Starting this week off not feeling my best, but I’m setting a goal to hit 18 miles. With some planning and a little extra effort as my body heals, I’m ready to start pushing it on those longer runs. Even though I’ve had a few rough days, my weekly mileage is still low enough to make this totally doable.
I’m also resetting my mindset. Last week was a bit of a struggle (and I’ll own those complaints!), but now it’s time to shift back to the positive: I’m getting healthier, I’m running farther, and I’m better than I was yesterday. Here’s to a new week and a fresh outlook on the road ahead!
Sunday 10/13/2024 – A Rough Start to the Week
Still dealing with this sinus infection and wrapping up my last day of solo parenting, I managed a quick 1-mile treadmill run around lunchtime. Today was one of the worst days in terms of how I felt, so I loaded up on DayQuil, saline spray, and whatever else I could find to keep the symptoms at bay. It wasn’t pretty, but 1 mile is officially in the books for the week.
The silver lining? My partner in crime is finally back home, and she’s the best! Here’s hoping her return helps me snap out of this cold and get back to feeling normal.
Monday 10/14/2024 – Slowing Down for Race Day Pacing
Today, I kept things slow with a simple 1-mile run, consciously pulling back my pace to get closer to what I’ll aim for in my next trail race. Even though the race will be on trails rather than pavement, it’s always a mental challenge to slow down on purpose. With a longer race on the horizon, it’s key to focus on sustainable pacing now. Slowing down may be a tough shift, but today was a great chance to practice patience and control.
Tuesday 10/15/2024 – A 3.5-Mile Run
Today’s goal was to settle into the 3-4 mile range, so I logged 3.5 miles at a comfortable pace, finishing in 35:08, which came out to 10:02 per mile. It felt good to be moving at that pace, and I was happy to revisit some of the back streets I used to run about a year ago. It’s funny how certain routes bring back memories—it’s like running alongside an old friend. This felt like a solid start to longer runs this week.
Wednesday 10/16/2024 – Trail Run, Tiktoks, and Hill Transitions
I had the day off as I transitioned between jobs, and with a Disney trip coming up next week, I made the most of it with a 3.1-mile trail run. I brought my camera along to capture some moments for TikTok, which was fun but definitely impacted the run—filming always adds a bit of stop-and-start to the workout. Still, I reminded myself that runs can be fun and productive at the same time.
I hit a few big hills to practice those crucial run-to-walk and walk-to-run transitions, especially important for the pace I need on race day. Today’s 11:14 pace was slower, but that’s perfect for ultra race training where realistic scenarios matter more than speed. Follow me on TikTok!
Thursday 10/17/2024 – Windy 4.2-Miles
Today’s goal was to complete one “backyard ultra” loop of 4.2 miles, which I managed at a 9:53 pace. The run felt good overall, but the wind was intense. Running north, I felt every gust, but the moment it was at my back, I could barely feel it—which seemed like a bit of a cruel joke. Once the wind was pushing me along, I warmed up fast and started to sweat, even though it was only 54 degrees. Still, it was a strong run and a solid test of endurance in tough conditions.
Friday 10/18/2024 – A Quick 2 Miles
I snuck in a 2-mile mid-morning run today, though I had to cut it short after losing track of time with a few things around the house. With just enough time to run, shower, and get the boys from school, I kept it short but consistent. It balanced out nicely with yesterday’s longer effort, letting me keep my streak going without overdoing it.
Saturday 10/19/2024 – Slowing Down Before Disney
Today was just a quick mile as I kept things easy before our big Disney trip tomorrow. It felt good to keep the streak alive without pushing too hard. This wrap-up mile marks the end of a busy week, and now it’s time to focus on rest, recovery, and family time before diving back into training next week.
Week 3 Wrap-Up
This week was all about finding a good rhythm as I bounced back from being sick. I focused on pacing myself, hitting longer runs where I could, and slowing things down when needed. With the week totaling 16.8 miles, I didn’t quite hit my 18-mile goal, but I’m happy with the progress—especially with a big family trip to Disney on the horizon!
Now it’s time to rest up, keep moving where I can, and come back ready to build on this momentum. I suspect vacation will bring me back to a lot of minimums (1 mile runs), but here’s to steady improvement and a great week ahead!
