Halfway through November and I’m finally feeling pretty confident that I can indeed run 1000 miles in 2017 – although having now said that I’ll probably fall over and break my leg tomorrow!

I’ve managed a few higher mileage weeks through October and November in a bid to make up some miles that I lost through the summer, when I was transitioning to a more barefoot running style. This week has been another good week:

A 9-miler on Monday, followed by a load of 4ish runs, on the road, at the woods and at the gym on the treadmill. Most of my runs, except on the treadmill, are run in the Vibram Fivefingers. I’ve even been wearing Injinji socks recently. It’s all about the toes!

So, 893 miles done, leaving 107 left to be run in the next 42 days: averaging 2.54 miles per day. If I can keep up the good weekly mileage I might even be able to give myself Christmas week off!

Cushty.

With ten months of the year done, and believe it or not, as I write this we have only 57 days left until the end of 2017, a monthly update is on the way.

October, considering it included a long weekend away, was a pretty good running month:

• 22 runs
• 16 hours
• 93 miles

It feels like the 1000 miles, after it being a bit touch and go at some points in the year, is finally within reach.

When I first took on this challenge I was under the impression that I’d definitely be able to do it. Although, after transitioning to Vibram Fivefingers in the summer it meant that I was well down on the mileage. It has taken up to this point to get back on track.

Some stats for the remainder of the year:

• 57 days to go
• 170 miles left to run
• Averaging out at 2.98 miles a day/20.86 miles a week

Definitely doable.

It’s been a good month on the running front: 100+ miles for September. Which means this month finally saw me get through the 700 mile mark. 

2017 mileage = 714

This week I’ve put in another 25+ mile week.

• Monday = rest
• Tuesday = 6.4 miles at the gym
• Wednesday = 4 miles at the woods 
• Thursday = 4 miles at the gym
• Friday = 3.7 miles exploring locally
• Saturday = 7 miles – Parkrun plus a few more
• Sunday = rest 

I’ve also tried to avoid too much running at the woods in the Fivefingers – I wanted to give my feet a rest – last week with all the dodgy surfaces I’ve been running on, it was beginning to hurt my feet a bit. 

This month I’m planning to get a bit more running on grass done – might even do a bit around the school field before leaving at the end of the day. 

The #run1000miles challenge is still within reach. I’m going to try to up the mileage in October and see if I can finally catch-up on where I should be, maybe even get ahead of the game. 

STATISTIC ALERT!

With 91 days left in 2017, the average daily mileage required to hit 1000 miles for the year is 3.1  or 27.1 miles per week. 

Another week done. 5 days running this week. Which, when you consider it has been a busy week, I’m pretty pleased with. 

• Monday = rest
• Tuesday = 5 miles on the trails at the woods
• Wednesday = rest
• Thursday = 4.5 miles on the treadmill at the gym
• Friday = 5 miles on the trails at the woods
• Saturday = 3.6 miles on the trails at the woods
• Sunday = 5.4 miles on the trails at the woods

My legs have felt very heavy and achy today, which I’m putting down to all the running on the muddy trails at the woods. Also, my feet have felt a bit sore, which I’m putting down to running in the Fivefingers on the stoney ground at the woods. Therefore, I think a bit less trail running next week. 

I’m slowly chipping into the lost miles from when I was transitioning into the Fivefingers. 

WARNING: STATISTICS ALERT!

• 311 miles left to run.
• 98 days until the end of the year.

Which means, on average:

• 3.17 miles per day.
• 22.19 miles per week. 

Definitely doable (I think). 

After last week’s 26+ miles, this week was all about doing much of the same. It ended up looking like this:

• Monday – easy run at the woods with the dog
• Tuesday – gentle run with Helen and the dog at the woods 
• Wednesday – at the gym on the treadmill – fast
• Thursday – rest day
• Friday – at the gym on the treadmill
• Saturday – steady Parkrun and a couple of extra miles
• Sunday – easy run at the woods with the dog

Happy with the week – my legs are slowly starting to feel a bit stronger. In fact, Saturday’s Parkrun, which was my first one for a month or so, was good – did a reasonable 24min – but felt like I could have gone faster. 

Not sure what this week is going to bring – got a fair bit of marking I’ve got to get stuck into, plus an open evening on Wednesday. On top of that, I’ve started watching Fortitude again. Began watching it ages ago, but for one reason or another I stopped. And I’m loving it. 

Cushty. 

Rewind back to the start of 2017 and I had this plan to take on the #run1000miles challenge. It seemed doable, it worked out 2.7 miles a day. 

After about 6 months I was indeed pretty much on target; halfway through the year I had 500 miles done. 

However, in July I had the bright idea to experiment with a bit of barefoot running and got myself a pair of Vibram Fivefingers. Which has been great, it has invigorated my running and all is good. The only downside has been the slow transition that is needed. I was aware that my mileage would drop off, but had every intention to pick up the mile in the last third of the year when my feet were more accustomed to the Fivefingers. And that is exactly where we are now. I’m now running in the Fivefingers pretty much all the time (except when I’m on the treadmill at the gym).

I’m at the point where if I want to do the 1000 miles this year I’ve got to up the mileage. So the plan was to put in 25+ miles this week – the weekly mileage needed to achieve the 1000 miles – and see how I’m feeling about the whole thing. 

This week’s mileage:

It’s been a good week on the running front, managed a run every day and feeling good, so I’ve made the decision: I’m going for it. 

There are 112 days left of the year and I’m currently on 638 miles, meaning – prepare for a stat attack – I need to run an average of 3.23 miles per day or 22.6 miles a week. 

Wish me luck.