November + December in Review

November in Review:

Total Miles:  101.18 up from 101.01 miles last month. 102.54 miles last November.

Total Time:  17:15:01 up from 17:01:33 last month. 

Total Runs: 18 runs for an average of 5.62 miles/run.

Highest weekly mileage: 

11/12//2018 – 11/18/2018:	29 mi

Most hardcore run: A 13.1 mile training run with Melissa where we were almost frozen solid by the time we finished. BRR.

Favorite run: The following weekend, Melissa, Kristin and I did 13.1 miles again with a little fast finish to the run, and it was beautiful and sunny and just so much fun.

Favorite Race: No races in November. I skipped out on the Banquet 10k because it was going to be so chilly. 

Favorite Jam: None currently.

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December in Review:

Total Miles:  92.7 miles down from 101.01 miles last month. 116.33 miles last December. 

Total Time:  15:50:02 down from 17:15:01. 

Total Runs: 13 runs for an average of 7.13 miles/run.

Highest weekly mileage: 

12/24/2018 – 12/30/2018:	31.5 mi	5:38:29	10:45 / mi

Most hardcore run: Melissa and I did a 14 ish mile long run on 12/30 so I could hit my annual mileage goal for the year. Our average pace was about 40 seconds slower than it normally is due to the terrible footing and conditions, but we got it done!

Favorite run: Melissa and I ran 9 ish on Christmas Eve and it was such a beautiful sunny day and the miles just flew by. I couldn't believe that we were at the turnaround when we were!

Favorite Race: Dallas Half Marathon!

Favorite Jam: I listened to music a little during the Dallas Half but it's just my same ol' playlist from forever. Of course my pump up Eminem song came up the final 5k, so that did help me pick it up a bit.

Ocean View Half Marathon Official Race Photos + November in Review

The Ocean View Half marathon had free race photos, and that's basically my favorite trend at races lately. You can certainly tell where I'm at on the course (on a hill vs. not) by the grimace on my face. Ha.

I like to hurdle the finish line, don't you?

November in Review

Total Miles:  102.53 miles up from 79.8 miles last month. 55.8 miles last November.

Total Time:  16:53:25 up from 13:14:44 . Average pace dropped from 9:58 to 9:53! 

Total Runs: 19 runs, an average of 5.4 miles/run.

Highest weekly mileage: 

11/20/2017 – 11/26/2017:	32.1 mi	5:12:43	9:46 / mi

Most hardcore run: I was either racing or recovering for all of November so there aren't a ton of hardcore runs, but there was one tempo run after we started training for our next half, 8 miles with 4 at tempo.

Favorite run: 9 mile long run with Toni. The miles flew by, and we hadn't run long together in forever!

Favorite Race: Probably the Banquet 10k. I enjoyed the views at the Ocean View half, but it was so darn hard, it's difficult for it to be my favorite. Especially when the 10k went so well.

Favorite Jam: I'm enjoying T Swift's new album when I have to run by myself!

November in Review + Goals

November in Review

Total Miles: 55.8 down from 98.2 last month.  Up ZERO from  last November.

Total Time:  10:25:35 down from 17:30:20 last month. 

Total Runs: 12 for an average of 4.65 miles/run.

Highest weekly mileage: November 21-28 18.3 miles

Favorite run: Six mile "long" run with some newer runners from 605 Running Co. I got to run with someone on her longest run EVER. Too fun.

Most hardcore run: Eight mile long run in a whole lot of cold when my body felt like garbage.

Favorite race: Yet again, I slept in and skipped the Thanksgiving Day Run for Food. Maybe 2017?

Bike Miles: 0

Favorite Jam: Panic at the Disco's Hallelujah and Miss Jackson. On repeat, non-stop. This, still.

November goals:

• Group runs with friends, new and old--YES! Didn't miss a Wednesday group run and met up for long runs two of the weekends.
• 100 miles--Nope. My legs took a little longer to recover from the half than I wanted them too. And I got sick and had a tiny back ouchy. #alltheexcuses
• Daily water consumption!--Getting a lot better at this. If I could just kick my morning latte, I'd be a water champ again.

