Taking Inventory

I just finished off a great first week for pre training It feels so great to be back on my feet pushing for a goal (stats will be posted at the bottom every week). Tremendous weather this week certainly made it easy for me to lace em up and get out there. Along the way this week however, I felt something was not quite right. It felt like I was working far too hard for my pace and distance. Perhaps you can relate and have struggled with your training at times as well. My breathing was up, my stride seemed more laboured, I just didn’t have a lot of zip, especially on the rolling hills portion. My easy long run pace is 8:30 – 9 min miles, I was well within that range. So, with that being said, I think I need to take a close look at my upcoming core training program, and my current pre train. Its great to just fire it up an get at it but to actually achieve goals and see some faster times, I need to have a plan based on where I am today.

So for the next few weeks, I’m going to do an inventory count with the heart rate monitor. Its truly a great measure of my current fitness level and a solid indicator of where I need to focus my training. If my easy pace is pushing 75% of my max HR then obviously that is not really an easy pace anymore. I’ll report back in the weeks to come.

Coming up, winter running gear. I have mastered it! I will actually video for you the gear you need for the both the temp & conditions. Its based on four years of winter running and several experiences of being a long way from shelter with the wrong gear on, so trust me, I have you covered here.

Check out the recipe of the week, its actually a sauce. Making a variety of good sauces is all you need. This one is a fav that I actually liberated from a local establishment here in TO.... enjoy!

TRAINING DIARY

Monday 21st – RUN – EZ 3 miles – tired

Tuesday 22nd – RUN – EZ 4 miles (8:40/m pace) - slow, sluggish

Wednesday 23rd – SPIN – 60min total (20 min Time Trial) – Total burn

Thursday 24th – RUN – EZ 4 miles – (8 50/mile pace) – slow, every sluggish

Friday 25th – OFF – Some walking and stretching

Saturday 26th – RUN – 60 min run (7 miles ez) – exhausted finish, felt better overall

Sunday 27th – SPIN – 60 min very EZ, for some stretching