August 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

Official start to marathon training. Just an easy 11 to start. Good that the beginning of the plan is low mileage, as I needed a little break from all this hot summer running.
Took a few walk breaks to keep it just under 10:00/mi pace.

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
08/01/19 :::: 3.6 :::: 3.6
08/02/19 :::: 4.1 :::: 7.7
08/03/19 :::: 10.2 :::: 17.8
08/04/19 :::: 3.7 :::: 21.5
08/05/19 :::: 3.7 :::: 25.2
08/06/19 :::: 3.1 :::: 28.2
08/07/19 :::: 5.1 :::: 33.3
08/08/19 :::: 3.0 :::: 36.3
08/09/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 36.3
08/10/19 :::: 8.7 :::: 45.0
08/11/19 :::: 3.8 :::: 48.8
08/12/19 :::: 4.2 :::: 53.1
08/13/19 :::: 2.3 :::: 55.3
08/14/19 :::: 5.4 :::: 60.7
08/15/19 :::: 5.0 :::: 65.7
08/16/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 65.7
08/17/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 65.7
08/18/19 :::: 5.1 :::: 70.9
08/19/19 :::: 5.1 :::: 75.9
08/20/19 :::: 5.5 :::: 81.5
08/21/19 :::: 3.8 :::: 85.3
08/22/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 85.3
08/23/19 :::: 5.1 :::: 90.4
08/24/19 :::: 11.0 :::: 101.4

Finally getting back on track with the long runs in training for the half marathons in October. Today's weather was fantastic, it was 59 degrees F to start and I wore a long sleeve over my tank while driving over because I was chilly. I ditched it immediately before starting and it did get warm, but overall very pleasant compared to most of the summer. I was in a cranky mood but my running pals were good support and entertainment to get me out of that. This was my longest run since a HM in early June.

I am 8 weeks out from my double half marathon weekend. I just tabled out my training plan for these remaining weeks so it seems quite serious now. Last year I was so much more on top of the plan - being filled with terror about finishing a marathon was pretty motivating. This year, I'm not following to plan quite as strictly. I am starting to develop a little (lot) more of the fear about the two HMs though so definitely time to get in gear.

So I just realized that I am inside the training window for my next "big" race. The Liberty 10 miler. I have not run a 10-mile race in something like 1/2 a decade, so wondering how I will do. One thing I know for sure though, I need to you know, actually train, if I want to find that out... ops

I had time for 5.5 miles this morning and time for lunch with my mom before heading to the airport. Waiting to board flight now. Only 4.5 miles to meet my goal for this month.

So my start date at my new job was pushed back to Wednesday. I have no idea what my running schedule will become, but at least I got a couple of miles in today. Not much, but got my week back up to the 50 miles that I was running at. Who knows what the future will bring. Hopefully a training plan for my next race though!


08/01/19.........13.1
08/02/19.........00
08/03/19.........13.1
08/04/19.........00
08/05/19.........00
08/06/19.........10
08/07/19.........00
08/08/19.........11
08/09/19.........1 - Liberty Mile Race - PB 6:31
08/10/19.........18 - 3 Races, 2 10ks and a 5k
08/11/19.........00
08/12/19.........00
08/13/19.........00
08/14/19.........12
08/15/19.........08
08/16/19.........10
08/17/19.........17
08/18/19.........13.1
08/20/19.........12
08/21/19.........0
08/22/19.........10
08/23/19.........0
08/24/19.........16

---MTD: 160 miles running, and 0KM resting

Upcoming Races
Fly By 5k - September
EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler - November 2nd

202? - Disney World Dopey! (if can raise funds)

I've just got back from a week in Fiji. So nice to be in the sun and heat. Ran a fair bit - more than expected, albeit short distances - but it required early starts, which was fine, and they were really slow.

I put this down to a number of reasons, not just heat and humidity (which was intense - one day you're running in a fresh 15 degrees, the next 25 and sticky!). The main factor is I've been nursing a tender big toe for a while now - the nail has been slowly coming off over the past few months and needed to be removed before we went away as it was starting to get aggravated when I ran but vanity saw me opt for superglue and nail polish instead. Consequently my gait has been affected and resulted in super tight calves and achilles tenderness.

As the island we were on saw me running up and down a steep hill, they really objected. However, on Thursday, my five-year-old trod on my toe again (she was a contributing factor to losing the nail in the first place, although the principle damage was done by a long downhill run in the wrong shoes!) and ripped the whole thing off. I managed not to swear (or cry). Fortunately, while it hurt like hell for a minute or two, there was no extra damage done (and later a fair amount of pus drained from the point where the nail was hanging on - ew - which took away all remaining tenderness in my toe).

Upside: when I ran this morning, there was no pain in my calves or achilles. Yay. Serves me right for being vain!

Apologies for the gross mental image. To counter that, here's an actual image of the offending child heading back into the sea yesterday evening as the sun set:

Did the math today, and I won't be making my 100-mile goal this month. That's ok. I did more cycling, and wasn't training for anything specific. Tomorrow I'm starting half marathon training for a race at the end of October, so next month should see me back on my regular schedule.

I went for a bike ride today and my only running was one mile at 4 am because my whole family is jet-lagged and I finally gave up and had the kids run with me to the playground.