2018 Running Goal - Update #49

Well, six days since my last post and I went exactly one mile. Why? One dreaded word. Injury. I have what might be a mild inguinal hernia where my right leg joins my pelvis. I had it checked out by a doctor, and thank goodness it seems pretty mild and small. I just need to rest, try to strengthen my core muscles, and be careful lifting heavy things. The doctor said running should be okay as long as it doesn't hurt. So, I tried out one mile today. And I finished it without pain. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 264
Distance: 1,186.59 miles
Total Time: 183h 42m 43s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.49 miles
Total Calories: 161,728
Avg Speed: 6.6 mph
Avg Pace: 9:17 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 52
Miles Left in Year: 47.41 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 0.91 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #48

The weather was decent today, so it was optimal for running (or pretty much as good as it can get for this time of year in Wisconsin), but I had to stop early because of a nagging pain in my right groin area. I don't want it to get worse, so I stopped. It is frustrating. I am so close to finishing this 1,234 mile goal. I might need to take a few days off to heal.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 263
Distance: 1,185.59 miles
Total Time: 183h 31m 58s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.51 miles
Total Calories: 161,586
Avg Speed: 6.7 mph
Avg Pace: 9:17 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 58
Miles Left in Year: 48.41 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 0.83 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #47

It has been cold and rainy the last few days, so I haven't had a whole lot of energy or enthusiasm to get out there and run. However, I made myself go out and just get a mile or two, whatever I could manage, and now I finally have fewer miles left than days left in the year. Right now, I have less than 62 miles left in the year for my goal of 1,234 miles. It is funny how my understanding and perception of distance has changed over the years. When I first started running in 2013, if someone had told me that I needed to run 62 miles, I would have been scared and nervous and worried that it was impossible. Now, I just know I need to take it a day at a time and slowly grind that number to zero.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 256
Distance: 1,172.22 miles
Total Time: 181h 06m 04s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.58 miles
Total Calories: 159,793
Avg Speed: 6.7 mph
Avg Pace: 9:16 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 64
Miles Left in Year: 61.78 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 0.97 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #46

A freak snowstorm in October. Just another wonder of Wisconsin. Because of the wacky weather this month, I've only been able to run 12 out of 20 days so far. Kind of a bummer, because I now have less than 85 miles to get to my goal of 1,234 miles in this year, and it seems like things are progressing slowly. When I could run every single day, the mileage added up quickly. Now, not so much. Oh, well, I'm still doing fine, but I'm at the point now where I would be quite content to have this over an done with.

Manley running on October 20, 2018. Where did this snow come from?

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 247
Distance: 1,149.19 miles
Total Time: 177h 04m 45s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.65 miles
Total Calories: 156,687
Avg Speed: 6.7 mph
Avg Pace: 9:15 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 72
Miles Left in Year: 84.81 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 1.18 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #45

I squeezed in some longer runs this weekend, even though it has been much colder lately. Frost every morning and the wind hurts when it blows on any exposed skin. But, on the plus side, I've finally (finally!) gotten under 100 miles left for the year. It is starting to seem possible now. It is starting to feel real, and the end is in my sights. I can do this.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 242
Distance: 1,135.44 miles
Total Time: 174h 57m 28s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.69 miles
Total Calories: 154,781
Avg Speed: 6.7 mph
Avg Pace: 9:15 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 78
Miles Left in Year: 98.56 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 1.26 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #44

The name of the game is bad weather. Too much rain, ground too wet, no good time to run. Out of the nine days in October so far, I've only been able to run on four of them. So, I'm essentially stuck and my mileage isn't going anywhere. I am just over 1,119 miles for the year. It feels like I've hit a brick wall and cannot move forward. Sometimes this Wisconsin weather is so depressing and frustrating.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 239
Distance: 1,119.18 miles
Total Time: 172h 37m 02s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.68 miles
Total Calories: 152,556
Avg Speed: 6.7 mph
Avg Pace: 9:15 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 83
Miles Left in Year: 114.82 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 1.38 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #43

