Saturday, March 26, 2011

Leadville training

 We still have spots open for the Leadville training camp (the camp is in Leadville but not specifically for the Leadville 100 as we are not affiliated with them in any way.) Last night I was trying to get a grip on how to balance my training for the Silver Rush 50s and I realized that in the 12 weeks leading up to the Leadville 100 run I averaged 41 miles per week. I really think replacing mindless run volume with strength work and specific training is a useful idea. For Silver Rush I should be capable of averaging 41 miles a week.

 Today was 4200ft of climbing (2000 run/ 2200 bike) and sort of a rest day. My bike wattage was OK but my HR couldn't elevate past 140 so I'll keep a little perspective outside of the numbers and rest which will cost me a 50,000 ft climbing week. I'm at about 36,000 right now I think.

8 comments:

Patrick Thurber said...

this winter, i took a lot of your advice regarding strength training. yesterday i ran the bel monte 50 miler in lyndhurst, VA (that UROC championship will be fun, the area is excellent).

anyway, i'm fairly certain i placed in the top 10, despite literally running zero feet of elevation and at most 75 miles in a week leading up to the race, which included 11,000 feet of accumulated elevation. while my quads are certainly unhappy this morning, had i not put in about 4 hours a week of strength work for the last several months, i would not have made it through the race.

i still think that for those of us who need it, the aerobic base that comes with high mileage weeks is necessary...however, i think pure physical strength is a seriously underestimated element of training.

thanks, my dude!

continue kicking the proverbial, endlessly-kickable ass!

-patrick

Lucho said...

P- Awesome work man! I think it's the combination of a strong aerobic base on top of strength, the two compliment each other perfectly for ultras. Strength training will also reduce your chance of injury.

Aaron said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lucho said...

That's El Dorado Mountain and is mostly private. There is a rail road maintenance facility up there and if they catch you on the road they'll hassle you. I've been up the road a couple of times but have permission from a land owner. Plainview dumps you out at the bottom of High way 72 which is about 10 miles from my house. The roads running "west"? I don't know of any running West based on your description? Blue Mountain Road runs South and Chute Road and Spruce Canyon run West to East which is close to my neighborhood and will link you to Walker or El Dorado. There are tons of trails hidden away up there and some awesome jeep roads that will connect you to Walker no problem. There are probably 4 times the miles of trails and jeep roads up here than all the systems in Boulder combined so it's hard to say.

GZ said...

I am amused that Aaron has removed a comment that must reference private property.

Lucho said...

Not sure either. He said something about having a bad experience or something. The road up El Dorado Mt is owned by the rail road and they don't mess around. I always just tell them my name is George Zack then I spit on them and run off in to the woods with both hands flipping the bird.

GZ said...

You had me for a second, but we all know that guy would snot on them, not spit on them.

Lucho said...

I would grab one of their hats, blow my nose in it, then put it back on his head. That would be hilarious.