October 2015 Running Challenge

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Replies

  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    I don't know why or when they decided to start putting the pads in sport bras, but I also just throw mine. Other than for extra sweat absorption, I can't imagine why they are there!!! @Elise4270 - I buy mine at TJ Maxx and I will buy any brand that makes them primarily with cotton.
    @kristinegift - Sorry if this already well known by everyone but me...but are you running the Baltimore Half this weekend??

    Baltimore half indeed! It was my first full marathon last year, so I'm super pumped to go back and actually notice/appreciate the course, lol.
  • HealthyFocused715
    HealthyFocused715 Posts: 340 Member
    @kristinegift - That's awesome! That is where I ran my first half ever back in 2013 and I loved it! What a great race! And I definitely enjoyed the cookies at Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop...we'll call it carb loading, right? Have a great race!! And enjoy the (very hilly) course!
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    edited October 2015
    kareF wrote: »
    @Stoshew71 I'd rather run slower than hurt myself! Thanks for the info earlier on, on this very topic! My shin is a little tender today (nothing compared to what it was like weeks ago though) because I've done 15km in the last two days.. So it's more of a distance thing rather than the pace/way I was running. Today is rest day but it feels soo great to be able to run! I'm sure everyone near where I run thinks I am crazy because I run with a huge smile on my face lol


    Awesome. Hope you can keep it up.


    Evening run felt much better/easier than this morning. Phew! Just 2 miles shake out after my drive to Baltimore tomorrow, and then GOAL HALF-MARATHON SATURDAY! So excited!!

    Good Luck!
    So I thought about @Stoshew71 and his newbie running mistakes article (at least I think it was his post-it seems like a good guess to be his, given how many great articles he posts!) and figured I'd add a short quick (for me anyway!) run in there. So I got in a mile and a half at 5mph, which is faster than my usual pace these days. Not a lot of mileage, but I figure if I can do that every so often eventually I can extend that pace to a 5K, or just try and run the mile and a half even faster, or whatever.

    yeah that sounded like one of my posts. Glad I could help.

    snha wrote: »

    @karef and @Stoshew71 when I did my run today, I decided to slow down at my second half and the difference was amazing. my muscles were so rested and I was about to increase the distance, but decided to stick with my original plan. But, in the first half I did not imagine extending my run, in the second half I felt i could go on and on.

    Everybody: in preparation for the cold running weather, especially like the one we have in Wisconsin, are there any do’s and dont’s or a list of things that one needs to take into account about how to dress, etc.?

    Also, this is for running men, what kinds of shorts or running pants do you wear and do you wear an underwear with them? (sorry, tmi :)

    I am so glad you found that slowing down helped a lot. As far as cold weather, dress in layers and realize you may have to slow down because of reasons I will post again. I posted cold weather articles last year when it got cold. I may have to repost them.

    As far as shorts and running pants. I have a couple of pairs of running racing shorts that already have the liner in them, so no underwear needed. I also got a bunch of bathing suit shorts real cheap that i also use in training, and since they also have lining then no underwear is needed. I have some basketball shorts that I sometimes wear on recovery days. I have to wear underwear for them. I do however have some UnderArmor non-wicking and compression underwear that I can wear underneath as well. I do have 1 pair of running tights and a bunch of sweat pants of various styles.

    For cold weather running, I have what are called base layers that I will wear underneath everything. Dressing in layers is important in cold weather. I also have a pair of Nike running gloves.
    shanaber wrote: »
    @Stoshew71, @skippygirlsmom and @kristinegift - better yet why don't you all come to California for a race? There are lots of great ones - SF either half or the full, Long Beach, Surf City, La Jolla... the list could go on and on!
    @Stoshew71 - love the cartoon!

    I used to go out that way a lot for work. I also have a brother who lives in Reseda. I may have to take you up on that offer. :-)
    I love visiting California, but living there is expensive. lol

  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Date Miles today. Miles for October

    10/1 6.6 miles - 6.6
    10/2 6.75 miles - 13.35
    10/3 22.1 miles - 35.45
    10/4 REST DAY
    10/5 10.75 miles - 46.2
    10/6 10.5 miles - 56.7
    10/7 6.6 miles - 63.3
    10/8 10 miles - 73.3
    10/9 6.75 miles - 80.05
    10/10 3.88 miles - 83.93 <<< Warrior Dash
    10/11 REST DAY
    10/12 10.25 miles - 94.18
    10/13 10.5 miles - 104.68
    10/14 6.75 miles - 111.43
    10/15 10.5 miles - 121.93
    10/16 5.75 miles - 127.68

    exercise.png

    Short recovery run today. Long run tommorow.

