To Infinity and Beyond - Becoming a Better DopeyBadger (Comments Welcome)

[Sleepless Knight]

I want to get back into the groove, and get back into shape. Then once I get there, then I'll make some decisions on what/how I want to run. After 12.5 years of good hard racing, I've still got to answer the question of what motivates me to get me out the door. Once I'm out there, I guess I'll let you know.

The other day in our men's group at church, we were discussing an idea about how to continue to grow. One thought that was share was to always find something "good" that you don't want to do, and then do it anyways. This challenges your brain and helps you to continue to learn and grow instead of becoming stagnant.

But the real challenge here is that once we do something it may no longer challenge us enough and we should find something else. Now obviously, this is not an argument or reason to stop exercising. Rather an acknowledgment that motivation and why we pursue these kinds of endeavors may need to evolve and change over the years in order to help us continue to learn and grow.

BTW, don't do this. I was dumb and it was a stupid decision.

I chuckle at this because it reminds me of my idea to run the 2017 Avengers Half on just 3 weeks training. While I had run 7 half marathons to that point, little did I know that decision to run on 3 weeks training would wind up causing me to run a Marathon and Dopey. That plan broke down a few of my preconceived running notions which wound up being a good thing. However, that also nearly ended my running "career" a few weeks later.

To your greater point, dumb and stupid decisions carry risk. I wound up injuring myself about 6 weeks after that race because I was not training smart. I had gotten away with a short training plan and overestimated my own abilities. I got too excited and began to over train which resulted in injury that could have derailed my plans for the 2018 Star Wars race weekend and thus also effectively end my marathon goals before I started.

Coming to understand why I ran helped me become a better runner, which in turn helped me gain more self confidence in my own personal life.

 

[DopeyBadger]

That looks absolutely brutal.

LOL, yes. Yes it was. But it truly paled in comparison to how painful that first marathon was. I was so woefully undertrained for that, and am actually quite lucky I wasn't seriously injured. Although it makes for a great story all these years later. A story of, "Don't do that. Do this." Link to a recap of the lead-up and carnage of that first marathon (link).

That's almost as many miles as I completed in my Dopey training plan (which was only about 40% of the scheduled miles)

It definitely makes it harder when things get thrown in our way.

The other day in our men's group at church, we were discussing an idea about how to continue to grow. One thought that was share was to always find something "good" that you don't want to do, and then do it anyways. This challenges your brain and helps you to continue to learn and grow instead of becoming stagnant.

But the real challenge here is that once we do something it may no longer challenge us enough and we should find something else. Now obviously, this is not an argument or reason to stop exercising. Rather an acknowledgment that motivation and why we pursue these kinds of endeavors may need to evolve and change over the years in order to help us continue to learn and grow.

Very well said.

I chuckle at this because it reminds me of my idea to run the 2017 Avengers Half on just 3 weeks training. While I had run 7 half marathons to that point, little did I know that decision to run on 3 weeks training would wind up causing me to run a Marathon and Dopey. That plan broke down a few of my preconceived running notions which wound up being a good thing. However, that also nearly ended my running "career" a few weeks later.

To your greater point, dumb and stupid decisions carry risk. I wound up injuring myself about 6 weeks after that race because I was not training smart. I had gotten away with a short training plan and overestimated my own abilities. I got too excited and began to over train which resulted in injury that could have derailed my plans for the 2018 Star Wars race weekend and thus also effectively end my marathon goals before I started.

Coming to understand why I ran helped me become a better runner, which in turn helped me gain more self confidence in my own personal life.

Such a great cautionary tale and life lesson.

 

[avondale]

You've been quiet on here for awhile, so if you have important stuff happening, please don't feel the need to respond to this.

I have a relatively urgent family situation that I have to travel for, so I'm probably going to miss a fairly key long run in my training plan. I'm wondering if you can suggest how to adapt.

