It’s like I blinked, and suddenly I am in the hardest stretch of my ultra training for my first 100-mile race. How did that happen?
I feel relatively strong moving into this block. My endurance and strength is where it should be after months of slowly building my aerobic base while working on strength and mobility. Of course I feel like I should have done more.
I had two weeks of down time in Nova Scotia at the end of the building phase of my training plan. This was perfect timing as it allowed me to reflect and mentally prepare for what’s likely going to be a challenging training block.
So what does the next phase of my ultra training look like?
First things first, every training plan is personal. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa. There is no one-size-fits all training plan. This is something I have to keep in mind when I scroll Strava, especially because it’s easy to get caught up in the comparison game. I keep it in check by limiting my time on the app.
In this phase, my longer runs will get longer, and my weekday runs will get harder. I feel like I am behind in vert gain so that will also be a key focus in the weeks ahead.
It’s a bit overwhelming to say the least, but that’s part of ultra training.
There’s so much I have to figure out – nutrition, pacing, clothing, drop bags etc. The list goes on and on. I just have to take it one day at a time and not get caught up in self-doubt chaos.