  • dperich1968
    dperich1968 Posts: 235 Member
    karllundy wrote: »

    I get asked all the time, when are you going to do a full marathon. Never. Though I'm in awe of folks who do. I do 5Ks because they are fun (and I like the chance of winning gift cards to Fleet Feet), I do 8Ks because I LOVE that distance, I do 10Ks because they are more of a challenge and everyone where I live needs to run the Cotton Row 10K freaking hill at least once LOL and I run/ran a half because that distance challenges me to be my best and doesn't kill me. I'm good running for about 2.5 hours, double that and add some, no thank you. Plus I'm old I wouldn't finish a full until after my social security check started. :wink:

    More or less, this! I haven't completely eliminated the possibility, but love that I can do a few half marathon's a year without jumping to that next big level of training time / commitment and increased possibility of injury. Never done an 8k, but 5k is fun and I can do it with my 9 year old twins, 10k is a great distance and the half is my favorite as it is not so long I have to worry about fueling, etc. during the race, but still feels like a huge accomplishment when completed...plus the atmosphere of race weekend is awesome!

    All of the above. Ditto
  • AJLovinLife
    AJLovinLife Posts: 125 Member
    edited October 2015
    10/1 3 mile walk and circuit training
    10/2 4.5 mile run
    10/3 rest day
    10/4 rest day (unintentional)
    10/5 1.5 mile walk and circuit training
    10/6 4 miles run
    10/7 2 mile walk and circuit training
    10/8 5 mile bike ride
    10/9 1 mile walk
    10/10 3 mile run / 5 mile walk
    10/11 1 mile walk / 7 mile bike ride
    10/12 rest
    10/13 1 mile walk / circuit training
    10/14 1 mile walk
    10/15 2 mile walk
    10/16 3 mile run / 1 mile walk

    I have been in a rut lately, hoping next week will be better.


    exercise.png

  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    This one is for those of you that think the miles that you are doing isn't worth the miles that some of us more experienced runners are accumulating. It's from a RW article I just saw. Thought of some of you guys.

    http://www.runnersworld.com/advice/its-all-good-forget-about-comparisons?cid=soc_Runner's World - RunnersWorld_FBPAGE_Runner’s World__Motivation

    It's All Good

    Forget about comparisons to other runners. Every mile you run is a symbol of accomplishment.
    By Jen A. MillerTuesday, May 20, 2014, 9:27 am

    "We are famileeee!" the silver-haired volunteer yelled, singing along with Sister Sledge's disco classic as it pumped out over two speakers. He was standing on the side of Martin Luther King Drive in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, swiveling his hips to the beat, and holding out a plastic bottle of water for me.

    It was 6 a.m., and I was on mile four of a 12-mile long run on a summer morning thick with humidity. Sweat rolled down my legs and pooled in my shoes, making them squish with each step. To cope, I'd been taking a walk-and-water break every mile, and my bottle was already nearly empty. As I ran past the sashaying volunteer, he begged me to take a bottle, "Please, we have plenty." I longed to take it, but I shook my head. I wasn't part of his race. I hadn't paid for it.

    "His" race was the in24 Philadelphia Race Challenge, an ultramarathon in which 300 runners run the same 8.4-mile loop as many times as they can in a 24-hour period. By the time I hit Fairmount Park (which organizers left open to all runners), participants had been on their feet for 20 hours.

    My watch beeped: Time to walk. But I pushed on, suddenly self-conscious about the effort and ambition of the racers around me. How could I walk when they'd been running for nearly a day? They were covering 75, 100, 125 miles (the winner would run over 155). They deserved the walk breaks, the water, the "We Are Family" serenades. I was just doing 12 miles.

    Hold on. When did 90 minutes of sustained running become "just"?

    Seven years ago, I didn't run at all. Not until I got a writing assignment to work with an online coach for what I figured would be a humor piece about forcing an anti-runner to train. My first time out, I barely completed a mile. Eventually, however, I knocked out a 5-K, then a 10-miler, then a half-marathon, and--you see where this is going--finally a marathon. The road became a place I could work out a knot in a relationship, fix a work problem, or wonder at will about topics like what, exactly, my dog enjoys about rolling in goose poop.

