Reviewing July

I am so happy July is over because that means running can resume.  This is my lowest mileage month since when I was in junior high.  July's totals included:

6 miles of running (I ran on July 1st)

378 miles on the bike 

132 miles on the elliptical 

41 miles walking

10 weight lifting sessions

4 miles on the stair stepper machine

 I realized how true this sign is during the month:

July started with tears and ended with optimism.  In the middle there was anger, doubt, and determination. 

I realized I made some mistakes in my training.  Running 4 marathons in 1 year, when one is an ultra marathon relay, is not the smartest idea, especially is you have never run a marathon before.  It is when I started to feel a little bit invincible that I broke.  Healing a broken body is hard, but perhaps the hardest part of an injury is the mental part.  Healing my spirit was the hardest.  It wasn't until I had my MRI done that I accepted my injury, formulated a plan, and walked away with determination that I will succeed.  

I may not meet all of the goals I set for myself in 2012, but I think I have the ability to meet at least one more.  

I won't meet goal #1: Stay injury free

I can still meet goal #3: Run a 1:40 half marathon

I can possibly meet goal #2: run a a sub 20-minute 5k

Here's to a successful, injury-free August of many happy miles.