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| UH-60 Blackhawk.... my ride to Baghdad this week |
Monday, Afternoon Easy Run
2.5 miles up at 7%, 2.5 miles down at -3%, 924ft of climbing. One loop outside. HR nice and low, legs were sore though.
Total distance 11.02 Miles in 1:26:00 [7:48 per mile]
Terrain X-Country
Tuesday, Morning Fartlek
My GPS watch died today. The battery has been slowly dying to the point where I can get a little less than 4 hours running before it starts beeping, but today it totally died and doesn't take a charge. Bummer.
New Workout! The ultimate "everything" run.
6 miles on the treadmill with a run back and forth to my room to get my other watch. 3 miles up at 7% grade, 3 miles down at -3% grade, 1,109ft climbing. I then went outside did a half mile of general mobility drills and 3 strides. Next I did 3 minutes at around 6 min/mile pace on the dirt, 1 minute jog, 30 seconds sprint, 1:30 jog and repeat 4 times. Good workout. I was hoping to get some speed, hills AND a little tempo work, but have the workout be a medium effort day as I transition to race prep. specific running and training.
Total distance 12.15 Miles in 1:33:00 [7:39 per mile]
Terrain Road
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| We had a gunner on each side with a 240B |
Tuesday, Afternoon Easy Run
Did 2 miles outside followed by 1 mile up at 7%, 1 mile down at -3%, 370ft climbing. I’m getting more climbing in now. Tired.
Total distance 4.3 Miles in 33:00 [7:40 per mile]
Terrain X-Country
Wednesday, Morning Easy Run
Ran 3 miles up at 7% grade, 3 miles down at -3% grade, 1,109ft climbing. Felt ok. Ran a loop outside and was for the first time legitametly cold. My hands were read and my ears numb. Could see the mountain range to the North East crystal clear!
Total distance 11.8 Miles in 1:30:00 [7:37 per mile]
Terrain X-Country
Thursday, Morning Hill Training
Sweat splashing dry heavin good ol' time!
I woke up less than excited to run. I jogged a 2 mile warm up in the dark enjoying a setting full moon. Into the gym and on the treadmill I was having some serious negative thoughts about the workout today. Maybe postpone until the afternoon, just do a longer hill climb at an easy pace, etc... All of these bad thought were going through the head.
Today's game plan was to lengthen the duration of the hill time trial to 33 to 35 minutes, increase the climbing from 1,600ft and slow the pace slightly.
I set the treadmill to "Hill" on "Level 16" vice 15 last week and the pace at 8.1MPH (7:24min/mil), 8.4MPH last week.
Right off the bat I was climbing at 8.3% grade instead of 7.3%. I was very discouraged, but just did it. My confidence finally got better as the workout got rolling. Today's hills were 9.2, 6.5, 10.1, 6.5, 11, 6.5, 12 repeating. I held pace and grew more and more confident.
There was an army female on the treadmill next to me and I was determined to at least keep the workout on track as long as she was there. My sweat was splattering everywhere and I'm sure it must have gotten on her. I have no idea why she got on the treadmill next to me. After the third 12% hill maybe 28 minutes in, I had the dry heaves/cough. I slowed down to 8 something/mile and let it pass for about 30 seconds. I was most concerned for the lady next to me and if she would freak out. She luckily didn't say anything. I continued on and finished strong for 4.54 miles in 34 minutes with 2,012 feet of climbing. YESSSS!!! I did my obligatory 2 miles down at -3% at 6:27 min/mile pace. I was feeling great on the cool down. Unlike my last training cycle, I feel good on the cool down vs. barely able to complete it. Awesome.
Total distance 10.54 Miles in 1:21:00 [7:41 per mile]
Terrain Treadmill
Thursday, Afternoon Easy Run
Easy run with 1 mile up at 7%, 1 mile down at -3% for 370ft of climbing. Feeling great.
Total distance 4.3 Miles in 32:00 [7:26 per mile]
Terrain X-Country
Friday, Morning Easy Run
Easy run on Veteran's Day. 3 miles up at 7% for 1,100ft of climbing, 3 miles down at -3%.
Total distance 11.8 Miles in 1:31:00 [7:42 per mile]
Course
Terrain X-Country
Friday, Afternoon Easy Run
General Information:
Easy afternoon run. 1 mile up at 7% on treadmill, 1 mile down at -3%. 370ft of climbing.
Total distance 4.25 Miles in 32:00 [7:31 per mile]
Terrain X-Country
Saturday, Afternoon Easy Run
General Information:
I moved to Baghdad (Sather AB) today. Totally different vibe, facilities, running, etc.... only option for running is a .8 mile loop. I can stay on the dirt most of the time on the side of the paved bike path, but certainly boring and not ideal. Did just over 3 miles up on the treadmill at 7% for 1,240ft of climbing, but this model treadmill I got on does not have a downhill option. My GPS is broken, so it is taking some time to adjust to reverting back to the guessing game for mileage.
Total distance 12 Miles in 1:33:00 [7:45 per mile]
Terrain X-Country
Sunday, Afternoon Long Run
Today’s long run wasn’t as enjoyable as the last few weeks. I didn't have time to do the whole run at once, so I was forced to break it up to two runs. First half I ran around the .8 mile loop and then on to the treadmill for 2,000ft of climbing. Second half I ran in the dark and did an additional 1,100ft of climbing. I felt good most of the run, but I was a zombie by the end. Sort of enjoyed the night running as it enabled me to really zone in on my body, form and cadence as there was nothing to look at really.
Total distance 31 Miles in 3:57:00 [7:38 per mile]
Terrain X-Country
Summary113 Miles
11,722 Feet of Climbing
14hr 28min of Runing
Synopsis
The week went just as I hoped. Over 10,000 ft of climbing, a bit more mileage and finally a shift in focus to more race specific preperation: lots of climbing, lots of miles and a touch of pace work to keep my speed up to par. Importantly, I am feeling good running with a slight exception for my long run due to traveling and transistioning to a new base.
