Training this week brought a variety of runs. I aimed to get a few solid workouts in because last week lacked variety. And with my ankle feeling strong, I was ambitious with my workouts. I also added an element to my easy runs that I had mentioned last week that I might incorporate.
My first workout was more or less an interval session. I rarely get to a track to rip off interval repeats these days, but I do incorporate intervals within my runs. This interval session was 15 reps of 50 seconds at about 4:45/mile pace. Recovery was 90–120 seconds of jogging. I did a 7-minute warm up and a 19-minute cool down, bringing the session total to 10 miles. My second workout was a tempo run. It was very unorthodox 9-mile tempo within a 10-mile run. Normally I like to have a decent warm-up and cool-down when doing tempo runs, but I did this tempo in the morning, so I was pressed for time (after all, those middle schoolers aren't going to teach themselves). Anyway, the tempo was at 5:42/mile pace. I was pleased with this pace for two reasons. First, I have not been doing much speedwork lately. Second, I felt really smooth for that distance and pace. My third workout covered some basic hills in Manitowoc, WI. It was a 19-mile run with eight solid climbs of about half a mile each.
The new element I added to my training was some pick-ups after easy runs. Basically all I did was 4 reps of about 20 seconds throughout the last mile. I did this on morning easy runs in order to give my legs a little pop after the relatively slower pace of easy runs.
I ended the week with 136 miles. After two hard weeks in a row, my body is definitely ready for a down week. I plan to take it easy for the first six days of the week and then add a nice ultra-style long run to end the week. Please see below if you want to see specifics about my miles.
| Sunday | 21.5 mile long run |
| Monday | AM: 10 mile easy run PM: 10.5 mile easy run |
| Tuesday | AM: 10 mile interval workout - 15x50sec w/ 90-120sec recovery PM: 5 mile shake-out run |
| Wednesday | AM: 10 mile easy run PM: 10 mile easy run |
| Thursday | AM: 10 mile easy run PM: 10 mile easy run |
| Friday | AM: 10 mile tempo run - 1 mile warmup 9 miles at 5:42 pace PM: 10 mile easy run |
| Saturday | 19 mile hilly run |
| Total | 136 miles |
| February 2012 Training |
Given the platform Flotrack recently has provided for bashing, stereotyping, and generalizing ultrarunners, maybe the ultrarunning community should think before providing content to their website. And, I don't think this is because they don't understand what "real" ultrarunning is all about. They apparently allow whatever drivel is submitted to be posted on their pages (as long as you are an "elite" runner).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input Todd. I understand what you are saying, as I have seen plenty of "ultra bashing" on many running sites that don't specifically address ultra runners. Trust me, I have been accused of creating a "fake" username and "pimping" my blog on Letsrun. Apparently to one of the individuals on Letsrun I blog about my ultra marathon training just to say, "look at me." I blog for a number of reasons. First, because I love running far and want to try to promote the joy it has brought me. Second, it's a great way to tell friends and family about a major part of my life. Third, I have been blessed to be a representative for some great organizations that I truly believe in and hope to spread the word about (TeamRWB, and My Team Triumph). I try not to think of the individuals who make fun of the sport and drag it through the mud despite never trying it. I try to focus on people who have actually done the sport, and love to hear about other people who have done it. If Flotrack wants to create a platform for ultra runners to talk to, give advice, and encourage other ultra runners then it's worth a shot to me. I'm sure there will be some ignorant reactions along the way, but I look forward to the positive results of blogging to a larger audience. Thanks again for the post and checking out my blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Zach,
ReplyDeleteI understand your position, but I am not referring to blogging but rather blogging for Flotrack. I (kind of) maintain a blog as well. I am just suggesting that Flotrack has no real interest in ultrarunning. They are interested in what gets them attention, visitors, and (ultimately) money. So one day they happily post an idiotic blog ridiculing groups of people and the next day claim they want to support and create an outlet for those same people. This is evidenced by the fact that the title for Tollefson's second blog post was "Join the Debate." Was there really a debate? Is the debate whether or not all ultrarunners are egotistical, slow, weird, unable to compete at other distances, etc? Or are they just trying to attract visitors and drum up page views? Either way, not much journalistic integrity for a group that claims to support the running community. Its not a group that I would want to be associated with. In my mind, anyone who provides them content is also signing off on what they decide to include on their website. This is not to say that they can't have controversial topics. But, I think there is a major difference between gross stereotyping (that the author claims was supposed to be funny) and controversial debates. And, of course, many folks are reading this and saying, "its a joke just lighten up". Of course, that is what we all should do, just lighten up. In the same way we should laugh and lighten up when ESPN posts discriminatory headlines about Jeremy Lin or some football player posts on twitter to get off Jeremy Lin's (racially charged comment here). Hey, but there is no connection between all this stuff. Right?
Hi Todd,
ReplyDeleteI definitely see your point. I have read both of Tollefson's articles. Whether he meant it to be serious or funny doesn't really bother me too much, because he has never ran an ultra before. Kind of like I wouldn't care about someone's opinion on poker strategies who has never played poker. After all, 100m dash sprinters could say exactly the same thing about marathon runners as he did about ultras. When push came to shove, and I was asked to be a pro blogger for Flotrail, I was excited because I know for a fact plenty of ultra runners who understand and love the sport frequent that site. I really don't worry much about Tollefson's take on ultras, but will always have an open ear to what the folks who run ultras and follow my blogs have to say. It is their opinions, questions, and comments that dictate what I will blog about.
The point is that this is not a random visitor to the Flotrack site. Tollefson is a "pro blogger" like yourself, part of solicited, vetted content.
DeleteThis is true. However, I trust that people will be able to discern the difference between my content, beliefs, and demeanor towards other people's personal interests and his.
ReplyDelete