Week 4 of 16 Recap — July 24 through 30

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I cannot believe another week of training has passed.  When is this shite going to get easier? Here’s the breakdown:

Monday:  Nada, zip, nothing.  I wrote last week’s summary on Monday night instead.  Yes, I could have gotten up early to complete my 3 miles, but I’m using the excuse of the concert and that the late night made me tired (#truth).  Excuses are lame.  You play, you pay.  Suck it up and do it anyway. But I didn’t.  (Now, how many conversations do you think I have with myself during the day?)

Tuesday:  5 miles.  I think I need to start writing out my thoughts on a daily basis as my runs are starting to blend together.  I cannot remember for the life of me if this was a good run or if it sucked, but I think I got up early for it.  Which means it was probably a really good run as I do my best in the morning.  A shame I can’t start my job later.

Strange plant. It thinks it’s fall.

Wednesday:  5 miles.  I think this one was done in the evening.  I ran 2 on the treadmill while it was cooling off, and then 3 outside once I knew the temperature wasn’t going to down me. Ah-ha!  The memory is starting to come back.

Thursday:  This was a cross-train day.  However, the boys were leaving for a road trip; I went into work early so I could leave in time to say goodbye to them.  And then it was girl’s time… ohhh yeahhhh.

There are some things only a GIF can explain.

Friday: 5 miles.  You bet, why not.  As the boys were gone, I had nothing else happening. Can I get an awwwww… poor thing?!  I’m joking of course.  The short runs are important and aren’t to be missed.  So I say today.  But I still had happy hour!

Saturday:  Rest day. And total movie day!!  I got to watch three (3) chick flicks without being interrupted!  Do I know how to live or what?!!

Sunday:  11 miles.  Once again, the weather cooperated with me.  I’m feeling quite blessed on my Sunday long-run days!  It was overcast and cool, with a slight breeze.  I was supposed to do 12, but I missed a calculation, or something, and came up short a mile.  By then I was at my front door and I was in no mood to go out and get another mile.  I was done.

I am starting to freak out about the mileage climbing up into territory I’ve never done before. That is detrimental to one’s mental game, so instead of listening to my normal music, I downloaded a couple of podcasts.  I had to get out of my head, and listening to someone else talk was the best way to do it.  It worked, but I wasn’t too keen on the podcasts I downloaded.  I need something funny to keep me smiling… so the hunt is on to find something good before my very first 14-miler this coming Sunday.

(Son of a gun… I just realized I have a half-marathon in 41 days that I need to PR, then another one 2 weeks later, sandwiched by two 20-milers.  Wow.  The nerves are really coming at me hard.  Insert panic here.)

Weekly Total:  26 miles/41.84 km

Total Mileage So Far:  88 miles/141.6 km

Total Miles for July:  91 miles/146.5 km

As I said, the boys took a road trip.  They went to Boise to visit Grandpa for a long weekend.  I couldn’t go because, well, squirrel!  Yes, squirrel apocalypse has begun early and all the rescue centers are battening down the hatches and preparing for our upcoming guests.  I wrote about it last year here, even kept track of how many we were admitting but gave up around 100. Anyway, more on that later, I’m sure.  (For my new followers … I hate the word followers… for my new blogging friends, I work at a wildlife rescue and rehab center.)

Anyway… I really just wanted to share a couple of pictures of the boys having a good time.  Stay tuned to James’s site, 50 in 50 Marathon Quest, as I’m sure he’s going to write a nice little report about a killer trail run he went on while there.  If I would have been with them, I would have turned around and ran back to the truck and waited.  With the A/C on.  I don’t run on trails that are only 6 inches wide and full of boulders.

Have a great week!

33 thoughts on “Week 4 of 16 Recap — July 24 through 30”

  2. Fallon @ Slacker Runner

    Those are the best kinds of trails though! I am envious of your weather- it was 93 today for my run. Yuck. You can do these long runs! Just don’t look too far ahead on your plan- looking at those numbers can be nerve wracking. Just focus on the week you are in. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. CeeJayKay

    Babes… shite never gets easier… you just GET BETTER at it! So go YOU!
    Just think how EPIC it will be when shite (all yucky and miz) is a PIECE OF RAINBOW FROSTED CAKE!!! woo!!! YEAH! and you will do it and you will be just FAB!

