I had a pretty good week's running last week - three proper hill sessions and lots of ascent.
Managed to build up my total weekly miles, especially the uphill miles, and my legs held out pretty well, so I'm happy enough!
I track most of my runs with Garmin, which auto uploads to Strava.
Weekly running summary:
Total kilometres this week: 24k (23)
No. of runs: 3 (3)
Tuesday's Run - 12K Up and down a mountain
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Well I ran 6Ks uphill, and then 6Ks back down! Adding on a grand total of 2Ks to last week's run along the same route.
I did seriously think about going up to the summit, I could see it, but I estimated it to be about another 1K uphill, and then another 1K back down, so I just decided to turn back from where I was after 6K going up - several reasons:
I had nothing to gain from adding on more distance - adding on 2Ks is plenty compared to the previous week's run, going up to 14K would have been a 40% increase which would just be injury territory.
It was raining and I was getting cold, I didn't have the proper gear with me, in fact my head got very cold on the way back down, despite running, so I called that right.
I wouldn't have got a view at the top:
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And I just wasn't feeling it - I've never ran 6Ks uphill before without a break, that was pretty tough.
In retrospect it turns out there was an additional reason - I hadn't realised there was a curfew - I got back about 20 minutes late as it was, no wonder the roads were so damn quiet!
Thursday's Run: 7K aborted loop...
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I wasn't really in the mood for this, but I thought I'd go out for an explore - I set off to do a loop and do a partial explore of the way from Castelo Novo back to Alpredinha - but it ended up being a bit of a crap run.... a not too friendly dog on the way up, and a blocked route half way around, meaning I had to deal with the not too friendly dog on the way back down again.
Nice scenery though - something almost Lord of the Rings about it....
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I checked the map when I got back home, turns out there was an alternative route to the one I went on, but it was all cross country, you just can't tell from the maps, that's why I don't really like these explore runs, I prefer to know where I'm going first.
Also, I felt a bit knackered, that was a tough run, still a good 2.5Ks of ascent.
Saturday's Run: 5K up and down my local mountain (or it's probably technically a hill)
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It was a beautiful day, I mean for mid December it was 15 degrees at 10.30 when I headed out - and I ran this pretty fast for me - I actually ran up all the hills for the first time, or hill, I should say - not sure that was efficient, I actually did KM 2 slower than the previous week when I walked more of it - I guess I really have found the point where it's better to walk rather than run, that way I guess you run slightly quicker on the less steep parts.
Most of my gains came from going a bit faster downhill, I'm getting a bit more confident there, but I can't see the point in overdoing it going downhill - terrible for the knees and the potential injury risk doesn't appeal.
Next week's plans
Well I've got to summit that damn mountain next week - that'll be either Tuesday or Thursday, weather dependent.
The middling run I'll see how I feel - maybe a lower mountain run. Not so much ascent.
Saturday - The Val de P 'wanna be Park Run' again - it's just the perfect Saturday run! That's now as standard!