That was how I jumped back into training a couple of days ago, after a couple of months of down time.
Alright, maybe it still isn't quite as rigid and structured as the word "training" would suggest, but considering where I had been during the months of April and May, it really is not a stretch. Three straight days of running. Not of the ultra variety, but just three easy-paced 10-kilometer runs. For others out there, it is nothing to get too excited about. But for me? The last three days have been nothing but solid. The last time I had work-outs like the ones I had the last three days was when I was preparing for BDM.
"Focus" is the buzz word for me these days, as far as my running is concerned. After eight weeks of kicking back and drifting aimlessly, I am again working towards a goal. Having completed the 2011 BDM 102 in less than 18 hours, I hope to be invited to the big dance in 2012: the Bataan Death March 160k Ultra Marathon. BDM 160 is the race that will separate the men from the boys, and I hope to be good and ready in case Bald Runner comes calling. Trust me, it is never difficult to get up for a shot at personal history, or perhaps, even self-discovery.
The road to what hopefully will be my first 100-miler is long, yet it is filled with opportunities for me to improve. There will be marathons. There will be ultras. There will be weekend LSDs. And then, there will be the weekday runs in between. It's always easy to get psyched for a race, but I have always maintained that the short weekday runs are the ones that really forge discipline in a runner. Running during weekends is usually easy, but running as the sun sets on yet another stressful day at work? It poses a different challenge altogether.
The target for this week is 82 kilometers, spread over six days of running. Five weekday 10k runs and a 32k LSD on Sunday. I have logged 30 over three days thus far, and I am eager to claim the balance.
My eyes are definitely on the prize.
