The Eugene Diaries: Chapter 7
"I just hit 80!"
After getting back outside for a solid stretch, week seven of training arrived with goos forecasts ahead of the biggest mileage week of my life. Not only would I be running 80+ miles for the first time ever ā 84, to be exact ā but Iād get a chance to bounce back from a rough workout two weeks prior and put the bad winter weeks behind me once and for all.
One thing Iāve come to learn about myself in recent years is that Iām often expecting things to improve after a bad run (or runs), and once it does, I have an ability to roll the good runs into each other one after another. Suddenly, Iām on a bit of a heater, wondering why on earth I ever worried to begin with. Two weeks ago? Might as well be two years ago.
This was one of those weeks.
For the second week in a row, I got to run outside every single day. Even Monday night, when I got out for my second of two runs, I went outside in the dark. I brought my running light to work! Why go inside when itās comfortable enough outside?
For the 43rd, 44th, etc. day in a row, I got out for a run. In the weeks leading up to the end of 2023, I wondered how my legs would hold up; how my body would feel. The returns continued to be positive. Iāve taken extra steps to put myself in the best position possible. Slowing my recovery runs down even more, squeezing my legs with the Normatec1, and continuing strength training. Heavy legs at the start of a couple runs this week felt lighter by the end, whether it followed an 11-mile run with five at Marathon Pace on Tuesday or a 15-mile run the very next day.
By the time I got to Saturday night, I felt ready to take on Sunday; 20 miles, round and around Lake Cunningham. By the end of the first mile, Iād hit my 65th of the week. By the finish, Iād be at 84.
I was ready.
āThis run sucks,ā I said out loud.
I was four miles in on Sunday, with 16 to go, and I felt miserable. The pace didnāt feel right, my heart rate didnāt feel right, and I was tired.
I was coming off the worst (sober) night of sleep Iād had in years. I was prepared for the run to be tougher than normal, but after a good start to the morning, I thought Iād be in a better spot.
I wasnāt.
I couldnāt finish the week ā this week, of all weeks! ā like this. Most mileage ever. A killer workout. Finding myself riding the wave of run after run after run. As I finished the fourth mile, it was time to down some calories2. Iād start drinking water, too. I was hopeful things would feel a bit easier and I could focus on the run more than how I felt.
Wouldnāt you know it, the miles started flying on by. Where the first loop at Cunningham3 felt like it took an hour, the second went by in what felt like half that. My pace picked up, but felt easier than it had at the start. All week long I had been counting down to the 16th mile of Sundayās run, when Iād officially hit the 80-mile mark. Yet, here I was, getting lost in the run. I was focused on getting the last of my calories in me and another couple swigs of water. My watch beeped at mile 16 ā 7:35 ā and I kept on going. Then it hit me.
āHoly shit, I just hit 80!ā
What started as a run that saw me lamenting how I felt not even a full loop in, turned into one of the most memorable of the cycle. I ran those final four miles, usually with a smile on my face, excited about another week finished.
This week in podcasting:
Todd Nott was my guest on this weekās Chasing Three Hours! What a lovely conversation we had. Where to start with Todd? No seriously, where to start? I asked myself that question ahead of the interview. An ultrarunner since the 90s, we dived into what brought him to the sport, his recent stretch of memorable races, and whatās next. This was a fun one!
Know someone youād like to hear on the pod? Have any thoughts on what youāre hearing (or reading)? Want to sponsor Chasing Three Hours? Or do you just want to chat? Drop me a note: chasingthreehours@gmail.com
The log:
February 5th: 6 miles in the AM + 4 miles in the PM
February 6th: 11 miles with the middle 5 at Lactate Threshold
February 7th: 15 miles
February 8th: 7 miles
February 9th: 13 miles
February 10th: 8 miles with 10 x 100 meter strides
February 11th: 20 miles
Total: 84 miles
Year to date: 441.8 miles
February 5th: If youāve been reading me for a while, you know Iām happy to [shouts from the rooftops] SLOW DOWN on my recovery runs. With the big mileage ahead, I decided to emphasize that a bit more on each of my runs like this throughout the week. I did so with both on Monday, the first six miles at a 9:11-pace with my heart rage averaging 123, before getting back out on the trail after work for four more averaging 9:14-per with the HR at 126. Weāre about a month away from the time change and I couldnāt be more excited to run doubles with the sun still up. Got a bit chilly at night ā I didnāt bring my gloves; oops ā but otherwise had a great time.
