August has come and gone and it’s hard to believe how quickly summer went by! It seems like just yesterday I was breaking out my summer running clothes, and pretty soon I’ll be putting them away. August was a whirlwind, and went by much quicker than I had expected. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Miles run: 112

Races run: 2 (Buehler’s Heart & Sole Half Marathon, Type 1 Diabetes Awareness 5k)

Miles biked: 0

Favorite Workout: 8/9 – The Perfect 20 Mile Run

My mileage for August was up and has now become my third month in a row with triple digit mileage. However, I was only one mile up from July, and  unfortunately, about 15 miles under what I had hoped to do. I’m not too disappointed, but rather surprised that my body has been able to keep up with three months of high mileage.

I ran two races in August. I continued my tradition of running in Wooster at the Heart & Sole Half. It was my third fastest half despite hills and some stomach issues. Even though I was upset about  my performance, I’ve realized that I’m a lot stronger than I think thanks to marathon training. The second race was a cross country style 5k for Type 1 Diabetes awareness. My time was much slower than I had planned, but humidity and a grass course slowed me down.

My best run of the month was my first 20 miler of the cycle. I had perfect weather, perfect fueling, the perfect route and was joined by a great group of MCRR. I averaged a 10:03 pace, something I never thought I could do for 20 miles. This run gave me the confidence that I am possible of more than I expected.

And even though I had a great 20 miler, this month was probably my hardest in terms of running. I had some really great runs, but I also had a handful of really bad runs. I definitely doubted whether I could handle a marathon or if I was wasting my time. I put so much stress and pressure on myself, that sometimes I’ve lost sight of the real reason I’m putting in these miles.

So there’s August, a roller coaster of running, and really all I’ve had time for. September is my last full week of marathon training, but will include taper, so miles won’t be in the triple digits. I want to take time this month to enjoy my workouts and hopefully enjoy cooler weather!

 

How was your August? What goals do you have for September?