2020 Running Goal - Update #38

I have exactly 70.00 miles left and 39 days to go. This is going to happen sooner than later. My goal of 1,500 miles is in sight.

I ran 7 miles yesterday and 7 miles today. If I run the same thing for the next 10 days, this thing is over. I don't think it'll happen that way due to my work hours, but we'll see. I'll try to get as much as I can over this Thanksgiving vacation.

If I wanted to run the bare minimum, I could run 1.795 miles each day for 39 days straight to get my goal. I remember back on January 1st, I set a plan to average 4.10 miles a day to have a chance to get it. 

I've come a long way.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 271
Distance: 1,430.00 miles
Total Time: 222h 36m 58s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.21 miles
Total Calories: 164,851
Avg Speed: 6.40 mph
Avg Pace: 9:21 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 39
Miles Left in Year: 70.00 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 1.795 miles

FINISHED TOTALS:

MONTH	MILES	AVERAGE RUN	TIME (h:m:s)	CALORIES
January	118.66	4.39 mi	19:35:19	15,342 C
February	89.63	4.07 mi	15:17:04	11,385 C
March	119.12	4.96 mi	20:15:33	14,746 C
April	128.97	5.37 mi	22:24:57	15,694 C
May	165.16	5.90 mi	25:53:30	18,613 C
June	172.90	6.18 mi	26:43:28	19,211 C
July	218.31	7.04 mi	31:03:04	24,311 C
August	108.56	6.03 mi	16:30:17	12,375 C
September	107.35	4.13 mi	15:33:28	11,172 C
October	125.49	5.02 mi	18:24:50	13,710 C
November
December
SUMMARY	1354.45	5.35 mi	211:41:30	156,559 C

2020 Running Goal - Update #37

There is an ending. It is visible. I just passed 1,400 miles run this year. I am sitting at 97.80 miles with 47 days remaining. I have half of November and all of December left. If the weather stays mostly normal for winter in northern Wisconsin, I really think I can get this done with a week or two to spare.

I ran 7 miles in one hour and two minutes yesterday. I ran 7.5 miles in one hour today. The temperature was in the mid-20s. It was cold at times, but overall it was strangely pleasant.

I made a conscious choice to stretch good and deep and long this morning before my run. I think that really made a positive difference. My legs and hips felt strong the entire race.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 264
Distance: 1,402.21 miles
Total Time: 218h 34m 38s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.22 miles
Total Calories: 161,719
Avg Speed: 6.40 mph
Avg Pace: 9:21 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 47
Miles Left in Year: 97.80 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 2.08 miles

FINISHED TOTALS:

MONTH	MILES	AVERAGE RUN	TIME (h:m:s)	CALORIES
January	118.66	4.39 mi	19:35:19	15,342 C
February	89.63	4.07 mi	15:17:04	11,385 C
March	119.12	4.96 mi	20:15:33	14,746 C
April	128.97	5.37 mi	22:24:57	15,694 C
May	165.16	5.90 mi	25:53:30	18,613 C
June	172.90	6.18 mi	26:43:28	19,211 C
July	218.31	7.04 mi	31:03:04	24,311 C
August	108.56	6.03 mi	16:30:17	12,375 C
September	107.35	4.13 mi	15:33:28	11,172 C
October	125.49	5.02 mi	18:24:50	13,710 C
November
December
SUMMARY	1354.45	5.35 mi	211:41:30	156,559 C

2020 Running Goal - Update #36

I ran my 12th half-marathon of the year on October 25th. I am done with those now. That's enough of that. It was tough and boring and cold outside. It took a full two hours. I hate getting just warm enough to finally be comfortable about 30 minutes into the run, and then a winter wind blows across my sweaty clothes and chills me to the bone so I can freeze and be uncomfortable for the last hour and a half.

I'm struggling to stay mentally focused. The horrible Wisconsin winter has started early this year. Way too early for me. I think these last two months of 2020 are going to be the hardest for me. I've built up a great mileage buffer. I have 60 days left in the year and 142.71 miles to go after I finished a 5K today. That's only 2.38 miles per day. Heck, I remember starting out on the first day of January and telling myself I only needed to run 4.10 miles every day to get to 1,500 miles.

So, mileage isn't a problem. I've put myself in a great position to get my goal.

The problem will be staying mentally engaged. I have to stay determined to finish. I have to prepare myself to go out every day even when the wind cuts through my three layers of clothing like they aren't there and the snow and ice try to trip me up and make me fall.

