Training Tuesday: Heat will not break me!

Week of June 17-June 23, 2013:

Current Weight: 153.6 (Up the 1.2 lbs I was down last week)

Total Lost to date (since September 2011): 67.2 lbs

Still yo-yoing, but the range of the yo-yo is in smaller numbers by a couple pounds, so whatever.  :)

Major changes from last weeks workouts:  Re-packed my long hike pack so that it better balanced and cushioned.  What a difference that makes - the 43 lbs load didn't feel so awful.   I increased my short stair session with an Avery pack on Thursday by 5 minutes.  Switched up the location of my Sunday long hike, drove down South for some tougher terrain.  Wound up doing only 2.5 hours instead of 3, but worked harder for those 2.5.  My Monday recovery run was with the jogging stroller and Avery.  Oh what a difference pushing 40 lbs can make!

Fun stuff from last week:  I'm not sure if this is really fun, but I shaved off an average of 4 seconds per repeat on my hill intervals from the previous week, and that made me very happy.  My friend Richard joined me for my Sunday hike and we wound up having quite an adventure.  Met Team Superman at High Banks park for a picnic after my Tuesday hike.  This group will be running a 5K together supporting Dash for Donation.  Our fearless leader is the beneficiary of organ donation, and we call him superman. 

Up, up and away!!!

Here is what the week looked like day-by-day:

Monday: 5 mile recovery stroller run, avg pace 10:07

Tuesday: 1 hour strength training; 60 minute hike with 34 lb pack

Wednesday: Dam intervals.  (Ran 5 miles total)

Thursday: 1 hour strength training; 6 mile tempo-ish run, avg pace 8:45, 16 min Dam steps with 33 lb pack

Friday:  Glorious rest day

Saturday: 12.28 mile run, avg pace 9:28

Sunday:  ~2.5 hour hike at Tar Hollow State Park, 43 lb pack, 86*F

Some highlights in pictures

We saw lots of bunnies on the run people!  BUNNIES!

We saw squirrels, I called them kitties.

The water is even cooler when I'm not serving as pack weight.

Bullets of things to improve from last year's Humble Pie Post

• Lose 10 lbs.  0/10 done.
• Train with a heavier pack (Up to 50 lbs).  I am building up to this.  However, my heaviest pack last time was 37 lbs.  This weekend I trained with 43 lbs.
• Start pack training earlier. Done.  
• Longer sessions without a break.  Work to 2 hours consistently. Done.  More breaks in this weeks long hike due to the heat and getting lost.
• No Rest Step.  Done, although I came close to breaking on Sunday.
• Interval training. Even better this week.  Trainer says one more week at these intervals before making it harder.
• Asthma evaluation.  Done.  Upgraded my inhaler.  
• Tougher, more specific strength training.  In process.  Squats were with 45 lbs this week.

For those curious about Mark's climb in Ecuador, word is that they did not summit Cayambe and had to turn back at 18,300".  That is all that I know at the moment.  They still have an attempt on Cotopaxi on the schedule as far as I know.

This week will be more of the same.  I will be increasing my Sunday hike by one hour, while simultaneously increasing my pack weight by 2.5 lbs.  I will also be increasing my Dam Stair pack time by an additional 5 minutes.

No races for me on the schedule for a few weeks.  Anyone else racing that I can live vicariously through?