Tristian Merchant Training In Alaska: Week 3

Week 2:  8/26-9/2

8/26/20 - Easy Day 

Wednesday is our easy day. We go pretty easy these days. Not too many of the guys were feeling too hot, me included. We ended up doing 5.8 at 6:50 this includes our 6x150 accelerations. So the overall run was closer to 7:10 pace for 5.2 miles.

8/27/20 - Pick Up

Today we just have a pick up again. This will be the last one of the school season for us. We ended up jogging 2.6 miles at 7:15 pace. One of the jr highers was actually gapping us on this part. Then we got onto a bog loop which was pretty muddy with all the rain we've had. Then did 12-minutes at 5:03 pace which may have been a little fast but my Heart rate was all in the threshold zone for it. Then a nice 3.4 that was pretty easy. Which brought my total for the day to 8.4 with an average of 6:31 pace for the run.

8/27/20 - Race Day

Friday has basically been our race day now that we don't have any big meets. We did an easy 1.1 for our warm-up. Everyone was feeling a little sore from the muddy tempo. We ended up seeing a moose when we previewed the course and it did not want to move whatsoever and then another mom and calf when we were racing. That was a little scary for me. I ended up walking past it didn't really feel like getting trampled but only for a very short time so it shouldn't have affected my race. Ended up running 15:03 on the course which someone said was short but I was assured it was a full 5k and Garmin had it at 3-3.08 miles on a windy course so I guess that's close. This was a bit hilly; we had a lot of PR's even with the tempo before. Then a nice 15 minute cool down which was like 1.7. Overall super thankful for the race and how the team did definitely have to thank God for every race effort we get to have this year. 

8/28/20 - Easy Run

Saturday Josh and I ended up meeting with some other guys for a run. This was just 5 miles at like 7:00 pace on a little bit of a hilly trail. Nothing really crazy about this run.

8/29/20 - Long Run

We had another easy long run just 12.1 at 7-minute pace and got to relax a bit and ended up having some pretty muddy miles. Overall, a chill day. At church before that, we talked about the excitement of life and the joy of heaven and the reality of hell. (which is something Christians believe in) and then this verse to end it off, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." so I want to make sure I enjoy all these runs and am thankful for everything like this with running with the boys. We also found some rocks I guess. (Pic above) 

8/30/20 - Longer Run 

Today we have another longer run. We did 10.1 miles and the rain finally let up so that was pretty nice. It ended up being 6:37 pace for the run then we had 6x150 accelerations  "Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." Then the coach added this kinda just talking about how we have prevision with how everything is going on right now.

8/31/20 - Longer Run

Today is a pretty hefty workout. It's one of our longer ones we do it on a gravel airstrip which is pretty rocky and very straight and flat. My coach made this workout because he wants to work on our mental strength. This workout definitely makes you focus. You don't pass any trees so reps on the airstrip feel very long. We did a mile warm-up. My reps ended up being around 1490m at 4:15 per rep which is pretty close to 4:40 pace. Then we would jog back to the start in 7:22 then ~.69 in 3:12 (4:39 pace) 4:55 jog back 2:06 for .46 (4:35 pace) 3:30 jog then .23 in 1:06 (4:41 pace) 1:57 jog then .69 in 3:14 (4:42 pace) 5:09 jog back then 2:06 for the .46 (4:36 pace) then I jogged back and was a little confused and thought my teammates were doing the last rep with me but they did so I had 4:42 rest with the jog back in. Then a 1:02 for the .23 Which is 4:32 pace then a nice cool down 2.1 on some trails I'll try and show a picture of the airstrip this ended up being 10.1 total so it has been a pretty big week. (Airstrip pic above)