My training for the 50 miler was sort of built with the assumption that I was going to stay 100% healthy and injury free. With that in mind, I built a very “ambitious” 16-week training calendar. Looking back, I was a very optimistic about how I would be feeling. Although I rarely hit my weekly miles and fell short a lot of most weeks, I’m happy that I was able to listen to my body when it needed rest and hit the smaller goals I was aiming for.
Here is how my 16 weeks looked.
The first number is what was scheduled, the second is what I actually ran.
Week of 8/13 – 43 — 43.4
Week of 8/20 – 50 — 51.3 – looking good, right?
Week of 8/27 – 45 — 26.7 – I had a race on the calendar that I didn’t do.
Week of 9/3 – 58 — 41.8
Week of 9/10 – 56 — 66.6 – included a marathon w/ 6k elevation (read more)
Week of 9/17 – 66 — 11.15 – the hard race from week prior wiped me out
Week of 9/24 – 78 — 65.3 – low, but included back-to-back (strong) 20 milers
Week of 10/1 – 71 — 13.65 – these 3-4 weeks were key looking back.
Week of 10/8 – 80 — 12.9 – these were a busy 2 weeks. This was the ambitious part.
Week of 10/15 – 85 — 63 – after 2 low weeks, I bounce back strong. Includes 38 mile run.
Week of 10/22 – 68 — 29.75 – not sure what happened here
Week of 10/29 – 60 — 44 – includes Two Cities Marathon and a PR by 15 mins. (read more)
Week of 11/5 – 90 — 25.1 – this is the week I wish I had done.
Week of 11/12 – 65 — 20.5 – low, but included hill repeats
Week of 11/19 – 50 — 34.55 – also low, but included more hills
Race week – 64 — includes the 50 mile race, should be right on target.
Total miles run for 15 weeks: 549.7 – not including race week.
As you can see, after the first couple weeks, I never really hit my marks. This isn’t something I’m surprised by. I have never trained for a 50 mile race and I sort of built one off of what I had seen around the web and slightly modified it based on suggestions from friends. I definitely wanted to have back-to-back long distance runs and include trails and elevation. Check.
View from the Marin Headlands (where the run is) looking out ABOVE the fog.
I really wish I had a couple more weeks, but I’m confident that I have put myself in a position to finish, which is my goal. Because I never really hit the high milage weeks like planned, it may have made it a bit tougher on myself, but nothing I can do about it now.
Total for 15 weeks is more miles than I ran in all of 2011.
I’m actually really proud of my training. I ran MORE than I have before. I have noticed I can run a lot faster, which means my legs are stronger. I was running 5-6 days of the week, even if they were shorter runs. Ideally, I would have liked to have stayed more consistent and should have hit a minimum of 50 miles each week.
I have full confidence that I will be able to finish my first 50 miler — that really means nothing when it comes to actually DOING it because anything can happen over 50 miles and 10k+ elevation. But I’m going in confident in my legs, mental strength and ability to finish this race.
Only one way to find out: 3 days until race day.
Comments are a free-for-all, GO!
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Good luck! I just signed up for my first 50 miler. Super nervous!
Congratulations on your training and all of those miles! I too am hppy with (most) of my runs, definitely would have liked to have logged more miles for my first 50k. Best of luck to you and I’ll be looking out for you this Saturday!
Good luck on your race!!!
You are a rockstar! I have no doubt you WILL do this!
Good luck!
Good luck this weekend!! Keep dry and have fun!
You are amazing!!! You will rock those 50 miles this weekend!! Can’t wait to read about it!!
You are going to rock it – you put in the long runs necessary…(and the hill training). Praying for a good day of racing for you, friend!
Um, you are AWESOME. Congrats!!
So. Many. Miles! Best of luck, have fun, and can’t wait to read all about it!
550 miles in 15 weeks?! You are amazing!!! Best of luck to you this weekend! You’re gonna rock it!
That’s a lot of miles over 15 weeks! You should be proud of that. That is so awesome that you ran more in 15 weeks than in 2011.
Just SEEING that many miles per week is insane…never mind the ‘planned’ per week mileage. Who cares if you didn’t always hit the plan, you crushed so many miles during this training period, how crazy are you?? Haha. I am SO excited to hear how this goes for you!
Holy crap that is a lot of miles…. I am still insanely jealous of your beautiful on run scenery pics. :)