Week 8 - A Big Up Week

Running:  Year to Date

Distance: 779.2 kms in 8 weeks at ave  97.4 km ( up from 96.9 kms )

Last week:  100.9 kms

Altitude:  16,263 metres in 8 weeks at ave 2033 metres ( up from 1917 metres)

Last week:  2841 metres

A solid week with a rest day on Monday. It came in handy as the weekend had been big with a Mt Tennent triple up and down on Saturday, then a good but easy track session on Sunday.
Mt Tennent proved to be very tiring as 2 of us finished with 41 kms with 2188 metres of up hill. Many others did doubles & some did just the one up and back down.
Quads Ok, but legs basically knew they had done plenty. It's the down hill that really knocks them about.
Monday would have been a short easy day, but had a few things to do, so that meant a welcome rest day. The trend is continuing upward both in distance & altitude over the past month or so.
As a result of the track sessions on a Sunday afternoon, the cruise training pace ( junk easy kms) are now around 15-20 seconds per km faster than last last year.
All going well, no problems & enjoying this warm late summer weather.

Week 7 - One Up, One Down

Running:  Year to date

Distance:  678.3 kms in 7 weeks at ave  96.9 kms ( up from 95.9 km last week)

Last week:  102.65 kms

Altitude:  13,422 metres in 7 weeks at ave  1,917 metres ( down from 1,993 metres last week)

Last week:  1,463 metres

Distance average per week went up, altitude average per week went down.
That was actually the plan for the week more so the less altitude. It came about by a reasonably flat run last Saturday ( 420 metres) instead of the usual very hilly/ mountainous training.
Distance was down on the previous week but up on the weekly average so that increased slightly and is now nudging the 100 kms per week mark. I'll aim for that in the next month before the 6 hour run at the AIS.
Otherwise, all going well.

Week 6 - A Big One

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  575.65 kms in 6 weeks at ave  95.9 kms  ( up from last week ave 88.5 kms)

Last week:  133.00 kms

Altitude:  11,959 metres in 6 weeks  at ave  1,993 metres  ( up from last week 1,892 metres )

Last week:  2,496 metres

Biggest week for a long time mainly due to a long run last Saturday and being on holidays this week.
That resulted in another long run today with a couple of others to Mt Rob Roy for the 72nd time in my running life.
Last Saturday was 40 kms and reasonably flat ( 700 metres ) and today 28 kms ( 1032 metres) making up the bulk of the weekly totals. A good session on the soft grass down on the oval make for a nice change last Sunday.
In the past, I have ran plenty of times over 130 kms in a week. At the moment, two main goals in training, a solid, not fast, strength & endurance long run complimented by a speedy session when there is no race day.
Going well at the moment, no worries.

Week 5 - Up and Go

Running:  Year to date

Distance:  442.65 kms  in 5 weeks at ave  88.5 kms  ( up from 87.3 km last week )

Last week:  93.4 kms

Altitude gain:  9,463 metres in 5 weeks at ave  1,892 metres ( up from 1,824 metres last week)

Last week:  2,165 metres

A good week just gone with a rest day on Monday.
Highlight of the week was a great trip along the Bullen Range which accounted for a 38% of the distance, 35 kms and 67% of the altitude, 1450 metres.
I had the company of my usual Saturday morning running mate plus a female who has been training for Buffalo Stampede marathon. Plus a newie getting ready for his first Six Foot Track.
We had a good morning, out for over 4 and half hours of moving time plus some rest breaks. Stopped at the river at Point Hut on our way home for a beaut 15 minutes in the cool water, so nice.
First vet's athletic club monthly running handicap the next day over the short 6 kms. Started out Ok, just consistent, but dropped off the pace with 2 kms to go. Nothing unexpected, all good.
Rain early on Monday, then found myself a bit busy to run, so called it a rest day.
Tuesday's easy run started out terrible, legs not in sync with the head. Rest day's don't seem to help. After first km, stopped at the river to try to get the legs feeling Ok. recent rain has increased the water level, plus knocked a degree or two off the water temperature. It's back to a cool/mild temp, so now having a real beneficial effect. Worked wonders after 8 minutes, so continued my run which improved heaps.
The upcoming weeks will hopefully see less altitude and more distance as the training continues towards a 6 hour track run in mid March.
No problems at this stage, all good.