    But the more I ran, the more I lost sight of my accomplishments and began comparing myself to other runners. I'd call myself a slacker if I didn't run as fast or as far as other people. That day in Fairmount Park, I realized I'd gone from thinking of a mile as a feat deserving of a dance party to refusing water on a dangerously hot day because my workout wasn't worthy.

    No one running 12 miles through a swamp at 6 a.m. is a slacker. I took my walk break, and turned around at my halfway point. Every exhausted racer I passed said, "Good job," or "Good morning," or offered me a weary smile. They weren't judging me, so why was I? Their goals weren't mine, and I'd be running on days they rested. I didn't need to run endless loops around a park. I needed to get in 12 miles as part of my larger goal of running a marathon in October.

    I approached the aid station again. Same dancing volunteer, same blasting music, except this time it was Sugar Hill Gang's "Apache."

    "Hi hooooooooo silver!" he called out in time with the song, pointing two bottles of water at me.

    I took one of the bottles. And I ran/walked/ran home.
  • shanaber
    shanaber Posts: 6,423 Member
    Had another great run this morning. I had intended to take it easy but I was short on time and wanted to get it in. I suspect my long run tomorrow may suffer as a result but I will take it easy and do what I can! Have a busy weekend ahead and then I head to Dallas on Monday for work.

    Date.......Miles......Total
    10/01.......8.45........8.45 - +Strength Training
    10/02.......0.00........8.45
    10/03.......6.12......14.57
    10/04.......4.47......19.04
    10/05.......5.39......24.43 - + Agility
    10/06.......4.70......29.13 - + Strength Training
    10/07.......0.00......29.13
    10/08.......5.12......34.25
    10/09.......7.57......41.82
    10/10.....10.90......52.72 - Early long run
    10/11.......0.00......52.72 - Dog beach Sunday, a little walking, a little running. Hot even on the beach
    10/12.......6.29......59.01 - + Agility
    10/13.......6.16......65.17 - + Strength Training
    10/14.......0.00......65.17
    10/15.......4.40......69.57 - + Strength Training
    10/16.......4.19......73.76

    exercise.png


    These are my upcoming races, let me know if you are going to be running too:
    11/21/15 - USA Invitational Half, San Diego, CA
    12/27/15 - Holiday Half, San Diego, CA
    02/07/15 - Surf City Half, Huntington Beach, CA
    02/20/15 - Special Edition Divas Half, Temecula, CA
  • shanaber
    shanaber Posts: 6,423 Member
    @smithie092015 - make sure you are eating enough carbs to fuel your runs. My runs and energy levels definitely fall when I don't have enough calories and/or carbs.

    @9voice9 - I would go cautiously on the white running tights. As most women know white tends to ummm become more see thru when it gets wet. Maybe dark with a good reflective stripe would be better?
    Congratulations on how far you have come in just a year! that is fantastic progress!

    @ddmom0811 - seriously choked when I read your junk visibility comment!!

    @skippygirlsmom - I hope your weekend run is better than today but you did get 3.5 in which is better than no run at all!

    @Stoshew71 - Love the comparisons article! Thanks!
  • runner_girl83
    runner_girl83 Posts: 553 Member
    Stuck for time sorry so will come back and read over everyone's progress tomorrow.

    3/10.......3.0 km
    4/10.......3.0 km
    6/10.......2.0 km
    7/10.......3.5 km......left shin very tender
    10/10.....5.0 km......PB 00:39
    11/10.....7.5 km
    14/10....10.0 km.....PB 1:26
    15/10.....5.0 km
    17/10....10.0 km.....New PB 1:19
    49 / 90 km Total Running Distance

    Shaved 7 mins off my last 10km run, not intentionally but it's still pretty cool :smile:
    Hydrating now.. So glad I knocked a 10k out today as I think I could possibly be inactive tomorrow after Oktoberfest tonight :smile: Enjoy your weekend!!
  • annekka
    annekka Posts: 517 Member
    October Goal—stretch goal 120 km, realistic goal 100 km
    10/1—rest getting a cold I think…
    10/2—10.18 km
    10/3—rest, taking care of errands and resting up for…
    10/4–10.73 km
    10/5—typhoon day, good thing it’s a traditional rest day anyway
    10/6–5.16 km
    10/7—rest
    10/8–5.49 km
    10/9—rest
    10/10–13.92 km
    10/11—3.34 km recovery run
    10/12—5.12 km
    10/13—2.89 km
    10/14—rest
    10/15—5.38 km
    10/16—rest
    10/17—5/24 km—2 laps around a hilly park


