Week 8 - Easing Back

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  859.85 kms in 8 weeks at ave  107.5 kms ( down from 115.2 kms at week 7)

Last week:  53.45 kms

Altitude:  Garmin: 29,175 metres in 8 weeks at ave  3,647 metres ( down from 3,929 metres at week 7)
               Strava:  31,694 metres

Last week:  1,674 metres

It's taper time, which I'm not good at. You feel really good, fighting fit as best you can be, ready to go. But it's still a week or more until race day.
I'm all set to go. Bought the last of the compulsory gear, a pea-less whistle from BCF. Why does it not need a pea ? Who knows ! But now I have one with & one without.
A good last solid run today over my local hill. Felt great, no worries at all about the 17 kms with just over 1100 metres of up.
We will head up north early next week to settle in, explore part of the course & rest.
Biggest problem will be attending the race briefing on Friday night, then getting out of bed at 3:30 am to catch the bus to the start line at 4:30 am for a 6 am start. Not much sleep that night. May be nana nap on Thursday afternoon, problem solved.
Next problem, getting 101 kms done before sundown. That's an incentive to keep going.

Week 7 - A Little Easier

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  806.4 kms in 7 weeks at ave  115.2 kms ( down from 117.7 kms at week 6)

Last week:  100.25 kms

Altitude:  Garmin  27,501 metres in 7 weeks at ave  3,929 metres ( up from 3,890 metres at week 6)
                 Strava   29,806 metres

Last week:  Garmin 4,164 metres
                    Strava   4,455 metres

With only 2 weeks to go until Gone Nuts 101 km, this was the last week of training before easing back. My longest run has been just over 40 kms, most vert in one run was 2323 metres with plenty of long runs in the 5-7 hour time range.
I hope I've done enough, not only to get through the race, but to have a reasonable run and not struggle over the final stages. I would like to be able to run most of the way and only walk up the steepest climbs.
Not much else to be done now except keep moving, may be a short quick session on the oval one day. Also need to book a massage.
The training plan based on 10 days has worked well. Much of the time I have been just in front allowing for plenty of easy days. Always running fresh, no injuries or tiredness.

Week 6 - Right on Plan

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  706.15 kms in 6 weeks at ave  117.7 kms ( down from 117.9 kms at week 3)

Last 3 weeks:  352.45 kms

Altitude:  23,337 metres in 6 weeks at ave  3,890 metres ( down from 4,373 metres at week 6)

Last 3 weeks:  10,177 metres

I'm catching up after being away on a short holiday for 10 days where there was plenty of easy, but flat, running. However, most of that was on either beaches or bike paths. I did get some faster than usual tempo runs done which is normally missing.
Managed to find only a few hills that really did not contribute to keeping the averages on track.
Back home and started on Saturday with a solid 40 kms run with 2300 metres of up hill. Long day out, over 6 hours on the move with a few stops to chat & admire the views from my local mountain summit.
As mentioned in my previous post, I now run to a 10 day plan instead of a 7 day plan. Although, the figures above are the normal Mon - Sun as a full week this year ends on a Sunday.
My 10 day plan allows more flexibility, now I don't need to work, to run longish during the week if necessary. Rest or real cut back days, walking, can be had anytime.
It's now 3 weeks until Gone Nuts 101 km. A couple more long runs this week, then start to ease back the distances, freshen up and hope I have done enough to get to the start line, then the finish line.