Denali Training Update

This past weekend was a milestone in training for Denali.  The expedition, which starts June 24th, is therefore only 7 weeks away.  I have had the goal to run 500 miles, do 100 workouts – all since returning from Aconcagua at the end of January, so just 21 weeks of total training and 14 weeks so far. 

On Sunday afternoon, after completing a 6.5 mile run through the farmlands of Petaluma, I made it to 300 miles which was the goal to this point.  Yay!  My training regimen has been to run on alternate days and to do pack training and rowing on the other days with one rest day per week.  After logging a bunch of miles in the past weeks, my left leg has been protesting with some cramping of the calves, so I was finally convinced to not run the past two days and have started to work more on upper body. 

The last two days, Monday and Tuesday, I only did work with weights (free and otherwise), machines, etc.  It was really good to do something different and though I’m sore now, it was a bit of a revelation to work on parts of the body that have not had very much attention.  I have now reached 65 workouts, with 35 to go in the coming 7 weeks or so.  Will go back to running today, packs tomorrow (up to 15% for 45 minutes, with -40 boots on, and 60lb pack).  Onward and upward!