Training has certainly ramped for me in the last few months. I have mentioned before that writing here helps me focus and stay accountable. I don’t think I have ever shirked a session, but I can always lift the level and quality and that is what committing thoughts to the digital paper realm is reaping
I talk often in work about lead and lag indicators. This can apply to training too.
We use training peaks for athletes and coach and it gives up some incredible data. So too does Strava and the best running data site of them all, Fetcheveryone (free and full of features).
My underlying aim of this training period is to be ready to run well at a 24 hour race in April. This is my goal. Everything else is geared towards that. At this stage all I want to do is get comfortable with running longer distances, building the volume and improving the quality.
I have a 70k trail race in 4 weeks but it is nit really that important. Where I finish matters a lot less than I how I feel at the finish. But the numbers are trading in the positive:
October was my first 400 mile+ month since March 2023. My long run this week – 35 miles in 4:20 – was my 2nd longest of the year and the longest since February 2024. My TSS (training stress score) on Training Peaks is at 118. It was April 6th 2023 the last time it was that high. And October’s training stress score was 20% higher than the average for the 2 months preceding it.
All of these leading indicators are suggesting my longer term numbers will head in the right direction too. More importantly, I am feeling good and anticipating the training. Looking forward to the effort and embracing the miles ahead.
Positive indicators indeed.
James Stewart 