January was one of my better training months in a while. It was consistent and I raced just one time. I have spent a lot of time on the treadmill in the last 6 weeks.
Quick Facts:
Miles Run: 380
Range of Paces: 6:09-15:30-untimed
Shortest Run: 4 miles
Longest Run: 20.5 Miles
Thoughts:
Whew, I spent a ton of time on the treadmill this month, and most of my workouts were done there. It’s either been smoky or windy here a lot of the time, and there was no point in doing a mediocre run outside when I could run a quality long run or workout inside. I’m not talking about a little wind here and there, but enough that my neighbor’s trampoline blew a few houses over or heavy trash cans took flight.
If I’m being honest, I really enjoyed doing workouts on the treadmill. It’s allowed me to pace workouts that I didn’t know or think I could. Late in the month, I ran a 7:34-paced 20 miles with a workout. I’ve never run that fast before for a long run (even when I ran a 3:07 marathon). I’ve been able to hit paces that I just have never been able to during workouts. Now, do I recognize there are a lot of factors that make treadmill pacing “easier?” Yes. But I also recognize it’s still running, and I do feel fitter than I’ve felt in a long time.
I hopped into one local race this month—the Willow Springs Raceway 5-Miler. Dad and I signed up the day before, and saying I was untapered and not fresh was an understatement. I ended up running just above a 7-minute pace on a very challenging course (360 feet of elevation for 5 miles). It was a good hilly workout. I had planned to run the Rose Bowl Half Marathon, but with the fires in LA, they postponed it until April. (It was obviously the right thing to do, but the complaints… man… some runners are entitled.)
The rest of my running, for the most part, has been boring. I’ve been logging the miles, going to work, coming home, and sleeping. It’s been an extremely busy last few weeks at work (honestly, the busiest), and I’ve felt like I’m underwater with everything. A post for another day, but with all the changes in the federal government, it’s been a stressful few weeks. It’s weird because some people thrive on that for running—when they’re stressed, they run well. That usually isn’t me, but lately, my running has been going pretty well.
As far as swimming, I just haven’t been. I rarely have the time after work, and when I do, I’m just tired and choose sleep. I miss swimming, but there is a season for everything, and this isn’t the one for me and swimming right now. That’s okay.
I ran the Surf City 5K in 20:31 (although the course was short). My body was tired, and I just didn’t feel like I had any pep in my step. I did achieve my goal, though, of a “rust buster race,” and I’m glad I didn’t wait for the half marathon because, whew, that would have been a rough (and much longer) race. This week, I’m tapering before the Mesa Half, and I’m hoping we can work some miracles here.
Blogs Posts of the Month:
Shoe Reviews:
361 Ventus Shoe Review
Mizuno Neo Zen Shoe Review
Hoka Tecton X 3 Trail Shoe Review
361 Furious Future 2.0 Review
Nike Zoom Fly 6 Review
Gear Reviews:
CookUnity Meals Review (Updated 2025)
Blue Apron Precooked Meals Review
Form Smart Swim 2 Goggles Review
AMACX Review
Commit30 Planner Review
Questions for you:
How was your month of training?
Are you training for anything?
I’m still suffering from a runner’s block, I’ve been spinning on my bike trainer, strength training has been happening, but I’ve laced on my shoes 3 times in 2025…WTF. Have no idea how this ends.
For all of 2025, all of my runs have been treadmill runs because I don’t do runs in temps less than 35F. Hopefully, I can start hitting the road in March.