June 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

June Running Totals (miles)
6/1 – 5.08 group run
6/2 – 6.30 easy
6/3 – rest day
6/4 – 6.13 easy
6/5 – extra rest day
6/6 – extra rest day
6/7 – scheduled rest day/precautionary DNS
6/8 – 6.30 easy
6/9 – 5.03 warm and humid
6/10 – rest day
6/11 – 5.40 warmup, speed work
6/12 – 4.43 group run
6/13 – extra rest day
6/14 – scheduled rest day
6/15 – 2.17 aborted group run
6/16 – 6.10 warmup + 5K race
6/17 – rest day
6/18 – 7.44 warmup, easy speed work, cool down
6/19 – 4.15 easy
6/20 – 5.16 easy in the rain
6/21 – rest day
6/22 – 10.26 paced run
6/23 – 6.31 easy
6/24 – rest day
6/25 – 6.90 warmup, speed work, cool down
6/26 – Life Happens Day
6/27 – 7.67 pre-run, commute, speed work, cool down

June running total to date – 94.83

Nominal June mileage goal: 100

Real Goals: Get back to running regularly without injuring myself.

Today's notes – Training program kickoff session was at 6 PM. Getting across town to just about anywhere between 5 and 6 is a study in traffic frustration, but this location is worse than some others where I go to run at 6. So I went early, and got a 3 mile pre-run in before the program started. Did the pre-run too fast, tricked by starting downhill; it was closer to MP than easy. Also, it was 84° F (29° C) and the humidity was no longer subtle. I think the dew point was 59° F. Tolerable, but also noticeable. Of course, I got drenched in sweat.

As expected, the program leader had me lead the group on the "warmup" run over to the office park loop where we do the time trial. I was rather proud of holding myself to a 9 minute average (okay, 8:59) pace so people could keep up. And I felt better about that non-exercise 0.86 mile, having done the pre-run.

The plan was to run the 2 miles at interval pace, or about 5K race pace. It was warm and humid enough that I couldn't hold 5K race pace for 2 miles; I had slowed to about 6:35 per mile by the time I was told I ran 2 miles in 12:58. Then I ran a loop retro to cheer runners, and got confused about where I was. Had to walk a while to achieve mental clarity and know where I'd left my hydration belt with water and my phone. Turned out my "easy" retro loop was at an average pace of 7:09. No wonder I was whipped before running a second retro loop!

For the cool down back to the store, I took the long way around and got a full mile. Didn't look behind me, so I don't know whether others followed me the long way or went the short way; after a hard speed run and some time standing around, what felt like easy was a reasonable 7:55 per mile. Probably the one part of the evening where my pace was about what it should be.

I skipped the orientation (I've heard that speech several times), and came home to push a pill down my cat's throat. I have pilled cats before, but not this cat; so I didn't know what to expect. She didn't like it, but didn't give me much trouble. She's still a bit subdued after yesterday's dental ordeal. I haven't seen her jump up into any of the usual places, and when I see her resting it's typically on the floor or under the couch now.

Gratuitous picture of resting kitty under the cut:
Scheduled rest day tomorrow. 5-ish mile trail race Saturday, which (with warmup) should put me over the nominal mileage goal for June.

2019 Races:
January 1, 2019 Freezeroo #2 (Resolution Run 7.5 mile) (Mendon, NY) finished in 50:55
January 5, 2019 Winter Warrior Half Marathon (Gates, NY) finished in 1:30:48
January 12, 2019 Freezeroo #3 (Pineway Ponds 5 Mile) (Spencerport, NY) finished in 33:10
January 26, 2019 Freezeroo #4 (Hearnish 5 mile) (Victor, NY) 4.9 miles, finished in 32:28
February 2, 2019 USATF XC Championship, Masters 8K (Tallahassee, FL) finished in 32:53
February 9, 2019 Freezeroo #5 (Tom Brannon 8 mile) (Greece, NY) finished in 55:55
February 23, 2019 Freezeroo #6 (White House Challenge 4.4 mile) (Webster, NY) finished in 28:34
March 16, 2019 USATF Masters 8K Championship (Shamrock 8K) (Virginia Beach, VA) finished in 32:02
March 17, 2019 Shamrock Half Marathon (Virginia Beach, VA) finished in 1:34:21
April 13, 2019 BAA 5K (Boston, MA) DNS - injury
April 15, 2019 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA to Boston, MA) DNS - injury
April 28, 2019 USATF Masters 10K (James Joyce Ramble) (Dedham, MA) canceled registration - injury
May 19, 2019 Lilac Run 5K (Rochester, NY) DNS - injury
May 19, 2019 Lilac Run 10K (Rochester, NY) DNS - injury
May 25, 2019 Sunset House 5K (Rochester, NY) DNS - injury
June 7, 2019 Charlie McMullen Mile (Pittsford, NY) DNS - precautionary
June 16, 2019 Medved 5K to Cure ALS (Rochester, NY) finished in 20:19
June 29, 2019 A Country Mile at Ganondagan (5-ish mile trail) (Victor, NY)
July 13, 2019 Shoreline Half Marathon (Hamlin, NY)
September 1, 2019 Oak Tree Half Marathon (Geneseo, NY)
November 3, 2019 TCS New York City Marathon (New York, NY)

Today's long run was the last run of the month for me, as I've jiggled my schedule about a bit to allow for our trip to Madrid and that concert I haven't mentioned I'm going to for at least 5 minutes :-)
Got up at 6am, thinking 7-9 wouldn't be as unbearably hot as later in the morning. I also had the bright idea of freezing my water bottles last night. Great in theory, and it was nice to have cold water. Not so great when you get to listen to the most annoying sound ever of ice bouncing about and hitting the sides of the bottles for what felt like forever. Got me a few funny looks too, but I'm kind of over worrying about getting funny looks now lol. Amazing how many other crazy people are out walking and running at that time of day, too. At least you could just about cut a path between the zombie tourists.
Think I'll be heading for the river trail for my long runs for the rest of the summer though. Today I decided to stick to the sea front because I was trying out my first gel (isotonic energy thingy) and as I wasn't sure what my stomach would have to say about that I reckoned it was safer to stick to an area where bathrooms were readily available. Didn't actually need them, no real issues with the gel at all. Good to know as I'm down to my last 5 or 6 jelly babies!
Was supposed to do 7 miles today, ended up doing 12.1km which puts me at 84.83km for the month. How annoying is that 0.83? I might have to run round the lounge a few times to stop that bugging me. Still, goal was 75km so happy with that. Time to start thinking about July.

Hrm, weather report keeps getting worse for the 50k tomorrow. If it is thunder storming, as currently predicted, I am staying home.