Training log - Week ending 3/27/11

This week was 40 miles of “real running” and 75 “miles” pool running -- training log is here.

Still working on keeping stuff slower -- my rule for the tempos right now is to do the first mile no faster than 7:00, and slower is fine. For some reason, this makes the tempo HARDER from a perceived effort standpoint -- I can't quite explain it, but running a slightly slower pace seems to stress a different system that's a lot weaker (and needs to be strengthened). Oddly enough, this gives me confidence to keep running them slower -- clearly it's hitting something.

Of course, I had every intent of keeping the brakes on on Tuesday as well, but failed to do so. This ended up being a major issue, as I was having breathing issues -- for some reason, when I get in trouble or start to strain, my natural instinct is to pick the speed up. In this case, it resulted in me crashing.

Need to keep things slower. I may shoot for at least starting whatever next week's workout is at 5K-10K pace (or even tempo pace, if it's a longer interval), and then upping from there.

As I noted, my breathing has been a problem this week. As always, the symptoms are almost EXACTLY like asthma (feel like I'm breathing through a straw). However, the pulmonary department at GW University has tested my lungs thoroughly, and told me it's not. Rather, it's broncho-spasms (like to what happens with asthma) that are triggered by irritation to my esophagus, generally from acid reflux, though high pollen seems to do it as well (apparently asthma is brocho-spasms triggered by something else). High pollen on Tuesday made me feel horrible, while low pollen counts on Wednesday and Sunday had me feeling fantastic (Friday was somewhere in the middle).

I have an inhaler, which helps the immediate issue (calms down the broncho-spasm), but also irritates my esophagus, perpetuating the acid reflux problem over time. The plan right now is go back to using the inhaler for races -- hopefully such limited use won't cause me too much issue.

Dailies

Monday: In the morning, "5 miles" – 50 minutes easy pool-running (got kicked out due to lightning, so used the balance of the time to do an extended foam roller/stretching session). "7 more miles" of easy pool-running (70 minutes) in the evening.

Tuesday: In the morning, 6.5 miles on the track. Did a 1.75 mile warm-up plus drills and strides, then a track workout. For some reason, my breathing was a real issue this morning. My lungs weren't clogged, but I felt like they simply weren't working well at extracting oxygen. I had a bad feeling about the workout when I was gasping during my strides, but you never know until you try, so I gave the workout a shot, figuring I could just go slower.

That was the plan, anyway. The prescribed workout was 2x(1600, 800, 800) with half-distance recoveries. I was shooting to do the first mile between 6:20-26, then the two 800m repeats in about 3:03 each, and then push a bit harder from there. Actual workout: 6:15, 3:01, 3:04, and then 3:14 as coach shut me down halfway through the second mile. Again I went out too hard, and paid the price. The 6:15 didn't feel all that hard, but by the second 800m repeat I could tell I was in real trouble. I didn't protest too much when he pulled me, though I was frustrated with both my mental discipline and my stupid lungs. Weird thing is that the heart rate monitor indicates that my heart rate never got out of tempo range even though I was struggling. This wasn't a fitness issue, but an air delivery issue.

Annoyed. Did a few more easy laps on the track, then hit the pool for "6.5 miles" of pool-running/pondering my sins. In the evening, a weights session with a personal trainer, followed by "4.5 miles" of easy pool-running (45 minutes).

Wednesday: In the morning, 11.5 miles outside at easy pace (8:46), followed by "2 miles” of easy pool-running (20 minutes, just to shake stuff out), and then some leg strengthwork. "8 miles" of easy pool-running in the afternoon.

Thursday: In the morning, strength-training and then "11.5 miles" – 1:55 hours easy pool-running. In the evening, "3 miles" of easy pool-running (30 minutes)

Friday: In the morning, 8 miles on the track, including a 2 mile warm-up, strides and drills, and then a 4 mile tempo at 6:57 pace (7:12/6:52/6:53/6:48 for 27:45) followed by a 2 mile cool-down and then "6.5 miles" of easy pool running (1:05 hours). Pilates class in the afternoon, plus some quick leg strengthwork.

Saturday: "12 miles" of easy pool-running (2 hours) in the morning, plus a mile of land-running (running along the course watching the National Half). Light strength-training in the afternoon.

Sunday: 13 miles outside on the Mount Vernon trail. Did a half-mile very easy, then a break for a team photo shoot, and then 5.5 miles out at about 8:00 pace, followed by 6 miles back at what the Garmin says was 7:05 pace (but probably closer to 7:10), and then an easy mile cool-down. The entire run felt very good (I note the pollen count of 2). Followed with "9 miles" of easy pool-running (1:30 hours). Also a yoga class at night.