Last night I hit the gym for a cardio workout instead of running. Initially I found my pulse to be pretty high (150bpm) on the cross trainer but it settled down when I moved to the stairmaster and treadmill. I’m also feeling more confident about my right should, following its dislocation, and finished off with some good old fashioned press-ups.
For the next couple of days I’ll be taking it easy before taking part in the Votwo Jurassic Coast Challenge over the weekend.
Thursday night was a training session at the gym. This was a mixed working that hit the tops of my legs, abs and back. It’s easy to overlook the benefit of cross training but I prefer to keep my running mileage low but physical training high, but then again my training isn’t a carefully worked out plan.
Sunday was the usual has cover, just about, 6 miles from Painswick Rugby club. The hilly terrain around Painswick provided plenty of opportunities to run uphill and great scenery to take your mind off the task. Throughout this run my legs felt good and my breathing was nice and steady.
I’ve been pretty negligent for the last couple of weeks so here’s a summary of my activity.
After the previous update I hit the ground hard again by running a 10.4 mile route around town and the next day out with the Allstars for a fast 6 miles. For the run with the Allstars I stuck with the pack maintaining a steady pace for the first 3 miles followed by 3 miles fast moving through the front runners. The next couple of days were spent in the gym where I had a mixed workouts of cardio and strength training. At this point I was starting to feel very rundown and although I was reluctant to take a rest I eventually decided that I should take a couple of days break.
Back to running again with a 5 mile hilly hash, the gym the following day and a 6 mile run with the Allstars. The run with the Allstars proved to be pretty hard on me and again I was starting to feel rundown. Still back to the gym for another couple of days. A days rest and then a 10.5 mile run on the Saturday.
A surprising 8 mile run on the hash and then, without any surprise, I simply didn’t feel like any exercise on the Monday. The next day I started to feel significantly refreshed and had a reasonably fast 6 mile run with the Allstars, and the following day a cardio workout at the gym.
It’s difficult to judge tiredness. I’d be the first to admit that maybe I’m doing too much, and most importantly not taking enough of a break following my last ultra marathon. On the other hand it is the time of year for picking up minor ailments so maybe it’s nothing to do with running. I think that after the next ultra I will probably go to the gym, the following day, to have a light cardio workout and hopefully dispel some of the muscle soreness but afterwards maybe take at least a few days off from heavy exercise.
This has been a busy week.
On Monday I had a good workout at the gym, a light cardio workout to loosen up the legs. Afterwards I felt a lot better with tired muscles but no aches or pains.
Tuesday was a run with the Allstars and I couldn’t resist stepping up the pace. According to my watch the pace was 7:23 over the 6 miles, which I probably shouldn’t have done but just couldn’t resist.
Wednesday and back to the gym. A light cardio workout and then a lot of abs and shoulders, trying to build up the strength of my recently dislocated shoulder.
Couple of days rest for due to a heavy night out and then a 10 mile run on Saturday.
Finally 5.74 miles for the hash on Sunday.
It hasn’t been a tough week of training but I have been recovering from the South Devon ultra, some think that’s really quite a lot on tired legs.
The regular 9 miles this evening. Feeling pretty good with just a little tightness in my ITB and hamstring on the right leg but nothing that I feel worried about.I wore some new gloves that I bought at the weekend (newline) and they were very warm, in fact the temperature has risen today and I’d say they were too warm.
A good run this evening, although it’s still very cold out, and another 9 miles. Very little stiffness in the tibialis anterior so the stretching and massaging seems to be hitting the spot.