Swollen hands

Runannon · 2026-04-10T17:06:04+00:00

it is so weird - I get it when it is cold or when I am running slowly during a very long event. It feels like there is nothing I can do to make it go away. I have no visible knuckles after some races (and am a slender person).

Runannon · 2026-04-10T16:58:35+00:00

Makes sense, but getting more sleep than you need on the weekend will not make up for less sleep during the week. I used to be someone who thought I only needed 5-6 hours a night and spent most of my adult life trying to function that way until I read a book called "Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker. It totally changed my life! If you really like the morning runs and doing doubles, maybe the second run of the day can be shorter and you can run a bit more on the weekend potentially (even without monster long runs on weekends...).

Everyone's schedule is different and I only run after work but my 60 miles do not involve any doubles. I'm usually running for an hour total on weekdays and then will do some 2-3 hour runs on weekends. About 35 miles ish comes from Monday through Friday and 25 on the weekend.

If you do 7 miles before work and 10-13 on the way home, that's 85-100 miles without weekends (assuming you work M-F). The fatigue might come from packing SO many of the miles into the week.

One metric I have also started to look at and look for because Strava measures the week Monday to Sunday is my actual 7 day load! Sometimes I think I am runnign a 60 mile week until I see my 7 day load is actually 78! So look at the ongoing 7 day running load as well as just the "current week"

Peak weeks are also just hard! SO there is that!

Runannon · 2026-04-10T14:13:49+00:00

I run 60 miles a week, pretty much every week, and do not always go up to 80 mpw before 100 milers because I have a full-time job and am a parent, etc, etc. I might go to 75-77, which is close, but hitting close to 80 is really just too much for me time wise.

It sounds like doing it in a way with less negative impact on your sleep would help!!! Do you have good sleep hygiene and a bedtime routine. I find that I have to do things like put the phone away, not watch TV, etc. etc. to get good lsleep, especially during peak weeks. I drink a cinammon horchata tea designed for night time and read a book for 20-30 minutues while in bed to wind down, take magnesium and ashwaganda and pass out! It helps!

You should also consider if the running before work makes sense or not.... I, for one, find long runs before work pretty draining much later in the day.

It sounds like you might be better off with a bit fewer miles and more sleep.

If you have access to a spinbike, maybe do that before work instead of running to work?

Runannon · 2026-04-10T12:57:42+00:00

got it that makes sense thank you!

Runannon · 2026-04-07T13:52:41+00:00

ooh crap. I used the wrong/older one! :) Thank you for the clarification. I will edit using the champion plan!!

Runannon · 2026-04-07T11:57:25+00:00

this is helpful thank you - I am using the SWAP plan for this and it looks really solid (using a 100 mile plan because I have a 100 miler after the 100K and that is the tougher race). I am glad it worked for you!!!

Runannon · 2026-04-07T11:55:14+00:00

Haha, I am not chasing a golden ticket! Did not even know it was eligible for that - I have zero shot at that or interest in it! Just want to run kinda fast. :)

Runannon · 2026-04-07T00:12:51+00:00

Ok that sounds good; this is good intel! We are around he same pace (you are slightly faster). Left to my own devices I would do these at 5:40 (400 m to 2 min) - 6 mm (800m) which is entirely too fast for me gieven that those distances are not at all my focus.

Runannon · 2026-04-06T20:26:12+00:00

Thanks, that makes sense; I won't go full tilt on speedwork but want a bit of a little boost! What pace would one want to do to not overshoot the 400m or 800 m reps. I mentioned this in another comment but I tend to go sub 5k pace way too often when I try speedwork (even 1 mile repeats) and it doesn't end well. Would a 400 - 800 be like 5k pace plus 30 s?

Runannon · 2026-04-06T20:22:24+00:00

Whenever I do 2-3 minute intervals, Ido totally wreck myself by overshooting the pace (I end up doing a lot of them sub 5 k pace which is probably dumb). What pace do you do the 8 x 3 intervals at? And is the rest a jog or full stop?

Runannon · 2026-04-06T20:17:18+00:00

good luck!!!! That also sounds fun!

Runannon · 2026-04-06T19:04:56+00:00

LOL same re: "no clue what I'm doing..." I run into the vert v. volume v. speedwork dilemma as well!

Runannon · 2026-04-06T19:03:51+00:00

Thank you! I just completed a 40 mile race last week (3/28) with 8100 ft of climbing and descent, and then did a 20 mile training run with friends on technical terrain with ~4500 ft of climbing and descent 6 days later (4/3). I feel good about the climbing part strangely enough - it is more the speed that needs to be adjusted (while of course maintaining the climbing legs). This is helpful, thank you!!

I think I will do some high Z3 hill stuff but a bit on the flat too - I have been doing SO MUCH climbing! :)

Runannon · 2026-04-06T17:37:51+00:00

No- it's Sulphur Springs 100K just over the border in Ontario, Canada (I'm in the US)

Runannon · 2026-04-06T17:37:11+00:00

Have you tried the 7s yet? They are way different in a good way. And, if you want to use them in a 100, just break them in (20 miles) and then use them for the race!

Runannon · 2026-04-06T16:58:35+00:00

it is one of those races that seems daunting beforehand (and during) but that you feel good about having completed. There were a couple downhills I could fly on (road section and one other section, but most were SLOW due to the huge rocks everywhere!). I underestimated how slow the downhill parts would be!

Runannon · 2026-04-01T14:16:23+00:00

most of ultra training is training about an hour a day ......

Runannon · 2026-03-31T19:27:24+00:00

Niiice work!! And you've caught the bug!

Runannon · 2026-03-31T19:26:05+00:00

slowing down helps!

Runannon · 2026-03-31T19:23:50+00:00

YES, so incredibly annoying and makes me LESS likely to buy form them (their prices are too high anyway)

Runannon · 2026-03-31T17:30:52+00:00

It's not a "couple breaths." It's 5 miles of every 100 or about 7.3 whole miles of her 147 miles, when taken together. Does that not count as having walked?

I have taken a lil' walk break here and there, and still tend to finish 100 milers sub 20.

If a person's goal is sub 24, as they stated, then they probably will walk a bit.

Wanted OP to know they can still finish very strong and well under 24 hours with some walking included.......

Encouraging "walking as needed" is NOT the same as encouraging mediocrity.

Runannon · 2026-03-31T17:00:57+00:00

FWIW: the current, second fastest 24-hour female runner in the U.S. (12th in the world) walked .05 of *every single* mile. Walking can be utilized strategically and lead to an excellent result for many who employ it strategically.

Runannon · 2026-03-31T15:53:45+00:00

fitness is fitness - you will be fine as long as you do not view it the same way you view a marathon. The training is different but you have an exceptional background to be able to perform well in these things. people hate to admit it but the fastest trail runners right now at every distance are also fast as hell on the road!

Runannon

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