WEEK 5: TURKEY TROT 2019

THIS WEEKS TRAINING STARTS MONDAY After four weeks of training you should be settling into a groove and hopefully becoming accustomed to track days, if you decided to stick with that part of the plan. Last week those on the runner plan ran/walked at a ratio of 3 minute to 1 minute (about 75% of the total time was spent running).  This week the ratio will involve running 80% of the total time. Overall, the total running duration and distance is increasing.
 
Those on the walker plan will notice a big change in the range of duration of the long easy walk.  Last week Saturday it was 60 minutes. This week it will be 45-90 minutes! Hal Higdon’s walker training plan, adapted by Earned Runs calls for this change.  Since you will be increasing mileage and minutes earlier in the week he is giving you the opportunity to either rest up from the extra effort, or reach for the stars. Ninety minutes is the longest duration walk of the entire plan!
 
My thought is that Higdon figured most regular walkers can push themselves to this point once, but perhaps not easily. However, if you are going to compete as a walker in a Turkey Trot event you will want to cover a greater distance over the course of the 90 minutes as training progresses, so at the end of the plan your pace is about 15 minutes/mile or less.   Which means you can walk a fast 5k the day of the race or finish a 10k with a respectable time.
 
As runners and walkers add on mileage, you may decide FULL REST DAYS are needed, and it's best to SKIP A CROSS-TRAINING session. This is perfectly fine and a smart thing to do if you notice too much fatigue carrying over from your long running or walking days the prior week.

Forty-three-year old Olympian marathoner Meb Keflezighi provides great advice for runners in an article “Meb’s Tips for Performing into Your 40s and Beyond”. He says to listen to your body; it’s safer to err on the side of doing less than more, to avoid injury. HIS ADVICE APPLIES TO BEGINNER RUNNERS AND WALKERS as well veterans! No matter what your age, the risk of injury increases with over-training. Take a break, get enough sleep, make sure you stretch, and perform weekly core and strength work.
 
With Thanksgiving travel season upcoming, consider preparing for the increased risk of influenza viral infection this month by obtaining a vaccination at least two weeks prior to your expected departure date. CDC recommendations for persons living in or visiting the Northern Hemisphere are to get this done by the end of October. Staying healthy means including this important prevention step in your pre-holiday planning activities.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!
 
https://gearjunkie.com/meb-keflezighi-marathon-champion-training-tips-in-40s
 
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/travelers/travelersfacts.htm
 
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm

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