February already?
Looking at my 100-mile run training excel sheet makes it all so real. I only have five and a half months left to get ready for Sinister 7. I am walking the fine line between excitement and panic. I keep telling myself that I still have lots of time to get in 100-mile shape.
These past two months I focused on the basics – running consistently, crosstraining and strength. This was on top of the ankle mobility and strength stuff.
Some days the struggle was real. I just wanted to cry because I felt completely useless and, quick frankly, ridiculous. Running eight kilometres felt like a life sentence. Returning to running mentally and physically after a break can be heartbreaking. In your brain, you harbor the belief you can just pick up where you left off before the injury, before the stress, before the life break …. before ….
Reality, however, doesn’t work that way for most people. I’ve had long periods of breaks from running due to an injury or life. So I am used to this adjustment period, where you have to remind yourself to be patient and “trust the process” BS.
The familiarity doesn’t make it any easier.
The good news? I am beginning to feel like a runner again. Having a big, scary goal like finishing one of the hardest ultras in Alberta will scare you straight into running even on those days when you don’t feel like doing it.
100-mile training means running consistently
I did not even pretend to brave the -40C to -50C temperatures in mid-January. I focused on the big picture and weighed the pros against the cons. Not getting frost bite usually won out over a sore butt from too much time in the saddle.
My mileage was very low that one week in January and I won’t beat myself up over it. Often times I have fallen into that self-loathing trap but I refuse to let it bring me down this training cycle.
I have been running mostly at Nose Hill and around Bowmount Park. It’s been a mix of pathways and dirt trails. With this crazy winter weather, I never know what the conditions will be so I always prepare for the worst.
Longer and longer runs ahead
Running has been consistent but I haven’t gotten any big mile days in yet. I didn’t want to peak too soon with the back-to-back long runs. My experience in the past has taught me I will get burnt out and hating all things running by June.
This weekend I am heading to the mountains for the first time in more than a month. I have a great 20K winter loop that I like to do out of Allen Bill. I am excited to get back to breathing the fresh mountain air and running the trails.
How was your first month of 2024? Get any good runs? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
Slow and steady, you’ll be back where you were mileage wise in no time!