Exnay On The 40-Week Ainingtray Anplay

Translation: I ditched the 40-week training plan.

A lot has happened since my last post. I was working my way through a 40-week training plan but, suddenly, had a change of plans. It all started when a friend mentioned that he had signed up for an ultramarathon in October. This just so happened to be a race that I have wanted to do for a long time and it would be fun to toe-the-line with my friend.

This race provides you with the option of running 50k or a 50 mile and the 50 mile distance intrigued me. The big question was will there be enough time to train properly. I decided to play it safe and not sign up until my training indicated that I would definately be ready.

I abandoned my 40-week training plan and started ramping up my long-run mileage. The first week, I ran 15 miles on Saturday and another 15 on Sunday. The next week I ran 8.5 on Saturday and 17 on Sunday. Everything was going great until…

One evening at the dinner table my wife mentioned that MEA was approaching and, since my daughters would have a four-day weekend, she thought it would be fun to go on a family trip to the Black Hills. We all agreed that it would be a great idea. Then she added that MEA is in late October this year. You guessed it. It was the same weekend as the ultramarathon. Oh well.

The thing is. Before we know it, our kids will be out on their own so it is more important for my wife and I to spend time with them whenever we can.

So for the time being, my training is kind of in a state of turmoil. I abandoned my training plan and started a different one which I also abandoned. I think I will just try to get in a run whenever possible to be ready to begin my old 18-week training plan in December. I am also eyeing a 50-mile ultra next summer so we will see.

In retrospect, I do not think anyone with even a semi-normal life can expect to successfully finish a 40-week training plan.