2020 Running Goal - Update #33

No sugar coating here. Just short and to the point. 100 days left in the year and 311.89 miles to go.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 219
Distance: 1,188.12 miles
Total Time: 187h 27m 31s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.32 miles
Total Calories: 138,460
Avg Speed: 6.30 mph
Avg Pace: 9:30 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 100
Miles Left in Year: 311.89 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 3.118 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
October
November
December
SUMMARY	1,121.31	5.49 mi	177:43:13	131,677 C

2020 Running Goal - Update #32

Well, running is getting harder by the week. The season is changing. Summer is on the way out. My work and family schedule is busy. The weather can be undesirable. My body is getting worn out. I should take a break to heal up and recover, but I'm at the point of the year where if I miss too many days, I don't know how I will make them up. I already know there will be winter days that I cannot run. So, until then, I'll just have to keep running and making do with what I have.

Even with these mental and physical ups and downs, I should take note and appreciate it when something good unexpectedly happens.

On September 4th, I ran the best hour I've ever had. I ended up with 8.02 miles in 60 minutes. That was a 7:29 min/mile pace. Earlier this year, I had run a 7.78 mile, so I knew it was possible. But I also knew it would be tough. Somehow, I kept on going and going and finished it.

Amazingly, during that same run, I also beat my 10K PR. I lowered it by 17 seconds to 45:28. That is the third time I've improved it this year.

Oh, I also finished half-marathon number 10 on September 6 in 1h 55m 18s with 8:48/mile pace.

There are about 331 miles to go to my 1,500-mile goal.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 212
Distance: 1,168.91 miles
Total Time: 184h 46m 06s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.41 miles
Total Calories: 136,620
Avg Speed: 6.30 mph
Avg Pace: 9:30 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 109
Miles Left in Year: 331.09 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 3.037 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
October
November
December
SUMMARY	1,121.31	5.49 mi	177:43:13	131,677 C

2020 Running Goal - Update #31

August 2020 is over. It was a little dicey for a bit. I was wondering if I would finish under 100 miles for the month, but I was able to get enough running done to finish with over 108. That means of the 8 months in the year so far, I've been able to finish with at least 100 miles in 7 of them. To put that in perspective, last year I have zero months over 100 miles. And in 2018, my best running year so far with 1,263 miles, I finished only 7 out of 12 months with over 100 miles.

In other words, I've been doing a lot of running this year.

I'm just about 140 miles away from breaking my 2018 mileage record. I have 120 days to do it.

I have 9 half-marathons done, but I want to do one more to get to 10.

August 30th was a special day. I ran my fastest 10K ever. My new PR is 45:45 with a 7:22 min/mile pace. That pace was 15 seconds faster per mile than my previous best and lowered my overall record by 1 minute and 33 seconds. I had no idea that I was going to run so well that day. It just happened and really surprised me when I saw my time.

I have less than 380 miles to go.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 203
Distance: 1,123.34 miles
Total Time: 178h 00m 49s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.53 miles
Total Calories: 131,845
Avg Speed: 6.30 mph
Avg Pace: 9:30 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 120
Miles Left in Year: 376.66 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 3.138 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
October
November
December
SUMMARY	1,121.31	5.49 mi	177:43:13	131,677 C

2020 Running Goal - Update #30

I felt like I finished July really well. It was the model of consistency. It was a perfect case study on what I need to be a successful runner. My work schedule, sleep amount, food consumption, running distance, running time, running pace, and weather were all remarkably similar for 31 days. In retrospection, it was a pretty darn good month, and it showed in what I accomplished.

August, on the other hand, has been nothing but a weird, depressing month. I cannot get into any running rhythm. It is taking a mental and physical toll.

The weather is unpredictable. One day is hot and humid, the next is a downpour and lightning. Then, one morning is freezing cold, but the evening is sweltering and sticky. And throughout it all, the bugs suddenly have renewed interest in human flesh.

On top of that, I just cannot keep up any energy. I haven't been sleeping well due to stress and the number of hours I've had to work. This, in turn, affects my food choices and amounts. So, all this adds up into wildly inconsistent runs of varying start times, lengths, paces, energy levels, tiredness, and enthusiasm.

Today is August 23rd, and I've only run 10 times. I plan to run later today, but we'll see how that goes.

I should note I had a positive run on August 15th, though. I finished my 9th half-marathon of the year in 1:52:13 with a 8:34 min/mile pace. Only one more left for the year. 130 days to go.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 194
Distance: 1,085.54 miles
Total Time: 172h 24m 09s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.65 miles
Total Calories: 127,712
Avg Speed: 6.30 mph
Avg Pace: 9:32 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 130
Miles Left in Year: 414.46 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 3.188 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
September
October
November
December
SUMMARY	1,012.75	5.42 mi	161:12:55	119,302 C

2020 Running Goal - Update #29

I took a few days off from running to start the month of August. I wanted to rest my body and have a break from the intense exercise.

I took off days 1 and 2. I rested and didn't do any activities.

On day 3, I ran a fast 5K ending up with a 7:25 min/mile pace in 23:00. After that run, I felt like I still had more to give, so decided to try again the next day.

So, on day 4, I ran as hard as I could, and ended up beating my 5K PR by 3 seconds. I ended up with a 7:00 min/mile pace in 21:41.

Then I took off days 5, 6, and 7 due to work and weather.

On days 8 and 9, I ran back-to-back half-marathons in 2:05:36 and 2:01:06.

I now have eight half-marathons finished for the year. My goal is to finish ten by the end of the year. Barring any issues, that should be doable.

I recently realized that the Brooks Ghost 12 shoes I am wearing during my runs have been with me since the beginning in January. So, my shoes now have 1,045 running miles on them, in addition to whatever walking and everyday use miles they have accumulated. I can definitely tell the soles are getting worn down, but overall, these shoes have been great this year.

Current yearly stats:

Runs: 188
Distance: 1,045.14 miles
Total Time: 166h 04m 18s
Avg Distance Per Run: 5.75 miles
Total Calories: 122,792
Avg Speed: 6.28 mph
Avg Pace: 9:32 min/mile

Days Left in Year: 144
Miles Left in Year: 454.86 miles (from 1,500)
Daily Average Needed: 3.158 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
September
October
November
December
SUMMARY	1,012.75	5.42 mi	161:12:55	119,302 C