Organization is the Key to Success
If you couldn’t tell from my previous post, I’ll be using this blog as both an accountability tool and a training journal throughout my Leadville 100 build. If you choose to follow along, expect updates on my training, my mindset over the 9-month buildup, how I’m attempting to wedge all of this into a normal week, and whatever else feels relevant at the time. Grammar mistakes and questionable sentence structure will absolutely be present, so shut your mouth and enjoy.
Before any training can really get rolling, it’s good practice to take an honest look at your weekly schedule and figure out how training can fit in a way that’s actually manageable. When you’re preparing for a big event with a fixed date (whether that’s a race, a lifting meet, or something equally dumb) you usually have to make a few concessions. That might mean tighter training windows, earlier alarms, or being okay with letting a few nonessential things go so the important work can get done.
Even outside of a specific even, this is a useful exercise. If training doesn’t realistically fit into your life, it won’t last. Simple as that.
For Leadville, I know i’m going to have to run…a lot. After what I learned during my 50-miler, I also want to maintain a strength training routine and add more hiking to prepare for the extreme elevation changes. All of that costs times; hours and minutes pulled from the same daily budget. The first step is figuring out what’s left once the non-negotiables are accounted for.
The things in my life I cannot change:
1) Work:
The studio needs to operate…because I enjoy paying my bills. Doors open at 5am Monday through Friday and usually close around 2pm. Because of that, morning runs are limited, and afternoon runs will need some flexibility if meets or sessions pop up. Energy management will be key.
2) Wife & Dogs:
Yes, the anchors of the household. While my wife is incredibly understanding about the time commitment this kind of training requires, I don’t want to abuse that generosity. I’m perfectly fine cutting a run short or even skipping one once in a while for a date night or a movie matinee. Life balance matters to me, and this race does not put food on my plate. There’s a difference between choosing to invest in your relationships and using “life” as an excuse to avoid the work.
The dogs also need walks, park trips, and general attention, and that responsibility shouldn’t fall entirely on her just because I decided to frolic 100 miles through the mountains like Frodo. All this has to be factored in to the equation.
3) Sleep:
Sleep is a non-negotiable. With a 4:15am alarm, my bedtime is 8:30pm. As training ramps up, this becomes even more important. The downside? Regular late night weekday runs are mostly off the table. That’s a trade off I’m willing to make.
4) Food:
Finding, and protecting, time to eat is critical. I have a bad habit of skipping breakfast in favor of coffee, which won’t fly when lunch then has to make up for missed calories and fuel an afternoon run. That inevitably leads to overeating, a food coma, and the sudden desire for a nap…which again costs valuable time. The solution is being intentional with breakfast.
Is any of this revolutionary or groundbreaking? Not even a little bit. But taking the time to sit down and reevaluate your schedule is incredibly important. I think this should be a continuous practice regardless of your training goal. It’s way too easy to let the important stuff get pushed aside.
Schedule your priorities. Then prioritize your schedule.
After taking all this into account, I landed on the following set up:
4 day of running for the first two months
(This bumps up to 5 after 2-3 months)1 day of intentional elevation work
Treadmill incline or Stair master3 days of strength training
Capped at 30 minutes per session. Being mindful not to over do it on these days, and to keep in mind these are are to support the running. This will be expanded on in a separate post at a later date.
It all looks great on paper, and the timeline lines up nicely with the August 22nd race date, but we all know no plan survives contact with real life. I’m sure there will be obstacles, detours and ugly speed bumps along the way.