Energy levels take a dip after big training blocks
That was the six weeks after the marathon.
While I felt I recovered quickly, once the dust settled a few days after Cork the lethargic feeling kicked in and it just wouldnt go away, while I could never be accused of carrying out my recovery weeks in a textbook fashion (or any of my training for that matter), I was surprised by how long it was taking to get some sort of legs back.
Having been thro’ it all before, differing causes, overtraining, racing too hard and too often, late nights and early mornings its just a case of riding the storm and going thro’ the motions safe in the knowledge that somewhere, sometime the legs will come back. It just takes a spark.
Heading to Kilworth 2 weeks ago, I had myself down for a 31/32 min. five mile if I ran well.
Crossing the line well inside 31 minutes gave me a lift and brought the brain back to a time when I thought I might be able to break that elusive 30 minutes.
That was the spark. All of a sudden your off the plateau and training with conviction again.
The spring comes back and the heaviness drains out of the legs.
In the space of a week, the mojo’s back. Now you’ve got to be careful not to overdo it.
When you feel good you think about the next race and it cant come fast enough, when your not right you couldnt care less if you race again or not.
Thats not to say you dont want to run, funny thing is, even after a ‘heavy’ run you will feel good (If only for the fact that its over!!).
The danger now is overtraining, knowing when to hold back, knowing how many 400’s is enough, knowing how many miles is enough.
When the form is there, freshness is the key, maintaining and looking after yourself is paramount. When you get it right its hard to beat the sensation of standing on the line waiting for the gun to go.
When you know your going well you feel in control and confident, when the form isnt quite there you struggle to eliminate the sense of foreboding at the kicking your about to receive from anyone your willing to take it from.
When your strong you just wont take it.
This is more like it.
These days Im running fresh, this in itself is enough of a reason to run (or cycle or swim or do whatever you do), days when you dont feel the ground under your feet, the leg speed is up, all your movements are crystal in your minds eye.
Some might call it a purple patch, I call it a purple haze, inspired by the song, a warm glow created by a natural high, effects not totally alien to the performer.
Its now Im reaping the benefits of the long marathon miles.
These miles provide a solid base to work off, Once they’re in the bank they’re in the bank.
I went to the 3rd race of the Ballycotton summer series last week, sub 30 was the goal heading for Churchtown.
I Got it by the skin of my teeth. The head was right and the fight is back.
Been a long time coming, how long it stays is another matter, but thats not important right now.
The thing is to keep at it, chipping away, a lot of the time you feel like your going nowhere but eventually it clicks.