  • aarar
    aarar Posts: 684 Member
    I haven't updated in about a week but I did a couple of 20km runs last weekend as well as a few shorter runs. I'm sitting at 125km for the month so pretty much on track to hit my 250km goal for the month.
  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    edited October 2015
    Back out on the North West River Bank Bush Trails hunting for new Trails for the running club. WoHo found a nice Rolling High Line Trail heading North along the top of the Valley that then dropped down into the bottom of the Valley by following the Powerline right of way. Then followed the Railway Right of way back to town and up " What The Hill" to Tims for a coffee and snack. A little steep in some places but overall a decent Loop. 11.5 km - 90 minutes - might seem a little slow but when you are Trail Hounding its not about the time its about the trail/destination that you can share with your Running Buddies/Running Club. Could probably do it in 75 mins now that I know when to zig and zag.

    10/04 – 7.1 Km – 7.1 Km – 92.9 Km to go
    10/05 – 7.0 Km –14.1 Km – 85.8 Km to go
    10/07 – 12.5 Km –26.6 Km – 73.4 Km to go
    10/10 – 16.8 Km –43.4 Km – 56.6 Km to go
    10/15 – 9.96 Km – 53.36 Km – 46.64 Km to go
    10/16 –11.5 Km – 64.86 Km – 35.14 Km to go - -YTD = 11.5 + 291.16 = 302.66 Km
    exercise.png
    @Elise4270 A Group Run - Road Trip ?
    @shanaber Oh I like the way you think - Road trip for a HM and Mini Winter Holiday- Who but an amateur wanabe runner would think 13.1 as a Holiday.
    @Stoshew71 Great story about losing site of our accomplishments and not comparing us to someone else.
    @kareF Great work on a new PB. Strange it is. You slow down to make the pain/discomfort go away and ultimately end up running faster. A wise lady once told me " Slow down - you will get there faster ".
  • ewrook
    ewrook Posts: 90 Member
    exercise.png

    Halfway through month! Missing the long days of summer. I really enjoy running outside and am planning to continue this winter. I usually don't make it into December. I'm inspired by the talk about winter prep.
  • 5BeautifulDays
    5BeautifulDays Posts: 683 Member
    I love this group--bras and tights and all!

    10/1 8.25 treadmill run at just around 12:00
    10/2 3.75 treadmill run at 11:28
    10/3 rest

    10/4 3.0 @ 12:03 outside
    10/5 unplanned busy busy "rest" day
    10/6 5.25 @ 11:40 on the treadmill, plus strength training
    10/7 6.0 @ 12:05 on the park trail (and 2.5 walking to and from school/warm up/cool down--not counted)
    10/8 rest
    10/9 5.25 @ 11:14 on the treadmill, plus strength training
    10/10 rest

    10/11 4.5 @ 11:49 on the park trail, just a nice, enjoyable run on a beautiful Sunday morning
    10/12 4.0 @ 12:00 on the treadmill, nice and easy
    10/13 3.5 @ 10:48 on the treadmill, plus 20 minutes rowing machine instead of weights (changing things up!)
    10/14 9.0 @ 12:32 twice around the lake on the park trail.
    10/15 Yoga day
    10/16 2.5 @ 12:03 around the neighborhood with The Worst Running Partner Ever. I was supposed to strength train and do 5 today, but woke up with a bad headache and no energy. The time in the sunshine was nice, and the company was good even if he felt compelled to stop and roll around in goose poop like a big dummy.

    415xcl5emchi.jpg

    ier0xtaiz52k.jpg


    exercise.png


  • chicoadm07
    chicoadm07 Posts: 32 Member
    Very strong run today. I still feel as if I could of made up for my rest day lol... Ok not really. 81 miles down!!! 64 left
  • Ohhim
    Ohhim Posts: 1,142 Member
    Just got in 5 miles today as I'm still in recovery mode. Hoping to finally get in a 2-digit run either tomorrow or Sunday. Despite the ton of 8/9 milers this month, I need a few more 10-13s in advance of my next half marathon in 4 weeks along with some 6-7 mile runs at half-marathon pace to both gauge my fitness and get used to the speed.

