Week 26 - Half Year Done

Running:  Year to date

Distance:   2,351.35 kms in 26 weeks at ave  90.4 kms ( same as week 25 )

Last week:  92.15kms

Altitude:  53,584 metres in 26 weeks at ave  2,061 metres ( up from 2,046 metres in week 25)

Last week:  2,426 metres

The first half of the year is done and dusted. The averages per week haven't varied by much all year and I'm happy with the consistency.
With only 2 main feature events, the 6 Hour track run in March and Neverest at the end of April, tapering and full recovery hasn't meant much down time.
Also, there have been few really big weeks. Distance wise, biggest week was only 124 kms.
Altitude wise, excluding Neverest week, that was 4,200 metres, the others were all around the average.
Maintaining consistency is all that matters now. Once back in Tasmania to live, I'll prepare for my first attempt at Point to Pinnacle, a road run up Mt Wellington from sea level to the top of the mountain at 1,270 metres in mid November. Should be fun as the event gets big numbers.
However, the weather can be all seasons experienced in the few hours to do the event. Cold, windy, may be snow can be expected.

Week 25 - Consistency

Running:  Year to date

Distance:  2,259.2 kms in 25 weeks at ave  90.4 kms ( up from 90.2 kms at week 24)

Last week:  94.2 kms

Altitude:  51,158 metres in 25 weeks at ave 2,046 metres ( down from 2,065 metres at week 24)

Last week:  1,583 metres

Some one on Facebook shared an article on what is the most single important aspect of running. It's not about any secret training plan or eating habit, not the good physio or masseur.
It's about being consistent with all aspects, mixing up the various functions of training, but doing it all on a regular basis.
At the moment, I'm just trying to be consistent. No racing plans in the foreseeable future, so a little bit everyday. It's working well with easy 10-12 kms jogs being done at very comfortable pace with a few hills in there for strength. Longest run this week, 19.5 kms.
Not always will I be able to get 90 kms per week done. When I need to tap back in and ramp up the training, it shouldn't be much of a drama.

Week 24 - An Up and Down One, Twice

Running:  Year to date

Distance:  2,165.00 kms in 24 weeks at ave  90.2 kms ( up from 89.75 kms in week 23)

Last week: 100.8 kms

Altitude:  49,575 metres in 24 weeks at ave  2,065 metres ( up from 2,019 metres in week 23)

Last week:  3,146 metres

The headline title refers to the two wonderful trips along the Bullen Range over the long weekend.
Saturday a group of us started at the northern ( Cotter) end and ran along the top of the range as far as the Deep Space Communications Station. It's about 13 kms each way, so just over half way.
Also, it's certainly the more difficult section to do with a fairly steep up after the first 500 metres. Saturday accounted for 28 kms and 1,159 metres of altitude gain of the week's total.
An easy 12 kms on Sunday, felt good.
Then on Monday morning,  I had the company of my usual running mate to do the southern end. It's just 10 minutes drive from home.
This end we have covered many times before, we now know when all the up sections are expected, and there are plenty of them. This trip again about 28 kms with slightly less but still plenty, 1,083 metres of up hill.
Another cold start, big frost, -3.5 degrees but sunny and no breeze making a perfect morning to admire the scenery. Being up high on the mountain range is so good, the clear, crisp sky making the edges so clean. One of the best day's out for a long time.
A good week, a rest day on Tuesday, happy to get to the 100 kms and over 3,000 metres for the week.

Week 23 - No Long Run

Running - Year to date

Distance:   2,064.2 kms in 23 weeks at ave  89.75 kms ( down from 90.75 kms in week 22)

Last week:  67.75 kms

Altitude:  46,429 metres in 23 weeks at ave  2,019 metres ( down from 2,060 metres in week 22)

Last week: 1,108 metres

This is what happens when we survive a week of around 100 mls of rain mainly falling over the weekend.
Managed to get only 12 kms done on Saturday afternoon, but didn't venture out on Sunday. Consistent rain, although not heavy wasn't my idea of a fun 3-4 hours on the trails.
Longest run of the week was 13.0 kms, shortest run was today at just under 8 kms. Not much elevation gain either, so the averages have fallen on all counts. I'm keen to get the distance average back above 90 & keep the elevation above 2,000.
However, I'm cruising along nicely when I'm out there, quite enjoying running without the pressure of having to focus on actually training for some long off event.

Week 22 - Maintaining Average

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  1,996.45 kms in 22 weeks at ave  90.75 kms ( up from 90.7 kms in week 21)

Last week:  91.4 kms

Altitude:  45,321 metres in 22 weeks at ave  2,060 metres ( down from 2,095 metres in week 21)

Last week:  1,318 metres

No real highlights this past week. Just enough kms to maintain the weekly average.
No big running plans at the moment, so if I can keep churning out easy weeks at 90 kms per week, then the base remains when I need to push up to some big totals.
Much easier to go from 90 kms per week to 125 kms, than to let it slip and have to reload the endurance base.
What I will do is to stop the drop in altitude metres average per week. Keeping that well above 2,000 would be good. All it means is one good hilly run per week, say a Mt Rob Roy or an easy Mt Tennent with 1,000 metres, then the rest of the week takes care of itself.
Good in theory, winter weather may prevent it. But at least it's a plan for the off season.