So Fall has finally arrived!! And very recently, we’ve even experienced some cooler temps.

So here’s how September went…

Weekday Runs:

Like the summer, the beginning of the month was still warm and humid and we had very little rain.  I was able to run at least 3-4 times outdoors each week which is great because I do not have a treadmill at home.

Since I finally started working after 12 weeks off, I was limited to where I could run.  I ran mostly at UAlbany (near work) or the Delmar rail trail (near home).

I ran with Alyssa several times. Like Barbara I met her through FB. These were, no doubt, besides my 5k races my faster runs. I struggle when I run with her but she gets me to run faster. She says that I make her faster .  Win-Win. I also ran with Barbara a few times and she is even faster than Alyssa.  In addition, I shared a run with Natalie (my mah jongg buddy) who is a beginning runner.

It’s definitely more fun running with friends.

Long Runs:

There were three of these!!!.  One was a half marathon and one was just added miles to a 5k race.

Total Mileage:

I ran 83 miles this month – 6 miles less than last month even though I ran a half marathon and am training for another this coming Sunday!!  I guess I was slacking off. (I’ll blame it on work and my social life LOL)

Races:

I ran four races this month – a half marathon and three 5ks.

I was generally happy with how they went. I did not have PR goals and of course, I would have been thrilled if I got one.  I won age group awards in all three. I guess that’s an achievement.

For a change, none of the races were super hilly.  I knew runners at all of them and they were all super fun.  As you can guess I LOVE RACING!!

Cross Training:

The tennis season has moved indoors and that means that I have be a member of a club and join a contract.  $$$$$ So I don’t play as often as I did in the summer (when it was free and I was unemployed.) I am scheduled to play two Tuesdays a month but do get called to sub on the other weeks.

I DID NOT go to a single yoga class!! Someday I will do, I think.

I did NOT workout at the gym at all.  Total slacking here!!

I did not go hiking.  I hope to do some this month.  It is so beautiful around here in the fall. But fitting it in (now that I work) is very challenging.

I did walk every day at lunch for 30 minutes – Either around the outdoor shopping mall to get a Starbucks coffee or around a short nature trail.

Other News:

My favorite running groups started up again. The Troy Turkey Trot Challenge group meets on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings.  I only go on Mondays.  I am running with my friends in the 10k group. It will be the one day of the week where I may have to do speed drills.

The STEM group meets on M, W, F and I volunteer on Wednesday evenings.  We are doing the Couch to 5K program with some new and returning runners (who are domestic violence survivors).  We are training them for a 5k race on Nov. 19.

I took a day trip to NYC  to meet up with my Russian friend, Anna, who stopped off there on the way back from Maine.  We had lunch on a lobster boat, walked the High Line and then had drinks on the top of the Standard Hotel. What a full but exciting day!!

I took one last visit to the Saratoga Race Track with a former co-worker.  This time, we only went for the last few races (and I won at each one), headed to the Casino and then out to dinner.

I spent a lot of time (maybe too much) going out to dinner and meeting up with friends and family.

Boating season continued and the weather was great.  I love it at the lake. It’s my “happy place.” I am sad that it will be ending very soon.

Feeling healthy so Life Is Good.

I am now employed so I guess I have $$ to sign up for more races!!

Looking Ahead:

My next half marathon is October 9 and I am (slightly) excited. Is the thrill gone???

I do have a lot of races coming up.  Fall is my favorite time to race.  This is my list so far for the next 2 months:

• 10-01-16  – Apple Run 5K
• 10-09-16 – Ramblefest Half Marathon
• 10-15-16 – Great Pumpkin Challenge 10K
• 10-22-16 – L.L.Bean Bright Night 5K
• 10-29-16 – Monster Dash 10K????  (not signed up yet since I am out of town for work Oct 24-28
• 11-05-16 – NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K (in NYC)
• 11-11-16 – Veteran’s Dash 5K
• 11-13-16 – Stockade-athon 15K
• 11-19-16 – Girls on the Run 5k (STEM volunteer which is good because I’m out of town for work Nov 14-18)
• 11-24-16 – Troy Turkey Trot 10k and then the 5k

I may have a racing addiction!!!

No monthly goals.

I am linking up with a Sunday Fitness and Food Linkup hosted by Ilka from Ilka’s Blog and Angela from Marathons & Motivation

Happy Running! How did your September turn out?  Anything exciting planned for October?