Can you believe we’re at a new month? August is here! The best thing about it is being able to essentially “start over” with new goals. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect either because this week begins the kickoff of training for the Philly Marathon!
I’m linking up with Hoho Runs and Miss Sippi Piddlin for the Weekly Wrap! It’s a great way to see what your favorite health and fitness bloggers are up to each week!
I’m also joining Ange and Carmy for the Monthly Goals Linkup!
[bctt tweet=”How did you hit your running goals for July? Let’s chat! #weeklywrap #runchat” username=”Janelle_RWNR”]
July Running Goal Recap
Well, July turned out to be a pretty interesting month…between the awful weather and traveling, I seemed to leave my running goals by the wayside. Still, I did the best I could on the runs that I did complete, and over the month I improved to a monthly total of 70.9 miles vs. 59.5 miles in June. So these were my goals for July:
- Do a morning weekday run at least once a week. Grade: A! I’m really happy that I’ve become more comfortable with running in the mornings before work and can easily get in a solid 3 miles. Now if I could get 4 miles in before 6:30 am I’d be doing great!
- Continue using the 1/2 Marathon Training Plan from Strength Running. Grade: F. At some point in July, I completely abandoned using the training plan. I did do some of the non-running workouts, but not nearly enough.
- Consistently run 4 days a week. Grade: F. I only had 2 weeks in the month where I ran 4 days a week…oops.
- Do planks, squats, and lunges daily. Grade: F. Oh boy, I really failed on this one. I did lunges every day that I ran, but only planked when I could remember and rarely did my squats!
August Running Goals
Now that it’s a new month, it’s time to move forward and reset my goals. Since I’m now in full training mode, it’ll be more important than ever to stick to my fitness goals so that I’m in the best condition for marathon training!
- Follow Coach Kristy’s marathon training plan to a tee. I crave structure and I’m so glad to be working with Kristy again! I’m starting out with 3 days a week of running but will move up to 4 days a week.
- Run with some new running groups. I promised that the Running Club Roundup would return soon and this month, I really want to put myself out there! I’ve got my eye on the Wissahickon Wanderers and the Pennypack Trail Runners. Even the November Project would be fun!
- Hit the track for my speed work. The only way I can run a flat surface is either on the treadmill or on the track. It’s time to fight those high school demons and do my speed work at the local track! I’ve got no excuses!
- Do planks, squats, and lunges 3 times a week. I need to get a little bit more realistic with this goal. This should be much more manageable.
Workouts for the Week:
Monday 7/25: I was all set to run in the morning and we ended up having a crazy thunderstorm around 5:00 am. Then when I planned to run in the evening, we had another thunderstorm! Not to totally waste the day, I did a core workout and a 1-minute plank.
Tuesday 7/26: No running…I was exhausted by the time I got home and made dinner.
Wednesday 7/27: Back to the early morning run! I went a little farther on my out-and-back than usual, and I almost ended up getting hit by a car because I was running on the street at a dangerous part of the road – totally my fault. In any event, the humidity wasn’t bad and I had a very comfortable 3-mile run.
Thursday 7/28: I went for another morning run for 3 miles. I felt really good, but my hamstrings were a little sore from the previous day’s run. Before bed, I did a 1-minute plank, some clamshells, and leg raises.
Friday 7/29: No running, but I did a lot of walking around as I did some shopping for the house.
Saturday 7/30: Time for the long run! I went for 8 miles, most of them on Forbidden Drive. I was able to run with my friend Tom for the first time in a LONG time. He’s training for the Marine Corps Marathon, so I think we’ll finally be out on the trail together more often. This run started off great, but the humidity really got to me by the end. I also forgot to take my Clif Shot Bloks, so I think using fuel would have made the last few miles much more tolerable!
Sunday 7/31: Rest day. We spent some time in the morning cutting down the overgrown ivy from the front of our house. In the evening, I did do a 1-minute plank. They still don’t seem to be getting easier!
Marathon Pre-Training Report Card:
This marks the end of my “pre-training” for the Philly Marathon. While I didn’t hit those 25 miles a week that I intended to, I’m proud of the work I put in to prepare for the real deal.
Training in the summer definitely has its challenges. Add in a few vacations, some stormy weather, and an injury scare, and you may not get to run as often as you anticipate. Not to mention we’ve had an extremely hot and humid summer! And I bought a house, haha. I truly believe that making the most of the runs you do complete is what matters the most! I’m just glad I’ve been able to do what I can.
I’m really excited to start sharing recaps of training for my very first marathon! This means so much to me and I’m grateful to have an audience willing to follow my journey each week. I will give my overall pre-training a grade of B-. I think these last 2 weeks went really well and it’s going to be quite an adventure until November 20!
What are your running goals for August?
Love your goals! I always have to adjust things especially because I’ve been failing at fitting in more strength and core work with my marathon training. I’m running Chi and Philly and love reading about other people’s marathon training journeys!
Thanks, Lauren! I didn’t realize you were running the Philly marathon too, good times! I really slack on strength and my core is struggling so much…I’m hoping I do a much better job this month!
