Blogging re-start

So I got back from vacation this summer and stopped blogging. I'm not sure why, just with a busy life it was an easy one to let slide. But I'm going to try and keep it up again. I enjoy writing and I really appreciate being able to read back on my training plans, where I was at before each race and the different race re-caps. So here goes...again...

Summary of July to October: I ran...a lot...I really busted my ass training for the Good Life Fitness Half-Marathon and the goal of 1hr 35mins. I tried to follow Matt Fitzgerald's plan as much as possible and topped out at running 90-100km/week. Sometimes I over did it...I ran the entire month of August without taking a rest day...oops! But if anything it just made me love running even more...if that's even possible! 

Every weekend I did a long run which was usually around 20k...but once a month I did an extra long run between 25-30k. Usually around Westwood Lake. 

One day though I bailed hard on the trails...My foot caught a root and I had no ability to catch myself before hitting the dirt. Embarrassingly enough it was on mile 1...I wasnt even tired, just not paying attention and I dont lift my feet very high when I run (I tend to trip a lot). 

I ended up with scratches all the way down the left side of my body form shoulder to ankle. Bloody palms and elbow and a purple toe. I had intended to do 5 laps of Westwood that day (30k) and I was too stubborn to go home after falling. I continued on even though my toe was throbbing and I was covered in dirt and blood...all those poor Sunday strollers were probably a little freaked out by the hot mess I was...lol. Lap 4 I was crossing one of the bridges and one plank sticks up about 10cm and I kicked that and went down again. I figured 24km was enough and I needed to take my beat down body back home! So I bailed on the last lap. 

I tried to always focus on maintaining a calorie deficit of no more than 300-500 calories. With running so much this meant I was often eating around 2000-2200 calories. My weight came down to 132 pretty easily and then plateau'd there for a bit. When it started getting closer to the race I decided to really get more serious about it. The next two weeks it dropped but so slowly I was getting so frustrated and running out of time! 

 

(dropping 0.2 a week...grrr)

On the plus side my bodyfat came down from 23 to 20.5 and was dropping steadily which was nice to see!

My goal was to make 129 before the Good Life Fitness Race. I dont do any calorie reduction on race week so I knew I had to hit that number on the Monday before the race. I really wanted to make that goal and I can be pretty determined at times :) So the weekend before the race I was a saint. No alcohol and no treats. On Saturday I was 130.4 so I knew I had a chance. I woke up Monday morning and stood on the scale and peered down with one eye. 129.8...fuck yeah...I did it on the last possible day and only barely made it but I didnt care I will take it!! I felt pumped to have made my goal and it was worth the sacrifices :)

I have to admit though that this weight lasted for all of 20 mins...lol. I got to work and there were birthday donuts on the table and I had no willpower to say no! I dont even like donuts that much...lol. But my body was just freaking out "feed me all the foods!!!" :)