August recap.

I feel like I haven't done a monthly recap in ages, mostly because I haven't had much mileage to report on this summer. August, though, was different.

In August, I ran. For real. My long runs stretched longer and my regular runs became more consistent.

I've been pretty conservative with my return to running and I think it has served me (and my hip!) well. I'm still taking 2-3 rest days every week, icing, and going to my chiropractor once a week. I've also added a few more strengthening exercises to the rehab mix.

So far, so good. Eventually, I'd like to feel fully recovered and I expect that will happen this fall -- I hope so, anyway! In the meantime, here's what August looked like for me.

August stats:

Running (miles):108.5
Racing: 1, the Clove Run 10-mile race

Not bad!

This month I'll continue to build up for the half marathon in October. I'd also like to add some faster miles, especially tempo runs. I ran one while in Long Beach Island this past weekend and was pleased with how it went. I started with two warm up miles at a 10:00 min pace. Then, I ran two miles at tempo pace, which I set at 7:40/mile. I ended up running the first mile right at 7:40 and I think I was so afraid of slowing down that I ended up running the second mile at 7:35. After my two miles at tempo, I cooled down with 1.5 miles around 10:00 min pace.

At the end, I felt really good. So, for my next tempo run I'll stretch the distance of the faster portion to three or four miles.

But first, I have a 5K to run this Saturday, so that will serve as a little bit of speedwork for me this week. I'm hoping for some speedy miles!

Have a great week, everyone!

When bad math equals a good run.

Late last week, Bridget and I agreed to meet up for a 12-mile run on Saturday morning. Around the same time, Elisa and Gail were making plans to run 12 as well. At one point, their plan was to run on the bike path in Niskayuna -- too far for Bridget and I to meet them on this particular Saturday.

So, there was talk of meeting in Poestenkill -- closer, yes, but also hillier. Given how my running had gone last week, I needed to avoid hills. My hip was acting up (no big surprise since I was coming off an aggressive 10-mile race) so I told Bridget I needed to run somewhere flat.

There was a lot of back and forth about the plan and, while I was out enjoying a kid-free evening with my husband, Bridget and Elisa ended up finalizing it. Bridget and I would meet at 8:00. Elisa and Gail would meet at 7:00. They'd run 6 miles by themselves during that time, meet us, and we'd all run 6 together.

The only problem is, their plan called for us to meet at a spot that was 6 miles from where Bridget and I were planning to start.

The plan was victim of a little bit of bad math.

Fortunately, Elisa re-checked the calculations and caught the bad math before we started out on Saturday. Even more fortunately, she and Gail scrapped their plans to start in Niskayuna and decided the run the entire 12 miles with Bridget and me.

Bonus!

With a new plan, we took off all together and tackled 12 enjoyable miles! We banged out 8 strong miles in just under 10-minute pace. Then, we dropped the pace and ran the last 4 miles in 9:10, 9:01, 8:56 and 8:59. Go, negative splits!

Gail, Elisa, Bridget and me after the run.

Thanks to some bad math, Bridget and I got to run with Gail and Elisa for the full 12 miles. And it was a great run!

Long runs with friends truly rock.

Have a great week, everyone. Thanks for stopping by!

Green Giant Veggie Snack Chips.

In a perfect world, my kids would snack on homemade kale chips, grain-free carrot muffins and a wide variety of fresh-from-the-garden fruits and veggies every day, all year long.

But, this being real life, that doesn't always happen. Yes, I make kale chips. And those grain-free carrot muffins. And even some rocking granola bars. I don't, however, make them every day. In fact, there are some weeks -- weeks! -- when our lives are completely void of any kale.

It doesn't mean I turn to junk options, though, when the weather turns cold and the farmers pack up their stands and we sigh at having to wait another 8 months for farm stand fresh veggies again. I try to provide healthier snacks options all the time, homemade kale chips or not.

CLICK TO READ MORE . . .

Clove Run race report.

I blame it on a fast mile.

Back in July, I tested out my speed and in addition to a few fast half miles, I ran a pretty speedy mile. 6:44 on legs that were far from 100%.

That mile made me happy. It also made me start to think some things. Like, for example, I might be ready to run a race in August. And I might -- just might -- be able to actually try to push the pace in a race.

Fear of re-injury, though, tended to over-ride those thoughts. I continued to run fairly well, and about two weeks ago I decided I would run one of my favorite local races, the Clove Run.

For the past two years, I've run the 10 mile option (and finished as first female overall in 2011 and second female overall in 2012). This year, I decided to run the 5K.

But, then, well . . . I ran 10 miles with Bridget and Elisa on August 10th and I felt fine. I began to wonder if I should just go for it. And as the week progressed, I scrapped my 5K plans and decided to go for the 10.

I would run it nice and easy.

Except, when race morning came around, I couldn't do it. And, for that, I blame that good ol' fast mile.

At the starting line on Saturday, I changed my mind. I wouldn't run nice and easy. I wanted to know what I had in me -- just like I had wanted to know what I had in me when I ran my mile. So, in the 10 mile Clove Run, I would push it.

My plan, devised about a minute before the start, was to push the pace over the first 3 miles and then see how well I could hang on.

Strong Running Mamas before the race!

I definitely pushed the pace in the beginning, running through the 3 mile mark in 23:29. I felt like I needed to pull back a little after that so I consciously slowed down (it would have happened anyway!) and settled into a steady pace. I ran through the 6 mile mark (which was just a little spray paint on the road) in 48:22 and I started to feel like I'd be able to finish the race with a good time.

The two big hills of the race were still in front of me, though. And my plan was to walk up them. I need to save my hip for the half marathon in October so there was no sense in pushing it up the hills. So, walk I did! Yes, that move slowed me down but that is no big deal in my book.

In the end, I crossed the finish line in 1:24:10, just 2 minutes and 16 seconds slower than last year, and that was when I was healthy and running well!

I was elated. Elated, I tell you! As a bonus, I finished first in my age group. Go me!

With Bridget and Elisa after the race -- Bridget set a 10 minute PR at the race!

Great race.

Now, how did I feel? Well, my hip felt a bit tight in the beginning of the race and I definitely felt it throughout the race. It never felt really bad, but it was just there. To me, that means I need to warm up better before my next race. I ran an easy mile with Elisa before the start, I think I need to supplement that with some more rolling and hot packing.

Afterward, my hip felt a little sore but, again, not terrible. I'm healing, for sure.

One thing that did not feel good was my stomach. I took a gel at mile 5-ish and, yeah, that didn't work out so well. I had a rotten cramp for 3 miles afterward. Yuck. I don't know why I went with the gel since my Paleo diet has been working so well for me. But, I did. Now, though, I need to figure out a better race fuel option.

That will come. Right now, I'm just happy that I ran a strong race!

Here's a breakdown:

Overall time: 1:24:09 (8:25 pace)
Overall finish: 22 out of 82 (small race!)
Age group finish:  1 out of 12

Next up, the Youth Make a Difference 5K on September 7th. Now that I know I can push the pace over a longer distance, I'm ready to drop down to a 5K and get speedy!

Have a great week, everyone!