August in Review + Goals

August in Review

Total Miles:  67.8 miles, down from 121.6  last month.  Down from 143 last August. Two races, (and subsequently recovering FOREVER from both of those races) had me missing way too many runs.

Total Time:  11:48:27 down from 20:49:54 last month. 

Total Runs:  10 for an average of 6.78 miles each run.

Highest weekly mileage: 8/18-8/24 22.5

Favorite run: Mile repeats in crazy humidity, still hitting my paces. 

Most hardcore run: The GoFar Woman Half Marathon. Anytime you're trying to run *hard* in 100% humidity is going to get a stamp of hardcore from me. hashtag gross.

Favorite race: USF 3k XC race.

Bike Miles: 27 miles, 1 ride.

Favorite Jam: Currently obsessed with Sia's Chandelier.

August Goals

• Run enough miles to have my 4th or 5th highest mileage month.
• Run two long runs as scheduled.
• Run all three speed sessions as scheduled. 2/3
• Run one of my fastest half marathons in Fargo (please be cool weather, please be cool weather)
• Watch 2 Oscar Best Picture Nominees.
• Every other day core work, hip stretches, and drills.
• 1 buddy run or ride a week. My running buddy is injured! Waaaah! We did get in one ride together!
• 2 20+ mile bike rides. (1/2)
• Make 2 new meals using my veggie box ingredients.
• Get 3-5 pounds closer to my racing weight. After being out of town for Labor Day weekend, I'm pretty sure I derailed any of my previous work. Whoops. KC has good beer, did you know that??

Weekly Reads: 100 Sideways Miles

100 Sideways Miles is the newest book by Andrew Smith. I'm somewhat convinced this man is a robot with the frequency he's churning out amazing YA books. You keep writing 'em, I'll keep devouring 'em, Andrew. Cool? Cool. This book had me laughing out loud more and cringing less than his most recent Grasshopper Jungle (a truly unique book like none I've ever read before--my review here). I loved Finn's perspective on the world, and his passage of time though distance traveled through space instead of minutes and hours on the clock. I loved the random ideas his best friend Cade had for his birthmark :|: throughout the book. Most of which made me laugh out loud (like I've already said). There are some weird/great twists and turns which I've come to expect from Smith's writing style, and overall I loved it (which you could probably gather from my over usage of the word "love" throughout this review, but whatever).

My rating: 4 stars

Summary from goodreads:

Finn Easton sees the world through miles instead of minutes. It’s how he makes sense of the world, and how he tries to convince himself that he’s a real boy and not just a character in his father’s bestselling cult-classic book. Finn has two things going for him: his best friend, the possibly-insane-but-definitely-excellent Cade Hernandez, and Julia Bishop, the first girl he’s ever loved.

Then Julia moves away, and Finn is heartbroken. Feeling restless and trapped in the book, Finn embarks on a road trip with Cade to visit their college of choice in Oklahoma. When an unexpected accident happens and the boys become unlikely heroes, they take an eye-opening detour away from everything they thought they had planned—and learn how to write their own destiny.

Bemidji Blue Ox Marathon Training Recap Week 11

After running the GoFar half, my legs felt terrible. As in, the worst they've ever felt after a non-marathon race. In looking at the photos my mom took of me, my form went to hell the second half of the race. I hydrated like crazy Sunday and foam rolled 2-3 times a day. Finally by Wednesday my legs were ready to go. Luckily this was a recovery week, but I hadn't planned to take four days of complete race on a month where my mileage just hasn't been where I wanted it to be.

Since I had rested so much, I jumped right into my planned run for Wednesday and ran 9 miles after work. My legs felt pretty awesome until the halfway point, and then it was just a struggle. I realized that my form was suffering majorly, so I tried to engage my glutes and the pain in my knee disappeared and my average pace dropped ~40 seconds per mile. Well ok, then.

Of course then my legs felt terrible on Thursday and Friday morning was spent packing to go out of town. One run for the week! Uff. 

I have a huge week on deck for Week 12, so my legs should be recovered and ready to rumble!

September Goals

September Goals

• Run my highest or 2nd highest mileage month ever.
• Run three long runs as scheduled.
• Run all three speed sessions as scheduled. 
• Run one a strong half at the Sioux Falls Half Marathon.
• Every other day core work, hip stretches, and drills.
• 1 buddy run or ride a week.
• Attend a group run!
• 2 20+ mile bike rides.
• Make 2 new meals using my veggie box ingredients.
• Get 3-5 pounds closer to my racing weight. 
• Food as fuel!