November in Review + Goals

Total Miles: 12.1 down from 40.8 down last month.  Down from 43.8 last November. 

Total Time:  2:00:00 down from 7:48:11 last month. 

Total Runs: 5

Highest weekly mileage: 5.1 miles 11/3-11/9 :|

Favorite run: Group run at 605 Running Co, where I actually got to run with people. Normally I'm either bringing up the rear, by myself, or I'm in the middle of two groups. Ho hum.


Most hardcore run: Group run where I attempted to chase the lead group. Tempo'd for 2.5 miles and then cooled down the last .4.

Favorite race: The Jingle Bell 5k

Bike Miles: 0.

Yoga Classes: 12 fitness classes, including 2 barre, 1 yoga sculpt, 2 restorative yoga classes, 4 gentle vinyasa classes, and 3 power vinyasa classes. 12 hours total!

Favorite Jam: Taylor Swift's Out of the Woods. On repeat over here. STILL. Really her whole album.

November Goals

• Group run once/week (2/4)
• 1 hard fitness class/week (5/4)
• 1 restorative yoga class/week (2/4)
• Strong 6 mile race on Turkey Day--I ended up doing the 5k the day after Turkey Day because it was MUCH nicer. I did run decent though! 
• Win NaNoWriMo! Done and Done!

December Goals

• 1 hard yoga class/week (X/4)
• 1 easy yoga class/week (X/4)
• 2 runs/week (X/8)
• 1 buddy run/group run a week (X/4)

October in Review + November in Review

I'm a bit behind, clearly.

October

Total Miles: 82.8 down from 101.8 last month.

Total Time: 14:42:31 down from 18:00:27 last month.  

Total Runs: 9, jeepers. Which means I averaged 9+ miles a run. Hah.

Highest weekly mileage:  October 14-20 47.1 miles.  Peak week!

Favorite run: I had a really strong 18 miler. Usually they suck, so this one went well for once!

Most hardcore run: My last 20 miler. I got an early start to "beat the wind" but it ended up beating the crap out of me the last 8 miles. Good practice for a windy day though!

Favorite race: Trick or Treat 10k (only race)
Bike Miles: 0
Favorite Jam:  Paramore--Still Into You

This was probably the worst month of training of my marathon cycle. I had some aches that were on the cusp of feeling like injuries, so I took some extra time off to be on the safe side. Definitely not the month of training I wanted to have going in to a marathon. Plus, October is my favorite month to run because it's finally gorgeous around here!

November

Total Miles: 43.3 down from 82.8 last month

Total Time: 7:56:41 down from 14:42:31 last month.  

Total Runs: 5 runs, 1 yoga session, 1 weight training session.

Highest weekly mileage:  LOLZ 28.3 race week.

Favorite run: Madison Marathon as my race photos indicate, I had a pretty damn good time running 26.2 miles around Madison, despite the hills. I think I was just thrilled that my body held up for that long once again.

Most hardcore run: I did a 6 mile run with 4 at tempo about two weeks after Madison and hit some paces that I haven't seen in a REALLY long time. It was also snowing and only 15* so that helped me feel like a total B.A.

Favorite race: Madison Marathon
Bike Miles: 0
Favorite Jam:  I'm pretty obsessed with Katy Perry's CD right now, particularly Legendary Lovers, Dark Horse, This is How We Do, Double Rainbow, and it Takes Two (basically the whole CD, really).

It took slightly longer to recover from the marathon than I was expecting. I ran a week out from the race and my legs almost fell off. I went for a hilly run with a friend a few days later and my legs felt like trash after 2 miles (kudos to her for sticking with my slow pace for the next 4 miles, yikes). Finally two weeks after I had a stellar tempo run without setting out intending to do so. I think getting in a car and driving for 7 hours the day after a marathon is never a way to speed along recovery, hah.

Runner in Real Life + November in Review

I have spent far too much time running in cold and allergy season.

