I definitely feel like the spring and summer months always go by faster than the winter months. That makes sense, because every winter I feel like I am stuck inside and constantly complaining about the weather. Even though I complain about the humidity, I would much rather deal with that than the ice/snow/wind etc.
Now that July is over, it’s time for my monthly check in to see how I am doing with my goals. You can read my other monthly recaps here:
-While I am not sure if this will be the year for a sub-1:40 half, I am finally signed up for my first (and probably only) half-marathon on 2015! I’m running the half in the Baltimore Running Festival in October, which I also ran last year.
-I know I won’t be running 2015 miles this year (I’m at 500 as of August 2nd), and I will probably run about 7-8 races.
-I’m still doing alot of my strength work and will continue doing so as I start marathon training. My coach has helped me to incorporate my rehab exercises into my training 3 days a week, as well as a session dedicated to strength training.
-This was probably my worst month of planking. I’m hoping to get back into the habit when my training plan says “core work” because planks are one of my favorite core exercises.
-This month I read Summerlong by Dean Bakopoulos which I read about on Tara’s blog. I am looking forward to reading alot of books when I go on vacation thanks to all the recommendations I got last week!
-I’ll talk more about my marathon goals in another post, but my focus for this year will not be a BQ, but rather to finish strong and healthy. Considering I didn’t even know if I would do a marathon in 2015 I don’t want to push my luck.
-I feel like I have not been good about variety this month, especially now that I don’t have a gym. But I did take a week almost completely off from running at the end of the month- that should count as variety! It’s something I don’t do very often, but I wanted to rest up before I started training this week.
July 2015 Stats and Highlights
Total miles: 94- another new monthly high for the year!
Best run: This is tough because I can’t really remember which runs were from July and which were from other months? I do know one of my favorites was getting out to explore the NCR trail.
Also, racing the Pikesville 5k– I felt strong and back to my pre-injury speed!
Favorite Non-Running Activity: I guess I would have to say strength training, although I think I said that last month. My options are limited these days.
Most popular blog posts:
1. I Guess I Eat the Same Things Every Day
3. Thoughts Involving Summer and Running
4. Weekly Recap and Weekend Update
5. We’re Not in Baltimore City Anymore
7. Scenes From The Weekend And Weekly Recap
8. Just Another Running Survey
9. 10 Things About the Pikesville 5k
10. Weekly Recap and a New Trail
Biggest accomplishment: Signing up for a marathon, and deciding to work with a coach!
Set-backs and struggles: Nothing that I can think of!
Things I’m looking forward to in August: The start of marathon training, of course! Today is day 1! Also, going on vacation next week.
What were some July highlights for you?
What are you looking forward to in August?
I can’t even believe we are in August. More shocking to me was realizing that September is next month. It’s just crazy to me how fast it is going. I say it every year but geez, I don’t know where the summer went.
I’m definitely not ready for September! It’s really just knowing what is ahead that I don’t like- even though the next few months will be ok I never want it to get cold again.
Great month leading up to training! Love the 5k picture of you. Strength training is something I want to get into at some point but clearly it’s not happening right now. You have great variety in your workouts.
I’m sure you get a lot of strength work in withall of the yoga that you do! But maybe its something to try adding in after your done with the NYC marathon.
I bet Baltimore in October is very pretty! My July highlight has been getting back on my bike after a knee injury and my August goals are to continue to rehab my knee.
It can still be kind of hot in October, but usually we get pretty good weather. I kind of wish the race was a few weeks later so it was cooler and looked more like fall. But still, its one of my favorite races!
Good luck with continuing the knee rehab this month!
Wait it’s August? I love this idea of making goals and reflecting on them!
I have no idea where the summer has gone!!
I think I am the opposite, I would rather deal with the cold/snow etc. I just wither in the heat and humidity!
You look so STRONG in that running picture!!
My August goals are to continue with marathon training, which will be harder with the kids activities ramping up!
I wouldn’t mind it being a bit cooler but I feel like lately the winters have been so bad that I really don’t want to deal with it again.
I have no idea what August will bring. July was so crazy and hectic and weird and all over the place…. what if August is “normal”? I won’t know what to do with it!
I’m sure that there will be some level of craziness- I mean, isn’t there always? And I think sometimes the best months are the ones we go into without any expectations.
Ugh i hate strength training too, but it’s so helpful and important! I love how much you vary your workouts though!
It can be really hard to get into the habit of strength training, but now that I do it regularly I kind of enjoy it!
