Reflect/Reset: August & September
Reflect/Reset is a new series on the blog and will be published on the first Friday of the month (Sunday this month…oops!). In this series of blog posts, I will be sharing details about the previous month of training and sharing my training plans for the month ahead. I will reflect on the past month and reset to create space for the experiences that await in the new month.
Reflect: August
August was a blur! I thought July was bad in terms of heat and humidity and August proved me wrong. I felt it mostly on long runs, but truly, anything over 45 minutes was a challenge for the first few weeks in August. There was even a Saturday run where I was pouty after because running felt so hard; life is hard, why does running have to feel hard, too? August was the reminder that extra rest and extra hydration are my biggest tools in this battle against the heat and humidity. A bad run isn’t about the run itself, but about everything leading up to and including the run itself. By focusing on hydration, getting more rest (it’s never enough), and recovery I was able to finish the month feeling strong and solid as a runner.
August Stats:
108.0 miles total
27.0 miles average weekly
18 runs total
Longest run: 10.25 miles
Shortest run: 4.11 miles
Favorite workout: Aerobic + strides.
Most memorable moment: Hitting the track with fellow She RUNS This Town – Miami chapter leaders.
What supported running this month: Yoga, strength training, physical therapy, and great company on the run.
Reset: September
It’s race month! Woo hoo! A summer of 5K training reaches its emotional peak on Friday, September 9th at Vacation Races’ Great Smoky Mountains 5K race. I’m excited about reaching another start line; more so than normal because this race is part of my retreat, Great Smoky Mountains Running Experience. I want to run strong and fast, but I’m not quite sure what that will look like for me. Training has felt solid and has prepared me for a great day, but I never know how the body will feel or how the mind will process things until right before the race. Wish me luck!
After this race, I’ll be enjoying some much needed and well-deserved time off from running. Let’s be real though: it will probably just be a week off! I have my eyes on some events in October, but let’s get through September first, right?
Stay tuned for next month’s post. September will be about racing and resetting to new goals. I’m here for whatever my next evolution as a runner will be as we move deeper into the fall season.