The planned long runs, past and future:

• 100 min, two Sundays ago
• 120 min, last Sunday
• 140 min, planned for this Sunday
• 100 min, following Sunday (cut-back week)
• 160 min, Sunday after
• 180 min Sunday after
• 210 min Sunday after
• after that, there's a cut-back week, then another 210 min LR, then tapering

It looks like because of conditions, I'll be doing perhaps 60 min this Sunday instead of the planned 140 min. I was thinking of just making this a cut-back week for the LR, but then that means 4 weeks of increase until the next cut-back week.

The rest of the runs in the training plan during the week I will be able to do more or less as planned.

Do you have a suggestion for how to adapt the LRs with this hiccup? Thanks!

 

[DopeyBadger]

You've been quiet on here for awhile, so if you have important stuff happening, please don't feel the need to respond to this.

I have a relatively urgent family situation that I have to travel for, so I'm probably going to miss a fairly key long run in my training plan. I'm wondering if you can suggest how to adapt.

The planned long runs, past and future:

• 100 min, two Sundays ago
• 120 min, last Sunday
• 140 min, planned for this Sunday
• 100 min, following Sunday (cut-back week)
• 160 min, Sunday after
• 180 min Sunday after
• 210 min Sunday after
• after that, there's a cut-back week, then another 210 min LR, then tapering

It looks like because of conditions, I'll be doing perhaps 60 min this Sunday instead of the planned 140 min. I was thinking of just making this a cut-back week for the LR, but then that means 4 weeks of increase until the next cut-back week.

The rest of the runs in the training plan during the week I will be able to do more or less as planned.

Do you have a suggestion for how to adapt the LRs with this hiccup? Thanks!

New job has been super busy. Used to have some time during the work day to relax and check in on the DIS. After 3 weeks, I haven't once had a moment to check anything personal. Not to be unexpected in a new position where they're very happy to have my help.

Original plan

• 100 min, two Sundays ago
• 120 min, last Sunday
• 140 min, planned for this Sunday
• 100 min, following Sunday (cut-back week)
• 160 min, Sunday after
• 180 min Sunday after
• 210 min Sunday after
• after that, there's a cut-back week,
• then another 210 min LR,
• then tapering

Adjusted

• 100 min, two Sundays ago
• 120 min, last Sunday
• 60 min, planned for this Sunday (now a cut back week)
• 140 min, following Sunday
• 160 min, Sunday after
• 120 min Sunday after
• 180 min Sunday after
• 120 min Sunday after
• then another 210 min LR,
• then tapering

This seems like the right approach to me. Make the current week the cut-back, and then reduce the 2x 210 to one 210 and the other a 180. There is likely a minimal difference between 2x 210 min and a 210 and 180 (with other things the same).

 

[avondale]

New job has been super busy. Used to have some time during the work day to relax and check in on the DIS. After 3 weeks, I haven't once had a moment to check anything personal. Not to be unexpected in a new position where they're very happy to have my help.

Original plan

• 100 min, two Sundays ago
• 120 min, last Sunday
• 140 min, planned for this Sunday
• 100 min, following Sunday (cut-back week)
• 160 min, Sunday after
• 180 min Sunday after
• 210 min Sunday after
• after that, there's a cut-back week,
• then another 210 min LR,
• then tapering

Adjusted

• 100 min, two Sundays ago
• 120 min, last Sunday
• 60 min, planned for this Sunday (now a cut back week)
• 140 min, following Sunday
• 160 min, Sunday after
• 120 min Sunday after
• 180 min Sunday after
• 120 min Sunday after
• then another 210 min LR,
• then tapering

This seems like the right approach to me. Make the current week the cut-back, and then reduce the 2x 210 to one 210 and the other a 180. There is likely a minimal difference between 2x 210 min and a 210 and 180 (with other things the same).

Thank you! I see what you are suggesting, and it makes sense. I'll see how things go.

I hope you get settled in at work. I have spells of "constant busy" depending on the time of the semester, and it's really draining. I appreciate you taking the time for this!