So the five-above-average-resting-heart-rate is not necessarily
the best teller of over-training, at least not for one runner.
Before the race, my one-week average was 45.4 beats-per-min.
My readings for the past week were: Sun(Race Day)-45,
Mon-45, Tue-45, Wed-50, Thu-48, Fri-48 and Sat-48. And
below was my experience.
I rested till Wed and ran for 40 min Thu morning. It felt
good (and surely good to brag to L) but I knew recovery
was not complete. Friday morning's run was the same distance
but felt sluggish. Nonetheless I added strength training
during the day. My plan also included a Sat morning long run
with the Coyote gang. But that turned out to be miserable.
After the two-mile ramp-up with Karl, I joined the fast
group and teamed up with Ed. These guys kept a sub 8
(min/mile) pace on the hills and I ran out of gas within a
mile. I shouldn't because every one of my morning runs was
below 8min/mile these days. I should be able to hold out for
at least four more miles. Instead, I said goodbye to Ed there
and finished the last mile alone.
We had kimchi fried rice for lunch after Tim's Jiu-Jitsu.
Hiking on Gazos Rd in Big Basin in the afternoon was
peaceful but painful for me as my mind was groggy and musles
sore. We spent two hours there and turned back. (Now I am
thankful for the safe drive on highway 9 in the mountains.)
I devoured 1/8 of a big watermelon and a carton of ice cream
in addition to three tortillas. Carb-binging reminded me of
my meals earlier in the week: the jjigae and beef steak
suppers were nearly carb-free. I think Jurek said runners
need carbs before, during, and after a race. This seemed to
be another lesson confirmed by my first 50k.
"Hi, man, felt over-trained. Will skip tomorrow. Have a good
time." I texted my friend who would have a 100-miler in two
weeks. I cancelled the plan to join him for a 16-mile hill-run
Sunday morning before Apollo strikes me down for hubris.
