July 2021 Monthly Running Challenge

Hello, this is my first time doing this challenge. I want to do the half-marathon at Disney Wine & Dine in 2022!

Hi, y'all. I'm back....

Lost my mojo last December, had a few false starts, pouted because my app wouldn't track me anymore, gained 10 pounds, had daughter and 3 grandchildren move into the house (thankful b/c boyfriend was abusive!) and trying to make sense of my life. Running helps. I'd forgotten that.

So I signed up for a local 10K race - the Cotton Row Run. That should keep me motivated. I feel like I'm starting all over. 3 miles is a struggle. Hoping to run at least 3 times a week and be ready for the Labor day race! I'm afraid to put a number to my month.

7-1 2.1 miles (Hill Repeats after cutting cedars for almost 1.5 hours)

MT = 2.1/70 miles running: 1.0/31miles walking

I sat down and updated my running spreadsheet. Because of having 2 weeks off with company, I only managed to run 31.85 miles last month. I am going to try to follow the HM plan and run 5 days a week in July. If I do, the plan says I should run around 89 miles. That seems like way too much, so I am going to set my goal for 70 miles running and 31 miles walking. Besides, I know there will probably be days that I won't get to run that I plan to right now.

My wonderful neighbor offered to help cut cedar trees out of my pasture/hay field this morning. For those of you who aren't from this area, the cedars are like weeds. If you don't keep on top of them they can quickly take over. Well, I haven't kept on top of these for the last 3 - 4 years. It's beginning to look really bad. Last year, I got one section of the field done. I'd love to get the rest taken care of this year. Anyway, we worked for about 1.5 hours. I used a pair of clippers for the smaller trees while William used his electric chainsaw and then his hand saw for a while, then we switched and I used the hand saw. I also loaded all of the ones we cut into the Gator and drove them to a big overgrown ditch in the field and threw them in there. I tried to get before and after pictures, but didn't do a very good job of taking them from the same spot. Hopefully I can next time.

It was already hot when we finished. I visited with my mom for a few minutes to rest, then came home. Since I was already sweaty and I needed to take a shower, I decided to go ahead and do my scheduled run for today. I did slightly modify it. The plan called for hill repeats: 5 min Zone 1, 5 min Zone 2, 10x(30 sec Zone 5, 90 sec Zone 1), 5 min Zone1. My modifications were to only do 5 minutes of warm up and then I didn't go all out on the hills. I did go a bit faster, but didn't push it...until the last one. I sprinted it, but shouldn't have. It was just too much and I had to stop for a few minutes before doing the cool down and get some water. Garmin said it was 81°F with 66% humidity for a feel like of 83°F. But, my thermometer was showing 84°F in the shade, so I'm guessing the feels like was closer to 89°F. Also walked a mile total for warm up and cool down.

polskagirl01 wrote: »

katharmonic wrote: »

I will stay in the 100 mile club as well. Hopefully I'll do better this time.

July is Sarcoma Awareness month and I typically dedicate my running to my younger sister who passed away from chondrosarcoma in 2014. The main reason I started running was to cope with the grief of losing her and that link between her and the ways my life has changed due to becoming a runner is always on my mind. I will dedicate July again but I am keeping my mileage goals minimal this year because of work and hiking commitments. I am doing a 5k in August for the Sarcoma Foundation too. In any case, I will be thinking of Kelly and those who have fought this cancer during this month of running and supporting the cause of research to advance the few treatments available.

This little 2-word phrase right here (I put it in bold) is a key part of why some people are successful at sticking with it, and some aren't. You consider it a commitment, similar to things you "have" to do for work. I think your sister would be very proud.

Thank you @polskagirl01. I appreciate it.
Thank you also @quilteryoyo

Welcome to our new group members! And welcome back @WandaVaughn!

No run yet for July. I'm off to hike in the rain tomorrow so no run then either. July is starting slowly. I'll be back to report on Saturday, hopefully with some running too!

July Goal: 100 Miles

7/1: 6.26 miles

6.26/109  miles completed for July

I  started July off with a nice 10K. It was hot and humid at 5:30 am, but I still enjoyed the run. I really love that it is starting to get light out before I am finished.  I  saw the skunk again today in the same yard as yesterday. He didn't seem to notice me.
 


2021 Races:
4/24/21: Run For The Children 10K PR 55:46:28.
11/6/21: Run For 57th AHC Half Marathon

Distance Log:
July 2: 4.58 miles

Goal: 4.58/40 miles

Wednesday was hot and humid and I actually ended up feeling a little faint afterwards, but today was much, much better (59 F and breezy.)

I can't remember if I mentioned this but I did sign up for a 5K in September! There's quite a few scheduled before then too, but every one that I was interested in conflicted with our apparently full-to-bursting calendar! I actually really wanted to do a pretty popular area 10K but that day my husband is taking our older two boys on a special trip that he planned out months ago. 10Ks are harder to come by, but I'll keep looking!

Rest day today from running. Our in-person fitness classes have resumed at some of our work fitness centers for those employees who have been vaccinated. I’m planning on going to yoga at lunch and then hitting the gym for some time on the exercise bike.

@quilteryoyo – I have a race coming up next Thursday at 7:00 pm. I’m signed up for The Bear race which is held during the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. This is one of those races that sells out in a matter of hours. It is limited to 800 runners. I was signed up last year but it was cancelled due to COVID. It’s a 5-mile “challenging” run from Linville, NC to the top of Grandfather Mountain. You have to be at the 3-mile aid station withing 60 minutes or you get picked up by the sag van. According to the race site, the view at the top is breathtaking “that is if you can still catch a breath by the time you reach the top!” Once everyone finishes they shuttle you back to the start area. Hence the extra hill workouts! Those cedars are so aggressive. I think you have some pretty special neighbors!

Welcome back @WandaVaughn and @Orphia!

Hugs for you @katharmonic. I lost my only sister when she was 18 years old to leukemia.

Hope all goes well with your oral surgery @alphahowls.

5 miles this morning to start July AND hit 500, halfway to my yearly goal mileage!

martaindale wrote: »

penguinmama87 wrote: »

Wednesday was hot and humid and I actually ended up feeling a little faint afterwards,

This happens to me too in the summer. I think mine is largely a vasovagal reaction to going from the extreme heat and humidity to my nice air conditioned house. I have to take laps in my house for another 5 minutes or so until my body temp comes down so my BP can slowly recover rather than plummeting. Otherwise, I just end up on the floor with my feet in a chair.

Oh that's helpful, though I'm sorry it happens to you too!

I jumped right into the shower when I got home that day - so still on my feet in a hot and humid environment. When I got out I felt absolutely terrible. I ended up drinking some water straight from the bathroom faucet (in theory I know it's the same water that comes out of my kitchen tap which I use for cooking and drinking all the time, but in my head it's gross, so for me to be willing to drink it is a BIG DEAL) and left the bathroom early to collapse on a chair for a while until I felt normal again. My husband knew I wasn't feeling well because I hadn't combed my hair yet when he came downstairs, which is priority #1 for me after a shower because I have very curly hair. But I felt much better after I sipped another glass of water and rested. Our house has A/C too, but I hadn't thought to connect that to how I felt.

Day two of July and no significant mileage. Nursing sore knee today. Have a 13 mile hike tomorrow so instead of exacerbating the knee I’ll play it safe for one more day.