February to March Run Chat

24 Comments

When I look back at February I don’t really know where to begin.

In summary, this month was confusing, shocking and not what I expected.  I did a February goals post here where I talked about not knowing what would happen.  If January seemed like a blur, February was much more blurry.  I guess that is also because it’s 3 days shorter.

Running wise, with each race I seemed to get faster.  The sad part is that all three races were faster than the 5ks I ran in January.  I guess it’s not sad since it means I’m getting back into shape.

Races:

Super Hero 4 miler

In summary of the race...running half naked.
Summary of the race…running half naked.

Virginia is for Lovers 14k

Summary of the race: Power the last mile or you'll regret it
Summary of the race: Power the last mile or you’ll regret it

Lake Effect Half Marathon

Summary of the race: Just these three photos.
Summary of the race: Just these three photos.

Total miles: 295 (goal 300)

Longest run: 16.5 miles

Shortest run: Warm up 1.15 miles

Best Run:  Lake Effect Half Marathon easily

Best Training Run: Tempo run last week with 7 miles around 7 min pace

Range of pace: 6:06-9:49

Total rest days: 5

I also had very productive training weeks.  My mile totals were 62, 76, 82, 62.  My runs began to feel good that I was no longer slogging miles and an 8:15-8:30 pace seemed to feel easy.  There has never been a point in my training where that pace has felt so effortless.

Edit: This final week into March I can say the majority of my runs have been slogged.  The half marathon really took a lot out of me.

Goals of March:

So without further ado I’m laying it out on the line.  If the weather is good and my training goes well for the next two weeks I want to PR at Shamrock.  I would like to find a tune up race the weekend before but we will see.

Tentative: Looking for a 5-10k March 9-10th.  Does anyone in NJ have any recommendations?

March 16: Shamrock Half Marathon

Then lots of rest.

Maybe March will be the month I’ll reach 300 miles but I’m not as worried about miles right not as quality miles.

Long story short: My goals for March are to PR at Shamrock and to keep quality training going on. 

As far as the rest of my life, I am making some big changes in life and in March.  I can’t wait to share them with you.

Questions for you:

How was your month of February?

What are your goals for March? 

24 Comments

  1. Good luck! I think you definitely have a half PR waiting to bust out. Shamrock is such an awesome race too, perfect place for it 🙂

  2. I’ve been working through an injury, so my miles are pretty low. Feb. goal miles were 142.8 but I ended up at 42.47. A lot of that was on the elliptical.
    March goal is 189.2, but since I am ramping up all over again I may end up with 150 miles. As you know, I have to be careful and not push the miles up too quickly.
    You look like you are doing well and should be on track to hit your PR.
    Andy

    1. Those miles make me jealous… Hoping to get a few runs in shorts in this month, and finally put away the winter fleece. No more single digit runs…

      1. For a guy with a marathon coming up, those miles are a little low.
        Be sure to increase your miles slowly. Rule of thumb is no more than 10% increase each week.

  3. I love reading your running recaps – they always motivate me! My goal this month is just to finish the 100k. Oh, and if I could find a marathon for this weekend, that would be awesome.

  5. I dont know how you run in this cold, especially half dressed! I was a baby this whole month and only went for one little jog! My goal for March is to do more than that, haha!

    1. The four miler was actually a lot warmer than it looks! It was a solid 40 degrees, the snow nearly melted that day…only to have it come back a few days later!

  7. You rockstar!! February went well with the exception of last week’s race. I got back to consistent week in week out training (steady miles, not the yo-yo miles of the past). For March this will take a lot but I hope to get back to the typical mpw average I’m accustomed to (38-45 mpw) and also map out and finalize my racing itinerary from April through the end of November

  8. Whenever bloggers mention they have big life changes coming up I’m sitting there going ‘noooo, I want details dammit!’ You tease 😉

    You’ve certainly had an amazing month of running! I didn’t race at all in February, partially because there were no races locally and nothing worth travelling for, and partially because I’m still having so much trouble with my right leg. There are three races I’m entered for in March though, so just surviving those would be something :/

    xxx

  10. Well aren’t you a racing machine. And the half naked run…in that weather? Champion.

    My March goals is to test out some waters both in terms of diet and my current fitness routine- the ‘modified’ whole30 lol!

  11. Good luck at Shamrock! I get cold just looking at that pic of you racing half naked in the snow like that, yikes! My March goal is to PR in the 10K I am doing on March 15 (ironically also named Shamrock). Besides that just have fun.

      1. Haha if a race is that here, we are all wearing Under Armor turtlenecks, gloves, thick socks, etc :). That’s the South!

  14. Watch out, March–Hollie is coming for you! You totally rocked February, and I cannot wait to see how your running continues to progress this month. PR at Shamrock or bust!

    “I’m not as worried about miles right not as quality miles.” <– I'm with you on this one. I'm at the same spot with my current mileage; like I know I need to run more, but the running I am doing has resulted in truly quality miles. And I don't want to play the junk game and run just for the sake of running. At least not at this point in the season.

  16. You had an awesome month and ridiculously proud of you! I think March is going to be even better, and hopefully some nicer weather will come with it. March goals- Consistent training for Boston.

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