Running Down the Dream: August Angst

August 2024 in review!

Total mileage for the month: 330.1

July 29-Aug. 4: 76.1
Aug. 5-11: 80.0
Aug. 12-18: 65.7
Aug. 19-25: 82.6
Aug. 26-Sep. 1: 67

Hot angsty long run

Workouts:

August 6: 8 x 400 m w/ 200 m jogs + 2 x 1 mile threshold effort w/ 1:30 jog. This was my third workout back after 7 weeks off workouts, and I am always amazed at how quickly I improve after starting back (because in any other scenario that is not the case)! My 400s were: 1:26, 1:27, 1:25, 1:26, 1:27, 1:25, 1:26, 1:25 and my miles were 6:22, 6:19. The week before I did 1 threshold effort mile in 6:41 and expected this would be similar, so was really pleased when I saw my splits afterwards! Casey ran the 400s with me for her first workout back after Grandma's, which was nice.
August 10: 2.3 progressive fast finish on the tail end of an 18.3 mile run in 7:23, 7:01, (6:38 pace for 0.3).
August 14: 4 x 0:45 hills, 3 mile threshold effort, 2 x 0:45 hills. The hills were hard and ranged from 5:50-6:07 pace, and the threshold felt strong and was 6:28, 6:26, 6:12.
August 17: 10 x 1:00 picks ups around the beginning of each mile from 3 to the end of a 13.2 mile cut-back long run.
August 21: 4 x 300 m, 3 mile threshold effort, 4 x 1:00 hills. Recoveries were 1:00 between 300s (jog 100 m then stand for a bit), jog to the tempo loop, jog to the hill, and jog down the hill, respectively. This workout went well, likely because it was 64*! My 300s were 1:03, 1:03, 1:01, 1:00, my threshold (with a kick) was 6:18, 6:13, 5:59, and my hill paces were 6:12-6:19. I think my watch reads a little fast on that tempo loop so the splits were probably more like 6:23, 6:18, 6:04, but I'm happy with those too. It's also the same route I used for every other threshold this month, so splits are comparable but all may be a little quick, if that makes sense.
August 28: 6 x 400 m w/ 200m jogs + 4 x 1 mile threshold effort w/ 1:30 jogs. This went far better than I expected in a temperate of 77* and dew point of 74* at 5:15 a.m.! My 400s were 1:30, 1:26, 1:28, 1:27, 1:27, 1:25 and my miles were 6:27, 6:20, 6:15, 6:04. I was happy with my averages and also the way in which I executed this workout with negative splits. Much like the two threshold workouts before, the last half mile included a significant speed up that was faster than threshold effort but felt strong. I ended up getting a little but the day after this workout so maybe I pushed too hard - but almost everyone I work with also had it so maybe nothing would have helped.
Favorite workout: August 21 because it was cooler and felt great.

My main workout buddies this month
(Lisa: "It's hard to look angsty after a good workout!")

Long Runs:

August 3: 16.5 miles, which were hot and draggy until I picked up the pace for mile 16 and strangely felt much better.
August 10: 18.3 miles, with the final 2.3 fast finish
August 17: 13.2 miles, with 10 x 1:00.
August 24: 20.2 miles, with random hill pushes (just whenever we hit a hill). I planned to do 18 but 20 happened!
August 31: 16 miles, with 6 attempted at steady (7:20-7:30). I planned to do 18 but was getting over a minor illness and felt really weak by 16 so stopped.
Favorite long run: I don't know that any of these were great, so I'll go with the 20 miler.

Hot humid long

Running Highlights:

I got to run with my 21-year-old niece each morning on our Eureka Springs trip.

Story nailed the dramatic angst

We forgot about this one until after we'd
showered (nephew in background)

Life Highlights:

Albani and I did a long weekend getaway in Holiday Island, Arkansas with my sister's family (Jon stayed home with Nugget). I got to do some hilly runs with my niece Story who runs for Columbia University.
Albani and I also did a Labor Day weekend getaway to Kansas City for a friend's wedding and IKEA trip. Jon doesn't like going to weddings and again stayed with Nugget. We then tried to remember if he's gone to any weddings with me except ours, and we figured out he has attended 1.25 (he fully attended one and came to the very end of the reception of another). I've taken Albani to at least 5 and she enjoys them!
Nugget is doing really well overall! He eats, sleeps, grooms, plays, and gets around well, and just seems happy (for about 36 hours during/after the clot he was not happy). As of August 31 he is 7 weeks past saddle thrombus. The risk of reoccurrence is highest during the first 30 days so we are thankful he is past that and feel a little better about leaving him home alone for short periods of time. He takes 3 medications daily so cannot be left alone if we travel though. We have done a lot of physical therapy with him and he continues to make progress towards walking completely normally again. Throughout this whole thing he has never not made it into his litter box, which I found really impressive, especially during the initial episode - and we are very fortunate because some cats end up needing diapers after this type of clot.
Albani started her junior year of high school.