Sioux Falls Half Marathon Training Run?

Well I had this blog drafted up a month or so ago, and after the GoFar Half Marathon debacle/poor performance and conditions I'm rethinking my game plan.

Option A:  Next weekend, I'm running my tenth consecutive Sioux Falls Half Marathon. After having just raced the Fargo half, I won't be racing Sioux Falls, but I would like it to be a solid marathon training run. I rarely sign up to run races instead of racing them, because $$$ I can run 13.1 miles for free. But because I'm trying to run this race the most years consecutively, I need to work it in to my schedule.

So I'm curious, what's your favorite marathon training workout for 13.1 miles?

I know Pfitz has a 13 mile long run with 8 miles at GMP. When I used the RiverRat Half Marathon as a training run this past spring, Jaseface suggested I do 3 miles at long run pace followed by 2 hard miles, until I finish the race. I would like to do a harder effort than that, however, as that was done knowing I was racing a half the following weekend, and wanted to be recovered.

Should I go with the Pfitz workout?

Is there another one you'd recommend for me?












OR

Option B:

On the drive home from Fargo, I was still pretty bummed about my race performance. I randomly looked at the extended forecast for the Sioux Falls half and learned that it was projected to be a low of 43 degrees on race morning.

Oh.

That may change things.

 I could re-attempt my game plan for the GoFar half in Sioux Falls. I have two weeks of peak training after the SF half before I start tapering for Bemidji. Is this racing too close to marathon race day? 5 weeks apart? Obviously Bemidji is my #1 priority, but I know a solid half race would really get my mental game straight and ready to tackle 26.2.

Help.

If the forecast changes at all (skewing towards hot or humid) I will immediately go back to Option A with no question.

Katy Perry Concert + Fargo Fun

My mom and I took off for Fargo on Friday after we both got off work at lunch time. The forecast had been showing rain all week long, so I enjoyed the fluffy cloud and flat plains.

I had the worst sinus headache of my life on Friday. It started shortly before I left work. An extra strength pain reliever did nothing to fix it. Neither did water or food, a sinus pill or two ibuprofens after dinner. Woof. I crashed at 8:30 hoping to sleep it off.

Saturday morning I raced.

And after my mom and I celebrated with mexican food. I ordered a strawberry margarita, but I received some True Blood. I think. 

My mom and I stopped at Target to grab a candle because my last minute hotel booking skills landed us in a room that smelled like a mildewed towel, and this little gem caught my eye. I resisted. For now. I'll let you know if I change my mind and decide I need a child's pug purse with glittery glasses. Ok, just typing that out makes me NEED IT. 

BRB.

My mom took off for home shortly after, as it was my dad's 65th birthday and she wanted to get home to help him celebrate! I rested a bit and read, and then got ready for Katy Perry while I was waiting for my friend to show up.

Purple hair, don't care.

Emily and her sister showed up, and I helped them purple/pink/blue their hair and we headed out for dinner. I had the greatest burger of my life at Lucky 13 Pub (<---yes I typed Pug the first time). And our food was served with a tooth pick with a clover strung through it. Clearly this is my type of establishment.

This is the only picture I got of Emily and I waiting for the concert to start. :'( She has eyes, I promise.

The concert was beyond amazing and my pictures suck at showing it's amazingness.

I want to be her bestie.

Weekly Reads: The Fever

The Fever is the newest novel by Megan Abbott. Her previous book, Dare Me, has been on my to read list for the last year, but it just hasn't made it to the top of that list yet! When I saw this one in several "up-and-coming" blogs and news releases, so I put a hold on my library's copy! It's catalogued as an adult book, but the content and telling seem more Young Adult to me, OLDER YA, but YA none the less. The story drew me in from page one and I read it all in just a few sittings.



My rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from goodreads:

The panic unleashed by a mysterious contagion threatens the bonds of family and community in a seemingly idyllic suburban community.

The Nash family is close-knit. Tom is a popular teacher, father of two teens: Eli, a hockey star and girl magnet, and his sister Deenie, a diligent student. Their seeming stability, however, is thrown into chaos when Deenie's best friend is struck by a terrifying, unexplained seizure in class. Rumors of a hazardous outbreak spread through the family, school and community.

As hysteria and contagion swell, a series of tightly held secrets emerges, threatening to unravel friendships, families and the town's fragile idea of security.