As new year creep in, time for new resolutions - not really - but for new goals. A long overdue post about our boat in French Polynesia might come in a few weeks - but for now, there is no new adventure planned on the water. For now.
On land, on the opposite, I am playing with various ideas, all a bit craziest.
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| They rejuvenated the 400m track Satoki Yamamoto in Wailuku |
Left Achilles have been quiet for a while now, but started to act a bit those last few weeks. maybe 2 on the scale of pain - nothing that stops you - but when you know how annoying this injury can be, you think about it.
Inside right knee has been better and better. Still can feel it after long runs, but overall, under control.
Right hip has been improving over the last few years - but this one will be by forever friend it seems. I have been working on strength relatively regularly - once a week - not as much as I would like - but let's be honest, strength training is super boring - compared to kiting, surfing or running in circles in the forest.
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| On the way to La Perouse |
Surprisingly, sometime I go out of my forest loop and hit a lava trail on the south shore. After la Perouse Bay, King's away seems to go forever and all around the island. Unfortunately, the path on the lava block is barely runable.
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| Tiny beach on lava field |
Still very pretty. And not a soul around. Hint: you cannot come in your car.
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| from Hanomanioa Light on King's highway |
As training goes, I recovered pretty well from the Maui marathon and managed to maintain a good volume of more of 6 hours of running per week, usually on a 4 runs a week. Trying to go to an average a 5 days a week, but the volume is coming. The highest point - 8h /week - in September was pre-marathon, i.e. peak training. You don't want to maintain this all year round - at least, not yet.
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| Volume over last year |
Base is building, mostly on zone 2, and I was curious about how the body will respond. Weight have been pretty stable at 154lbs - 70kg and pacing seems to follow.
Average pace on a zone 2 test :
January 5th: 9 min/ mile
November 6th : 9:30 / mile
September 6th : 9 min/ mile.
December 6th : 10 min/mile.
Looks like I came back to my fitness level from before the marathon.
And one minute faster than one year ago at same level of effort.
Time for new goals then. I played with the idea of another marathon - maybe a cooler - and faster - one, like L.A. But I really love trails.
I know Maui Run Co. is likely to organize again the Makawao Forest 50k this summer - likely a 6:30 effort at best. Now we are talking.
H.U.R.T (Hawaii Ultra Running Team) is organizing end of summer the TTT 30. Roughly 50km and certainly 7h+ hours to complete.
The nice thing about trail running is that even if the distance is not way out compared to a marathon, the simple fact that you are on trails, usually on a mountain and get some elevation, it takes waaaay longer to finish and it is waaaay harder.
Now the cherry on the cake. 'TTT is a qualifier for Peacock Challenge'.
The Peacock Challenge is a very hard 55 milers - 80 km that is run in October.
"The PC 55, brought to you by the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team (HURT, “Run Management”), is an extremely difficult event designed for the most adventurous and well-prepared runner (this is not an entry level ultrarun event)."
I am not feeling like the most adventurous and well-prepared runner, but who knows, won't be the first time I would do something stupid.
In any case, for now, the 30 miler is a great stepping stone toward insanity.
Average pace on a zone 2 test :
January 5th: 9 min/ mile
November 6th : 9:30 / mile
September 6th : 9 min/ mile.
December 6th : 10 min/mile.
Looks like I came back to my fitness level from before the marathon.
And one minute faster than one year ago at same level of effort.
Time for new goals then. I played with the idea of another marathon - maybe a cooler - and faster - one, like L.A. But I really love trails.
I know Maui Run Co. is likely to organize again the Makawao Forest 50k this summer - likely a 6:30 effort at best. Now we are talking.
H.U.R.T (Hawaii Ultra Running Team) is organizing end of summer the TTT 30. Roughly 50km and certainly 7h+ hours to complete.
The nice thing about trail running is that even if the distance is not way out compared to a marathon, the simple fact that you are on trails, usually on a mountain and get some elevation, it takes waaaay longer to finish and it is waaaay harder.
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| TTT 30 miler |
Now the cherry on the cake. 'TTT is a qualifier for Peacock Challenge'.
The Peacock Challenge is a very hard 55 milers - 80 km that is run in October.
"The PC 55, brought to you by the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team (HURT, “Run Management”), is an extremely difficult event designed for the most adventurous and well-prepared runner (this is not an entry level ultrarun event)."
I am not feeling like the most adventurous and well-prepared runner, but who knows, won't be the first time I would do something stupid.
In any case, for now, the 30 miler is a great stepping stone toward insanity.
