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The learning never stops!
27th of August, 2022
👋 Moinsen, everyone!
I really enjoy writing these newsletters, to be honest.
Although there’s not much direct feedback apart from a bunch of “likes” here and there, I have no idea which of the parts you find most interesting, and which you don’t. Let me know! Just reply or hit “comment”. Thank you!
Five more weeks to go until I will try again to become a Sub-3-Hour Marathon Runner. As a reader you might remember, in April of this year I came incredibly close with 3:00:40 hours, so it should be possible.
Training is tough, though, no surprises there. I enjoy it a lot to see the progress and do these speed sessions which nearly completely drain my powers. A bit too much, apparently. During the previous week, I accidentally did three speed work session, which is arguably too much to digest. Most training plans advice for one or two per week at the most.
While I managed to do quite well on all three and hit the pace targets, I got the bill during the weekly long run on Sunday. Those three hours and 35 kilometers took everything from me. This wasn’t productive, I realized.
So I decided to dial back my training plan slightly and favor less speed work, but make that more intense and faster. This week, I started Monday with a really easy 5k, recovering from the 35k. On Tuesday I tested my new trail running shoes during a 7k, and on Wednesday, my friend Mathias and I went out for 13 kilometers while talking and enjoying the scenery and weather. It’s been great running.
Thursday, I was ready for intervals again. And that plan worked out pretty well: 6x 800 meters at 3:40 min/km was the plan, but I did them in ~3:35 steadily. The fitness is definitely improving and I’m looking forward to this weekend’s long run. I’m sure it will go down a lot better.
I am really happy about these new additions to my running gear. The HOKA Speedgoats are my new go-to trail running shoes. I don’t do much of trail running at the moment, but winter is coming and with it, the 106 kilometers of the Templiers Endurance Trail race at the end of October. I desperately needed new shoes for it because the old ones were done. Hoka had supply chain issues – especially concerning my size of shoes: US 14 / EU 49. Thankfully, finally, they arrived. The first few runs in them were great.
Next up is a new sensor to measure my heart rate. For speed training it’s highly informative to take a look at the development of the heart rate during the weeks of focussed training. So I usually used the standard device to measure it, which is a chest belt – quite uncomfortable, especially on long runs. The GPS watches can measure the heart rate via infrared cameras monitoring the skin on the wrist, and while that’s more comfortable, the data is notoriously unreliable. Along comes Polar Verity Sense. A kind of mix of both worlds. It’s a strap which is meant to be worn around the upper or lower arm and also works via infrared. Somehow they have improved the technology so much so all the tests and reviews approved high accuracy. What I’ve seen so far from my own tracking is that it seems to produce good data. Tip of the Week! And thanks to my friend Rasmus (👋) for telling me about it!
While I’m writing these words, on Friday night, I have the great livestream of one of the biggest (maybe the biggest) ultra trail races in the world running. The UTMB. With 170 kilometers and 10,000 meters of elevation gain plus 10,000 loss, it’s not just one of the toughest, but one of the prettiest, too, circling the massive Mont Blanc. The world’s best trail runners come here to compete. This year’s favorites, Jim Walmsley (USA) and Kilian Jornet (ESP) are currently running next to each other, a few hours in. They are running through the whole night and a huge part of Saturday before finishing the 170 kilometers back in the town of Chamonix. And we can witness it live, which is great and highly unusual for a trail race. When you read this on Saturday after it’s published, take a look! They might be on the course, still. Incredible athletes.
I’m still having too much fun working on improving the website, teesche.com these days. New this week:
I took a little break from the heavy and smart Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, at around 40% of progress. I love it, but it’s long and I needed a break. So I started reading lighter books – by the guy I mentioned last time, Derek Sivers.
I finished his short book, “Anything You Want” and published my notes here, as well as recorded them as a podcast episode for you. It’s a book about his journey as founder of a small company which then grew to 85 people before he sold it. He offers lots of wisdom and lit a new spark in me for my own business with it.
Afterwards, I immediately went on to read his newest book, “How to Live”, which is funny, but equally full of wisdom. Almost finished it by now.
For this week, I chose Prague in the Czech Republic. 🇨🇿
This is one of those marathons I would immediately run again. Not only because it was an exceptionally pretty city with great crowds, but also because I unfortunately had to battle a cold while I ran it, which made it not so enjoyable at the time.
There’s always a reason to visit Prague, and a marathon race isn’t the worst one.
That’s it for this week’s newsletter, I hope there was something in it for you – please let me know what you thought and what you would like to read more of!
All the best to you and have a great week, enjoy the last few days or hopefully weeks of summer in case you’re on the northern hemisphere, and take care!
– Teesche