Running …

… because I can … because it's fun … because it's healthy … just BECAUSE.

Tag Archives: reflection

No. 1091

There’s part of me that feels a bit weird sharing less about running this year after I’ve shared so much on this blog for 7 years. I offer no apologies for it, nor should I offer up any reasons.

With two kids, a promotion, #RunChat and other normal life things, writing about running isn’t a high priority. That also means that things are going fairly well too.

Aside from a monthly roundup, I doubt I write more than just a few times a month this summer.

All that said, here’s a quick update:

  • I’m doing the Runner’s World Run Streak that started Memorial Day and “ends” July 4. It’s kind of nice to get some redemption on the holiday streak that I was forced to end after an illness.
  • I still want a 5K PR on July 4. I’m doing more speedwork; I can get to below that 5K PR pace on intervals; all I can do is go for it and see what happens. I do have a backup race a few weeks later in mind.
  • I miss winter.
  • There’s no question that I’m fan of Altra’s shoes, but I’ve struggled a bit with the Torin 1.5. The original shoe, however, fits me well and I’m making sure those will be my main shoe for the rest of the year.
  • I never did a recap of the problems with the 8K I did last month, but I wrote the race director and got a canned response. At least he responded, but I won’t be going back to that race.
  • I still don’t have an “A” fall race. I don’t know what I want to do. I try to care, but I can’t. Not yet. Right now I’m just focused on July. What happens in the 5K will be a part of those decisions.

That’s really about it. Now excuse me while I try to get to bed at a decent hour …

May Report Card: B

I enjoyed doing a report card in April — it made me think a lot throughout May about what I was doing in a completely different way. For at least another month, I’ll again grade myself in a variety of areas to see where things stand as I head into the summer.

Overall mileage: B
I was hoping to get close to 90, but ended up just shy of 80. It’s funny what just a couple of rough nights with a baby will do to overall mileage. I missed a couple of runs and cut a couple short, thus the lower total.

Quality mileage: A-
Speedwork at least once a week, plus a new PR were nice. It just wasn’t quite a full “A” material.

Cross training: B
I didn’t get on my bike, but I did hit the weight room at my work’s gym once a week; last week I went twice. I could definitely do more.

Nutrition: B-
In the second half of the month I started making smoothies with kale and a variety of fruit. The way it’s made me feel better has been amazing.

I can’t give myself a better grade, though, when I look at the month as a whole. The first half of the month was not that great.

Attitude: B+
In my race yesterday, I had this thought about halfway through that I couldn’t keep the pace. That’s a mental issue I’ve had for nearly two years in many races.

I didn’t lose my pace though; in fact I had a small negative split. My attitude is getting a lot better and I’m crossing some mental hurdles; June and July will be key to me getting fully over whatever my problem is/was.

Overall grade: B
Nice improvement from my C+ in April. For June I want to run more and I want to continue running better.

I also know that continued improvements with nutrition will help a lot. I’ve got a 5K in July that should be PR material, and these next 30 days are huge in getting there.

April Report Card: C+

Looking at just my numbers for the month is a little old, so I’m switching things up as I look back at April and grading myself.

It’s not all about the mileage or the scale — there’s the question of how I feel and a variety of factors that lead to how satisfied I am with a month. I think this may help me provide a more honest answer with myself and my state of running each month.

In hindsight, I’d give each of the first three months a B. I could easily look back at March and be disappointed because getting sick cut out about 20 running miles, but overall I felt really good at Shamrock and ending the quarter with a decent weight loss.

April, however, gets a downgrade. I ran more this month than last (a little more than 80 miles), but I failed miserably at cross training, including one little bike ride and minimal core work.

I ate too many cookies. I had too many second helpings. My saving grace is having a stand-up desk at work.

So here’s how I’m grading things right now. I may adjust my “classes” moving forward.

Overall mileage: A-
I’m happy to get past 80 miles after some downtime in March. Ideally I wanted to be in the mid 80s, but cut back on a few runs because of lack of time.

Quality mileage: A-
For three Fridays I did some speedwork. It was nice to add that back into my routine. I also added some great hill work ahead of Blue Ridge. It just wasn’t quite 4.0 graded material.

Cross training: D
Now that it’s warmer, I hope to hit my bike more. I also need to get back to more push-ups, planks and other core work. April was just bad.

Nutrition: C-
People need to stop bringing in cookies to work and I need to stop eating them. It’s really that simple.

Attitude: B
In my comeback to better running this year, I’ve realized more and more how negative of an attitude I had for much of last year toward my runs, racing and even other runners. If I have a better attitude, other things should improve, too.

