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December 08, 2005
Scheduling Issues
I did 8 this morning outside, probably between 7:30-7:45 pace -- I didn't time it, but checked the clock before I left and when I got back. The way out felt fine, but I was a bit concerned because the tree branches were waving and I didn't feel much wind. And sure enough my suspicions were realized as I turned around to run home into a stinging wind. Rule of thumb in Chicago: if you think it's not windy that's just because the wind is at your back. The back 4 miles were pretty miserable. But I got the run in before the blizzard started, so I can't complain. I also did another 4 on the treadmill in the early evening. Same deal as yesterday: 3 at 7:30 pace and the last one 7:00 and under. I've noticed that I feel sluggish and drained during and after my runs outside, but invigorated when I step off the treadmill. Though the invigorated after part may just be because the run is so short that my body's all prepared to exert more energy so it has it at the ready for me.
I now have 10 miles to split up between tomorrow and Saturday. Apparently my hair appointment on Saturday isn't until 2, giving me a good hour and a half to run, shower, and get to the salon, so I should be able to fit 4 miles in pretty comfortably and do 6 when I get up tomorrow morning. If the snow looks really deep I may just go on the treadmill because running in deep snow is pretty exhausting. Want to be fresh for my exam in the afternoon.
I've been trying to reconcile my Boston training schedule with my exam schedule. Right now, I'm scheduled to do 90 (my mileage peak) the week of winter quarter exams. However, I have a rest week of 60 right before it. I'm trying to decide what effect it would have on the program as a whole were I to switch them (instead of doing 90-80-60-90, I'd do 90-80-90-60).
When I'm doing lots of miles, I'm just not as mentally sharp as I am otherwise (those who know and love me will probably point out that I can't very well be described as "mentally sharp" even under the best of circumstances). Running a lot makes me stupid. This makes sense, given that studies have shown that fatigue has the same effects as alcohol in terms of slowing reaction times and dulling mental acuity... and there just doesn't seem to be any way to escape fatigue when I'm doing higher mileage. So I'm pretty sure I'm going to switch up my rest and peak weeks, especially given that I don't have any real performance goals for Boston.
Posted by alweiss at December 8, 2005 07:25 PM