Over a recent 12-day stretch, I ran 255 miles. I ended that stretch with a 50-kilometer training run that went as well as I could have hoped. I surged in the final hour of that run, ending with my fastest mile in weeks, if not months. The next day, an easy 3.5 miles on an oft-run route turned into one of my fastest runs, again, in weeks, despite having no intention to do so.
Gosh, running just feels so damn good right now. And that’s where the potential problem lies. I’m fit, uninjured, motivated, and ready to go! Oh, how easy it is to fly too close to the sun.*
This is not an uncommon experience. Way back in iRunFar’s early days, I coached ultrarunners. Sure, some runners needed motivation to run more. However, just as many needed to be steered toward running less, or at least toward running with more intention and purpose. More, harder, faster … that’s not always better.
So, what are some aspects and warning signs that you might be flying a bit too close to the sun with your running?
Wrapping up a four-day, 130-mile adventure in the headwaters of the Von River on the South Island of New Zealand. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Feeling of Invincibility
Admittedly, I feel this way right now, and I know how dangerous it can be. I just ran a massive volume in both the short and intermediate terms and faster on both long and recovery runs. I almost jumped into a 5k race this past weekend. Fortunately, I didn’t, and I’ll stick to a couple of easy days before another planned adventure, but I’ll admit to having the urge to do more and go faster.
More for No Reason
If you start logging extra long runs, scheduling races, squeezing in workouts, or stuffing the stat sheets for no particular reason or just because you can, you might want to see if that work might do more harm than good in the long run. That’s not to say you can’t be spontaneous, but if you’re feeling strong and consistently adding extra elements without intention, take a step back and see how they look as part of a broader picture.
Poor Sleep
Whether in the short or long term, abnormally poor sleep is a great sign that the body is stressed and, perhaps, overstressed. A night or two of lousy sleep after a race or particularly challenging workout is no big deal, but start questioning your training or lifestyle if poor sleep persists.
Unsustainable Body Composition
I’ll never advise others in this area, but I can share my self-assessment. After decades of running, I know what my racing weight looks like. I’ve seen it going into the likes of the Western States 100 or Hardrock 100 after good training blocks. Whether science-based or not, I don’t like to stay at that svelteness for long. I hope not to get to that point too long before a big race and intentionally soften the edges during post-race recovery. When I see myself at that racing weight without a focus race on the horizon, I start to wonder and worry.
Sunset outside Mavora Lakes, New Zealand, on evening three of the big four-day adventure. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Failure to adhere to these signs can lead to injury, illness, or burnout — whether that’s to the level of overtraining syndrome/RED-S or not. I remember back to the autumn of 2007 when I casually said yes to a coincidental series of three 50 milers over three straight weekends. I was in solid shape when I said yes, and I had a good run of it at three races, including running a still-standing 50-mile PR at the final race. I paid for it dearly with an early drop at a 100k a few weeks later that extended into a lethargic winter. I don’t recommend it.
* For those unfamiliar with the Greek myth of Icarus, the long story short is that Daedelus and his son Icarus are imprisoned, Daedelus makes wings of wax and feathers for them to escape, and he warns Icarus not to fly too close to the sun or the wings would melt. They fly off, Icarus gets excited, flies too close to the sun, and falls and drowns.
Call for Comments
- When have you gotten a little carried away with your running? What was the result?
- When have you found yourself going too far with training and successfully pulled back? How’d you do it?
Seemingly running toward Mordor on a great 50-kilometer run to where Edoras was filmed in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
