March 2012 The Running Month Reflection

Photo at the start of the month, each month I plan to put my favorite photo in the monthly summary.

March is always a weird month weather-wise you just never know what you are going to get. This past month one week we were battling snow, then 80 degree weather and then back to cold, snow and blustery wind – the old saying “just wait a minute the weather will be different”.

While I have increased my running a lot over the last month – blogging and social media have taken a backseat to starting to look at getting either a part-time or full-time job again. Retirement is great, but with the price of everything going up (officially there is no inflation – things just cost us more) our budget is stretched a ~~little~~ lot too thin. So to do the things we want to do, it is time to look at me getting a job again.

Now to figure out what I want to do when I grow up – if I ever decide to grow up so wish me luck on this job search.

Running In March

I am making fantastic progress on my 2012 running goals

Summary

Miles Run: 160.5
Days Run: 27
Days Off: 04
Longest Run: 13.1 miles on 3/26/12
Fastest Run: 8:11 pace for 3.1 miles on 3/20/12
Best Week: 40.69 week ending 3/25/12
Miles walked: 106.2 – to show that I do more than just run

Monthly Summary March 2012

Shoes Run In

Saucony Kinvara 2 – I now have 167.6 miles on these shoes. I like them a lot, but the sole is wearing on the outer forefoot and there are small tears in the upper, so I am not sure how the durability will be long-term. However, I have run longer distances with these shoes than any shoes since I was training for the MCM in ’83 in Saucony Dixons (which the Kinvara remind me of a little) and Nike Odysseys.
New Balance MT110 – I have used these more for walking shoes this month than running trails with them, I really, really love the way they fit and how they allow me to walk. I tend to take smaller, quicker steps than I do with other shoes and my knees and back don’t hurt nearly as much as they used to, even though I am running and walking a lot more.
Newton Gravity – So far they have been great, I have let my body adjust slowly to them and did a 7.0 mile run in them last week, so when the Kinvara 2 start to break down and bother me, I will be able to move over to the Gravitas pretty quickly. I am using them for my recovery and shorter runs.

Using the three shoe rotation above seems to be working really well and I think that the shoes will last me longer by doing it this way. I have a feeling that the MT110s might wear out a little quicker, because of all the walking I am doing in them, but that is okay by me as long as they keep feeling great. It feels good to finally have settled into the shoes I am running in, that looking for new shoes all the time was getting old.

Races Run

None

Next Scheduled race is: 4/7/12 – Fly Like an Eagle 5K @ Erskine Academy, China, Maine

Virtual Runs

None

Summary: I went waaaaayyyy over my 100 mile monthly goal with over 160 miles for the month! However, I think that it is just too many miles for my present level of running fitness, at the end of the month I was getting very tired, so I plan to cut it back to 120-130 miles for April. The long run is definitely staying and maybe even creep up to 15.0, but I don’t need multiple double-digit runs in the same week and I think keeping the others to a max of 6.0 miles or so for April will be in my best interests.

This month in a word: WOW!

Weight

I ended February 163 and March at 157 – 6 pounds in a month – it doesn’t sound like a lot, but the reality is that it is in that last 10 pounds before a goal weight, so it is a huge deal! I really believe that the number of long runs and mileage that I am putting in is getting the weight down. This is the first time I have gone under 160 in a long time, so I am pretty psyched and I am only 2 pounds away from my goal weight of 155.

With better weather on the horizon, I have a feeling that I will be hitting my goal weight and staying between 150-155 which is where TheWife would like me to stay and I think that is a good weight for me to be at.

39 pounds lost since June 17, 2012

Injuries

This month I started with a strained left hamstring from the snow storm we had at the end of February, which bothered me for a while, but for the most part I have been as healthy running as I am going to (being almost 55 & all those accumulated injuries over the years leave their mark). I just have to listen to my body and rest it when it needs it.

Hey I didn’t run on 3/31/12 because I was feeling tired – so I am learning).

The right knee is not complaining very often, but I have to be careful to give it rest and a chance to recuperate after a long or hard run. Just have to keep training smart

Run Blogging

Top Ten Blog Posts for March – based on pageviews

10 and 11 tied with the same number of pageviews for the month

With everything going on I have cut way back on my blogging and time on Twitter/Facebook and Google + over the past couple of weeks. I have a few things to do this week also, so more than likely I will be making limited appearances on social media sites and I plan to write non running log posts for Monday and Thursday only for a while, once I get past the end of week and month reflections. Too much going on with trying to get the yard cleaned up, garden ready and do some job search on the side, in addition to doing some stuff with the VA.

So it should be an interesting next couple of weeks, whether I want them to be interesting or not.

Reviews

One of the things that I really like to do is to review new gear. Whether I buy something myself or provided a product to review, I enjoy trying it out and seeing if it works as advertised or not. But more importantly – whether I like it or not and why. Blogging about running related products makes me think differently about what I am using – which is a good thing.

