Standing Desk Help My Running?

Last week I got a convertible sitting/standing desk for my office.

It easily moves up or down with one quick adjustment. I've been standing about 4 hours per day (in ~1 hour intervals). I get tired! I think it'll help with my overall endurance and performance in ultra-marathons. "Time on feet" is a key training predictor of success for ultras. Well, I'm getting a lot more time on my feet every single day! I hope that after 4 weeks, I'll settle in and be acclimated to the standing so I don't feel as tired. Anyone have experience with standing desks and how it might impact your running? I've been a little more tired this week, but it could be the extreme heat and humidity. Or my 33-mile run last weekend. Or the darn standing desk! Time will tell. For now, I'm enjoying the new "toy" in my office. I've become a bit of a celebrity, or at least tourist attraction, with this standing desk. Staff sure are curious about anything new or different. Once I adjust to the standing, then it's time for a treadmill desk! Certainly walking all day at my desk would help my running, right?

Second Week of July

The "month of miles" continues. My second week of July was even better than my first week. Still on track to hit 200 miles for the full month. I had my longest run of the year (32.7 miles) and longest week of the year (51.5 miles). All on just 4 runs for the week. Not bad. This week will likely be more runs, but about the same total mileage.

Count:	4 Activities
Distance:	51.46 mi
Max Distance:	32.79 mi
Avg Distance:	12.87 mi
Median Distance:	7.78 mi
Time:	9:58:52 h:m:s
Avg Speed:	5.2 mph (11:32)
Avg HR:	125 bpm
Calories:	6,157 C
Elevation Gain:	2,439 ft

If I can maintain my mileage for this month, then taper well for the first 10 days of August, I may have a great Howl at the Moon 8-hour race! Need to stay focused. One week at a time. I find myself already looking ahead to this fall and a couple of fast half-marathons. Not yet. First I need endurance, then stamina and speed.

Summer "Last Man Standing" Event

Tomorrow I'll participate in one of our local and informal "Last Man Standing" events at Lake of the Woods trails. Kind of like a fat ass event--no fee, no awards, no whining. Bring your own aid. Except there is a restriction on running--everyone starts on the hour every hour and does a 4.1 mile (or 5.05 mile) loop. No going faster or slower. If you are ready to go before the hour, then you wait. If you are not done by the hour, then you are out. Keep repeating the loop every hour until only one person is left standing. We've done this in the fall and spring, but not in the heat of the summer. Should be fun...and great training for the "real" summer ultra--Howl at the Moon 8-hour.

How many miles will we run? How long will we be out there in the heat? Nobody knows! Depends on who shows up and who keeps going. I need a good slow long run. Plan on 25 or 30 miles. But if others are still going, I'm game for more. Much more. 50 miles? Sure. 75 miles. Why not? 100 miles? Sounds good. It's just running.

First Week of July

I want July to be my "month of miles." Trying to hit 200 miles for the full month. Pure accumulation of easy miles. It's hot and humid almost every single day, so I want to motivate myself to get out and slog through the miles. Again and again. Last week went well. Highest mileage for the year. And longest single run this year too! Pretty low benchmark on both of those stats, but I did what I could. Now it's time to do even better.

Here are the basic statistics for this past week (July 3-9):

Count:	6 Activities
Distance:	40.33 mi
Max Distance:	15.54 mi
Avg Distance:	6.72 mi
Median Distance:	5.50 mi
Time:	6:51:46 h:m:s
Avg Speed:	5.9 mph (10:10 pace)
Avg HR:	124 bpm
Calories:	4,068 C
Elevation Gain:	1,609 ft

I'm pleased. Even with one day off, I managed to hit 40 miles. I plan on making this second week (July 10-16) even more awesome. More miles and a longer long run. Probably still one day of rest. My body seems to be reacting OK. My resting HR and HRV (heart rate variability) were off during the middle of the week, but are now back to normal. The informal "Last Man Standing" event is scheduled for this Saturday. Great chance to get in a long run, on trails, with company. I plan on at least 20 miles. Maybe 25 or 30? More? Depends on the company (competition!) and the weather.