Training Log Archive: runninghils

I think I need to hire a coach. I just can't figure out what I need to do to improve. 2 years ago, I was getting slower and slower, it seemed. I was running and biking a lot, but most of my running was at a slow endurance pace. I was also a terrible hill climber. Try Crossfit Endurance, a teammate said - it drastically helped him improve his hill climbing. So, I did. Well, I built up the crossfit part for a while and was trying to implement the endurance part, but it was not working. I got slower. I had my worst 5K in memory this spring. I enjoy the crossfit and it's a good way to get strength in, so I kept it, but dropped it to 1-2/week and increased the running and biking leading up to the Rage. I must have timed that bout of overtraining just right because I felt good during the race and could push it pretty hard. However, I have NOT been able to recover ever since. My knee was hurt during the race, and that seems better now, but everything I do leaves me sore and tired. I am just emotionally drained and frustrated right now. The crying that never happened in the Rage is now happening for no reason. My mind tells me I need rest, but I don't want to. I think I just need someone to evaluate me and give me an exact plan and I'll do it. This is a task that I clearly can't do myself. I was able do do a nice running training plan when that's all I did, but now with multi-sport training in the summer butting up to ski racing season all winter, I am not managing it well.

C • You are a rock star 5

Run 400 warm-up, 30-20-30 warm up

Workout - for time:
50 wall balls (14 lb)
40 pull ups (15 with purple, 25 with red)
30 box jumps (21" box)
20 thrusters (25# dumbbells)
10 muscle up transitions
time: 13:36

Strength:
Back Squats: 3 every 2 minutes for 5 rounds at 80% 1RM
round 1 @125, rounds 2-5 @145 lb

Exactly what I needed today!

Dear Diary,

I was feeling some knee pain at my last ride and still some lingering today, so I decided to take a nice easy road ride. It was a beautiful day. The rail trail was like a big green tunnel of trees. There were so many great fresh spring scents to take in... trees, grass, honeysuckle, that tree that stinks but I still like it in a weird way, etc. It was one of those days that you get on your bike and all is right with the world. Somewhere along the way, I saw two girls playing in the trees between the rail trail and the road. That is totally something I would have done when I was their age. It was just enough trees to spark the imagination, but not so much that you could get lost.

Right now, there are thunder storms and tornado warnings. Glad I got my ride in before all that business started.

Love,

Hilary

C • For some reason 4

Paddled the Chippewa from the tridge up to and into the Pine a bit. I haven't been able to paddle very often on the Pine because the water is usually too low. The water flowed FAST in some spots. The last 200m leading up to the Pine seemed to take forever and I had to fight pretty hard for it.

Here's a math problem for you. I travelled upstream 3.4 miles in 2:06 and used the same effort to travel back downstream in 0:37. What is the average speed of the river?

C • 2 mph 4

Took out the FS bike today since my Superfly was still in the shop when I left to come here. I felt SO uncomfortable on this set up. The seat was too low and far forward. Plus, I'd put some old cushiony seat on it for a friend and it sucked. How did I ever ride with this saddle before? I didn't have tools since they were on my other bike, so I had to live with it. I never unpacked my Rage pack, so I was able to just grab it, refill the water, and go.

Rode the back roads around my parents' place and went into state land to do about 7 miles of sandy two-tracks. I rode up every sand hill! Woo! No walking. It was great practice.

Finished the ride up on the roads back to their house. Knee actually bothered me a bit the whole time and when on foot, but not terribly. I'll just paddle tomorrow and call it good.

Not sure about time or distance since I accidentally stopped my watch partway through this. Ditched my bike in some bushes at state land and tried to explore a trail/road that Google Maps says goes through, but I knew better. Well, it looks like it goes through and after some random bushwacking and following "old two tracks" that I may or may not have been inventing, I decided that this was a task for another day when the swamp around the small stream/swamp was a bit drier or when I feel like getting my shoes wet. The "road" splits at a turnaround point, and you have to go over a berm to continue on the very overgrown two track. I explored both splits and figured out that they do meet back up at one point. A random dude and grandson walking down the trail informed me that they do go through and acted like it wasn't a total swamp down there and totally passable. I think he hadn't been down to that part yet because they didn't look like they were about to go trudging through a swampy stream bed in their jeans and all.