I have done the following product reviews this month:

Ran 7.0 in the Newtons 3-28-12 - Personal Purchase

First Real Run in the Newton Gravitas - Personal Purchase

Newton Gravitas – Initial Impressions - Personal Purchase

First Run in New Balance MT110 – 3-3-12 - Personal Purchase

Saucony Kinvara 2 – After 50 Miles - Personal Purchase

I didn’t have many opportunities to review products this month, but that is okay, I enjoyed just focusing on my running for a change.

FTC Disclaimer – Unless indicated by {Personal Purchase} I was provided products from these companies free of charge, to review them on my blog. I received no monetary or other forms of compensation to do the review. My opinions about each product are my honest observations, based upon my experience while using the product.

Running Goals

A slight change to my goals – is to make sure that I am enjoying running and not letting it become too much like work.

Good progress, while I worked hard at my running, I didn’t allow it to become work. I still look forward to my runs and don’t get too wound up about them if they are not quite what I am looking for that day

This year my big goals are:

Run 1,200 miles – I am ahead of schedule having a total of 372.3 miles through three-month.
Run a sub 20:00 5K - This will be very tough to do, but for now I am working on my mileage base and not worrying too much about speed, in training runs last month, I ran at an 8:11 pace for a 5K, so I hope to break 8:00′s on 4/7, but I am not too worried about it either way. However, to meet this goal I will have to start doing a lot more speed work.
Get through 2012 without any significant down time or injuries (running related or others). Just some aches and strains so far
My unadvertised goals from the start of the year are to be able to finish a half-marathon. Ran a 2:01:44 for a training run last week, so I am way ahead of schedule for this one.
Run a few trail races when the weather gets better – Running some trails but not scheduled for any races until Memorial Day weekend.

My long-term goal will be to run the 2013 Marine Corps Marathon. I finished the 1983 Marathon and to run/finish Marine Corps again 30 years later would be very cool. This is one of the major goals that I have in mind for my running and it would be even more fantastic if I could qualify for Boston that same day. Therefore, I am doing a 2 year work-up to the Marathon distance, just to see if my knee will hold up.

The reality is that

March was a great month for running in spite of the crazy weather. I ran more miles in a month than I have in a long time, got to help a young woman who broke her leg while trail running, got squared away on my running shoe rotation, broke 160 and just had a great running month.

I find it a little ironic that going over 160 for mileage and going under 160 for weight are both considered great accomplishments this month

Keep smiling and good things will happen! :-)

Originally written by Harold Shaw published at A Veteran Runnah © 2012 – All Rights Reserved. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Harold Shaw and A Veteran Runnah with appropriate and specific directions or links to the original content.

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11 comments

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Jennifer Boudreau

April 1, 2012 at 2:19 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


You’re rocking the mileage with walking and running! Yes, it’s been a crazy month in terms of weather – I’m still longing that little steak of glorious weather. Maybe we’ll see that again in June. Here’s hoping!

& as for a job – have you thought about subbing? Best of luck with your job search!
1. hshawjr
  
  April 1, 2012 at 2:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  April will get me back to reality and I can’t wait for the the 50-60 days that are coming. I had thought about that, but I really don’t want to go back to the classroom if I don’t have to, but it may come to it so, I am keeping all my options open. I am not desparate, just looking at what is out there versus what interests me . It’s all great, just need extra to support my running habit hehehe
AmyC @ running escapades

April 1, 2012 at 2:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


Looks like 160 i a good number for you! Great month of running. Can’t wait to see how you rock out April!
1. hshawjr
  
  April 1, 2012 at 2:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  April is going to be more of a mellow month, that 160 got me too tired for where I actually am. I pushed for a couple of reasons, but mainly to see if I could do it I did, so now it is time to settle down a little.
Carrie

April 1, 2012 at 2:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


I just found your blog via Twitter. I love how detailed your monthly summaries are! I just started setting monthly running/fitness goals for myself and I find it so helpful. Good luck with reaching your goals in April!
Kierston

April 1, 2012 at 4:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


Great job with all the mileage! WoW! Keep it up Cheers to a new month!
tonee78

April 1, 2012 at 7:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


Great summary, you are doing great with btw weight loss and mileage!!! Keep up the great work Harold!!!!
tonee78

April 1, 2012 at 7:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


Great work with both the mileage and weight loss!! You rock!!!
1. hshawjr
  
  April 1, 2012 at 9:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  Thanks
Aaron Smith

April 2, 2012 at 2:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment


Awesome Month Harold! You got me by 20-ish miles. Way to go!
1. hshawjr
  
  April 2, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  Thanks Aaron – I am going to drop it back to 120-130 for April, I was a little too tired at the end, . Besides you will pass that pretty soon.