Stressing the body and the mind

Finished the second day of hell week. I'll admit it, I assembled the training plan more than a month ago.  Even then, I looked at this week with enormous fear.

Technically, this entire week is a known as supercompensation or periodization.  This is where we stress the body, pushing it to the its threshold.  This is immediately followed by a recovery cycle, where the body adapts to the stimulation and improves in the areas stressed. Typically, periodization are mini blocks within a week - 2 or 3 hard workouts followed by 2 days of recovery after each. Supercompensation is more of a macro view,  where the entire week is the stress period.  It doesn't mean I forego recovery days during the week, it simply means the week should be present so much stress that we use the following week as the adaptation phase.

I planned this week to be extremely taxing on my endurance/aerobic capabilities.  After three successive weeks of modest mileage (44,48,60), week 4 was a recovery week (33 miles).  This week, is a sudden jump to 85 miles, mostly the result of 2 super long days (Today 3hrs and Saturday/Sunday a 4 hr). With week 6 mostly dedicated to recovery, I hope to see a spectacular increase in my endurance capabilities within a couple of weeks as the body adapts through next week to the stress presented this week.

After finishing Monday's controlled 11 miler (road, 7:53mpm), the anxiety inmediately kicked in about Tuesday's run. Partially due to the fact I was a bit worn out near the end of Monday's run.  I also hadn't decided where I would run. I was initially thinking of two road loops (8 miler + 11 miler), but I dreaded the thought of pounding on the road that long, and was fully aware I would probably go to fast. When the Tuesday morning internal alarm clock went off, I was still tired and remained in bed nearly 90 min past normal wake up...clearly a sign the body was tired - more anxiety building. By the afternoon, I settled on a course, three repeats of a 10k trail loop that I run on occasion with the local running club (Mohegan Striders).  It is a bit hilly, with some light technical single track.  I felt that I could stomach 9 - 10 mpm pace there as that is slightly faster than the standard Mohegan Striderss group pace on this trail. Basically, I figured I already knew what this pace felt like on that trail.

I started at 5pm. Temperature was perfect, low 70s with barely any humidity.  I couldn't ask for more perfect conditions. Despite this, I was flat out miserable at the start. I just didn't have the mental fortitude.  In the first mile I did a full systems check - nothing left over from Monday's 10 mile run.  Legs weren't sore. No aches or pains.  I just mentally dreaded the thought of what was to come. I started to remind myself to focus on the current situation, not the future.  By mile 3, something clicked. I suddenly felt fluid, light, and mentally positive. This held up for the next 9 miles, when at the start of lap 3 I as realized my legs were starting to tighten. Over the last lap, I reminded myself to "take what the course gives you". I didn't push the uphills. I suffered through them.  I went into oxygen debt despite a turtle like crawl up the hills. I did, however, force the legs to release and work the flats and downhills.  My preference would have been to sit back and jog into the finish.  Knowing the ultramarathon distance guarantees tired legs for at least the second half of any race - I want to train my mind and body to not get lethargic in the later stages. I need to be able to respond when presented with opportunities to improve my position.
So far, 29.5 miles for the week. Couple days of significantly lower miles before a 10 on Friday and the Sunday's 4hr in Arcadia with Sean.  On pace...now feeling better mentally.

Today's garmin readout:  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/528161453