Monday, 72 minutes, 7.76 miles (1.26 miles walking)
While my legs felt a bit tired yesterday, they did not feel that way today. They did not exactly feel like they had a “pep” in the step but rather I felt strong on the hills. The hills did not feel easy at all but I felt so much stronger as I headed up these hills. I really like that feeling. That’s a feeling that I hope to keep going as this two-fold challenge continues.
Tuesday, 72 minutes, 7.90 miles, (1.28 miles walking)
I really enjoyed this run. We set out later than yesterday but legs immediately found their rhythm. The run itself never felt too hard. In fact, several times I caught myself thinking about how great the pace felt, strong and steady. I even made it up “Deadman’s Hill” again. I did pause at the top to lower my heart rate before finishing the last minute of the run but I will take it.
Wednesday, short run, 3.00 miles
Thanks to Mom’s car being in the shop for routine upkeep, she could not bring the weights to Greenville with her. Thus, this week we won’t get in a round of strength training.
I still got the run in, just before the rain apparently. Well, I got a few drizzles so not fully before the rain. I ran slow and easy, no pep in the step but not super tired either.
Thursday, 72 minutes, 8.23 miles, (1.31 miles walking)
Barely a couple miles into this run and my shirt already clung to me, drenched in sweat. Yup. Summer has arrived in Greenville. Surprisingly, I did not mind the heat and humidity. I had a lot to talk about, so much weighs heavy on my heart lately (too much and not related to a training recap) so it felt good to talk through things. Even after I split off from Mom at the 50 minute mark, I still plugged away and felt pretty decent. I could not wait to get back and get cleaned up though.
Friday, 72 minutes, 8.01 miles, (3.53 miles walking)
I ran with a heavy heart today. So much happened today that I never thought I would witness. I have read about these incidents before. I have seen old news footage. Today I witnessed it mere hours after it happened on a live broadcast.
I ran with a grateful heart, grateful for the ability to run even in the heat and humidity, even though my legs did not feel particularly peppy. I brought hydration with me, which definitely helped.
I hope that these thoughts will motivate me to do more and will make me even more grateful for every run.
Saturday, Half Marathon, 13.32 miles
I hoped that my body would cooperate despite the ever present heat and humidity. I wanted to get in a half marathon distance last week but had to cut it down to 12 miles.
I felt so much better this week on the long run than last week. I chalk that up to a little bit of acclimatization to the heat and humidity. I still looked like I had just gotten out of a pool when I finished. I still had to slow my pace a good bit on the second half. I finished strong though. I got in the full half marathon distance.
Next, I need to work out how to get in more hydration. I have a double quiver OrangeMud vest but haven’t used it for a couple years after some gnarly back chafing on a long run. I prefer the single quiver but think that getting in my hydration as I run would help tremendously.
Sunday, maintaining the streak, 1.79 miles (2.18 miles walking)
I took this mile slow just to keep the legs moving and maintain the streak.