Total: 41 miles. Slight taper in preparation for next week’s race (9 miles) in Vermont!
Saturday August 16: 6 miles run to gym, circuit training, 4 miles run home. It’s been a few years since I’ve used a Smith machine. I understand, in the “functional fitness” circles, it’s out of vogue because free weights activate more muscle fibers, stress joints less, and just generally make you look like a badass. But it’s been awhile since I’ve squatted and deadlifted heavy weight/low reps, so I felt safer with the dowdy Smith machine.
Sunday August 17: 10 miles road run, 1000 feet elevation gain. Surprisingly the sorest part of my body after yesterday’s weight workout were my pecs/triceps. It was a cool but humid morning and the smell of bacon wafted out of more than a few houses. Hamstrings were fatigued on the last hill but overall I killed it on the hills.
Monday August 18: 60 minutes swimming. Pecs and triceps still sore and, 5 minutes into the swim, I worried I’d have to retreat to the sauna. But everything loosened up and I swam 30 minutes without stopping, then broke up the remaining time with some kicking drills and freestyle laps.
Tuesday August 19: 2.5 miles to gym, circuit training, 3.5 miles run home. This summer’s weather has been blissfully mild, crisp insanity. I will stay in New England forever if it stays like this!
Wednesday August 20: 3.5 miles to gym, foam rolling and light weights, 3.5 miles home. Ditto.
Thursday August 21: 6 miles slooowww running. I stopped at the gym again… more for the bathroom than for the weights and foam roller, although I availed myself of those, too.
Friday August 22: 6 miles, hills. Can the weather please stop being this good so I can take a freaking rest day? I finally found a jump rope at the gym!– about a half-foot too long, which precluded one-legged jumps, but I laid out some solid blocks of ‘rope.
