S2S Training: Week 9 of 14

6 weeks to go... scary how quickly it's coming up!

Plan:

• Tuesday 6.2 mi Tempo Climbs
• Wed (Singletrack Z2) 50-60 mins
• Fri 4mi easy road
• Big Saturday Vert Block (16mi / 3,500+)

Monday

3.72mi @ 10:18/mi

Recovery run at the New Groove Run Club 3rd Anniversary! The fun idea was "run with a random object" where we all got to pick something out of a bucket of random things... I ended up with a rubber alligator puppet 😂 Great evening catching up with this crew!

Tuesday

6.3 mi @ 9:18/mi

Hilly midday run for 10k Tuesday... 750ft elevation in 6.3 miles. Somehow ended up doing a progression run?? Unintentional but actually felt pretty good in the overcast and breezy weather. Maybe all these crazy hills and trails are actually working!

Wednesday

Rest day

Switched up rest and singletrack days because... reasons. 

Thursday

40 min strength tranining

Work gym time at lunch - still figuring out how to work more of this into my weekly routine. Seems I'm stuck at about 1x per week. Sigh.

4.84 mi easy singletrack - 60 mins

Headed out to Croft after work and had a lovely golden hour out and back on the Palmetto trail section that runs through part of the park. Still pretty warm out but that golden light before sunset gives hints of fall coming!

Friday

BMW 2-Miler Race = 2.03 mi @ 7:21/mi 

Raced the BMW 2-Miler and while the speed was not where it has been in past years (not surprising) it felt good to race. The part that didn't feel good was how stinking hot it was! Ugh... we'd had a couple of cool-ish mornings this week and it gave me hope. Not today!

Saturday

6.1 mi trail with 1,400ft elevation

Took Ivy out to Jones Gap for a little trail run fun in the woods, and boy she did so great! We first went up the extremely steep and difficult Rainbow Falls trail. I was afraid she wasn't going to go much farther than that, but once we started heading downhill (after a nice splash in the cool waterfall) she perked right back up! We headed up to Jones Gap Falls as well, had another little swim, then back to the car. Super proud of how she did on this run!

7.7 mi with 1,400 ft elevation

Part two of the day's runs (sans pup) I headed to Paris Mountain. It was hot, it was afternoon, my body was willing(ish) but the brain did. not. want. to run more. I had a pity party, ate some snacks, and finally perked up for the second hour of running. With about 30 minutes to go, the rumbles in the distance turned into an absolute downpour but somehow still shining sun?? It was ridiculous but splashing through the huge puddles made the whole run worthwhile. 

Drenched!

Double complete rainbows over Paris Mtn during a post-run grocery trip!

Sunday

mostly rest... yardwork

Week Recap

✅ Tuesday 6.2 mi Tempo Climbs - calling this one done

✅ Wed (Singletrack Z2) 50-60 mins - yes but on Thursday

✅ Fri 4mi easy road - calling this one green with the race push

🟨 Big Saturday Vert Block (16mi / 3,500+) - really wasn't far off on this one but it wasn't exactly as prescribed either, so giving it a yellow.

About 32 miles for the week.

Feeling pretty strong although the struggles at Paris Mtn had me worried/in my head a lot and questioning my training. Overall though and in hindsight I think I'm on track.