Awesome month! My July mileage turned out to be 106, which is high for me but lower than I was aiming for because of Dumbo (trying to get comfortable with multiple days of back to back running, especially since my cousin and law school BFF I’m running with are both already faster than me and will leave me in the dust!) I wasn’t planning on racing in August due to traveling, but now I am doing a 10K about 12 days before Dumbo while I’m in London. I’ll take it easy and it should be fun to see how they run in Hyde Park in their race series – as I was reminded, no mile markers 🙂
A 10k in London should be a fun experience!
Looks like you had a great month in July! I am the same way, I will complain all day about the heat but it is so much better than mountains of snow and ice. I’m so excited for August because it means fall is just around the corner, and fall is the best time for everything, including running.
I do love fall, but I know winter follows not too far behind it! And I can’t help but feel like we just got to summer. I’m not ready for it to be over yet!
WoohooO! Yay for marathon training! I’m looking forward to vacation next week as well… It can’t come soon enough 🙂
Just a few more work days to get through!
You look really strong in that pic–all your hard work is paying off! I love seeing that you are being so wise with race goals–that’s the way to keep injuries in the rearview mirror (along with all that rehab!). Great job.
Thank you!! And I hope that this mindset helps. I don’t want to end up having to take more time off of running…there will be plenty more races to work on improving my times!
Such a strong 5k for you! And I love that you got a coach… when I’m ready to get really serious I’m planning to get one too. Right now I’m in need of a fun running year after surviving baby’s first year + marathon training!
That makes sense for sure! I feel like having a coach will help me stay on track and run a strong race without overdoing it.
Hooray for having no setbacks or struggles! And hooray for your first day of marathon training. You’re going to do great.
Thanks! A new training cycle is always exciting:)
Summer is fleeting for sure! And I think global changes have made the really nice weather come later and later. It didn’t really heat up here until mid-July and the kids will go back to school in a few short weeks. You’ve had a really solid month and I’m excited for your marathon training. My July highlight was Europe, of course.
It definitely felt like the summer started later. Maybe winter will start later too…
Happy first day of marathon training girl! 🙂 November will be here before you know it!
Thanks! I know, it always goes so fast!
Awesome month, great mileage for a week off 🙂 Sometimes I feel like I could use it, but it’s always so hard to do.
I like planks too, I have been slacking with my core work and got a good session in last week. I need to keep it up!
It is challenging with no gym, you can always find good routines on you tube 🙂
Yes, I have found a lot of good at-home workouts online!
Nice total mileage for the month, Lisa! Planking has been really bad for me,too, up to your post last week. Now I try to squeeze it a few minutes in here and there. I’m excited for your upcoming races!
It really doesn’t take that long, so I know I can be better about it too! I think I have just been more focused on other things.
Yay for the BRF half and awesome job in July! I had my highest-ever mileage in July – I am really looking forward to tapering in late August. = )
The taper will definitely be nice for you in a few weeks!
It always bugs me that the summer goes so fast and the winter just draaaaaagsss. I get it, but it’s still not cool!
Agreed! It makes sense, but I still would prefer the winter to be shorter:)
I really need to get back on my planking game! I did a 30 day challenge which was awesome, but now I don’t do them consistently enough. Maybe I’ll make that my August goal 🙂 Great job in July and in 2015!! You really bounced back from your injury and you are going to do great at your half in October!
Thanks! Let’s get better about planking this month:)
YAY! I’m so excited for you to have vacation time!! Thanks so much for mentioning the blog today; I really hope you get lots of good reading time and that you find some books you love. Way to go with your training and I’m delighted about your decision to work with a coach; I think you’ll love it. Hope your Monday has gone well!
Thanks Tara! I have a feeling I will be referring to your blog all the time when I need book ideas:)
Congrats on your mileage for the month. That’s impressive in these hot and humid conditions. Have a fantastic time on vacation next wk.
it’s always nice to relax with a good book.
Thanks! Not sure how I ran so many more miles than this last summer…
It’s so funny that you feel like the summer goes faster than the winter because I feel like it’s the exact opposite. Once August arrives I feel like the rest of the year just zooms on by in the blink of an eye!
Very exciting that you’ve got vacation to look forward to next week. I’m counting down the days until mine too… can’t wait! 🙂
I think the rest of 2015 will fly by its the months from Jan-March that seem to drag.
I hope that both our vacations come quickly!
Cheers to no setbacks!! IT’s crazy how fast the summer has gone. My oldest son starts first grade on Thursday! Enjoy your vacation!
Thanks! Wow, that has to be crazy but exciting for you! Im hoping to savor the last month of summer as much as possible.
I am excited to follow your marathon training! Have a great vacation next week! 🙂 I probably won’t be able to guest post because I am so behind on blogging right now. Thank you for reaching out though and I would love to do it in the future so don’t forget about me. 🙂
No worries at all! I will definitely keep you in mind next time:)