Overall grade: C+
Since I’m a nice teacher, I’ll give my 2.18 average a little bump. And this sounds about right. It was slightly above average all around. I’ll try to bring this up a bit for May.

March 2014 & Q1: By the Numbers

If I focus on the now, I’m disappointed in this month; when I look at the big picture I’m pretty excited about the first 3 months of the year.

I’ll focus on the latter.

Last week’s stomach bug butchered my March miles. Couple that with extra rest after Shamrock and I probably fell about 20 miles short for what I was hoping this month. It’s not the end of the world … I’m well rested now and in a good spot for Q2.

On with some numbers …

  • 66.6 running miles (fitting, right?) for March; 231.6 for the quarter. That’s a nice increase of about 30 miles from Q4 to close out 2013.
  • 0 biking miles for March. I blame the weather and my lack of desire to go to the gym that I’m about to cancel. I have xx for the quarter.
  • 3 pounds lost; 9.2 pounds for the quarter; Less than 5 to my next goal.
  • 152 seconds. That’s all I was from my PR at Shamrock. In some ways that’s a lot, but considering how hard it was to train this winter it’s not much.
  • 0 … that’s how many fall races are on my calendar. That needs to change soon. Still at 33.3 for the year.
  • And 1 moonrise over Virginia Beach …

 

A new focus for Blue Ridge

Back in November when I was pacing my sister to her first sub 2-hour marathon, I realized how much focus I had lost with my own running. While doing things like the Disney Marathon and randomly changing races during the Runner’s World festival weekend were fun, I hadn’t set a hardcore goal for myself in more than a year.

That was when I decided to set a goal for Shamrock after being mostly goal-less at year’s race. It’s also given me renewed focus on goals in general — things like setting a goal of 1,000 miles for 2014 are enjoyable once again.

I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to PR at a half again this year, or what other PRs I’ll go for, but it’s so nice to be back in a state of mind in which future races have more meaning that just to run them.

The new Blue Ridge Half course, complete with a second major climb in the final few miles.

In a month, I’ll be tackling another half marathon — the Blue Ridge Half Marathon in Roanoke, Va. As similar to the past few years, I was actually signed up for the full, but lack of training for it, tired legs after Shamrock and taking most of last week off led me to what I think is a wise decision to do the half.

This will be my fourth time doing this half; in my previous three races I’ve come away feeling tremendously satisfied, but also disappointed. I’ve generally approached this race with no goal in mind … just finish it … have fun with it.

While having fun and completing this beast of a course have been nice, I’m ready to set a goal — 1:50.

That almost seems crazy considering last year was just a little more than 2 hours, and the previous two were at 1:57 and 1:59. This year’s race also incorporates the Peakwood neighborhood, so there’s even more elevation change. I feel like with some focus over the next few weeks, though, that going for 1:50 is realistic.

I don’t know how much I’ll write about my goals and training — life is quite busy with two kids — but I’m putting it out there and ready to keep things rolling in 2014.

Now I’m off to find some hills to get ready …

February 2014: By the Numbers

As I become less public about what’s going on with my running, I’m finding myself to be happier about what’s going on. I have no problem not posting here for the past month; as always I know something could trigger me to write every day.

For now, though, don’t expect that.

Taking a little bit of time to reflect at the end of a month is good enough for me right now. I hesitate to call February “great,” but it was far better than any month last year. I’m coming away from this month knowing that if it didn’t snow for a couple of days and if the month was just one more day long, I’d have 100 running miles.

I’m also keeping my Shamrock PR goal in mind, although this winter has been tough. I’m not stressing myself out about the race and will determine a race plan in another week or so.

Saw this near my house on a run early in the month.

So with all this said, here are some numbers from the past month:

  • 85 running miles. 165 for the year. A very nice start to the year.
  • 1.5 pounds lost. At one point I was at a little more, but lost some control mid-month. I’ve quickly turned that around though. I’m at 6.2 pounds lost for the year.
  • 12 biking miles. I question whether this was a little longer or a little shorter since they happened at 2 different gyms. I was hoping for a little more, but the weather prevented at least one gym trip.
  • 4 different types of weather. Clouds only; rain and snow; rain only; snow; sunny. I could say the same about the temperatures, ranging from mid-teens to nearly 70 (and everything else in between).
  • 5+ months old (23 weeks as of tomorrow). How is it that nearly a half year has passed since my second son was born? To put it in a running perspective, that’s longer than a marathon training plan and that seems to take forever.