    10/1 - 7 miles
    10/2 - 8.5 miles
    10/3 - 4 miles (pace run at 1/2 marathon speed)
    10/4 - 9 miles
    10/5 - 8.5 miles
    10/6 - 8.5 miles
    10/7 - 8 miles
    10/8 - 8 miles (w. 0.25-0.5-0.75-1-0.75-0.5-0.25 pyramid @ 6:35 pace)
    10/9 - 9 miles
    10/10 - 4 miles
    10/11 - 8 miles
    10/12 - 7 miles
    10/14 - 9 miles (4 w. neighbor, 5 solo)
    10/15 - 1 mile (pre lift warm up)
    10/16 - 5 miles (w. strides at end)

    Total: 104.5 miles
    Goal: 170 miles
    Remaining: 65.5 miles
  • Mari33a
    Mari33a Posts: 1,264 Member

    exercise.png

    The sun was beating down for my 3.5mile run yesterday afternoon and boy did I suffer. Going by the forecast sadly this won't be a problem for much longer
  • snha
    snha Posts: 388 Member
    @9voice9 hey, i wasn’t actually joking. i had that on my mind for a while (am a real novice runner!) and since the women asked their sports bra question, i thought i should ask mine! thanks though for the information, very helpful

    @juliet3455 @skippygirlsmom @Stoshew71 thanks for the links and info. absolutely, very helpful!

    10/1 4.75 -- I would like to do 6+ miles in the coming days, so, am resting tomorrow!
    10/2 rest day
    10/3 6.51 -- first 10k, longest run (time), and farthest run (distance)
    10/4 rest day--this was a horrible day, could not get any exercise done and felt miserable
    10/5 no running, but good elliptical workout
    10/6 5.53 -- excellent run. the weather was cool and crisp, my muscles cooperated and all went well
    10/7 3.11 -- recovery run? that's what i thought of this one. felt good though!
    10/8 5.61 -- very good run.
    10/9 3.11 -- a little over 9 minutes mile pace!
    10/10 rest, the elliptical hour
    10/11 5.00
    10/12 rest, great elliptical session
    10/13 6.52 — very nice run: farthest I went since i started running; fastest 10K (well, second and faster at 10:33 per mile.
    10/14 3.2
    10/15 3.37
    10/16 no run today — good elliptical session though
    10/17 2.25 — shake up run getting ready for my 5K race tomorrow

    exercise.png
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Date Miles today. Miles for October

    10/1 6.6 miles - 6.6
    10/2 6.75 miles - 13.35
    10/3 22.1 miles - 35.45
    10/4 REST DAY
    10/5 10.75 miles - 46.2
    10/6 10.5 miles - 56.7
    10/7 6.6 miles - 63.3
    10/8 10 miles - 73.3
    10/9 6.75 miles - 80.05
    10/10 3.88 miles - 83.93 <<< Warrior Dash
    10/11 REST DAY
    10/12 10.25 miles - 94.18
    10/13 10.5 miles - 104.68
    10/14 6.75 miles - 111.43
    10/15 10.5 miles - 121.93
    10/16 5.75 miles - 127.68
    10/17 20 miles - 147.68

    exercise.png

    20 miles in 2:59:29 at 8:59OA avg pace. Green Mtn 1741 feet elevation. https://www.strava.com/activities/414730461

    I wish I had my phone with me on the run cause there was some amazing views from on top of the 2 mountains.

    r6lw87rno99n.jpg




  • snha
    snha Posts: 388 Member
    edited October 2015
    everybody is doing so awesome. and those long runs. amazing.

    @Stoshew71 what an amazing run, if only because you can eat those 3000 calories. Ah, the things I would love to eat having so many calories to spare!

    Runners: what is your resting heart rate? Does it get very low? How low?
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited October 2015
    1- Rest
    2-2.65 without Garmin
    3- Rest (travel,eat, sleep)
    4-13.37 HM 2:23:50
    5-rest, waiting for chafed thighs to heal
    6- rest, still waiting
    7-3.03
    8th thru13th- nada, Cuboid pain.
    14- 3.40
    15-piriformis steroid injection
    16- rest
    17- 3.02

    25.47/90+

    Upcoming races:
    10/31/15 Monster Dash 10K, Dallas
    3/19/16 Rock N Roll 5K Dallas
    3/20/16 Rock N Roll Half Dallas

    @snha my RHR is about 55. I've seen it in the upper 40's but not often. It's not uncommon I hit above 200 bpm the first few miles of a run, esp when its hot out.

