Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Physical Demands

Ok... I will state the elephant in the room:  3,000 miles in 100 days is 30 miles a day?  A lot of individulas would immediately deem this as impossible-over a marathon  for 100 days?  (I really hate talking about myself, but in order to convince others and more importantly myself, I must reaffirm my abilities).Have I ever ran this far before in 100 days-no. Have I ever ran a marathon- no.  But I have ran more than 30 miles with 24 hours though (all the time actually), and I have ran 22 mile at sub 6 min pace and then did an interval workout on the track faster than 5 min pace less than 24 hours later.  (This is the part where I talk about myself, sorry agian). For over ten years, I have been running weekly mileage that averages around 85 miles a week.  Within these weeks there long runs (17+ miles), interval workouts, tempos, recovery runs, mid week long runs, and the race on weekends.  Then you start the whole routine over again on Sunday morning.  This routine is repeated for about 47 weeks out of the 52 week year.  (wow I really talked a lot about myself, but  I had to in order to convince others).
This is my logic.  In season, if I can run at an average of 100 miles a week at .85 effort (average: long runs at 6 min. pace, tempos and workouts at 5 min pace, and recovery runs at 6:20 pace), then why can't I run twice as long with half the effort?  In my opinion, running is not graphed as linear, but asymptotically, where your full potencial (how fast you can go) is never really ever met.  If you slow down your average speed/effort a little, you will see changes but not too much.  However, if you cut your effort/speed in half you, will get drastic changes in the y-coordinate...distance (where that is never met).

Injury- Oh yes. The dreaded shin splints, pulled muscles, or... stress fractures...Bum Bum Bum... What is key?? Foot protection!  New shoes will be sent to me throughout my quest (hopefully every 600 miles ish).  Stretching!  The simplest way to avoid injury is to stretch.  Even though I usually never do, I am planning on it.  IT IS A MUST. I may even take up Yoga.  Calorie intake-  According to my Garmin GPS, I burn 100 calories per mile.  So my daily calorie intake will be 5500 a day (using 2500 calories for my daily uptake).  Sounds like a lot of stops to fast food places!  Hydration!  Two larger water bottles will be taken and filled at every chance that I get.  Dehydration is the quickest way to ruin a run or possibly my plans.

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