2014 Half-Year Running Summary & Review

Can you believe that we are already half way through 2014? Neither can I … but we are! We are already to the point where our days are getting shorter (but still hotter), which is just weird … but there it is.

Last year at this time I was doing loads of doubles because I was traveling every week to Kentucky, so I would alternate between work, Facetime home, and running morning and night. Overdoing it? Probably – but I came through it stronger and never got injured, which is good. This year I am home and really enjoying maximizing family time – which is easier when I am only working 5 miles from home again!

I wanted to talk about the second quarter (April – June), as well as a full half-year summary. Here are my thoughts on the last three months:

Running

Every now and then as a runner there is a ‘moment’ … and I had one as I was running the waterway in Houston, and on the last morning there were a lot of people out running – at least two dozen I saw over my 9 mile run. And you know what – I was running what I considered a fairly ‘easy’ pace … but I was the fastest one out running. Now don’t get me wrong – I am slower than most of the people reading this – and much slower than some!

But that moment put the ‘where I have come in two years’ thing into perspective for me. I am running a solid volume and at a pace that feels pretty good to me. Yay!

Racing

No races – I had hoped for one 5k and one 8k (5 mile) race, but neither worked out schedule-wise … and really? No stress! I look at it this way – Lisa’s work schedule this year has been brutal, so in the choice between some 5k and time with her? There is no choice.

My biggest issue is I had to skip one Ultra due to our vacation, and the OTHER one I was wait-listed for said we should hear by the 24th of June … yeah, nothing yet.

Weight

Last fall I had two doctors (primary and cardiologist) tell me that I am ‘not underweight … but don’t lose any more’. That was at 185 lbs. When I last looked I was at 180 … and I am pretty sure I have been hovering between 175-180. Oops. I am continuing to work on maintaining, but the reality is that I am running more, sweating more and my ‘daily activity’ level has increased – we go for walks, I look forward to mowing the lawn, and so on. As always … a work in progress.

Food & Eating

This past two years have been amazing, and I have continued to learn so much about food. This year in particular I have really made progress, and I am so appreciative to Laura and Michelle and Megan for all of their help and ideas and wisdom.

I have said that my cooking and eating tends to wander between Vegan and Paleo (with the occasional moster ice cream as shown yesterday, and of course plenty of wine) on a regular basis, and that works very well for the whole family.

I am really happy with my fueling and hydration … but I know I need to eat more to sustain my weight with my activity level.

Everything Else

I have been much happier with blogging than I was at the end of the first quarter, when I was clearly in a funk. I really love so many of you guys, and you inspire me in a million different ways. There are people from their early 20s up through their mid-50s I interact with, from pretty much every demographic I can imagine. It is just awesome.

My work life is continuing to go very well, with occasional annoyances but generally a rich and satisfying set of projects and great people to interact with every day.

And of course my family … they are my everything, as I so often say. The boys are really men at this point, and I was laughing with Lisa that I have no worries about the future because they are great kids and I love spending time with her.

Second Quarter Running Summary

Once again I decided to take my weekly summaries and chart them up. Here they are:

Overall I am very pleased with my second quarter. By the numbers:
– Total miles – 812 miles (713 miles Q1)
– Average weekly miles (55 Q1)
– Half-year total 1525 miles (on track to break 3000 miles)
– Longest run 23.5 miles
– Shortest run – 6.75 miles

I have kept up with ‘runs with purpose’ throughout the period, which were mostly brutal hills, but also some speed work. I have still not hit the track … but I will at some point this summer.

Again, considering my goals for the year included staying injury-free, breaking 2000 miles, and running a couple of races … I am doing well on the key items.

Third Quarter Goals

From now through the end of September, here is what I would like to do:
– Keep my weekly volume between 50-60 miles (I honestly think 65-75 is too much and don’t want to do something stupid)
– Hit the track for some speed drills at least once or twice
– Sign up for at least one race this year … regardless of distance.

How was your second quarter of running? How has the heat impacted your workouts? What plans do you have for the next few months?