February ended with 100.354 miles in the books. In keeping with my New Year’s goal of 100 miles/month, I embraced the chilly cold of D.C. as it wrestled its way out of winter’s clutches. I can say there was some serious bundling going on – one run featured two pairs of gloves, so that’s a thing.
Also in keeping with my goal, I ran using the Charity Miles app benefiting the Alzheimers Association. While January’s miles were in recognition of what running can do and the work of Back on My Feet, February was about running to stave off a disease that terrifies me.
I’m not sure if it’s because words and ideas mean so much to me, or if it’s the thought of having to watch as a loved one loses the pieces of the world they’d never had to think about holding tightly to at all. Either way, the 100 miles meant I was able to run $25 in donations to support the work of the Alzheimers Association, and I’m happy to do it.
I’m posting my mile log from the month below, including a new column of notes. While I read about a decade ago about the benefits of keeping a running journal, it’s not until this year of running that I’m feeling compelled to document not just the miles, but the basic thoughts around runs.
An Accounting of February’s Miles
| 2/1/2015 | 8.02 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | |
| 2/2/2015 | ||||
| 2/3/2015 | REST | Book Reading | ||
| 2/4/2015 | 10.066 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | |
| 2/5/2015 | REST | Improv Rehearsal | ||
| 2/6/2015 | REST | |||
| 2/7/2015 | 10.049 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | |
| 2/8/2015 | ||||
| 2/9/2015 | 10.018 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | |
| 2/10/2015 | ||||
| 2/11/2015 | ||||
| 2/12/2015 | ||||
| 2/13/2015 | ||||
| 2/14/2015 | 10.139 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | This new distance means not only going farther, but going new places as well. Today was the first venture from my apartment through part of Rock Creek Park. Not for long, just a couple of miles, but for a bit, I was in nature. |
| 2/15/2015 | 0.387 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | It wasn’t the cold, but the wind that stopped me. |
| 2/16/2015 | 10 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | A route including Rock Creek again that included a blend of trails and paved. The semi-frozen creek, the other runners huffing along. It was a good run. It was also a learning experience. Today and Saturday, as I started on the trail hills, they weren’t the frustrations I had expected. They were tough, and the steeper inclines included some walking, but they were not impossible. They didn’t keep me back or break me. More seemed possible. |
| 2/17/2015 | 10.4 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | Ran the Mall loop at sunset. It was cold, not windy, completely beautiful. |
| 2/18/2015 | ||||
| 2/19/2015 | ||||
| 2/20/2015 | ||||
| 2/21/2015 | 10.611 | Alzheimer’s Association | Washington, D.C. | Snowing at the start, sleeting by the finish. Hard won run. |
| 2/22/2015 | ||||
| 2/23/2015 | ||||
| 2/24/2015 | ||||
| 2/25/2015 | ||||
| 2/26/2015 | ||||
| 2/27/2015 | 10.142 | Alzheimer’s Association | Portland, OR | Ran 4 miles of this with Scott Nine after an engaging, insightful iPDX15. |
| 2/28/2015 | 10.522 | Alzheimer’s Association | Portland, OR | Fewer than 24 hours between runs is not advised. Ran to the Portland Waterfront, and along the river. Beautiful start to the morning. Tired legs, and delicious run. |
| February Total: | 100.354 |