Day 36 to Day 47

Well - I decided after that bad run to listen to my body. It was really on the right leg for a few days following. I started doing some stretching, but it wasn't healed enough to do a run on Day 37, 38 or 39. By that point, I figured it was best to scrap the week, enjoy the weekend coming up (Centennial birthday for the town I grew up in) and re-focus.

I also decided to focus on running three times a week. Tuesdays would be the "short" run, Thursday's would be the "medium" run and Saturday or Sunday would be the "long run". To start off the new week, I did a 4 mile HIIT run. I have to say it felt excellent. It felt great to get back to running.

To help supplement my running, I've also started doing strength training on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday's. It consists of:
Bench Press
Seated Rows
Bar Curls
Pushdowns
Crunches
Lunges

Let me tell you - that Monday workout hurt. I stretched something in my right leg (imagine that!) doing lunges. I was freakin stiff for the next three days. And I am DAMN glad I am doing strength training again. It just feels good to be doing it.

I've started off at around 50-60% of weights I know I can do and I'm doing 2 sets of each exercise at 12 reps. I'm also doing a set of prescribed stretches during the rest periods.

These same stretches I'm doing on the off days for strength training in addition to some other stretches.

On Day 46, I completed a 7 mile run. My right leg stiffened up a bit, but unsure if it was due to the fact of having 3 pints of beer first (not a smart idea) or from travelling 500km that day. I know that I definitely have to focus more on my hydration during the day.

Long run is to be a 10 mile run. I think that this is a good number to reach this week. My concern is the 15 that I'm supposed to hit the week after (Craven Jamboree Weekend), so we'll see. Any which way, QCM is coming fast. I still believe I'll be ready, but unsure if I'll still be able to hit my aid station distances with 1 minute breaks. I put in some extra breaks last night to help lessen the distance I'm running between breaks, but I also shortened the breaks to. I think the 10 mile long run will be a good indicator if this is working.