I myself have found it difficult with consistently running a certain amount of days per week 🙁 even with a training plan, I’ve been traveling a lot and I agree that the heat and humidity on top doesn’t help! Good idea to write out what type of additional exercises you want to do (lunges, etc.) beforehand so it’s easier to stick do. I will definitely have to do that.
When your weeks are busy, it’s even more important to have that plan ready so you don’t miss any runs. I like to look at things week to week. I hope writing out those workouts works for you! I need to add some reminders or something to make sure I don’t skip out!
One of my goals for August is to figure out what I want to do this fall running wise. Earlier in the year I had my heart set on a half that I PR’d at last year, but now that it’s time to sign up, I’m just not feeling it. I don’t feel motivated to train. Not sure if it’s the heat & humidity, or if I’m just not ready to put in hard work.
So, I can definitely relate to summer being a hard season to train in, for so many reasons other than just the heat.
I think this weather can definitely sap motivation…we all get in those ruts once in a while. I’m sure things will turn around soon!
Can you stagger the squats, planks, and lunges? I do strength training almost every day, but I stagger workouts so I’m doing the same exercises all the time. If I throw in an exercise I haven’t done in a while, it jolts my muscles and I’m sore the next day.
I was just thinking that maybe focusing on one exercise on a given day might work better. Or just force myself to do them after each run….I think I’ll need some trial and error, so thanks for the tip!
Wow, that’s great that you keep yourself accountable with your goal report card. Many weeks I am certain I would not want to see mine! Good luck and have fun conquering all your goals and Marathon training!
Thanks so much, Diane! 🙂
I seriously have not been making goals lately. Rehome Bandit, that’s a goal, and boy I’ve been working hard on that one. He’s so good with me . . . if only he were that good with everyone else. Poor boy, it really isn’t his fault.
I would really like to get back to ST 3 x week, but I’ll take the 2 times I’ve been getting lately.
I saw that you’ve been working on rehoming Bandit, sorry it didn’t work out. Strength training twice a week is still really good!
I keep telling myself how glad I am not to be training for anything this summer. The conditions have been just brutal. I don’t think you should be so hard on yourself. It’s tough all around! I’d hate to see my report card!
The summer weather really has been testing me, lol. I think the hills just make me a big baby right now, but I can’t avoid them so I’ll adapt eventually? LOL. Oh and you would still have a great report card, you always put in the work! 🙂
I think your goals for August sound great! I think 3 days a week of lunges, squats, and planks is definitely more reasonable. One of my goals is to do push-ups 3 days a week and thats been going pretty well. Good luck as you start your training!
Thanks a lot, Lisa! Now I’m thinking I need to add pushups to the mix…I did 10 yesterday, the first time in several weeks! I think this new schedule is much more balanced.
I hope your training goes great. Just go back to your tips post for inspiration. I honestly think it’s much easier to not miss runs when I run more – because I wake up knowing I’m going to run (unless something crazy like being stuck in the airport happens). I could NOT do all my runs after work – I’m way too wiped out afterwards, so kudos for being able to do that. But yay for your morning runs!
Thanks, Courtney! Training will definitely become ingrained in my daily routine…I’m actually looking forward to that! I’m glad I gave the early morning running a chance, I’m actually starting to enjoy it!
It’s hard to believe it’s already August. Great job with those early morning runs and that mileage increase in July!
Thanks a lot, Chaitali!
I can’t wait to follow along on your journey as your experience your first marathon! So exciting! I am extremely grateful for my morning runs right now. I can’t imagine having to run at any other time in this weather. I hope you are settling into your new home and enjoying all the trails, new routes, and hills at your disposal. Thanks for linking, Janelle!
Aw, thanks HoHo! The morning runs are really nice before work, a bit more of a drag on the weekends though. We’re finally getting a break from the 90’s so I’m enjoying the “cooler” weather for running, haha! Oh and I’m enjoying the hills, ha!
I ventured out for an early run this morning (out the door by 5:20-ish and back around 6:00). I have spent most of June and July nursing one injury or another, so my mileage has been low…so I have not been out before work many times to run this summer. I couldn’t do it every day (that I’m “scheduled” to run), but I LOVE it when happens. What’s funny is that I then come from work (late in the afternoon) and have forgotten that I actually have the run done from earlier LOL I’m excited to follow your journey to the 26.2 finish line!!!!!!!
I feel like I have SO much more time when I get home from work if I’ve run before work. I’ve had some evening runs that I enjoy, but my evening time is cut too short…I’m still getting the hang of it. Hopefully you’ll have many more miles this month! 🙂
i am with you on the planking goal!
I’ve already done my planks 3 days in a row…I’m proud!
Ok so on the report card we didn’t fair so well but hey we are still plugging along! Don’t beat yourself up over it sometimes we need a break and just need to mix it up! August is a new month and with new goals!
I find it hard to stick to planks and squats. I do them in my strength training session but thats cause I’m made too. It is great motivation!
i think so. August is a good time to test your running to gain the good result. August is a new month and with new goals!
Good plan. It is helpful to set clearly goals for training schedule. It will help you maintain your motivation. Hope you will improve somethings which you have not satisfied in July and meet the targets of August soon. Good luck!