Training for an Ultra: Week 17
Life changes…
Training for events is difficult. Developing a consistent plan and sticking to routines is important. The last ten weeks had been great. Wake up, breakfast, train, and recover… Unfortunately, life will change and my routine got blown up this week.
It’s summer and since I had time, I decided to take a part-time job. This was the first week for me unloading parcels for a large shipping company. The shifts started around three in the morning which was a change for me. Along with the early morning a shock, the physicality of the work was much worse than I expected.
Perspective Check.
I missed one workout during the week, but was able to get the long run in. In a way, I think the tough work may have helped. Unloading tractor trailers package by package is not only taxing physically, but mentally there are plenty of opportunities to slip into pity mode. Somewhere in the first day, with a supervisor standing commenting on every misstep that I made, I realized that this job will be an extension of my ultra marathon training.
Staying in the moment is important in an ultra marathon. I’m learning through the running that I have to pay attention to my body and push the intensity at an effort that is appropriate for the trail I am running. The same is true of the boxes in the trailer. If I go to fast, I’ll burn out. Going too slow will bring the supervisory. Stay in the moment…
Which takes me to the long run for this week. My daughter and I were not able to get together for our run, so I decided to do the seventeen miles on a treadmill. I know, that’s a long time at my pace to be running on a treadmill. Three and a half hours later, I finished. All the while, I thought about moving boxes around.
I am nervous about my job and the ultra we are training for. The new job is physical. I’ve been in a cushy white color job for the last twenty-eight years. My friends have suggested that a man my age should be “jogging.” I’m not ready for that. As for the race, hopefully the new job contributes to improving my strength without interfering with my running.
Time for bed. I’ve got an early start tomorrow.
