As a young kid I used to laugh my ass off at Laurel and Hardy re-runs (Yes I'm THAT old). The bright idea that doesn't quite pan out the way it was intended. I say this as I was presented with a "bright idea" on Sunday morning just before my trail run.
Coming off the heaviest volume week I've had since the final run up to May's 100k, I knew my legs would be tired.
I had been increasing the intensity for the last month in 4 min VO2 repeats, strides and hill repeats so I was feeling a little fried. I'd also just finished a double 36 hour water fasting week. Needless to say my body was having a 'WTF?' moment last week. Having just put a heavy 7 days through my legs, and a LOT less calories into my body, it was time for my week-ending Long run.
Given my training plan for this summer block had: two high intensity sessions in the middle of it; easy recovery runs on following days; and a tempo run the day before my Long run (to ensure I had plenty of fatigue in my legs going into the long run), I would be forgiven for thinking I could (and should) make my long run very very easy.
It wasn't.
Easy on the long run was the instruction and plan for this block, but I was tempted by the carrot and prospect (suggested by my 'Buddy G') of a sub 3 hour 20k trail after all that previous week's training. This would be one of the fastest times I've gone for, ever, on very tired legs and very few calories in the week leading up to it.
Seemed like a good idea at the time. But I said no when it was initially suggested. I felt good about this no. I felt in command of my training schedule about this no. I felt smart about this no. But....
About 2/3 of the way through my trail-wife Buddy G, like the siren temptress that he can be, whispered that if we picked up the pace we could get back in under 3hrs.
And I answered the call. We picked up the pace, and then hammered the last 2 km... of a 20... through the woods. Against all my better rational judgment, I sprinted (yes full on sprinted) through sections of the woods that were notorious for tree roots and tight trail bends. My legs were already exhausted from the run and the efforts of the week which had utterly depleted me, but still I sprinted. And came home in my second fastest time for that 20k (G recorded his fastest as well so for us it was quick). It felt great to put some real speed through my legs again. Something I've been unable to do for years due to the Achilles issues; but I also knew there would be a toll that required paying. I paid it with three back to back rest days. I attempted a run after a single day of rest but after 20 mins my ankle reacted badly so thought it wise to cut the session then and there rather than risk injury again.
I have hill repeats tonight. The most intense session in my week. I've only fasted once this week so have let me system recharge a bit before taking it on as well as give my ankle some decent recovery time. Let's see how it goes. I'm pretty proud of myself. I've only 9 weeks left until I hit the 300km start line. That's no time at all. I still have a few issues but the trajectory is still up. That's a good thing. I've focused on protecting my consistency but the exception I made last weekend was risky. I certainly will have had some great adaptations from it, and a little healing time. I was also due an 'easy' week after 4 straight hard ones; but it was also a shot across the bow that there's a fine margin between pushing harder and something going 'bang'.
A reminder that I do have risk taking tendencies, and that I need to curb these as I'm not 'there' yet. I've always had this. Even when I played high level sports when younger, I always pushed to the edge, and sometimes ended up going over it and exploding.
I'm starting to re-learn greater discipline as I know I will need this on the challenge. I can't let feeling fresh, strong and excited get the better of me at the start and then make the latter days of it a hell-on-earth experience (faster, certainly, than it could have been). I've said and committed to Consistency being the biggest thing of all to accomplish what I am taking on, while taking calculated risks on the way to stretch myself enough to develop the speed, strength and endurance necessary to get through it.
...But, like an elastic band, stretch too far and something snaps. Given the work I still need to do over the next 2 months I can't afford the price of screwing it up and setting me back. This recent episode was a VERY good reminder of nailing down my own training discipline. My buddy G was feeling fresh, I was not. His risk potential was different to mine and the price I could pay for getting it wrong is considerable. I could have listened to the sensible voice in my head, but I let the curiosity of seeing if I could take the risk and come through it get the better of me. But... and it's a big BUT... I loved it!
On the positives, it did force me to take a few days out that my body really did need. It forced me to push hard that will yield better strength, speed, and recovery adaptations, and it made me smile... so every cloud does have a silver lining. Yes I was tired, yes something hurt more than it should a few days later, and yes I took a risk by not making a reasonable decision... but I'm running 300km, so reason isn't exactly my strong-suit, and some times you've simply got to say 'fuck it, let's do it' and see what happens.... I will sign off though by saying, I will not be doing that again this side of the challenge... just in case you're thinking of suggesting it again G ;-)
Thanks for reading.
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