Polar Performance Report – September 2016

As I mentioned in my last report, I took a break from coaching this month because it literally consisted of racing and recovering. It is crazy to know that the biggest races of my 2016 year are behind me, but it was a fantastic month.

Distance covered: 1,018 KM

Running: 265 km

Cycling: 753 km

Training hours: 70

New/Interesting Places I trained and raced: CANADA – Gaspesie, QC | Local bike tour from Waterloo to Collingwood to Kinkardine to Waterloo| USA: Adirondacks, NY

Races:

Raid International Gaspesie

This race was my fall goal race and I raced with Brad Jennings as Team Get Out There Magazine in the 2 person coed category. We overcame a number of obstacles over the 4 days, raced over 300 KM and snagged a W for the category. Very proud of our performance.

Ragnar Adirondacks

This was our annual “family vacation” and we had an amazing time. I will save the details for the team who will be sharing their race thoughts but I encourage you to head on over to the Ragnar page and vote for our video on the race!

Gear:

I used the Polar V800 to track all of my track work, outdoor cycles and runs this month. I used the Polar cadence sensor to help with my indoor training ride. I used the Polar A360 to track all my strength workouts. I just received brand new Polar M200 and will be testing it out over the coming weeks. Check back for a giveaway!

I did Ragnar in a new pair of New Balance 1400s and my 4 day adventure race in my New Balance Hierros.

I am a Performance Project athlete under the coaching of Dave Galloway.

Thoughts

Physical: I was proud of what I was able to accomplish this month. I did some extreme endurance events and my body was able to be strong and produce some great results, despite the fact that it was at the end of a gruelling season. At the end of RIG, I did so much scampering over rocks that I irritated my achilles in my right leg. I knew doing Ragnar may have been season ending but it held up fine. I kept a close eye on it in September and have continued running as long as it is pain-free as well as incorporating any therapy my coach has given. Basically, it is just my body saying it is time for an off-season which I am totally ok with. It has improved but I am still not putting any pressure on myself to race anything this fall unless I feel like I am completely clear. Right now, I am keeping volume up with low intensity and running pain free.

Mentally: I was able to up my mental game for endurance events this month. I made it hurt and kept going back for more. Admittedly, I didn’t feel myself when I dropped my weekly training hours from the doubt digits to about 3-5 hours a week, but I know this is necessary and part of the process of having a long and successful life as an endurance athlete. Rest is as much a part of training as those hard mornings on the track, but sometimes it is harder to sit still.

For October:

Literally whatever I feel like. There is a bit more structure than that, but I am upping the strength training to address imbalances and rebuild muscle mass that I lost during the race season. I am also increasing therapy and sleep. Right now, until I feel completely restored from the season, everything is easy to moderate with minimal intensity. My runs are easy and often done with friends at a conversational pace. It is the time of year when I start honing my night training skills – I have a regular schedule night trail run and mountain bike ride scheduled with friends.
I am enjoying a bit of a break from structured training and am focused on maintaining rather than building fitness this month.