Self-Imposed Bootcamp

I am about 12 days into the most intense training routine I've ever subjected myself to. I'm working out every 12 hours. Once in the morning. Once in the evening.

The morning workouts includes a mix of weight training, treadmill, elliptical and cycling. Who would have thought I'd do weight training 5 to 7 times per week? The evening workouts generally include another longer run outside, and ab training.

The first 10 days or so were absolute torture. It was a challenge just to get out of bed. I felt post-marathon every day.

What would cause anyone to subject themselves to such torture? Self loathing? Maybe. Perhaps I'm both running away from something, while at the same time running toward that same thing. Whatever it is, I'm motivate like no other time in the past several years.

I've been on a ramp-up for several weeks. The first week of the bootcamp regimen darn near crippled me. I fell way short of completing any level of the Goofy Training Challenge. However, this last week (ending on Friday) I did get enough mileage in to complete the bronze.

This Saturday I started off the new week with a half-marathon training run. I did it at a new park I found just south of town. I never knew it existed. There is a great 2.5 mile out-and-back running path. About 5 1/2 trips out-and-back, and I had a half marathon. Not a bad way to start of this week. That makes Donald Run #12 for this year. Immediately following the half marathon, I did weight training.

I've kept pressing forward with this 2-workout-per-day insanity for almost two weeks now. I felt completely beat down and miserable.

But this weekend, things changed. . .

I have adjusted to the routine. I am now recovering in 12 hours, instead of 24. It's the strangest thing.

Last week, I ran a 10K on the Wabash Trace with Krystal. It was one of the most excruciating runs I've done in a long time. My legs felt like dead weight. I was short of breath. I was completely shot before the run started.

However, today I had the most fantastic run. I ran the same 10K on the Wabash, this time following an early morning workout and a noon workout. This run was the 3rd workout for the day. For whatever reason, it was one of the easiest runs I've done in ages; and the entire thing was at half-marathon race pace. Completely unexpected.

I plan to keep up this intensity level for as long as I can to see where it takes me. I'll let you know whether my self-imposed bootcamp was a good idea or not in the weeks to come.

Until next time, just keep goofin' . . .