch and I'm sure we're all going to have to adjust to a new normal for awhile.

Monday - Charlestown, RI - 4.2 miles

Extended the dog jog this morning a bit as it would be my only run for the day.   Encountered a few people and dogs and Oliver was surprisingly good when we passed.  Only barked briefly.  I guess Amanda has been training him well.

Went up to work for 1/2 a day and then brought Amanda and Ezri home from the hospital.  She's definitely miserable at times by being bedridden (couchridden) but hopefully she'll adapt to the situation quickly. 

Tuesday - Seekonk, MA - 5 miles

Decided to head back to the Caratunk Sanctuary at lunch time. I wore my MT00s as I knew I'd be in for some wet spots and these things drain well.  The only question was if there's be too many roots/rocks for the minimal shoes.  It was a goddamn gorgeous day and I enjoyed exploring these trails again.  Terrain wasn't too much for the shoes but I was definitely right about the water.  As I got deeper and deeper into the woods I entered a swampy section where getting wet was inevitable.  I did what the Gazelle would have done and charged right through!  Great little place to run - the only downside was that tick season is now in full effect.  Found a big nasty sucker on my leg midrun and another later in the day on my car seat!

Wednesday - East Providence, RI - 5.2 miles

Funny how I can drive 10 minutes from work and enter a totally rural Seekonk that harbors gems like Caratunk.  But around the office it's a completely different story.  Left work at lunch with no real plan other than to run some new streets in East Providence.  To that end I succeeded - kept the pace in the low 7s and saw a variety of houses.  It's interesting how some people have crafted little fortified homes of marble and stone in the midst of a sea of houses otherwise sandwiched together.  It was hot out there (72 degrees) and I was sweating pretty good by the end but I really enjoyed this run.

Thursday - 0 miles

Worked from home while I stayed with Ez.  No real window to run and no desire to do any strength training in the morning.  Ezri is up and down throughout the day.  It's very frustrating for a five year old to be immobile and she fluctuates between happy and angry as the day progresses.  She hates being touched so moving her from room to room is unpleasant for everyone.  I can only hope she acclimates to her situation in the coming days.

Friday - Seekonk, MA - 4.1 miles

230 push-ups (standard/military/wide/decline) 40/30/40/10/30/20/40/20

After work I headed to the Seekonk Meadows for a quick four mile jaunt.  It was a brief lull in the rain but very humid.  Legs were feeling full of energy - tapering effects no doubt.  Along the water I scared a frog which made a most unusual sound, like a drowning cat.

Saturday - 0 miles

Rest day # 2 for the week.  Planted some stuff outside though.

Sunday - Carter Preserve, Charlestown, RI - 8.2 miles

Finished off the week with an easy Sunday run in Carter Preserve.  Parked off of Route 112 and ran the Yellow trail over to the Grassland Loop trail.  Then I did a little tune-up for next weekend's race.  I figured the grass trail would simulate a lot of what I'll be running on. I tried to keep it at an 8 minute pace but ended up closer to 7:30.  At any rate running five loops was a good repetitious act and I feel good for next weekend.  Looking forward to seeing what I can do.

Weekly Mileage: 26.9 miles

Year to Date:  800 miles