Don’t worry, I’m not going to miss September’s recap like I missed August! In reality it’s a pretty sucky month with traveling, and twinges, so there’s not a ton to tell…
Total Road KMs : 21.5 kms
Total Trail KMs : ~104.5 kms
KMs raced during August : 15.5 kms
Total KMs this month : 126 kms
Total KM’s this year : 1888 kms
Hours running : 19 ish
Cross-training hours (Spinning, Grinds, Strength training) : Hmm…2 hours of Grinding is all I’ve got…second month in a month with only 2 Grinds 
# of Grinds/BCMC’s : 2
How’s my month been?
This year is just flying by! It was a good LIFE month with Weddings, and Vacay, and a big Birthday party. It was a fun month, a busy month, but not an ideal “training” month. I guess we could call it a stepback month, but that’s kind of crappy going into my next 50K ultra this weekend.
September still had some of the niggles that plagued me in July and August. I’ve had an acute stabbing knee pain since SQ50 that I was ignoring and not admitting to…and recently, like last weekend, that pain seemed to go away, but in it’s place, a weird arch/inside ankle throbbing pain. I’d rather have the throb than the stab, but really, can’t I just have neither??
Anyways, like I said September was a bit all over the map. I was at MYM for the pre-race festivities, and went to the start and first few aid stations before jetting off to a family wedding in Harrison. James ran the whole 50Miler, and he shared his journey with us here.
A few days after this crazy busy weekend to end August and start September, Jay and I headed off to another family wedding, this time in California, and we spent some time in Newport Beach, Solana Beach, La Jolla for the Wedding, Sea World San Diego, Universal Studios, and Disneyland/California Adventure Park. It was a jam packed week but we had a blast!
I didn’t take my running shoes with me, and didn’t miss running for the most part, although I did miss out on a Newport Run Club with one of my favorite bloggers, Sarah OUAL. Ah well.
I hoped the week off would solve all of my running twinges. It didn’t happen. I got new orthotics. I thought they might solve the knee issue, and they may have, but they also created this new arch issue, and it hasn’t been enough time to tell really.
So, the only race I ran in September was the last 5Peaks race of the year, at Buntzen Lake. I used to hate this course, because it’s a tough climb at the beginning, and a very demanding course otherwise. But somehow, my body decided to come out to play last weekend, and I had a blast at this race. It was super nice to race with more fresh legs, and not have to deal with the general fatigue running shorter races weeks after 50K races seems to do to me. Anyways, my full report is here.
Grinds were again lacking this month. I only got up there twice, and both again were pretty slow, but it is what it is. I just can’t expect to be good or improving at everything. And, I am at 17 Grinds for 2013 at the end of Sept, so it’s not terrible….I want to at least finish 20 before the trail closes, but we’ll see. Last year at this time I was at 22.
Sigh. Can’t win them all.
Ladies of the Trails continued through September, meeting every Tuesday evening, and we did a super fun orientation run out at Buntzen too!
And now, here we are at the start of October! October is busy with the Baker Lake Party with Team FOMO, Thanksgiving weekend, Lake Padden Trail Race in BHam on the 19th, a couple birthdays, an engagement party, and a special Halloween Ladies of the Trails event on Friday October 25th. Mark your calendar, you won’t want to miss this one!
Let’s see what I said for September Goals :
- I’ve started another Dietbet, and I’d like to be at 162 by the end of September. As of today, Sept 17, I’m at 165.4. Still around 165.
- I took the first week of September off of running while in California, so I know my mileage is going to be super low for September, I’m not even at 50kms today…I figure I’ll be between 110 & 150 for the month. I’d like to get up close to 150 to keep my overall mileage up…Came in at 126 for the month, in the range I figured.
- The only races I’m doing in September are the 5Peaks Buntzen Lake Enduro, which I haven’t run the Enduro course in a number of years, so I have no clue on a timing goal (I’ll look it up pre-race). I’d like to feel good all race long. I felt great for most of the race, and came 3rd in my AG and sub 2 hours, so I’m very happy.
- The other race is the Surrey International Music Marathon, where I’m running the half marathon. I didn’t run. I took a DNS because of the weird arch pain that started towards the end of Saturday’s race. It’s still a bit tender, so I’m sure I made the right choice. I still came out to the race, and was there cheering in Nikki and other friends in the pouring rain.
October Goals?
- Baker Lake 50K. Originally I wanted to take 15-20 mins off of last year’s time. Now? I’m not sure it’s do-able with my low mileage and twinges. I’d like to beat last year’s time though – 5:55:11.
- Recover well.
- Beat last year’s Lake Padden Trail Half – 2:07:19 was my 2012 time.
- 20 Grinds total for 2013
- Get back in my gym & in my sauna
How about you? What’s on your schedule for October?
xoxo
-S
