Week 34 - Last Good Week

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  2,522.65 kms in 34 weeks at ave  74.2 kms ( up from 73.7 kms in week 33)

Last week:  89.65 kms

Altitude:  91,422 metres in 34 weeks at ave  2,689 metres ( up from 2,660 metres in week 33)

Last week:  3,644 metres

Last good running week as I go on holiday mid next week. While running won't be the main focus, there will be some running done. Certainly, there won't be the opportunity for much vertical metres. May not be too many hills about.
This week has been consistent, activity every day. There were two planned walk days accounting for 12 kms of the weekly total & 420 metres of vert.
Today improved both total with a nice solo run into the mountain giving 30 kms & over 1600 metres of up hill.
Unlike last weekend, the snow has melted. The trails are now nice & soft. Winter is still in force, so a journey north to find some warmth & sunshine has been planned.
Now we have some dates set, I can look for a race to do that I can get done without much tweaking of the training/running.
The challenge of getting to 100k vert metres looks achievable by end of year, so a bit of a delay now won't matter.

Week 33 - Up and Over

Running:  Year to Date ( Sat 19.8.17)

Distance:  2,433.0 kms in 33 weeks at ave  73.7 kms  ( up from 73.2 kms in week 32)

Last week:  91.9 kms

Altitude:  87,778 metres in 33 weeks at ave  2,660 metres ( up from 2,616 metres in week 32)

Last week:  4,080 metres

A couple of good long hilly runs in the past 7 days. Four running days with distances under 10 kms each. Don't have to be all quality sessions.
Yesterday was a good run on the local mountain with snow having fallen late in the week providing a nice thick covering over the trails.
Certainly up there as one of the best winter running days.

I ran with 2 others, we had a great morning in perfect winter conditions. The snow plough was clearing the road as we passed by. Road was closed to vehicles , so we virtually had the mountain to ourselves.

Week 32 - No Long Run

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  2,341.1 kms in 32 weeks at ave  73.2 kms ( up from 73.1 kms in week 31)

Last week:  75.25 kms

Altitude:  83,698 metres in 32 weeks at ave  2,616 metres ( down from 2,622 metres in week 31)

Last week:  2,401 metres

Some crappy weather today and a recovery day mid week resulted in a marking time week.
In fact, today, Saturday is the regular long run day, was planned to be quite hilly & long. But heaps of rain, falling as snow up high, and gale force winds on the mountains meant is was a little dangerous to be solo out in the extreme elements.
Friday afternoon & overnight, winds on the mountains were around the 100 kmph speed. Combined with rain, the wind chill factor had temps down near -10 deg C.
Long run now moves to Sunday, so next week should show an improvement in the figures above as I focus on getting a suitable ultra distance & hilly run done in the next month or so. Living now on an island, you can't just jump in the car & drive somewhere to run interstate. Apart from the extra expense, getting a spot on the boat which is always full with cars & freight, means booking well in advance.
Upping the time on feet aspect is what I will need to concentrate on now. Hopefully, I have enough kms for endurance & strength from the hills to get through.
All good at the moment, can I hold together physically to do what the head wants to do. Time will tell.

Week 31 - A Good One

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  2,265.85 kms in 31 weeks at ave  73.1 kms ( up from 72.4 kms in week 30)

Last week:  94.8 kms

Altitude:  81,297 metres in 31 weeks at ave  2,622 metres ( up from  2,575 metres in week 30)

Last week:  4,047 metres

Easy to get a big week in when doing long run last Sunday and a long run today ( Saturday). With both those day contributing over 50 kms and almost 3,000 metres of the vertical, a sneaky rest day on Thursday almost went without notice.
The winter in Tasmania has been a bit of a fizzer. It wasn't as cold as would have been expected. Lucky when it was cold & wet enough for snow, it happened on a Thursday and was still there on a Saturday morning. Managed to get out in the snow 4-5 times, but chances are slim now for much more.
However, spring & summer are many months away, so it won't get warm for a long time yet.
I'm still looking for an end of year hilly ultra race. There are many on the calendar, but can't pin one down that's both suitable in time & place.

Week 30 - Going Up

Running:  Year to date

Distance:   2,171.05 kms  in 30 weeks at ave  72.4 kms ( up from 72.2 kms in week 29)

Last week:  76.85 kms

Altitude:  77,250 metres in 30 weeks at ave  2,575 metres ( up from 2,535 metres in week 29)

Last week:  3,748 metres

Month to date: 13,935 metres

A couple of months ago, I decided to challenge myself to get to 80,000 metres of vertical by the end of July.
But, a few down weeks due to a family death, a race with tapering & recovery, and a week of fighting a heavy cold/flu, had me well behind the target.
I reassessed & decided 75 would be nice for the year to end of July. That would still be well over an average of 10 per month & at my yearly total for 2015.
Then, post sickness, and with some kind weather, a good consistency was found and the totals continued to rise.
Winter also arrived with some good snow falls on the local high mountains. That provided a good incentive to get high for some scenic running. I've been to the snow now about 5-6 times, it's so much fun & rewarding.
This week started with long hilly run sussing out a possible mountain running race course for a few year's time. Then another hilly run on Friday over muddy fire trails added more vert making this week's vertical look respectable.
Lucky with the weather so far this winter, very little rain & temps have not been cold. Very windy up high, but it's a matter of get up there and back down as soon as possible.
Now, to maintain fitness, stay healthy & find a suitable race to use up all this training.

Week 29 - Good Maintenance Training

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  2,094.2 kms in 29 weeks at ave  72.2 kms ( down from 72.3 kms in week 28)

Last week:  70.55 kms

Altitude:  73,502 metres in 29 weeks at ave  2,535 metres ( up from 2,530 metres in week 28)

Last week:  2,677 metres

After a good week ending last Saturday, Sunday was a day sick in bed. Not unexpected as many around me have come down with a cold/flu and obviously my immune system couldn't save me.
A day of nothing helped and I was able to get some running done every day during the past 6 days.
Not pushing the pace at all, and walking almost every hill I came to, has allowed maintaining weekly averages, just.
Once back to full health, I will try to up the training with a couple of nice ultras on the horizon later once spring time comes around.

Week 28 - Another Snowy Run

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  2,023.65 kms in 28 weeks at ave  72.3 kms ( up from 72.2 kms in week 27)

Last week:  73.4 kms

Altitude:  70,825 metres in 28 weeks at ave  2,530 metres ( up from 2,485 metres in week 27)

Last week:  3,740 metres

Just like 2 weeks ago, conditions were perfect for the Saturday long run with sunny skies and snow on the ground.
A good hilly run during the week helped get distance to near weekly average for the year. Also assisted in a great vertical week for me.
The week included two rest days. A few pics from my snow covered trails today continued an amazing winter in Tasmania not really known for it's snow so close to sea level and at such low altitude. The snow started at around 500 metres above sea level with plenty of it at our highest point at just over 1100 metres above sea level.

 Snow covered trails, good fun running over these rough surfaces.

 A small Bennet's Wallaby is Tasmania's version of the bigger kangaroos on mainland Australia. Very timid, this little guy just stood his ground as we passed by.

Surrounding mountains with patchy snow.