Peak Distance Weeks
The idea of Comrades training is always to push your running limits closer of the demands of the run, even to meet the demands if we can. Running lots to make you stronger, without breaking you down.
My plan is always to build to a peak-distance week 3, preferably 4 weeks before race day. I got that from the books I read. It works.
It’s a balancing act too. Push too hard and you break down. Don’t push hard enough and you feel dissatisfied, that you left something out there, an opportunity for a year, maybe forever.
So I run as much as I can, accumulate as many miles as I can, while watching for signs of breaking down.
For the past four nights I have been sleeping badly, needing sleep but not being able to sleep properly and deeply. I pick at food. Other times I confidently eat the variety and quantities at the times I know will work for me.
I’m reaching my limit. I’m not backing off just yet – trying to eat better and get more sleep.
There are other signs of impending breakdown. “Watch for them, hear what they say,” I tell myself. Work with them.
Early warning signs
- waking up tired and not wanting to run or running is a chore rather than fun
- eat, sleeping erratically, problems getting rid of solid waste or it just runs out
- legs tired in a run and not improving after ~20 min
- general tiredness, sex drive lower than normal, general zip and zest, enthusiasm for life lower than normal
- bumping into things more, not being able to find shoes or running pants or other important thing.
- increased irritatability, aggression, anxiety over little things
- obsessing over whether you should be doing more
- haggard and ragged looks, not caring much for your appearance
- friends, family pointing out to you that maybe you are running too much
So what to do?
It’s easy. Rest, Sleep, Eat right. Drink lots. Bruce Fordyce’s dictum is deeply ingrained in me: something like: when in doubt, don’t run. Of if you have started, then stop and walk home.
I often run with money to get a taxi home, or with my phone and offer breakfast at a great beachfront place if only someone will fetch me and take me home.
And don’t run. Cycle. Walk. Play with the kids. Keep the heart rate up without doing leg muscle damage, without straining.
Oh, and avoid people with colds and ‘flu. Run from them. You can log the distance.
Four or five days is usually enough to get the zip back into my legs.