a new direction...

this is my first post since decemeber. holy garbage. i've obviously abandoned my blog and therefore forsaken my tiny and withering reader group.

so we are heading in a new direction. this blog will now be dedicated to all things running, training, ultra-marathon, nutrition, heart rates and hundreds and hundreds of trail miles...with a few other life tidbits thrown in.

WEEK 6 Update:
3.29 to 4.4
Miles: 41
Long Run: 14

This week i began experimenting with a heart rate monitor. Instead of running at a certain pace/mile, i ran within a heart rate range. crazy stuff.

endurance training: 130-150 BPM...average at 142ish
tempo/threshold training: 165-180 BPM...average at 170

Turn outs endurance training pace/mile equates to an 8:00-8:20 min/mile while threshold pace/mile is best described as "balls out"...or 5:30-6 min/mile. painful to say the least.

I did my first "threshold" workout this week and did 3x1 mile repeats at 6:00, 5:45, and 5:31 and it hurt. I basically realized that i've built a solid base but have no top end speed, which is ok and to be expected. Also, as im training for a 50k, top end speed isnt my first priority.

Due to some arch/knee issues im backing off on my long run (14 this week) where I would typically go 16-20. I upping my mid-week runs to 8-10 miles and lowering my sunday long run. I also "only" running 40-45 miles a week right now whereas i hope to work up to 60-80 in late april/may.

ejk