September 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

Race Report

Run Jurassic Marathon 28th September 2019.

This is a new event from White Star Running, with whom I did my first Half (extremely hilly) and my first Marathon (a very very hilly and challenging race). I don’t do roads. The race was mostly on the Jurassic Coast Path, on the South Coast of England, a rugged path prone to cliff collapses and teeming with dinosaur fossils. The weather forecast was 20mph headwinds, gusting 40mph, but we were hopeful the rain would hold off. This was an end to end race, with shuttle buses to the start, and last minute changes and agreements with landowners meant we had to walk about a mile downhill to get to the start.

Most people were in the toilets still when ‘ready, steady, go’ was yelled, so there was a confused scramble before we walked up the hill we’d just walked down. There was a long stretch of tarmac before we all queued to get over a stile and get onto the rough path we were all longing for. A good opportunity to enjoy the scenery!

The first few miles were hilly, as expected, and then we dropped down into the town of Weymouth, ran along the beach, then weaved past the shoppers, a few road crossings and along a railway path. I considered buying some souvenirs but the shops weren’t yet open….Finally we managed to leave the nasty tarmac behind for the coastal path, but even this had its challenges, as every so often a gust of wind would try and blow you off your feet – thankfully TOWARDS the shore.

I got chatting to a couple of ladies from the 100 marathon club. Except it turned out 100 was 50 or so marathons ago…. I felt very very small beside them. I spent ten minutes or so chatting to a guy who’d done a recce on the route, and he told me the story about why a certain stretch was known as heart attack hill, because he’d apparently had four heart attacks during the recce. I did try and remember my CPR training just in case…

By mile 16 my little toe was feeling sore. I’d pre-empted issues and wrapped them in KT tape, but it felt like there was a blister forming. Mile 18 I got to an aid station, and took the opportunity to sit in an ambulance and have them dress it.

Apart from the first stretch, we’d not had a lot in the way of proper hills, but the scenery was great, the fields and paths comfortable albeit a little muddy with a load of rain we’d had. We’d started at the same time as an Ultra behind us, and every so often I’d get passed by one of them, giving each other a cheery ‘well done’.

Mile 22 took a long time to come around, this is the site of the Lovestation, known for its music, cheeky cider and hugs. Because of the high winds, the set-up was subdued and out the back of cars, so the atmosphere was lacking, and then I turned round to find myself facing The Sweeper. Oh s*** I said, knowing I had to get a shuffle on so not to get pulled.

The next two miles were hell. There aren’t the right words or kittens available in the language to express how I and others felt about the two miles of shingle. NOT. EVEN. FUNNY.

With throbbing feet, ankles and blisters on both little toe and big toe on my left foot I hobbled to the finish, I usually love downhills, but not this time. Somehow I made it not quite grimacing (I skipped across the line) to the finish for a hug and a medal.

Things I have learnt –
Properly test shoes before a long race, I forgot I hadn’t done a long run in these.
Carry blister plasters and a weapon to pop them with
Don’t leave the cheese sandwich in the tent
Mentally a marathon is no bother, physically I’m just not very good at them.

Next year I’m going to plan lots of 10k races and no marathons. I need to get better at the running bit before I try them again.

Postscript. The race was part of a larger running festival, with an extremely hilly half and 10k planned for the Sunday. The weather looked bad so rather than stay I packed up my tent while I could in the dry and headed home. Sunday morning I looked at the reports coming in – tents had been blown away by the wind, the Race pick-up point marquee had collapsed, and all races were cancelled for that day.

and the after shot.....

@143tobe great job on running 5k in 30 minutes! You ARE ready!

@mbaker566 congrats on your 5k PR! That looks like a beautiful and meaningful race. And the food looks awesome!

@girlinahat big congrats on finishing your marathon! That sounds so tough! Beautiful pictures (except the last one - ouch).

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
09/01/19 :::: 11.5 :::: 11.5
09/02/19 :::: 5.5 :::: 17.0
09/03/19 :::: 3.0 :::: 20.0
09/04/19 :::: 6.7 :::: 26.7
09/05/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 26.7
09/06/19 :::: 4.7 :::: 31.5
09/07/19 :::: 13.1 :::: 44.6
09/08/19 :::: 5.2 :::: 49.8
09/09/19 :::: 5.7 :::: 55.5
09/10/19 :::: 5.6 :::: 61.1
09/11/19 :::: 2.7 :::: 63.8
09/12/19 :::: 4.1 :::: 67.9
09/13/19 :::: 6.0 :::: 73.9
09/14/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 73.9
09/15/19 :::: 12.3 :::: 86.2
09/16/19 :::: 6.5 :::: 92.7
09/17/19 :::: 3.6 :::: 96.4
09/18/19 :::: 5.7 :::: 102.1
09/19/19 :::: 1.8 :::: 103.8
09/20/19 :::: 8.5 :::: 112.3
09/21/19 :::: 3.8 :::: 116.2
09/22/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 116.2
09/23/19 :::: 5.9 :::: 122.1
09/24/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 122.1
09/25/19 :::: 6.0 :::: 128.1
09/26/19 :::: 5.1 :::: 133.2
09/27/19 :::: 3.2 :::: 136.4
09/28/19 :::: 14.7 :::: 151.2
09/29/19 :::: 5.3 :::: 156.5
09/30/19 :::: 3.6 :::: 160.1

Finishing out the month with my fourth week of Monday morning running. I have had a mace-training class at night on Mondays so I needed to get those am runs done. Tonight is the last one. I might try to keep it going though.

