The Training Diaries: Week 2

Sean Clancy
Jan 19
3 min read

Updated: Jan 27

13th-19th January 2025

The Plan

With UTMB Arc of Attrition 25 on the agenda next week, the priority for week 2 was to make sure I got my planned runs completed. I had an interval session, an easy midweek run and a longer weekend run to get through. I also wanted to get 2 sessions on the indoor wall ticked off, as my loosely structured climbing plan started this week.

My climbing 'plan' provides me some focus whilst still leaving things flexible. The first 4 weeks are geared around improving low level endurance. Each week I've got 3 options for sessions to complete, either on routes or boulders and either with or without a partner. This week my options looked like this:

(1) 3x10mins continuous easy climbing : 10mins rest

(2) 4x4s : rest equal to climbing time

(3) Volume bouldering pyramids

This means I have some focus but can adapt each week depending on the number of sessions I get in and still leaves the option to just climb for fun with friends.

The Headlines

3 runs (8km speed session, 7km easy and an 18km longer run)
2 climbing sessions (1 endurance session on the autobelay and 1 unstructured session with Jo including some leading and some bouldering)

The Highlights

I got the week started with my structured climbing endurance session, making the most of the recently opened Big Depot Manchester 5 minutes from work. The idea of the session is to climb continuously for 10 minutes at a nice easy grade for 3 sets with a 10 minute break in between.

Being the first time I'd done a session like this, I wasn't exactly sure how easy I would need to climb to complete the session so I started by picking an F5+, completing 5 laps in my first 10 minute set. I jumped on another F5+ for the second set but only managed 2.5 laps and failed at about 7 minutes.

Clearly I needed to go even easier! So for the third set I stepped down to an F5 and again failed at around the 7 minute mark. After my final rest I finished off with a quick jaunt up a F6a+ to see what it felt like doing some more involved moves after a load of volume.

In the running column this week, my interval session was a set of 4x4 mins hard, 90s easy with the usual 10 minutes warm up and cool down at either end. The session went down nicely, but the real highlight was my fresh new shoes!

These Asics Superblast 2 have replaced the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 that I did most of my road running in last year. I'll write up a review in a few weeks once I've spent a bit more time with them.

Reflections

My dabble into structured climbing confirmed 2 things to me:

I definitely need to work on my endurance!
These volume sessions need to be completed at a super easy effort level.

Once AoA is out the way I'll need to prioritise these sessions in the coming weeks.

Next Week

With the race falling on Saturday next week we are travelling down to Cornwall on Thursday. My sessions will therefore be limited to a bit of a leg stretch before heading down south and a couple of indoor climbs. Maybe I'll even get some mobility work in to ensure I'm moving well on by the time I arrive at the start line!

Until next time.