I recently watched an interview between Floris Gierman, an accomplished speed marathon runner and coach, and Courtney Dauwalter, an incredibly talented ultra runner, who I am obviously obsessed with because I’ve mentioned her numerous times in this blog. In this interview, Floris asks her what her training plan is like and I was shocked to hear how she just does a daily check in while drinking her morning coffee and lets her body and mind dictate what she is going to accomplish for the day.

What the hell.

I’m over here trying desperately to stick to a regimented twenty-eight week plan and she’s just like “mmm, this coffee is so good and I feel pretty chill, I guess I’ll tackle twenty miles today”.

I’ve always been a planner. I enjoy creating itineraries and I love a good schedule of events. I think it probably has something to do with general underlying anxiety and craving awareness of what is going to happen in the future because the unknown brings me unease. And since I have never run 100 miles before, a big unknown, researching and finding that perfect plan and now following that plan is critical for me to have a path for success.

So hearing Courtney talk about how she hasn’t had a coach since college and that her training is truly a day to day decision, was both shocking and intriguing to me. I’ve linked the exact timestamp to this part of the interview here.

I’ll admit that some days I move the prescribed distance call out around to fit a social event or I’ll shorten a run if I’ve overslept and am pressed for time. That’s about as much flexibility as I give myself but then I spiral a bit if I don’t hit my weekly mileage. So after hearing how she really puts effort into checking in with her body every morning, I think I can incorporate that sentiment a little more purposefully into my own routine. I feel like I’ve become a bit of a robot in the sense that I wake up and just accept that I have to accomplish the day’s “callout” and then I try to power through it. It would probably be in my best interest to let myself be more flexible on my day to day mental and physical well being and decide if it’s a day I could push a little more or need to pump the breaks a bit. And then be okay with that decision.

Since I just completed week 11 of my training plan, I think watching this interview at this specific time in my training was very enlightening. Courtney’s approach to training is so very different than mine that it reminded me that every person is different and success can be achieved in many ways. I think giving myself a little more grace, flexibility, and being more mindful of what my body is telling me is going to be a great compliment to my more automated approach. Check the whole interview out, it’s a good one!

Up next for me is the Flying Squirrel 10 miler run on Saturday. I’ve done this race back in 2023 and really enjoyed it and I’ve also done quite a few training runs along the route so I’m very excited to do this one. It’s pretty much a 5 mile uphill road climb with some great views of downtown Asheville from above, and then bombing back down to then enjoy a beer. It was a complete coincidence when I signed up that my training plan calls for a cutback week for week 11 with a 10 mile run for Saturday so I think the universe was on my side for this one. I also love their race logo.

Incorporating Mindfulness Into My Training Plan - 17 weeks until the hundo

Flying Squirrel Pre-Race Thoughts - 16 weeks until the 100

Cross Country Tour (Also Running Vest Discussion)- 18 weeks until the 100