Of Mice and Marathons

AM/Lunch: 2 hours on the fat bike at BMS and LOHS. 187W. HR 138.

Tried to do some more single track at Lake Orion High School, but I missed most of the twisty turny bits. 

Night: 7.5 miles on the treadmill, averaged 8:40. HR 140.

Jumped on the treadmill just before getting a late dinner ready. It's rare that I double on a Sunday, but it felt really good to sneak in some extra time.

AM: 10 miles, averaged 8:00. HR 151.

20' + 10'

I think these were supposed to be a bit faster than 10-mile effort. Faster than half marathon but not 5k anyway. This was my first significantly faster workout in many weeks (other than a 20' effort on the treadmill recently). I wasn't sure what my pacing should be so I used a combination of HR and pace. I was surprised to see the pace drop as I went along. I thought maybe in the 6:40s would be good. I ended up faster than that.

6:31 pace for 20' and 6:22 pace for 10'

A solid workout. Class at LTU went well, but then I got extremely sick after lunch. I thought it was odd I woke up after a short time for my nap. Food poisoning. That makes the second time this year. It was a rough afternoon. I managed to pick the boys up, but was sick here and there until Megan got home. Went to bed after that and slept through until the next day. Thankfully no activity in the night.

PM: 90' on the fat bike @ BMS. 174W. HR 139.

Felt better when I woke up though quite hungry and yet didn't feel like eating. Megan offered to stay home with the boys, but I wasn't vomiting and felt decent. Hydrated and got some food in and had a good day with the boys. 

Went to Bald Mountain South and saw lots of people, including the Jeep guys (let them pass, then chased them for a bit) and the MiSCA kids.

AM: 8.1 miles, averaged 8:05. HR 151.

Somewhat warm and humid but a lovely September morning.

PM: 80' on the fat bike. 178W. HR 140.

Bald Mountain South again. Tried linking the High School trails from a different section, but didn't get there. Did set a decent PR for the full BMS loop. Cornering is getting better and I am not hitting the brakes as much or as hard. I was going to run rather than ride, but I have been enjoying these shorter more technically focused mountain bike rides lately.

PM: Thursday Night Dirt - 3 hours 8' on the fat bike.

I wasn't sure I was going to make it in time, but my last class got out a few minutes early and I pretty much had everything ready to go, so I got moving pretty quickly once I got home. Ended up having plenty of time and caught the group coming up Sheldon.

A good ride, though I must have been tired as I was trying to turn too early several times. I hit the hill fairly hard, beating most of the group up them, including being just off the wheel of several folks who couldn't bear to have a guy on a pink and purple fat bike on the Dequindre Hill. If I had had a little bit better legs, they wouldn't have beat me. 

Loop Data: 25.7 miles in 1:24:41 (18.2 MPH). 234W. HR 158.

Chatted in the parking lot for a little while, then a slow roll home. I wondered why I was going 7-8 MPH and putting down power and then realized my rear tire was flat. Hit it with a C02, which helped but didn't get it fully inflated. Continued to limp home. I think the valve stem was loose. 

Bike shop called and my gravel bike is fixed. $100, so not bad at all.

AM/Lunch: 13 miles, averaged 8:04. HR 153.

Scheduled for a long run with 16 miles @ marathon pace + 15", but it was actually very warm and even though I thought I was managing my effort (I still think I did), I had to pull the plug jogged a few miles and then just ran out of fuel and gave up and walked. I did manage 8 miles a bit slower than marathon pace to maybe light marathon pace. 

7:42 (158), 7:25 (159), 7:27 (160), 7:33 (160), 7:28 (161), 7:29 (161), 7:32 (162), 7:35 (162); averaged 7:31 @ 160 BPM

My HR never got above a max of 167 and I should be able to run numerous miles at that effort, but I just felt like I couldn't keep going even though my stride and breathing all felt fine. 

I was somewhat disappointed as I hate to miss a 20+ miler when I have a log race, but I still got in the equivalent of a solid midweek workout, so I guess it isn't the end of the world. I could tell yesterday that I was probably a little low on glycogen, which likely contributed to it. I actually took fluids with me for the first time in years and a had a gel around 40' in but it was warm and I did not want to take any more. I need to repractice all of my fueling. I was going to wear my racing hydration vest, but didn't want the extra weight for this particular workout. Oh well.  

Cooled down 2 miles, refilled some water flasks and walked 3.5 miles home. Hate to complain about the weather as it has been spectacular, but I could have used more normal temperatures. 

AM/Lunch: 2 hours 5'. 36.5 miles @ 17.5 MPH. 207W. HR 131.

Slept in a bit, which meant that I didn't get in my planned time, but two hours is pretty solid. Bike is working fairly well, though ghost shifting at times over bumps. Will try a firmware update and some other stuff. Roads were in solid shape. Many of them had been recently sprayed, but they weren't too bad. 

Not a great week of running mileage, but I got a solid midweek in and a decent if not complete long run workout in. Food posioning on Monday and still not feeling 100% on Tuesday definitely set me back. Decent week of cycling time, especially if I can get a long ride in tomorrow afternoon.