Just Do It!!!!
The 2nd week of this adhoc training program came in a flash. After resuming his first week with 3 runs, Miles was cautious about going too much too soon in his second week. The usual advice given by most is not to increase by more than 10% in total mileage per week. Miles arrange the weekly mileage increase to be less than 6%.
Gallop exclaimed when looking at this new training program “What is blazes were you thinking? Why are the distances so weird?”
“What’s with the 5.2 and 5.7 km??? Can’t you just round them up or down?” Gallop raised his voice in exasperation.
“That’s our Miles!!! Miles and his OCD!!! Only Complicated Distances!!! ha ha ha ha” laughed Wade out loud.
Miles laughed along with his buddies, totally not bothered by their teasing, determined to do it slow and steady.
The first weekday run went well, Miles completed the 5.25km run in 46mins at an average pace of 8:46mins/km. Slow and steady indeed, with average HR of 143 bpm. “Could have been easier…” thought Miles, hoping that he could have ran below 140 bpm. Nevertheless, a run is still a run.
The second weekday run went better, as Miles managed to finish his 5.76km run in 48mins, with an average pace of 8:20mins/km. “Much better pace” Miles smiled to himself, knowing that his average HR was just slightly higher than his previous run at 146 bpm.
Ended the week with a Swim on Friday as a form of cross training. Again, after a break of 5 weeks of no swims. Did an easy 1km swim (20 laps in a 50m pool), alternating between breaststroke and frontcrawl every 50m, at a very relax pace of 3:47/100m.
In the past, Miles was swimming 2:40/100m during the period he was training for his triathlons. That’s more than a minute slower every 100m.
“All’s good. It’s good that I start so slow, so that it’ll be easier to improve in the future” Miles tried to convince himself. “Positive Thinking!!!” as Miles grinned to himself.
Weekend finally arrived, and Miles was able to meet up with his buddies for their “long” run, though 6.5km would hardly be considered long!
Nevertheless, with his buddies running by his side, AND at his current pace, Miles didn’t feel that exhausted nor demoralized. It was like old days, laughing, joking along the run.
6.52km in 53:30mins. Average pace of 8:13mins/km. Even faster than the weekday run! Maybe it’s the adrenalin, maybe it’s the push from his buddies. Miles didn’t feel he was going too fast, though the average HR at 150 bpm proved otherwise.
“Baby Steps!!!” Miles exclaimed and announcing the completion of his second week training.
As Miles settled down at a nearby coffeeshop for breakfast with Wade and Gallop, he looked forward to the new challenges for the following week.
“Just do it!!!” came to mind, as Miles continued to enjoy the company of his two buddies and the rest of the weekends.
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. If you think you recognize yourself in here, you’re probably mistaken… or you have a very unusual life. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents are either made up entirely or borrowed from the author’s overactive imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental — and if it’s not, well, that’s just awkward.
