Day 25: Recovery Run and Reflections 🐆

Stats:

• Endurance score: 6,240
• VO2 Max: 53
• Sleep score: 76 (7h 40m)
• Distance: 5.25 km
• Heart rate: Avg 138 bpm
• Pace: Avg 5:43/km
• Time: 30:03

Today’s run was perhaps the most anonymous one of the challenge, but it served its purpose. After yesterday’s 10K, my legs are starting to feel less sore, which is a relief. The numbers also indicate progress: maintaining a heart rate under 140 bpm while running a faster-than-usual pace of 5:43/km is encouraging.

I’m approaching this week as a recovery week, following the typical three-week progression and one-week recovery cycle. My plan is to focus on shorter runs (4–6 km), with one tempo session with a bigger effort to keep things balanced. It’s clear my body is tired, but I’m glad to see no signs of worsening soreness or injuries.

Thought of the Day:
I recently came across an article comparing humans to other species in endurance. It showed how humans are far superior over long distances, with sweating being a key factor. This natural cooling system allows us to sustain effort over long periods, unlike most animals.

This resonates with my current runs in the heat and humidity. Despite sweating over a liter in just 30 minutes (according to my watch), I’ve adapted well to these conditions. It'll be fascinating to see how my body reacts when I return to Scandinavia’s freezing temperatures soon. I wonder if shifting from 30°C to near 0°C will impact my performance.

With just 5 days left, I feel strong and ready to wrap up the challenge.

Peace. Pace. ✌