"I'm not looking for a clearer conscience, peace of mind after what I've been through and before we talk of any repentance try walking in my shoes, try walking in my shoes you'd stumble in my footsteps keep the same appointments I've kept if you try walking in my shoes, try walking in my shoes"
Walking In My Shoes-Depeche Mode
New week,new runners, new highs......same auld Fenian bollix......just another week of Kevinrunningfree...
Monday July 21st A chance to take advantage of a dip in the bastard humidity this week and make inroads into my July mileage, traditionally a tough month for me two years ago I logged 51 miles last year 48 miles I came into the week on 37 miles.....
86 degrees but more importantly only 42% humidity as I looked to get a 5 miler in thus far I was 0 for 9 since resuming hostilities w/ training two weeks ago, the humidity had cost me last week but now I had a chance to get through that barrier and thankfully I did
The last mile wasn't pretty by any standards but I'd swop style points for that fifth and final mile and got it today........ onwards and upwards........
Tuesday July 22nd 85 degrees and 41% humidity as I logged back to back 5 miles for the first time since June 2nd/3rd
The psychological barrier of yesterday lifted off me helped I'm sure, once I could prove to myself I could do it once there was no reason I couldn't do it again....yes the conditions helped but the inner belief I could do it was a big plus......and for those of you playing a long at home my monthly mileage was now up to 47 miles.........
Wednesday July 23rd 86 degrees 42% humidity again as I logged a third 5 miler and for only the 4th time this year got above 50 miles{76 in February, 78 in March,65 in April}
I had hoped June was going to be the month I laid foundations........as is my won't a day late and a dollar short but feck it better late than never, two years ago off the back of a 51 mile month in July I logged 103 in August,100 in September,87 in October,101 in November b4 148 in December......not so much last year when I needed it in heading into Dublin but maybe the bitter disappointment of that is the driving force this year heading into Philadelphia and the 40th anniversary of my marathon debut
Thursday July 24th,my luck ran out w/ the weather today 87 degrees but 49% humidity, I knew at 1.5 miles "I didn't have it over 5 miles today" and had to settle for 3 miles,glass half full I'm getting out there and putting the miles in and w/a week to go I now have 55 miles, can July be my best month to date....?
Saturday July 26th the fact I not only got out on a Saturday but also waited it out till 2pm when the humidity was less oppressive underlines my desire to get in marathon shape{17 weeks and counting} Full disclosure I would have liked 10 miles but I know I'm not there yet 2 weeks ago I managed a ropey 5 miler that was probably highly generous on my part, the final mile was stop/start 10.28 pace,Sunday I had to settle for 4 miles over 2.5 miles/1.5 miles so the fact I got a solid 6 miles in at 54.56.7 off 9.09 is a major feather in my cap
I hadn't realized the Schuylkill River Trail extension beyond Christian St linking the Schuylkill Trail to Grays Ferry had opened in mid May, this will be a game changer moving forward as I can cut out the 2 miles from my front door to the South Street bridge now and cut across West Philly to the start of the trail in Grays Ferry and be on the trail
For the record at 2pm it was 87 degrees and 56% humidity.....crazy to think at 8am it was 78 degrees but 86%.....but hey kids " global warming doesn't exist, it's fake science and the planet is NOT heating up each year..........me hole!
Big shout out to the new runners I broke in this week, I'm still a few miles shy of a seasons best of 28 miles per week but I feel I'm closing in on that,at best next week I'm looking at 28 miles { 4 times 5 miles Monday-Thursday 8 miles on Saturday} but IF I can do that next week and the humidity doesn't bollix me the week after I could be looking at 30 miles.......like the man once said"money I'm telling ya....it's the shoes"......