Yesterday, while leaving the post office, my nose started running.  Without giving it much thought, I looked over my shoulder to make sure there was no one "in range" and almost let a snot rocket fly.....while dressed in nice work attire.  Granted I live in South Dakota, so perhaps people would just assume I'm a farm kid (no offense farm kids, but I learned to "farmer blow" from you).

Oy.  Glad I caught myself.

After logging my run on Monday I realized I'd be 2.3 miles short of 100 for the month, and clearly I could not have that happen.  I did some quick rearranging and squeezed in a short 2.3 on Tuesday before class.  Phew.  Crisis averted!  And then I was a dumb dumb and accidentally ran 6 miles on Wednesday instead of 5, because I was too lazy to map out a run.  Whatever.......

My knees have been a bit annoyed this week, so I'm icing and rolling like crazy to get things back to normal.  After perusing the Philly race photos, I'm surprised my left knee works at all.  The foot plant I was sporting to (I'm assuming) alleviate the pressure/pain on my blood-blister-sporting-pinky toe was atrocious.  It almost hurts just to LOOK at the pics.  Ouch.

Speaking of pics... here's one to tide you over for a smidge....

November In Review

Total Miles:  101 down from 170.7 last month. (119.7 miles from November 2010.)  

Total Time: 16:19:26 down from 26:54:05. (18:02:34 last November.)

Total Runs: 15. Not bad for being sick for a week, and then taking 5 days off after the marathon.  Avg. 6.73 miles/run.

Highest weekly mileage:  

11/14/2011 — 11/20/2011:

39.2 Mi

6:28:49

Favorite run: I was enjoying a monster day of running high when I ran a speedy 3 miler followed by another 3 miler 3 hours later.  Two-a-day domination?  Why not.

Most hardcore run:  Yikes... I didn't really have a hardcore run.  My last scheduled tempo run was during my sick week, so it would appear that other than the previously mentioned speedy 3 miler, I didn't do any hardcore runs, other than some mid-week double digit runs, which I heart.

Favorite race:  Philadelphia Marathon.  Hands down. Almost tied with my fave race ever.... :D

Bike Miles: 0.

Favorite Jams: Glee's Adele mash up. l-o-v-e. Doesn't hurt that I have a monster Santana crush.  Mmmm.

November in Review + Last Run before Vegassssssss

November in Review

Total Miles: 119.7 down from 151.2  last month. Should've been about 40 higher if I wasn't sick for a week. :(  (Last November 80.1)

Total Time:  18:02:34 down from 23:52:41 (12:21:07 last Nov.).

Total Runs: 14 for an average of 8.55/run

Highest weekly mileage: 11/8-11/14:  45 miles 7:07:35

Favorite run: While parts of the 22 mile long run weren't super awesome, I felt like a B.A. for doing my longest training run ever.  And a lot of the miles were really really awesome.  So it counts.

Most hardcore run: Frightening mile repeats aka the Devil's workout.

Favorite Race: None.  Sniffle.

Bike Miles: 0 which is exactly the same as last month's 0.  Sorry Princess Leia.

Favorite Jams: Glee's Marry You, Just the Way You Are, and Cory Monteith's--Losing my Religion, Rihanna--What's My Name?, Katy Perry--Fireworks.

Tonight I hit the jim for my last run before I toe the line for 26.2 #2.  Also 26.2 #2 in my 26 year.  Whoa, mind blown yet? Awesome.  Moving on.  I skipped out on my tempo run last night to finally get my back adjusted at the chiropractor, and figured it wasn't worth it to run hard after that.  The good news is:  I can breathe!  Apparently I had a rib out of place.  So my assessment of "I feel like something's pressing on my lungs and innards that shouldn't be." was a pretty accurate.

My legs felt fab-u-lous on my run tonight, and literally felt like I could run forever.  Which is probably a good thing, because I think that 4 hours slightly under 4 hours is almost the equivalent of forever.  I did 3 miles in 28:09.

Marathon race goals to come tomorrow before I board the plane for VEGASSSSSSSSSSSSS!