[equinox marathon 43]

Another week down on the Pfitz/Douglas 18/70 plan.<br><br>
This week ended Mesocycle #2.<br><br>
Here was the plan:<br><br><b>Monday:</b> Rest or cross-training.<br><b>Tuesday:</b> 6m Recovery AM, 4m Recovery PM<br><b>Wednesday:</b> 15m medium-long run<br><b>Thursday:</b> 6m Recovery<br><b>Friday:</b> LT. 12m with 7m @ 15K to 1/2 marathon pace.<br><b>Saturday:</b> 5m Recovery<br><b>Sunday:</b> 22m long run<br><br>
Here's what actually happened:<br><br><b>Monday:</b> Exercise routine.<br><b>Tuesday:</b> 6m Recovery AM on pavement, 4m Recovery PM on trail.<br><b>Wednesday:</b> 10m run with a serious bonk on trail<br><b>Thursday:</b> 6m Recovery on pavement.<br><b>Friday:</b> 12m with 7m @ 7:05-7:15 pace on the track.<br><b>Saturday:</b> 5m Recovery run. 1.6 miles on dirt road, 3.4 miles on pavement.<br><b>Sunday:</b> 22.7m run on pavement.<br><br><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Comments:</span><br>
This past week was hot and humid. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning were hot and humid. Friday and Saturday were better in terms of humidity. Sunday was humid, and when the sun was out, warm.<br><br>
Something wasn't right. Tuesday night, I had to stop my run a couple times because I felt dizzy and at one point I thought I was going to black out. That might have affected me on Wednesday. I have no idea what caused the problem on Wednesday beyond the issue that I had on Tuesday.<br><br>
I had planned on doing 26.7 on Sunday to make up for some of the miles I missed on Wednesday, but there was some lightning in the area so I took a turn off to go home for a 22.7 miler. And to be honest, I'm not convinced that I had another 4 miles in me. Worse, the pace was much slower than I expected. I know Pfitz says that going beyond 22 miles in training is a waste, but as one who doesn't have a heck of a lot of self-confidence, it is a real shot in the arm mentally to do the full marathon distance prior to the marathon. More importantly, it lets me see how my body will feel on race day when I get to mile 24 or 25 or 26, etc.<br><br>
Overall, I've completed Mesocycle #2, but I've got more doubts now than I do confidence.<br><br>
My legs are a bit sore, and I'm a bit tired. I am debating using one of my "Mulligan" weeks this week, and take a cut-back week. I'm thinking of cutting back to say, 50 miles this week, much of it easy before I start into Mesocycle #3. I'll decide tomorrow before my run.

 

[Flounder]

The fact the 15 on Wednesday didn't go as planned is really no big deal - Remember the training is the accumulation of all the stresses of the program on your body. You really had a decent week and a bang up cycle # 2.<br><br>
It is just fine taking a easy week or starting into #3, your call -<br><br>
Keep up the good work

 

[runningINnyc]

Great job! I hang on your every week of review as I'm just four behind ya... <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif">

 

[equinox marathon 43]

Well runningINnyc, a bit of advice for you. Watch your pace. During my last recovery week I made the mistake of running too hard, and I'm still paying for it.

 

[Alex]

Keep it up EQ!

 

[runningINnyc]

Thanks for the heads-up ...keeping it easy during recovery days and weeks has been hard work for me but I'm getting better at it <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> Stay strong!

 

[Voodoojunkie]

See, that's a huge problem for me. I have a hard time running easy. I just kinda go how my legs feel like they want me to go.<br><br>
You guys are freakin' monsters! Nice work! I'll stick to Uncle Hal for now! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[Jensparks]

EQ - I heed your words. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> I've been keeping the recovery runs to trails (where I'm slower so I don't wreck) or the treadmill where I can monitor my pace.<br><br>
Honestly, I think you're doing great! What would you tell me to do if given the same info? Wouldn't you tell me to keep going? <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> Yeah you would! One bad run doesn't put you a week behind. Could have been you were just under the weather, or suffering from the weather.