June 2013 - a month of Epic Mileage

[written 6/30/13]

After steady base mileage increases the past few years, I decided to see just how much I could run in June, hoping some sort of payoff will come in 3 months at Berlin, due to that delayed training effect we often talk about (or maybe even Boston 2014). Can I bump up physiologically to some “next” level? Can I improve my level of endurance, which often zonks out somewhere after the 2 hour mark at race pace? Who knows, because training is the means not the end. All that matters are races. So much pressure.

If you asked me 5 years ago, I would have said no way no how could I ever do this. I was maxing out at 65-70 (if that) for marathon training, and fading at the end of every one. Changes in nutrition and lifestyle have absolutely been required. That, and not having kids. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the likes of Brian Sell, Cam Levins, and more importantly and more directly the likes of Tim Knox, Dan Sheil, Scott Schmittel, and Eric Frome for touting (and illustrating) the benefits of high volume. I would have never become so committed had I not started training with and learning from those guys back in ’08-ish. I think we’ve established, though, that I’m about the slowest guy to ever try pseudo-elite mileage. That’s where the real craziness comes in.

Anyhow, I kicked off the month with a big weekend, followed by 4 weeks of 120-127-120-130, for a total just over 540 (18/day avg). The 30-miler on the Wildwood trail with buddy Josh on 6/29 was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done – longest distance ever, longest duration ever (over 4 hours), during my longest week ever, and without much recent trail training. Was super-duper cooked by the end off only a modest pace. Amazingly, I was able to sleep it off, get up and run 18 (albeit slowly) the next morning. Volume makes you strong that way, and you recover scary-fast. No 9^th run this week like in previous weeks, though. Enough is enough.

All that said… I’m tired, man. I’m taking tomorrow off, mowing the lawn, and drinking a few beers. Then back to slightly lower mileage and will try to start introducing 1 workout each week. Keep it real everyone.

6/1 & 6/2:

Sa - AM - 21.05 - 6:52

Sa - PM - 9.48 - 6:55 (warm up, starlight run 18:21/5:37, cool dn)
Su - 12.01 - 7:15 (sbux run)

TOTAL: 42.54 - 4:57:08 - 6:59

W/E  6/9:
M - AM - 13.01 - 7:01
M - PM - 4.12 - 6:58
T - 11.70 - 6:57
W - 22.40 - 6:50
T - 12.20 - 6:33 (w/5x200 during miles 7 & 8 - 6:22 & 6:21)
F - 12.12 - 6:39
Sa - AM - 24.01 - 6:56 (SJ, 30, Saltzman, Leif, NW, Naito, Hawthorne, Interstate, Greeley, Willamette)
Sa - PM - 7.55 - 7:02 (downtown up Terwilliger to Cap. Hwy & back)
Su - 13.60 - 7:37 (wash pk, wildwood, Pittock, Macleay, Alder, Leif)

TOTAL: 120.80 - 13:58:28 - 6:56

W/E  6/16:
M - AM - 12.15 - 6:55 ugh
M - PM - 9.15 - 6:40 much less ugh; pretty spry actually, surprisingly
T - 12.15 - 6:46 (w/5x200 in miles 6 & 7 - 6:25, 6:28)
W - 23.01 - 2:36:55 - 6:49 (last 3 in 6:32, 6:25, 5:59)
T - 12.50 - 6:47
F - 11.01 - 6:52
Sa - AM - 28.39 - 3:09:02 - 6:40 (~7's first third, then 6:45s thru 18, final 10 in 6:10-6:25). this was a hard run - w/2 other guys
Sa - PM - 6.02 - 7:13
Su - 13.02 - 7:12

TOTAL: 127.39 - 14:30:56 - 6:50

W/E  6/23:
M - 10.35 - 7:12 - still tired from weekend
T - 15.25 - 6:58 - 3200' or so, camping
W - 20.01 - 7:08 - 3400' camping/around Bend
Th - AM - 12.01 - 7:12 - 3400', varied terrain
Th - PM - 7.01 - 7:40 - 3600', Pilot Butte climb, trails, windy, hilly
F - 10.01 - 7:02 - 4100' Klamath Falls, flat route
Sa - 24.01 - 7:50 - 4200' w/hills, several miles of it at 10:30s group pre-wedding fun run
Su - AM - 14.01 - 6:57 - 4200' kept on highway long rolling hills
Su - PM  - 8.01 - 6:39 - felt great; nothing easier than being back at sea level, albeit in heavy rain

TOTAL: 120.67 - 14:32:35 - 7:14

W/E  6/30:
M - AM - 12.23 - 6:50 - felt ok
M - PM - 9.64 - 6:42 - felt good
T - 12.15 - 7:18 - just not feeling it
W - 23.01 - 2:32:52 - 6:39 - last 3 in 5:50-6:05 w/3 others
Th - 12.15 - 7:03 - recovery
F - 12.35 - 7:03 - recovery
Sa - 30.80 - 4:14:55 - 8:17 - ALL of Wildwood + a little side trail
Su - 18.27 - 7:32 - w/Sbux crew in the heat

TOTAL - 130.6 - 15:55:27 - 7:19

JUNE 30 DAY GRAND TOTAL - 542.01 - 63:54:28 - 7:04