Days are getting shorter and colder now. Sunrise isn't until 7 AM and temps are in the upper-30s when I wake up. Kinda chilly and depressing. These last two hundred miles are shaping up to be the roughest. Case in point, I ran out of energy today, so I was only able to complete a four mile run instead of the eight I had planned. Some days I have lots of energy and other days I don't. Usually I can get some energy back by taking a day or two off, which I have done recently, but then I fear that I'm losing days and miles that I won't be able to get back. I have 92 days left and 135 miles to go. In some ways, this year has flown by and in other ways, it has crawled. I will push on.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 235
Distance: 1,098.74 miles
Total Time: 169h 42m 43s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.68 miles
Total Calories: 149,756
Avg Speed: 6.7 mph
Avg Pace: 9:16 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 92
Miles Left in Year: 135.26 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 1.47 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #42

Well, I took two days off (Sept 20 and 21) due to weather and family obligations. Then, I ran back-to-back half-marathons on Saturday and Sunday. This is the first time in my life I've ever accomplished that. In other words, I ran a marathon distance over two mornings. I feel pretty good. I didn't know how my legs would respond on the second day, but things went just fine. Good weather and good music made the 4 hours and 8 minutes quickly pass on by.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 229
Distance: 1,075.97 miles
Total Time: 166h 07m 29s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.70 miles
Total Calories: 146,639
Avg Speed: 6.7 mph
Avg Pace: 9:16 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 99
Miles Left in Year: 158.03 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 1.60 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #41

I pulled a lower abdominal muscle late last week. It is on the same right side where my hip tendon has been sore. It has hampered my running for several days and forced me to run very little. I'm still trying to stay focused and get to 103 miles for the month, but this whole month has been weird. Ever since I got to 1,000 miles, everything feels harder. It is harder to run, harder to stay motivated, harder to finish runs, and harder to get out there. Weather has been a factor on some days, but I believe today is the last hot and humid day for awhile, so that should make it easier. Maybe I'm just mentally fatigued and need some sort of reset. Only 193 miles to go. Only 105 days left in the year. Something's gotta give.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 224
Distance: 1,040.59 miles
Total Time: 160h 33m 42s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.65 miles
Total Calories: 141,751
Avg Speed: 6.7 mph
Avg Pace: 9:15 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 105
Miles Left in Year: 193.41 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 1.84 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #40

Huzzah. I am over the 1,000 mile barrier for the second year in a row, but this year, I really cranked it up a few notches. Last year, it took me 333 days to complete 1,000 miles. This year, I was able to do the same mileage in 248 days (from January 1, 2018, to September 5, 2018). I took a day off from running on September 4th, which I'm not sure if it hurt or helped me, because shortly after, I've developed a small, annoying pain in my right hip area. Other than that, I'm feeling good right now. So, we'll see how that plays out. The days are getting cooler and shorter, so I'm forced to do most runs in the evening now. I miss the quiet time of my morning runs.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 216
Distance: 1,011.64 miles
Total Time: 155h 59m 40s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.68 miles
Total Calories: 137,745
Avg Speed: 6.8 mph
Avg Pace: 9:15 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 114
Miles Left in Year: 222.36 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 1.95 miles

2018 Running Goal - Update #39

There! I did it! I finally finished 100 consecutive running days in a row. I started on Sunday, May 27th and finished today, Monday, September 3rd. Boy, it felt like it took forever to get this goal completed, but here I am. All done. For those 100 days, I ended up running 534.65 miles in 78 hours, 50 minutes, and 58 seconds. My average daily mileage was approximately 5.34 miles.

Only a few more goals left this year, including attempting PRs for 1K, 1 mile, 5K, and maybe 10K.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 212
Distance: 995.28 miles
Total Time: 153h 39m 41s
Avg Distance Per Run: 4.69 miles
Total Calories: 135,489
Avg Speed: 6.8 mph
Avg Pace: 9:16 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 119
Miles Left in Year: 238.72 miles (from 1,234)
Daily Average Needed: 2.01 miles