Mindset and cutting through the noise. Training Log: Feb 11-17, 2024.
I loved this training week. I ran 133 KM, mostly in Zone 2 (70% of max heart rate). I enjoyed the runs a lot and wasn’t tired. I slept a bit less than usual (6 hours or so per night rather 7 or 7.5), but still felt good. My legs did not feel wrecked by the end of the week. I was left with one thought when I finished the last training session: I can run more than this. My goal for this summer is to increase my weekly mileage to approximately 150 KM/ week (more on this below).
Here is a brief summary of this week’s mileage, average heart rate, and sleep duration:
I woke up pretty early on most days (4:30AM or so) to get in both runs. Each morning marks an opportunity for me to become more disciplined and to improve my mindset. Various challenges — fatigue, lack of motivation, weather — offer a daily choice that hinges principally on mindset. Do I decide not to train because it’s very early and I’m tired and don’t feel like it? Or, do I train despite the fact that it’s very early and I’m tired and I don’t feel like it?
In my view, mindset is the primary factor that dictates which choice I make. And discipline — the ability to do the thing consistently and no matter what — is what hardens mindset and helps cut through the noise to achieve a goal.
I love training because it helps us discover our potential, and teaches us that we don’t know our physical and mental limits. Discipline involves lots of hard work that no one ever sees. We learn a lot about who we are when we are pushed to the point where we are prone to fail and want to quit. Training offers this daily challenge and opportunity for growth.
Sunday is a rest day. I like to do active recovery on rest days and I usually bike, hike, or swim at a low heart rate. I find that it helps a lot with recovery. I want to avoid overuse injuries, especially stress fractures. Easy recovery days have helped me a lot.
My goal for next week is to run roughly 100-120 KM in Zone 2. Next week will be the last week of my training bloc. During that periodization week, I plan to drop my mileage by roughly half so that my body can recover from the last several weeks of higher volume. I hope to increase my weekly mileage to 140-150 KM over the summer, and I want to slowly build my training volume. This means that I will have to do more weight lifting sessions to support the mileage. One day at a time — and one step at a time — I can achieve this goal.
All views expressed in this blog are my own and do not constitute any form of medical, nutritional, physiotherapy, or other type of advice. They do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any academic institution.
