New Year Day 50km Training Update

Week 10 of my 18 week training schedule for the Vancouver New Year's Day Fat Ass 50km is coming to an end. Time to look at what has been accomplished and what's lacking.

I have never (ever!) followed a training plan, so this has been an interesting experience. I found it very motivating to look at the suggested km and chalk the days off.

Overall, my endurance and speed have improved, but I had my challenges fitting the training into a routine greatly affected by caring and worrying for my sick daughter. What suffered most where the mid week hill workouts that started 5 weeks ago and I was so keen on. For the last couple of weeks I also had trouble keeping my long run mileage. I suffered a very uncomfortable "kinked" neck with scary shooting pains and have been fighting a stomach flu that the rest of the family succumbed to. A 25km run turned into a 2 hour death march, but at least I moved. Looks like the health challenges are mastered for now, daughter's health is thankfully on the comeback trail and I am looking forward to increasing the mileage.

I always knew running/sports to be a great stress relieve. Dealing with my daughters illness over the last 2 month definitely proofed that theory for me. There were a couple of weeks when I didn't manage to get out and at the end of that stretch I felt unable to cope. Realizing that I need the release that exercise and fresh air provides, I made an effort to fit my workouts into our topsy turvy family routine and am thankful for a husband who understands and supports this need.