September 2022 Monthly Running Challenge

Sept total: 49.6/123 miles

9/1: 4 miles
9/2: 5 miles
9/4: 4.2 miles
9/5: 5 miles
9/6: 5.2 miles
9/7: 3.2 miles
9/8: 3 miles
9/9: 5.2 miles
9/12: 5 miles
9/14: 4.8 miles
9/15: 5 miles

Today’s run was monumental because… I got to wear a shirt!!! First run with a shirt officially marks the beginning of fall temps. For the next few weeks it will still bump up into sports bra only temps from time to time, but that first shirt run always makes me feel like fall is here. I also tried out some new lights this morning. I bought some small LEDs that have a magnetic flap that I can attach to whatever clothing so I can avoid a headlamp. I have run with a headlamp a few times and I just don’t like it. I get so sweaty under the band and I can see the bounce of the light, which annoys me. The sun is coming up just late enough that I am back to running in the dark several days a week. I have routes that are pretty well lit but with the longer runs starting this month, having lights gives me back the forest trails that are unlit so I have more options for easily adding on distance in the neighborhood. Anyway, these lights are really good! They cast a wide beam so I don’t see the bounce, they are lightweight, and they have a low and high beam so I can adjust the brightness. Big fan. I also ordered a nox vest, mostly for the hill country, but it hasn’t come in yet. Getting ready for all the dark running!!
This is the last week of the intro period for my marathon plan. Speed work and tempo runs start next week along with a tick up in mileage. I have started mixing in some strides here and there to remind my legs what running faster feels like. Honestly, a little nervous about having to hit paces again for the first time in several months. But, with the cooler weather rolling in, I’m sure it will be ok. Just got to get a couple under my belt.

Hello all.
My morning 4.5M


Queen-in-state queues snaking 6M all the way to Canada Water.

9/1 15.42 miles, 1585 days on the run, 767 days HM+ Streak, Running Partner A
9/2 15.5 miles
9/3 15.24 miles, Running Partner A & E
9/4 15.38 miles
9/5 15.45 miles
9/6 15.17 miles, 1590 days on the run, 772 days HM+ Streak, Running Partner A
9/7 15.44 miles
9/8 15.34 miles, Running Partner A
9/9 15.64 miles
9/10 17.44 miles, Running Partner A
9/11 15.13 miles, 1595 days on the run, 777 days HM+ Streak
9/12 15.23 miles
9/13 15.66 miles, Running Partner A
9/14 15.59 miles
9/15 15.2 miles, Running Partner A
9/16 15.58 miles, 1600 days on the run, 782 days HM+ Streak

September dealings:
Roof/skylights leaking, need replaced, still waiting on call backs and quotes
Water Main break, front yard flooded, $710.00
Mom needs laser surgery to get haze cleared from eye, will lose day of work for this
Gout attacks, 16 days into September and 3 different attacks
18 wheeler/semi goes ballistic in my town and crashes 31 different cars, terrorizing town for two hours on his rampage
...and the beat goes on...

@AlphaHowls dang, the Spanish would say you must have stared at a guy with only one eye (weird and random expression for those times everything seems to go wrong). Hugs!

I did my 29km this morning. It also marked 2 years of at least one HM distance per month to honour my Dad, who remains oblivious to this crazy tribute. It just struck me that this time in 2018 I was training for my very first HM race and thought it was amazing that people could be able to just run that far without spending weeks training for it.

So, anyway. It took me pretty much all morning because I had to stop at a petrol station half way up to buy water. They were just pulling a tray of pain au chocolate out of the oven... oh boy. So of course I threw caution to the wind and bought one to enjoy at the top (halfway point). We'll call that stomach training. I probably shouldn't have had the whole thing at once, but there were no horrific effects. I also actually used my shewee outside for the first time. Fine on an empty mountain but I'll certainly feel the need to find a very concealed place to use it when there are people about.
I stopped for water again on my way back down, then bumped into lne of the evol coaches coming off the steep singletrack mountain trail (I only use the service roads and wide tracks when I go up there alone) covered in blood. He took a pretty nasty tumble and had skinned his entire right arm and leg. He must have hurt himself, because after chatting for a few minutes he actually offered me a lift back down to the coast instead of telling me off for standing around and not running! I declined and set off again for the final 8km. Thinking back now, it might have been a sugar slump or something because although nothing hurt and my pace didn't really suffer until the very end the last 5k were SO hard. Still, I did it! Now to see if I can walk tomorrow.
32k in 2 weeks time, then taper. I'm pretty confident now that I will be able to do the distance (after all, it's only 35km) but still have concerns about the elevation as the brunt of it is towards the end so is likely to be steep and technical. Excitified already and over a month to go yet lol.