My body doesn't feel as strong as it was in the middle of the year. I somehow feel weaker. My legs feel heavier. I probably need a good rest, but I'm hesitant to do that on days that are just good enough to run outside. I know there are days coming down the pipe that will be completely un-runnable due to the weather. 60 days to go.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 254
Distance: 1,357.29 miles
Total Time: 212h 07m 08s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.34 miles
Total Calories: 156,899
Avg Speed: 6.40 mph
Avg Pace: 9:23 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 60
Miles Left in Year: 142.71 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 2.378 miles

FINISHED TOTALS:

MONTH	MILES	AVERAGE RUN	TIME (h:m:s)	CALORIES
January	118.66	4.39 mi	19:35:19	15,342 C
February	89.63	4.07 mi	15:17:04	11,385 C
March	119.12	4.96 mi	20:15:33	14,746 C
April	128.97	5.37 mi	22:24:57	15,694 C
May	165.16	5.90 mi	25:53:30	18,613 C
June	172.90	6.18 mi	26:43:28	19,211 C
July	218.31	7.04 mi	31:03:04	24,311 C
August	108.56	6.03 mi	16:30:17	12,375 C
September	107.35	4.13 mi	15:33:28	11,172 C
October	125.49	5.02 mi	18:24:50	13,710 C
November
December
SUMMARY	1354.45	5.35 mi	211:41:30	156,559 C

2020 Running Goal - Update #35

The cold weather is officially here to stay. I've had to miss a few running days in October already due to bad weather or family commitments. We've even had a few snowy days. I've been bundling up in multiple socks and long sleeve shirts and wearing a stocking hat and pair of gloves to make it more comfortable on these yucky days. The temps are right around 40 degrees.

Anyway, I know the weekday runs are inconsistent because there is less daylight now and with my work schedule, some days just don't work out. My goal is to run about a 5K on weekdays and more mileage on the weekends. I was able to run 6.66 miles yesterday (Saturday) and ran a half-marathon today. I had planned to run seven miles, but I felt really good at that point, so I kept going. I finished in 1h 51m 41s with 8:32/mile pace.

I have now finished eleven half-marathons for the year. I had planned to stop at ten, but now with today's run, I feel like I should go for one more before the end of the year. Twelve is a nice number for twelve months.

A couple other milestones were passed recently. I am now over 1,300 miles and 200 running hours for the year. Less than 200 miles to go for my 1,500-mile goal. I'll keep at it.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 243
Distance: 1,305.87 miles
Total Time: 204h 29m 03s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.32 miles
Total Calories: 151,354
Avg Speed: 6.40 mph
Avg Pace: 9:25 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 74
Miles Left in Year: 194.13 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 2.623 miles

FINISHED TOTALS:

MONTH	MILES	AVERAGE RUN	TIME (h:m:s)	CALORIES
January	118.66	4.39 mi	19:35:19	15,342 C
February	89.63	4.07 mi	15:17:04	11,385 C
March	119.12	4.96 mi	20:15:33	14,746 C
April	128.97	5.37 mi	22:24:57	15,694 C
May	165.16	5.90 mi	25:53:30	18,613 C
June	172.90	6.18 mi	26:43:28	19,211 C
July	218.31	7.04 mi	31:03:04	24,311 C
August	108.56	6.03 mi	16:30:17	12,375 C
September	107.35	4.13 mi	15:33:28	11,172 C
October
November
December
SUMMARY	1228.66	5.34 mi	193:16:40	142,849 C

2020 Running Goal - Update #34

September has come and gone. I really had to focus and run every day towards the end of the month to get the mileage I needed. The days are starting to blur together. My body is still holding up, although my right hip is sore.

I have run over 100 miles in 8 out of 9 months so far. At this point, I only have about 258 miles to go to get to my goal of 1,500 miles. I can do it.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 231
Distance: 1,241.96 miles
Total Time: 195h 06m 30s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.25 miles
Total Calories: 144,263
Avg Speed: 6.40 mph
Avg Pace: 9:25 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 88
Miles Left in Year: 258.05 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 2.932 miles

FINISHED TOTALS:

MONTH	MILES	AVERAGE RUN	TIME (h:m:s)	CALORIES
January	118.66	4.39 mi	19:35:19	15,342 C
February	89.63	4.07 mi	15:17:04	11,385 C
March	119.12	4.96 mi	20:15:33	14,746 C
April	128.97	5.37 mi	22:24:57	15,694 C
May	165.16	5.90 mi	25:53:30	18,613 C
June	172.90	6.18 mi	26:43:28	19,211 C
July	218.31	7.04 mi	31:03:04	24,311 C
August	108.56	6.03 mi	16:30:17	12,375 C
September	107.35	4.13 mi	15:33:28	11,172 C
October
November
December
SUMMARY	1228.66	5.34 mi	193:16:40	142,849 C