September 2021 Monthly Running Challenge

Had a big effort planned this morning. As my mileage had been slightly down lately due to vacation (and thus, theoretically, my legs should be fresher), I decided that I would try a time trial 5K this morning, to see what my current speed is like...

...only to then walk out into oppressive humidity (72 F, 93% relative humidity, 70 F dew point). That kind of moisture can take somewhere between 3-5% off your running time.

That said, I completed the 5K in 20:46.1, my second fastest time ever and only the second time I've beaten 21:00. In better weather, I feel like I likely would've beaten my PR of 20:24, though it still looks like I'll need to put in a little more work (and pick a cooler, crisper day!) to finally beat 20:00...

9/1 - 5.1 miles
9/2 - Rest
9/3 - 7.3 miles
9/4 - 4 miles
9/5 - 13.11 miles
9/6 - 5 miles
9/7 - 8 miles
9/8 - 4.5 miles
9/9 - 6.1 miles
9/10 - Travel
9/11 - 7.56 miles
9/12 - Travel
9/13 - 6.3 miles
9/14 - Skipped
9/15 - Travel
9/16 - 6.22 miles
9/17 - 6.7 miles
9/18 - Travel
9/19 - 9.5 miles
9/20 - 5 miles
9/21 - 7 miles
9/22 - 5.3 miles total, including warm-up and cool down

September To-Date: 106.69 miles
September Goal: 141 miles
Percentage Complete: 75.67% [Percentage of Month Completed: 73.33%]

I signed up for the Global Energy Virtual Race on Oct 4, 2021!

https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/ChooseYourLocationVirtualRace/USAGlobalenergyrace

Another free one, there are two options

@Scott6255 I know it's awful. The school sorority was actually instrumental in the bar going to 21 and over only. I tell Skip all the time, no man left behind and ANY drunk girl is your friend watch out for her. One day at the pool, the school has an outdoor pool, a guy (about 30) sat down with some girls that looked young to Skip. The looks on the girl's faces made it obvious they didn't know him and were uncomfortable. She walked over with the guy she was with and said "do you know him?" "no" she told the guy to get lost before she called the police. He started giving her crap and her friend stepped in between them and he left. They still called campus police to give his description. Crazy people everywhere. She was actually followed while running and run up the driveway to a lady she didn't know and said hey mom how are you? the woman caught right on and gave Skip a hug and they stood there until the car left and the woman walked Skip back to her car after calling the police. I'm happy that I've taught her to be aware of her surroundings, to walk with purpose and confidence while scanning all the time, no headphones in so you can hear and don't hesitate to stand your ground if you can't run. Finally if they try to take you somewhere fight for your life, you will not come out alive if they take you.

3.47 miles: pre-dawn run through the woods.

9/22- 39.49/60 completed

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
09/01/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 0.0
09/02/21 :::: 1.8 :::: 1.8
09/03/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 1.8
09/04/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 1.8
09/05/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 1.8
09/06/21 :::: 3.8 :::: 5.6
09/07/21 :::: 2.1 :::: 7.8
09/08/21 :::: 5.4 :::: 13.1
09/09/21 :::: 1.8 :::: 15.0
09/10/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 15.0
09/11/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 18.1
09/12/21 :::: 5.9 :::: 24.0
09/13/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 24.0
09/14/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 27.1
09/15/21 :::: 6.1 :::: 33.2
09/16/21 :::: 2.0 :::: 35.2
09/17/21 :::: 3.2 :::: 38.4
09/18/21 :::: 13.1 :::: 51.5
09/19/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 51.5
09/20/21 :::: 1.8 :::: 53.3
09/21/21 :::: 3.2 :::: 56.5
09/22/21 :::: 5.1 :::: 61.6

Run group was a ladder workout tonight. 1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1 minute intervals with 2 minutes recovery between on the way up and 90 seconds recovery on the way down. I don't like how dark it is in the later part of the workout now. It makes it feel really long.

So I signed up for a half marathon before i knew that i would sprain my toes, get covid, and getting very close to selling our 2nd house. 10 more days.

So on Tuesday I ran 5.57 miles. It was 76 degrees with 86% humidity. Again the first mile sucked. I glanced at my watch to see how far i ran, before it became more comfortable and noted 1.5 miles. I never reached the zone. My goal was 6 miles but the weather was overcast and thought that i would be lucky to get 5 miles in before it started raining hard. During the run i decided to split the difference. I noted that my legs felt okay but still felt some stress on his legs.

My plan is to run 4 miles tomorrow. Then 7 miles on Sunday, a short run of 2 miles on Thursday and then half marathon one week from Saturday. We will see what happens.

My friend and i took a long walk on Sunday and found a hurt chipmunk on the trail. She picked it up and it was bleeding from the nose. It was moving all extremities. We were pretty far from our cars. I told her that i was going to move it to the grass thinking its best chance to survive was to hide it in the grass away from dogs and bikes. Not sure if i did the right thing. It had the softest fur....I've never gotten that close to a chipmunk.

@skippygirlsmom I have also received friend requests from scantily clad women in sex poses. I just delete them as i get them. Lately i have been getting friend requests from people who are from foreign countries using block lettering...so strange...

I hope all have a geat week.

Sept totals: 52.9/70 miles

9/2: 3.1 miles
9/3: 4.1 miles
9/5: 3.1 miles
9/6: 3 miles
9/8: 4.1 miles
9/9: 3.1 miles
9/11: 8.2 miles
9/13: 3 miles
9/16: 3 miles
9/17: 3.1 miles
9/18: 4 miles
9/21: 3 miles
9/22: 5 miles
9/23: 3.1 miles

Logging 2 today. I had to run last night due to my work schedule and then did my usual morning run today. The promised cold front blew in night before last and it was beautiful all day yesterday. I ran about 6pm and it was only 81F with a whopping 30% humidity. Amazing! Then this morning, I had my first run in the 50’s for this season, 58F to be exact. I love this weather.
Today, even though I ran last night my legs felt ok. So, since it was cooler I tried pushing the pace for my 5k to see how things felt. I averaged a 9:43 pace and managed to negative split! It was harder than that pace was at the end of last racing season but it felt good to push some and see what I could do. I definitely think some speed work will help that along and maybe, just maybe, I’ll have a new HM PR this year.
I think I need to sign up for a 5k too. I haven’t raced a 5k in a couple of years. Usually I opt for at least a 10k if I am going to pay for a race. I am signed up for the 5k as a part of the Houston HM in January but I don’t want to race that one since the HM is the next day and it is my goal race. There are an abundance of races in that distance, so I’ll have to find one for December or so and see how it goes.