    Love the sound of your job… I wish I had something similar, sitting behind a Mac ALL day gets me down some times…

    Boys look like they had loads fun!

    Best of luck with your training… I know that ‘uncharted’ milage territory well… it IS scary 🙂 but you just gotta think back to how you felt when you got through the previous one and if you could do that one, you can get through the next xxx take care… ROCK ON! 😉

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    1. Paula Post author

      Awww, thank you so much for the pep talk!! I so greatly appreciate it!! With your spirit and enthusiasm pulling for me, I know there’s no way I can fail!! And then I really AM going to get a piece of rainbow frosted cake and eat every last bite!! 🦄🍰🙌😄

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  4. runningtotravel

    I agree with Fallon. When I was training for my marathon (many years ago) I would freak out about the mileage I would have to cover, and get so nervous the day before. You just can’t over-think the miles. Just remind yourself that you’re gradually building up your long runs and your body is strong and can handle it (easy for me to say now but it really is true). Oh, and I’m with you on the 6 inch wide trails with boulders. I tried that once and it didn’t turn out so well. Good luck with your training!

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  5. cat h bradley

    I was going to say the same thing as Fallon–try not to look ahead on your training plan, just focus on the week you are on–or better yet, the day! You are doing amazing–just keep at it! And yay for a day of chick flicks–I’m jealous, I want it!

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    1. Paula Post author

      Thank you Cat! I took the advice to heart on the treadmill this morning as well so I could focus on one single mile at a time. One mile at a time and one day at a time. Focusfocusfocus, lol! And the movies were so awesome! Loved it!! 😁

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  6. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Well, if I were training for a marathon I’d be freaking out about the mileage, too. I’m pretty sure that’s totally normal. I’m enjoying living vicariously through you. 😉

    That’s why I try to keep my written journal up to date . . . otherwise I can barely remember what I did today, much less yesterday!

    You’ve got this, Paula, you really do. And we’re all here to cheer you on!

    Liked by 1 person

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      1. Chocolaterunsjudy

        Believe me — I understand. I try really hard to keep my journal up to date, but it definitely gets away from me sometimes — and then I’m kicking myself in a year or two when I look something up & it’s not there!

        I bet if you manage to keep you it will be super helpful for a first marathon training cycle!

        Liked by 1 person

  7. benjaminpeach

    We are your followers….we are your followers…we are your followers…lol I really love the inner monologue, I do it all the time. Fortunately my trails are usually empty as I prattle away aloud and no one can hear me. 😉 must say I would like to visit Boise to do some runs around there…

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Paula Post author

      Hahahaha, you crack me up!! Oh gawd, did you see that trail James was on? Yes, you would have loved it. I always thought Boise was nice and green… Not! It’s surrounded by desert, and mountain trails with boulders!! 😃

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  11. My Kind of Fit

    Yep, the further you get into the training cycle the more the runs blend together!! I depend a lot on IG to keep me straight about my runs!! And don’t sweat the missed run days, I learned that the body responds better after a rest!! Don’t let the numbers scare you, just think of the accomplishment you’ll feel once you check those miles off!!

    Cheers to a great week,
    Jodi

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Paula Post author

      Thank you so much Jodi! Yes, the feeling of accomplishment will be worth it!

      I tried to start keeping track of my runs with IG, but dang if that didn’t fall by the wayside. I ran out of things to snap! 😀 I’m kind of a noob, what can I say, hahaha!

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  12. christinaoc

    If you don’t mind cussing, one of the funniest podcasts out there (imho) is 2 Dope Queens. Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams (of Daily Show fame) host other comedians, do interviews, and they are so, so funny. Definitely helps me while I’m out on the trail. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Lady G

    A couple of thoughts:
    1. Yes, Mama alone time is necessary and so are cocktails!
    2. You’ve been working hard! You deserve it 🙂
    3. Is it me or does AJ look like he’s grown some? LOL!

    Liked by 1 person

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