100 miles?

I’ve been tracking my mileage since July of 2008. That’s when my training for the Marine Corps Marathon began in earnest. From that point until my injury in November of 2010, I ran between 80 and 100 miles almost every single month. Sometimes I was a bit higher and once I was a lot lower, but most months were in that range.

Since that point, I’ve only had a handful of months that were over 80 miles and my highest month in the last two years was 115 miles. If I look at the graph, I can see a build up of miles, a half marathon race, and then Boom! another injury. And then my mileage drops significantly again.

This month is the first in a long time where I think I’ll be hitting 100 miles. I’m trying to do things differently this time. I’m kind of over getting to half marathon status and then hurting myself.

Here’s what I’m doing this time:

• I’m running most of my miles at a super easy pace.  I’m not thrilled with how slow I am, but I’m not pushing myself to go faster.
• I’m building my longest run at the rate of one mile per week.  In order to increase my weekly mileage by 5-10% each week, I’m adding small extensions to my shorter runs.
• Once I get my long run up to about 14, I’ll start adding that mile to my next longest run.
• I’m using compression socks/sleeves and KT tape as necessary.
• I’m listening to my body and giving it rest when it needs it.

Will it work?  I don’t know.  But I have a goal and the only way I’m going to get there is slowly.  Pushing too hard or too fast is just a recipe for disaster.

Fingers crossed that this is just the first of many 100 mile months!