Week 38 - Time to Start Tapering

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  3,250.65 kms in 38 weeks at ave  85.5 kms ( down from 85.6 kms at week 37)

Last week:  82.65 kms

Altitude:  Garmin - 118,669 metres in 38 weeks at ave  3,123 metres ( down from 3,140 metres at week 37)
Strava:  121,149 metres

Last week:  2,492 metres

Time to start taper for next weekend's off road marathon in southern Tasmania. Providing this event goes well, I will enter the Sri Chinmoy ultra in Canberra the following weekend.
"Goes well" doesn't necessarily mean a fast time or a good placing, but getting through without falling over, no injuries & not totally wiped out. There won't be any time for a full recovery, so I'm hoping just rest & a couple of short easy jogs will be enough between events.
A 6 day run week just gone, nothing far or high & no Parkrun, on duty.
The weather has been just Ok, wind blows as usual every day and occasionally saw some sunshine.
Fully expecting winter conditions down south next weekend as the event part covers the most southerly road in Australia, the most southerly walking track. I'm sure on a good day you could see an iceberg. Guaranteed to be a rough windy day.

Week 37 - Right On Average

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  3,168.00 kms in 37 weeks at ave  85.6 kms ( up from 85.5 kms at week 36)

Last week:  88.00 kms

Altitude:  Garmin - 116,177 metres in 37 weeks at ave  3,140 metres ( up from 3,137 metres at week 36)
Strava:  118,633 metres

Last week: 3,240 metres

The Kowen 12 hour night run was now 2 weeks ago. But, there was still some fatigue at the beginning of this week. A couple of very easy ( meaning slow) runs on Monday & Tuesday, a short walk on Wednesday, meant the latter part of the week had all the hard work in those 4 days.
Friday was the main day, almost the weekend long hilly run, with 19 kms & 1300 metres of vert doing a triple up and down Goat Hill near home.
Parkrun then on Saturday was very average, just under 25 mins for 5 kms. But backed up afterwards with a nice climb up a nearby hill, Grassy Tree Hill. I usually do an after Parkrun hilly run. Just part of the training plan.

There is a small rock pile on the summit that I add a rock to each visit. Going to take a long time to increase the height of this one. 

Another 2 weeks now until Australia's southern most marathon in the far south of Tasmania. Beyond the coast is Antarctica. Weather permitting, it's very scenic & spectacular. If weather is not so good, the wind will blow you off your feet. Could easily be rain & snow. 

Week 36 - Race Day & Rest Days

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  3,080.00 kms in 36 weeks at ave  85.5 kms ( down from 86.3 kms at week 34)

Last 2 weeks:  144.75 kms

Altitude: Garmin - 112,937 metres in 36 weeks at ave  3,137 metres ( down from 3,204 metres at week 34)
Strava:    115,106 metres

Last 2 weeks:  3,990 metres

When you do an ultra 12 hours night run in the middle of a fortnight, the stats are going to take a hit.
Taper & recovery are not my best attributes. I'm more a consistency person.
The fortnight had 4 total rest days, 3 by choice & one ( today) just tired. Yesterday's Parkrun showed I needed a complete nothing day, not even a short walk.
Last weekend, a night 12 hour event in the bush near Canberra on a mix of road, fire trail & technical single track. We competed on a 7.7 km loop with just over 200 metres of up hill each lap. Managed 8 laps, so just over 60 kms with 1600 metres of vert. With 4 solos on 9 laps, not that far from a solid middle of the pack result, but stopped with 40 minutes to go as the timing was only at half way & end of each lap. Taking around 100 minutes to do each lap nearing the end, another half lap to get an extra 3.8 kms & still having to get back wasn't worth the effort.
A very good night in the bush, really liked this one.

Couple of easy runs this week, but the fatigue is still there. Another easy week, not so much in distance, and I'll leave out an intensity. I ran Parkrun on Saturday morning, there was nothing in the tank.
I'll reassess my race plans for the last part of this year now. Hopefully a mixture of exciting Tassie runs & a couple of mainland events. All of these will be dependant on in-law family health conditions in Tassie. A sick & inactive lot down here.