Training log - Week ending 6/14/2026

This week was 30 miles of running, 24 "miles" of pool-running, and 1000 yards of swimming.

I cut my mileage back significantly this week because I raced at the Run Unbridled Track Fest on Friday evening (race report coming).  

I have a World Para-Athletics Track Meet coming up in a few weeks where I will be required to wear spikes.* So, I wore spikes at the Run Unbridled meet on Friday.  Which meant I also wore them on Tuesday to make sure I could in fact run in them.

*[Technically the requirement is shoes that are on the WPA approved list, but the only shoes on that list that will work** are spikes.]

**[Yes, there are a very few non-spikes (e.g., the Saucony Sinister) on that approved list.  However, they are all superflexible. And I have a bit of hallux limitus on my right foot that makes a stiffer shoe better for me, especially at faster speeds. Hence needing a shoe with a plate for racing - which means a spike on the track.]

Age 52 is pretty late to start racing in spikes (and that's before factoring in my neurologic gait issues), so I was very cautious this week.  I spent both Wednesday and Saturday (each the day after wearing spikes) in the pool to play it safe.  The end result was low mileage on land and a lot of pool time.  Which is fine - voluntary pool-running is always better than involuntary pool-running.

The spikes feel awkward, but I seem to run well in them.  It's been a while since I've run a 50 second 200 or a sub-7 minute mile, and I did both this week, so I was pretty happy.  Interestingly, my calves weren't sore at all after the track meet.  I would like to credit this to all the calf strengthening I did in anticipation of wearing spikes. But it's probably just because I don't use my calves when I run.

In other good news, I had my annual neurological gait assessment this week, and I've improved from last year!  Which echoes my para-athlete classification from earlier this year, where I looked a bit better than I did 2 years ago.  I'm still neurologically impaired, of course, but any forward progress when one has a neurodegenerative condition is really cool.

Dailies:

Monday: 9 "miles" pool-running in the morning, yoga and PT exercises in afternoon, foam rolling in evening.

Tuesday: 7 miles on the track, including 2000 at tempo effort (9:21 for 2K = 7:31 pace), and then swapped to spikes for 4x100 (27, 26, 26, 25), two sets of 400, 200, 200 (1:46, 51, 51, and then 1:47, 50, 50), and then 2x100 in 24 and 23. Followed with leg strengthwork. PT appointment (orthopedic) in afternoon, sports massage at night.

Wednesday: 9 "miles" pool-running and 500 yards of swimming.  PT appointment (neuro) in afternoon; foam rolling at night.

Thursday: 4.5 miles very easy on trails (10:38) followed by PT exercises. Foam rolling at night.

Friday: Off in the morning. In the evening, 6.5 miles, including racing the mile (6:53.5) and the 800 (3:27.07) on the track.

Saturday: 6 "miles" pool-running at midday, plus upperbody strength/core and PT exercises. Foam rolling at night.

Sunday: 12 miles easy to aerobic (9:15) and 500 yards of swimming.  Foam rolling at night.