The snow has melted away. Mud and puddles are the only evidence it has been snowing this morning. Yet, this is the perfect window for my run. The only opening in the rain and snow showers today. The thing that isn’t perfect, are my legs. They’re heavy and don’t want to do this run.
They have been heavy this whole week. I guess my weekend was a big one with a 25 kilometres long run on Saturday and 50 kilometres of mountain biking on Sunday. That didn’t used to be big. Twenty five kilometres of running used to feel like just going around the block. I guess I have to start all over again with ultra running.
Injuries
You know my history. I tore my hamstring in the days before the Grand Trail du Saint Jacques. I started that race anyway, fell, struggled, overused a stomach muscle and stepped out. That was half of June. Up until the end of August I didn’t do any serious training. My body didn’t allow me to. I did run the UTMB CCC, but that was more hiking than running. Well, for as far as I got.
RELATED:Grand Trail du Saint-Jacques; my first DNF
Since the beginning of October I’ve been working with Brendan Lombard, a running coach at Flat Rock Endurance. We decided to start with base building, and that’s how it feels these days; being back at the start. Why? Because Monday my muscles were sore. That hasn’t happened for a long time. Well, not after 25 kilometres. Maybe after fifty, but twentyfive? No.
Built slow, lose quick
I didn’t feel tired. The endurance is still there. Just not the running endurance. I’m always amazed how quickly you lose endurance and strength. I mean, what you build up in a month, you lose in two weeks. That doesn’t feel fair. And I’m wondering – sorry I haven’t researched this yet – if, when we grow older, we lose fitness even quicker. It would make sense. When we get older, we lose strength anyway, so it becomes harder and harder to stay on the same level. Let alone improve.
RELATED: How to train as an ageing athlete
I have to admit, it feels a bit frustrating to have sore muscles after only 25 kilometres of running. Yet, there is a good side to it. Two good sides even. First of all, I’m running faster than I used to. In the last training block we’ve been working on my speed. Or better said, my lack of speed. I’m on a double mission this year. For my Spring mission I need speed. Next week I’ll tell you all about that mission. How’s that for a cliffhanger?
Revenge
My Autumn mission, you know; revenge at the UTMB CCC. I failed this year. To make sure I make it to the finish line next year, Brendan is proposing to take it easy now. Probably wise, as I felt really tired in the months leading up to the UTMB CCC this year. I stepped out, because I got overheated and couldn’t get my body temperature down. Having the flu, as I discovered afterwards, probably didn’t help, but not being fresh didn’t help as well. This year the goal is to start the race in shape, fit and rested.
For now that means doing less long runs, and feeling a bit like a beginner again when I do do them. Frustrating? Yes, but also no. Because while I struggle with long runs, I’m doing pretty good on speed. Tuesday, without any planning and to my own surprise, I ran a new personal best on the 10 kilometres; 47:50. So something is going right and that’s always a good feeling.
I hope your training is paying of as well.
Keep on running.