February 6th: I try not to quote my Strava titles too much, but almost a week later, Tuesdayās title is still sticking with me.
After a pretty atrocious workout two weeks prior, I was excited to get out and make up for what happened that morning.
Thatās exactly what happened.
I built up fairly quickly with the first three; 7:44, 7:27, and 7:16. I was pretty confident Iād have the goods on this one and was proven correct when I finished the first LT mile in 5:51. A bit too hot? Perhaps. But I felt good out there. I followed it up with a couple 5:54s and a 5:55. One more to go, the final mile at pace, I knew it would be the toughest. Iād be finishing up the hill at Pacific Street. I think I could have gone a little bit faster in the leadup to it, which is a bit of a bummer in hindsight, since I finished that mile in a 6:04. I didnāt let it bum me out though. Instead, itās something to shoot for the next time I run a similar workout.
Instead of ten miles with four at LT pace like two weeks ago, Iād do 11 miles with five at LT pace. Where the previous LT miles averaged 6:27-per, these five averaged 5:56-per. Overall, I knocked out the 11 miles at a 6:56 pace with my HR averaging 158. Two days into the week, I was rolling the good runs into each other.
February 7th: Thereās something about running bigger mileage the day after a tough workout. 15 more miles were on tap Wednesday and my legs felt ready. This was the first time I tried Oreoās on a run and I was happy with how my stomach responded to them. After a 7:56 mile to kick things off, I settled in, running 7:46, then four straight 7:45s. When I finished the seventh mile in 7:40, I was disappointed! So much for 7:45s the rest of the way. By the time I made the turn, I picked things up a bit and finished the final seven miles below 7:40. All told, 7:41-per mile for the 15 with my HR at 149 throughout. A good one.
For the third time since 2019, Iāll be running the Chicago Marathon this October! And for the third time since 2019, and fourth time overall, Iāll be doing so in honor of St. Jude. Did you know families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food? At St. Jude, all a family should have to worry about is their child.
Iām raising $5000 for this yearās marathon and Iām about 10% of the way there with eight months (and eight days!) to go. If youād like to support, you can do so here.
Thank you for your support.
February 8th: Thursday was a Reward Run and it was pretty much perfect. One of those early-spring days we often get in February and I soaked it up as much as I could. As mentioned above, I kept this one slower than normal, finishing at a 9:14-pace with my HR averaging 124. With 41 miles to go the following three days, I was incredibly happy with that decision when I woke up Friday morning. My legs continued to feel great.
February 9th: Did I go out too fast as I started my first of 13 miles? Probably. Did I regret it when I finished? No. I just felt so good out there, clipping off a bunch of sub-7:40 miles early on with my HR very much in check. As I started the run, I (wrongfully) thought Iād have the wind at my back when I turned around. Suddenly the turnaround happens, and itās in my face the rest of the way. As with Wednesday, I averaged 7:41-per mile. My HR was a bit better though; averaging 147 for the 13 miles. Another good one.
February 10th: So, Iāve found myself doing a great job with my recovery runs ā extra slow! ā but getting out a little too fast on some of the midweek medium/long runs. I decided to attack Saturday from a different perspective. With ten strides of 100-meters coming up towards the end, Iād run the first handful of miles4 pretty much right at 8:00-per mile. I figured this would keep my HR lower, increase leg turnover on the strides, and if it went well, could be a goal on a lot of runs moving forward.
This will indeed be a goal on a lot of runs moving forward. Not only did I pace darn near perfectly early ā 8:06, 7:56, 7:59, 7:56, 8:03 ā it took until the fifth mile for my HR to even average 140 or more. My ten strides went pretty great ā four of the ten averaged a sub-5:00 pace ā and I finished strong. 7:43-per mile overall with the HR averaging 143.
February 11th: The final numbers from Sunday were good. 20 miles, 7:38-per mile, with the HR averaging 148. The Oreoās continued to sit very well, so thatās another bonus. It could have been the worst run of the week. Hell, it probably was, given how well the other seven went. But I felt good and accomplished as I finished.
11 weeks until Eugene.
Thanks for loaning it to me, mom and dad!
Oreos! Shoutout to Friend of the Pod Alex Burks, who discussed this in a recent interview he did on the Beers and Miles Podcast, discussing his training for the Olympic Trials.
Pretty much a perfect 10k.
5.8, to be exact.
You're welcome!