I exceeded my September goal by 10 miles, and this puts me at my 2nd highest mileage month ever, after last September when I did 180 miles in the last full month of marathon training. I'm feeling good about that. And tired.

I will be back later to finish reading this thread! But OMG @7lenny7! I am so glad you had no damage to your boat but sad for all the others! Wow!!

Figured I would update for the end of the month even though I haven't run much this last week and I met my goal quite a while ago. I am 38 miles past my goal and if I had run more this week I might have made 100miles but I am good with it.

Date........Miles.......Total
09/01......8.27........8.27
09/02......6.34......14.61
09/03......0.00......14.61 - + Strength Training
09/04......5.26......19.87
09/05......0.00......19.87 - + Strength Training
09/06......4.31......24.18
09/07......3.86......28.04
09/08......0.00......28.04 - to Reno
09/09......2.78......30.82 - to Boise
09/10......0.00......30.82 - to Richland
09/11......6.83......37.65
09/12......2.33......39.98
09/13......3.80......43.78 - to Boise
09/14......0.00......43.78
09/15....13.53......57.31 - J&J HM
09/16......2.00......59.31 - Homeward Bound
09/17......0.00......59.31 - Home
09/18......0.00......59.31
09/19......5.18......64.49 - + Strength Training
09/20......5.32......69.81
09/21......7.38......77.19
09/22......0.00......77.19
09/23......0.00......77.19
09/24......4.47......81.66
09/25......0.00......81.66
09/26......2.00......83.66
09/27......0.00......83.66
09/28......0.00......83.66
09/29......0.00......83.66
09/30......4.15......87.81



2019 Planned and Completed Races
02/03/19 - Surf City Half Marathon - Deferred to 2020
05/11/19 - Santa Barbara Wine Country HM - Complete
09/15/19 - Jack and Jill Downhill HM - Boise - HM #25 Complete
11/23/19 - USA Women's HM
02/02/20 - Surf City Half Marathon

I haven't read any September posts yet. Any chance I get caught up before the end of the month?

I have been on vacation since August 31st. My husband and I drove to Yellowstone National Park from Indiana. So lots of sitting in the car. My husband hurt his knee several weeks prior to our vacation. He was able to drive but struggled with walking long distances.


September 18.....5.22 miles. Hot and humid. Started late and ran the last 2 miles in the darkness.
September 19....5.25 miles. Another hot and humid day. Legs felt tight, especially the hamstrings. I started feeling better after the first 2.5 miles. Not even close to being where I was prior to vacation.

September 22..5.32 miles
September 25...4.11 miles

September 28....4.35 miles at White River Greenway. Ran out of time to drive to the Monon. This paved area is really for bicycles, and it is a mile paved path near the White River. Cool breezes.

September 29...5.13 miles. Hot and humid weather. Still humid after the sun set.

Finally reached my goal. It's supposed to be very hot and humid this week. Thunderstorms on Thursday. Maybe there will be a break in the weather.

Congratulations to all who have met their goals. See you next month.


Total....29.38 miles
Goal....25 miles

Made my September goal, just, as illness thwarted my running in the first week of the month. Planned a short shakeout following my half on Sunday - about 5km - and spent the whole time thinking, if I do just under 9 I'll hit my monthly mileage, so I did, as you do!

Running challenge
1 Sep: Rest day
2 Sep: Sick
3 Sep: Sick
4 Sep: 3.5km + yoga (still sick)
5 Sep: Sick
6 Sep: Sick
7 Sep: Yoga + 2.9km
8 Sep: North Shore Half - 21.18km
9 Sep: Yoga
10 Sep: 7.28km
11 Sep: 5km + Yoga
12 Sep: 6.9km
14 Sep: 3km + Yoga + 3km
15 Sep: 16.8km
16 Sep: 2.7km + yoga
17 Sep: 6.1km
18 Sep: 4.6km
19 Sep: 6.0km
20 Sep: 6.0km
21 Sep: 16km trail (i.e. some walking on the steep bits)
22 Sep: 5km
23 Sep: Yoga
24 Sep: 7.21km
25 Sep: Yoga
26 Sep: 7.4km
27 Sep: Rest
28 Sep: Yoga
29 Sep: Devonport Half - 21.01km
30 Sep: 8.83km

160.41 of 160km for September

9/1 15.5 miles
9/2 26.28 miles, 490 days on the run
9/3 15.51 miles
9/4 18.05 miles
9/5 19.38 miles
9/6 26.59 miles
9/7 31.31 miles, 495 days on the run
9/8 15.45 miles, cycling 3:30:06 ~36 miles
9/9 18.34 miles, knee smarts a bit
9/10 18.28 miles
9/11 18.37 miles
9/12 6.35 miles, 500 days on the run 3662.68 +4862.97 = 8525.65
9/13 8.24 miles
9/14 6.42 miles
9/15 7.34 miles UGH! Knee hurts
9/16 1.36 miles
9/17 2.33 miles, 505 days on the run
9/18 1.46 miles, knee pain, still there
9/19 2.45 miles, knee pain
9/20 7.35 miles, knee pain
9/21 6.05 miles, Valor run 10K 56:56
9/22 2.4 miles, 510 days on the run, Cycling 31:02 ~6 miles
9/23 13.43 miles
9/24 13.65 miles
9/25 13.53 miles
9/26 13.6 miles
9/27 14.45 miles, 515 days on the run
9/28 Hoptown Half Marathon 2:10:12
9/29 1.4 miles
9/30 5.47 miles

Adjusted by chiropractor, little traction, little ultrasound, heat, rolled a bit. Pretty sore, but am doing better today.

363.83 miles for September