July 2022 Monthly Running Challenge

So this month marks the big jump into my hal higdon plan!!! I have 2 10k, 2 hm and then dublin marathon on 30th October..... dunno why I've done this to myself...

This month I'm in for 110.5 km
01/07 - 5km (didn't run.... great start to the month!!!)
02/07 - 9.5km (9.6km done. More of a walk with running breaks but I covered the planned distance pretty close to planned time!)
05/07 - 5km
07/07 - 5km
09/07 - 11.5km
12/07 - 5km
14/07 - 6.5km
16/07 - 8km
19/07 - 5km
21/07 - 6.5km
23/07 - 14.5km
26/07 - 5km
28/07 - 8km
30/07 - 16km

Another morning with little to zero energy in the legs but I got out for 5 miles. I was light-headed for a couple of hours when I got back home. Not sure what that’s about as the temp was only 64F but with 93% humidity. I had a Verb Energy bar before I went out which is more than I usually have on a morning run.

Happy (belated) to pretty boy Hobbes!

I love seeing everyone’s pictures from where they run.

Hope everyone in the US is having a nice, long Independence Day weekend!

Here we go!

03.06 4.01km in 7.52/km 14 stride repeats

Whoa, just about made it. It just started to thunder outside and the evening sun is suddenly gone. First run this month after a rest day (running 4 days, incl 2 longer runs was too much) and a 17km hike yesterday. Goal for this month will be 70km as 80km might just have been a bit too much last month. Also have a serial lactate/performance test this month to check for some health problems. Lets see what comes out of that.

4.01/70km, 2.8km behind target.

July has gotten off to a fab start. Headed away with a few girlfriends to Waihi Beach. The weather was stunning, if a bit cold, and we got a trail run in on the Kaimai Ranges on the Saturday and a coastal run on the Sunday.

View from the bach on a cold winter's evening
Saturday was a loop, 11km long. We chose to go in the recommended anticlockwise direction and have 8.5km steadily up for 450 metres then 2.5km rather abruptly down. Quite a technical trail - loads of roots and rocks, a number of fallen trees and a couple of stream crossings, and some breathtaking vertical drops off the side of the trail. Really remote, so if something had gone wrong help would have been a long time coming, consequently, we took it carefully. Took us 2.5 hours, with stops for photos.

Sunday's coastal run was one I've done a number of times - it's gorgeous. Didn't go as far as we usually do, choosing instead to come back and then run inland, up to the trig behind the town. Didn't feel anywhere near as tough as Saturday, but I see the elevation was still 375 metres so plenty of climbing. Total distance was 13km, which took an hour and a half, which gives you an idea of Saturday's technicality.

And today, we rest.

Thanks everyone for the Hobbes well wishes! I just love that pup and hope he stays happy and goofy for many more years!
@Mari33a - The cake is carrot, peanut butter and blueberry with Greek yogurt, peanut butter frosting and those are little doggie treats on top.
@marisap2010 - he surprised me this year allowing the hat to stay on for pictures and for eating his cake. Normally he would knock it off immediately.
@martaindale - beautiful picture of the lake! I love the clouds!
@AlphaHowls - What a beautiful sunrise! Wow!
@Mau_Hutch - welcome!
@yirara - this discussion has typically been under Challenges but every once in a while it gets started in the wrong place (last month in Groups). When that happens we can request to have it moved but that just seems like too much work so we just left it. Just make sure you get the link from the current month when it is posted and then bookmark it so you don't have to hunt for it.
@ContraryMaryMary - what a gorgeous area to run and hike!

It was so much cooler today that I took Hobbes out for a run with me. I don't think it even hit 75F but he got overheated so I stopped a few times in the shade to let him cool down. On one of the stops a tiny hummingbird flew out of a tree like it was looking me in the face. It then started spinning and twirling in front of me like a tiny dancer. When I stopped to get Hobbes some water and discovered the fountain was not working we met a Park Ranger out walking the trail. I don't think many people stop to talk to him and he seemed a little wary of Hobbes at first but when he realized Hobbes was so friendly he sat on the ground to love up on him. When we got to a working fountain I doused Hobbes with some water from the drinking fountain before we left the trail to head for home and that seemed to perk him up. He did lie down in a neighbor's grass that had just been mown. The man was using an edger and Hobbes just flopped down and wouldn't get up. Fortunately the man thought it was hilarious and didn't mind having his work interrupted. I finally had to use a treat to get Hobbes to move again. We got in just over 6 miles bringing my total to 12.31 miles.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit cooler than today so I will get out for another run. Hopefully I can get Hobbes out for at least part of it. When he is tired the fireworks don't bother him quite so much.

@ContraryMaryMary I love your pictures!
@eleanorhawkins I get anxious running with others too sometimes. I hope you go and that you really enjoy it!

Today is rest day following yesterday's long run. I may go for a short walk or do some yoga later for some active recovery.

Also, Happy 4th to everyone in the U.S.!