Chad's Runs

Nice work finding your groove the last mile. Camping with the kids can be exhausting, unless you medicate everyone (including you) with Benadryl or something similar. :)

The kids slept great. I can't believe I've never thought about drugging myself to sleep. I'm going to try that one next time.

you've been very consistent this summer -- the missed run will be okay, especially since it was due to lack of sleep. getting good rest is just as important as the running part. nice job this morning.

Thanks allie. I always welcome your expert advice. You've always go great insight.

I do have a question though. I had 27 miles planned for last week and 29 planned for this week, but now my previous 2 weeks have been 25 and 23. I'm worried that jumping from 25/23 up to 29 might be too much. My knee has been getting a lot better and is a lot stronger than a month ago but I don't want to set myself back. I've decided to bump my schedule back to 26 this week but I really want to run more. What do you, or anyone else, think? The rule of thumb is supposed to be 10% a week and I've already been a little more aggressive than that. An increase of 6 miles is way more than 10%. Or maybe I'm worried over nothing.

Okay, I know I'm no expert here, but here is my 2 cents:

In the past it always seems like a run just a little too long (sorry, I know...always my fault!) pushes the knee to a point that you don't realize while running, but pay for afterward. I would keep the miles low. Make them quality miles and make them count. Then build back again. Those 2 miles may just cost you a month of training set-back. This is all simply based on the times I've set you back on running. So, I guess I'd error on the side of caution. You'd probably feel great for the run, but then pay for it the next day. If you don't have a build up point you're pushing to (a specific race or something) I'd keep it conservative and not push the extra miles. Not worth all the hard work you've put in so far.

i'm glad your knee is feeling healthy and strong -- you have been very diligent in taking care of it and building back your mileage base using caution and good sense.

as for the 10% 'rule of thumb' -- it's a guideline but not a strict rule. in general it's always good to be patient when you are building up your mileage, and the 10% rule ensures that you work up to it slowly. however, even using that as a guideline, it's always going to come down to how you feel. listen to what your body is telling you. sometimes it will tell you it can only handle a 5% increase, sometimes it will be fine for a 20-30% increase, and other times it will demand a cut back week. i think you would be fine jumping up to 29 this week, but it's all dependent on how you feel. just take extra care of your knee and don't worry if you have to back off of the planned 29. if you do hit 29 this week, i would maybe drop back to 25-27 the next week and then see if you can push 30 the week after that. just take it a day at a time...

I want to run the Halloween Half. I haven't signed up yet but it's kind of the last run of the season. There should be enough time left if I put in all my miles. Also, I'm not putting those extra miles on the long run, just the other runs during the week. I'm not trying to make a case for a 29 mile week, just looking at it from the other side.

Not adding it all on to one run, I think you'd be okay. I just don't want to be the one to put you back in 'the box' again!! :)