Runs:

Sunday, August 2

7.3 miles.  11:13 per mile.  Strides: 162 per min.  Heart rate: 141 bpm.  Temps: 60s-70s deg F, light mist.

This was my best run in a long time.  This was the first run since June 16 that was under 11:30/mile, and it was easy!  I’m not sure if I’m getting back in to pre-surgery condition, or if the cooler temperatures helped, but this run felt easy, my running felt smoother, and overall I felt good!

Monday, August 3

8 miles. 12:14 per mile.  Strides: 158 per min.  Heart rate: 135 bpm.  Temps: 70s-80s deg F, humid.

This was an easy paced, hilly run, with 534 ft. gain.  I felt pretty hot on this run, but otherwise the run felt pretty good.

Tuesday, August 4

7 miles.  11:52 per mile.  Strides: 159 per min.  Heart rate: 130 bpm.  Temps: 60s-70s deg F, sunny.

Today was cooler, and this was an easy paced, much flatter (184 ft. gain) run.  What difference does temperature make on heart rate?  Today was 10 beats per minute slower than similarly paced, hotter runs in the 12-13 minute/mile range from last week.

Wednesday, August 5 – Run

8 miles.  12:01 per mile.  Strides: 160 per min.  Heart rate: 137 bpm.  Temps: 60s-70s deg F, sunny.

The temperatures were cooler again today, but after about a mile, my body decided today would be one long hot flash run, so this run was just “ok”.  Good heart rate for the pace.

Wednesday bonus – Bike Ride!

8.3 miles.  10.4 miles per hour.  Heart rate: 128 bpm.  Temps: 70s deg F, sunny.

This was my first actual bike ride outside in about 12 years (except at least one three minute excursion to pick up dropped gloves after a run in the winter).  This felt good, I got stuck on one hill and had to walk,  I also stopped for traffic, and then I couldn’t restart right away, and a lady asked if I was ok.

Overall, the bike ride was so much fun, and my legs were shaky afterwards.

Thursday, August 6

7 miles.  12:32 per mile.  Strides: 157 per min.  Heart rate: 137 bpm.  Temps: 60s-70s deg F, sunny.

I had slight DOMS from my bike ride yesterday.  This run was fine.

Follow-up appointment at the doctor’s 1 month post surgery today, after this run.

Friday, August 7 – Long run

12 miles.  12:28 per mile.  Strides: 157 per min.  Heart rate: 144 bpm.  Temps: 70s-80s deg F, sunny.

This was my first 12 mile run since June, and this was probably one of the hardest 12 mile runs I’ve done in a long time.  (Long time = last few years).  It was not too hot, my legs felt tired and achy.  I definitely do not feel like I am in marathon shape right now. 

It was very surprising to see that this was at a marginally faster pace than yesterday’s run.  Also, with 573 ft. gain this was kind of hilly.  This run was tough.

Saturday, August 8

7 miles.  12:21 per mile.  Strides: 158 per min.  Heart rate: 140 bpm.  Temps: 70s-80s deg F, sunny.

This was an easy paced, flat run.

Running wrap-up

1.)  I ran lots of miles this week (56), and I’m starting to pick up the pace on a few of these runs.  I’m still running pretty slow, but it is hot and humid and I usually run slower in the summer.

2.)  Somewhere towards the end of the week, I decided to try to run 7 miles everyday in August.  It isn’t as much fun to say as “run 10K everyday in May”, but it is nice to have some small challenge. 

3.)  I found out my marathon in October is canceled.  This is the one that was supposed to be in April and got postponed.  Looking up last year, the marathon had less than 150 participants, but the half marathon was closer to 500, and it is difficult to host something like that and be able to pass out water and nutrition, so I understand.  My options are to defer to next year, donate the entry fee (which was only $45), run virtually and receive a medal and shirt, or ask for a refund.

I’m not even that disappointed that it was canceled. This has been a strange year, and I just like to run. I don’t need races to motivate me, I sometimes will go years with no races and still run about the same amount. I know many people need races for motivation, and that is completely fine too.

I think I have decided that I will do the “virtual” option because I’m not sure about next year, and I’d rather give the ORRRC (Ohio River Road Runners Club) some money than ask for a refund.  I think instead of forcing myself to do two solo marathons this year, I will just count the one I did in April as my virtual marathon (if I can do this.  This sounds like a good plan to me).

4.) My weight is staying about the same.  That’s fine.

Total walking + running miles this week (August 2 – August 8): 65.45 miles (up 7.44 from last week)

Total walking + running miles this year (2020):  2,050.73 miles

Total steps this week (August 2 – August 8): 126,410 steps (up 14,180 from last week)

Total steps this year (2020):  3,579,178 steps

Average steps per day (August 2 – August 8): 18,058 steps (up 2,026 from last week)

Average steps per day (2020): 16,195 steps

Total running miles this week (August 2 – August 8): 56.44 miles (up 6.4 from last week)

Average running mileage per week (2020): 48.39 miles

Total running miles this year (2020): 1,527.76 miles

Average running speed this week (not including hill repeats) (August 2 – August 8): 12:08/mile. (1 sec  faster per mile than last week)

Average running speed this year (2020): 11:53 per mile

Average resting heart rate this week (August 2 – August 8): 63 bpm (same as last week)

Average resting heart rate this year (2020): 61 bpm

Elevation gain this week (August 2 – August 8): 2,059 ft. (up 237 ft. from last week)

Elevation gain this year (2020): 61,642 ft.

Average elevation gain per week (2020): 1,952 ft.

Current thyroid medication: 150 mcg/day levothyroxine + 5 mcg x 2 times a day liothyronine. Started on Aug. 16, 2019.

Weight, weight fluctuate

Weight: 159.1 lb (up 0.6 lb from last week).

Weight January 1, 2020: 151.0 lb

Weight change since Jan 1, 2020: +8.1 lb

Previous week:  July 26– August 1, 2020

Next week:  August 9 – August 15, 2020