September 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

September Goal: 100 Miles

9/1: 6.22 miles
9/2: 5.05 miles

11.27/100 miles completed for September

956.50/1000 miles for Run the Year Team Pavement Pounders

Today's run was so much better than yesterday's run. Yesterday it was 84°F feels like 92°F when I got up at 5:00 am. Today it was only 72°F, but it was raining and thundering and lightening when I got up at 5:00. I thought I might not get to run, but when I looked at the radar it looked like the storm would be past by 7:00. So instead of running and then doing a 20-30 minute yoga to stretch, I decided to do some yoga and then if it wasn't lightening at 7:00 I could run then. So I drank my coffee and got dressed and did about 50 minutes of yoga. I tried to pick a dynamic flow since I was doing it first and I wanted more movement and less stretching. It seemed to be a good choice. There wasn't any lightening nearby at 7:00 and it was raining, but a gentle rain so I went on out. I figured I had about 45-50 minutes. I usually run for about 1 hr to 1:10, but I thought a short run would be better than no run and there are more storms predicted for later today. It was about 72° and it was pretty humid, but since it was raining it didn't feel too bad. I started out and realized that I was running pretty fast for me. Yesterday I ran a 10K in 1:11. My average pace was 11:25. Today I ran 5 miles in 48:37 with an average pace of 9:38. So the difference in feels like 92° and feels like 72° was really noticeable. Yesterday I was just glad to get my run done. Today I really enjoyed the run. I'm so glad I got a run in between the storms. If I hadn't I would have been in a bad mood all day. I'm not usually a fan of rainy weather, but we really need rain. And since I ran this morning I'm enjoying the rain instead of griping about it. We actually have gotten 2.75 inches so far since yesterday afternoon. I think tomorrow morning will be similar to this morning. I hope that I will be able to have a window to run, but if I don't I will try not to let it make me cranky.

So all in all it was a good morning. I had a great run with a fast (for me) pace. I actually got the first 5K in less than 30 minutes which usually only happens in races for me. And I got into headstand this morning in yoga. Not for very long, but I got both feet up. 😁






2020 races:
11/7/20: Run for 57th AHC Half Marathon

@kristinajeang if you google you will probably see 3 or 4 times a week alternating days - 20 to 30 minutes each run. Listen to your body and don't add miles too quickly to avoid injury.

Sept total: 3.5/60 miles

9/2: 3.5 miles

I'm not really training for anything specific right now. Usually my fall would have a few races but virtual races just don't really do it for me and even if I could find an in-person one, I wouldn't feel safe doing it. The next potential race on my calendar is the Houston HM in January, which I signed up for a year in advance. I guess we will see how Houston and racing in general is doing with coronavirus in January.
Without something to train for, I was struggling to find motivation. Especially when combined with running outside in Houston in the summer. So, I started a new training program through Runcoach. So far, I like it. Novelty goes a long way with me and just having a plan is usually enough to make me stick to it.
My main accomplishment this summer has been actually continuing to run outside and embracing running in just a sports bra! I overheat so easily and in the summer I have historically done longer runs on the treadmill in the AC, but that wasn't an option this year. So, I pep talked myself into ditching my shirt and it made a HUGE difference in my comfort level. I will never go so far as to say I am comfortable without my shirt or with the temperature, but sprinklers and a slight breeze on bare skin is almost as good as a blast of AC!

@martaindale I still have not made it to comfort without a shirt! I have adorable, supportive sports bras that I got with the intention of wearing them without a shirt and then I get ready to go and I'm like, "Nope! Nobody needs to see my goods!" It would be so much more comfortable, though!

Maybe this weekend i'll be brave like you.

@avidkeo, I remember when you got your vest! I still haven't bought one - or a lamp - and I need to.

@Faebert I am truly considering running with a gun. There are holsters made for this. On my long run last weekend, I came across a transient that was very clearly tweaked out of his mind. Took his picture and sent it along with my location to my two closest friends. Thought nothing of it after that - I ended up getting two photos.

But then, on the trail, I was running south and he was hiking up the side of the bluff, heading east. If we met, it'd have been a 90 degree angle. Ran my fastest mile and realized mace is not sufficient in battle. I need to be prepared to be on the winning side of things. I haven't made the jump yet because I'm still very seriously concerned about my daughter around guns. I'd have to strategize how to keep her safe. She is NOT of the maturity level to respect guns. I've found this out in the two instances this summer that i exposed her to them. A gun in the house around her is a horrible, horrible idea. To her, they are a joke. Seriously. She doesn't get it. Gun safety and the fact that they can take a person's life do not compute for her.... I digress. Autism is great....

Anyway, @Faebert yes. You should do more than hope for the best if you are able. And thank you! I Think you are so amazing, as well!

@Teresa502 YOU'RE KILLING IT!

@skippygirlsmom My sister said that if I become a dual citizen, then my kids can too, which would open up so many opportunities for them in terms of education, job prospects, travel, healthcare, etc. I could literally give them the world? What a gift!

Speaking of dual citizenship I have dual Canada/USA. Does give a bit more choices.
Sports bra...I have at the beach, and once here at home. And as @martaindale said I actually did feel more empowered!
Safety I only ever run on greenways and usually when people are out and about. But there is one trail that has bridges where transients live and that does scare me at times. I usually run as fast as I can at that spot. I too would be clumsy with a gun let alone use it.

I just checked my bookmarks to see when I started with this group. It was August of 2018, so have been here for a little over 2 years now. I was reading through some of the posts - @PastorVincent had some really cool things to say. He posted this in Sept 2018. He said to insert the word month in place of day and was encouraging those of us who were woefully short of their August goals. It's appropriate for everyone today too.

Then, I noticed it has been a long time since we have heard from @MegaMooseEsq and @7lenny7 . Has anyone heard from them?

As suggested above... my little light DOES pair well with a noxgear vest. As you will hopefully be able to see in the spoiler, it does light up bright enough that if you had it on a steady color and not disco mode or whatever I had it on for demonstration, it would give some light to the world around you. But my light means I can see, and noxgear means others can see me.

Noxgear was ALSO a gift from the same bestie who gave me the light, (she is also to blame for me running at all, let alone running a half marathon) when I moved to this little town I’m in that has very few sidewalks and fewer street lights. I have worn just it, I have worn it with a waist belt water bottle, and I have worn it over the top of my wunjo packs. It is

In terms of how effective they are.... I believe what I told bestie after I tried it out the first time is, “it is awesome, if anyone hits me when I am wearing this, I will know that they MEANT to do it!”