    @Stoshew71 Nice run! What's "OA"?
  • LunaStar2008
    LunaStar2008 Posts: 155 Member
    edited October 2015
    Hi everyone,
    added some miles.

    exercise.png[IMG][/img]
  • kstarallen
    kstarallen Posts: 116 Member
    The pup Marla and baby Whitney. Both not thrilled about mommy's photo op. But still cute, lol

    We're on a section of CT's Rails to Trails here.

    d0xudupx2r0n.jpeg
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    kstar_lee wrote: »
    The pup Marla and baby Whitney. Both not thrilled about mommy's photo op. But still cute, lol

    We're on a section of CT's Rails to Trails here.

    d0xudupx2r0n.jpeg

    Too cute!
  • HealthyFocused715
    HealthyFocused715 Posts: 340 Member
    @Stoshew71 - Thanks for the article. "Comparison is thief of joy. - Teddy Roosevelt" is one of my favorite quotes!

    10/1, 3 miles
    10/2, 5.2 miles
    10/3, 14 miles
    10/4, yoga for runners
    10/5, Zumba
    10/6, 4.75 miles
    10/7, 5.2 miles
    10/8, 8 miles
    10/9, rest
    10/10, local 5K here in Maine, finished in 25:31!!
    10/11, 6 mile hike
    10/12, 1 mile
    10/13, Zumba and yoga for runners
    10/14, 7.6 miles
    10/15, 5.0 miles
    10/16, 3.5 miles
    10/17, 10 miles - My last long run before my HM on the 31st. And thinking hard about running a 10K next Sunday...

    Goal: 85 miles. Total 70.35 miles.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    @5BeautifulDays LOL on the goose poop! That's better than a rancid armadillo anyday! I admire everyone that gets out with their dogs! Mine are mongrels! You have a beautiful dog!
  • snha
    snha Posts: 388 Member
    kstar_lee wrote: »
    The pup Marla and baby Whitney. Both not thrilled about mommy's photo op. But still cute, lol

    We're on a section of CT's Rails to Trails here.

    d0xudupx2r0n.jpeg

    very cute!
  • Clarewho
    Clarewho Posts: 494 Member
    An evening run today, been busy til now.

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  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    edited October 2015
    10/1: 8 miles am and 6.2 pm with the Thursday crew
    10/2: Rest day
    10/3: 10 miles with Saturday crew
    10/4: 13.1 - Princeton Half Marathon (new HM PR: 1:43:38)
    10/5: 5 miles recovery style
    10/6: O Holy Rest Day........
    10/7: 7 miles hills
    10/8: 10 miles (am), 6.4 miles (pm) with the Thursday crew
    10/9: Rest day
    10/10: 20.5 miles
    10/11: 4 miles
    10/12: Rest day
    10/13: 8 miles, very hilly!
    10/14: 7 miles speedwork
    10/15: 8 miles (am), 3.4 miles (pm) with the Thursday crew
    10/16: 2 miles to shake off the drove-for-3.5-hours feeling
    10/17: 13.1 miles - Baltimore Half Marathon (1:44:24)

    Thanks to some MFPals, I am way less negative about my race now than if I had posted this morning right when I got done. Initially, I was disappointed by my time because I had been so dead-set on 1:40 or faster. But as several people reminded me: Baltimore is a hard course, and not every race can be a PR, and 1:44 is still a good time! Plus, both my fall HMs have been well under my 1:45 top-goal for the season, so I can still walk away a winner in my book.

    Generally, it was a good race: Baltimore is a fun race overall, and it was perfect conditions for a HM. But today was also a good lesson in humility. I sort of approached this race willy-nilly and didn't respect the challenges of the course or the distance. I didn't sleep well all week (not even the 2 nights before!); I didn't eat enough food at all on Friday let alone enough carbs (I had half a plate of sweet potato fries for dinner at a restaurant at 8:30 pm... not good!); I wasn't mentally checked-in and thought it would be a breeze; I had two hard weeks of training that I should have recovered from better; didn't use the port-o-potty one last time so I had to pee THE ENTIRE TIME (torture!); I went out WAY too fast (I was pacing 7:26 at mile 5, and 7:45 by mile 9, and ended up pacing 7:58 overall). Some of these things were in my control and some were not, but please, learn from my dumb, arrogant mistakes! Respect the distance, whatever you're running, and make sure you're (as) prepared (as possible) whether it's your first race or your zillionth!

    Hope everyone else is having a good running weekend and I'm the only one getting schooled by the Humble-Gods ;)

    131.7/220

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    ETA: I did manage a 45-second 10k PR during my HM before I burned out. So that's a silver lining! ;)
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