November Summary: Oct. 28-Dec. 1

Well, I accomplished my running goal for November: rest.

According to my detailed records, I covered a total of 49 miles for the month. For perspective, that distance is what I'd normally consider to be a healthy recovery week during a training cycle. It's also one mile shy of the 50 miles I ran on a single day at Surf the Murph at the end of October. So, spreading those miles out over a month felt restful to say the least—both for the mind and the body.

My running habits in November were largely impulsive, unstructured, and fun. I would run when I felt like it. Rest when I felt like it. Run as fast as I wanted. Or as slow as I wanted. Sometimes I would stop for a while to look at something, to think about something, or to pray about something. No rules or weekly mileage quotas. No races. Just running to run.

November tends to be a nostalgic month in Minnesota. You never know when or how quickly you might have to say goodbye to the trails. Winter has a way of showing up unexpectedly, even though you expect it. And saying goodbye to the trails means, in one sense, saying goodbye to the 2013 running season. I'll still be active on the roads through the new year, but now the focus for the runner shifts to the new year, with new races, with new training schedules, new dreams, etc.

Anyways, I'll have more on reflecting and more on dreaming later this month (hopefully). Here's what November looked like on paper:

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10-28-13 ----> 11-03-13
Mon-Sun: 0
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11-04-13 ----> 11-06-13
Mon-Wed: 0

11-07-13
Thu-PM: 3.5 mi (:34) // Upper Mississippi loop
Lake St. (1x), Franklin St. (1x)
Twilight run along the river. Dark by 5:45pm! Oh dear.

11-08-13 ----> 11-09-13
Fri-Sat: 0

11-10-13
Sun-PM: 5 mi (:43) // Mississippi trails
Impromptu trail tempo. Ran with Ashley & Sam for ~mile on the pavement, then hit the single-track by the river for a quick out and back (20:10 out, 17:10 back; half-mile c/d). Cloudy and cold, but not *too* cold - typical November running in Minnesota. Might be coming down with a cold, but decided getting in some more trails miles before snow season hits would make it worth it. Felt good to sweat.
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11-11-13 ----> 11-13-13
Mon-Wed: 0

11-14-13
Thu-PM: 6 mi (:55) // Greenway
Bridge Which Must Not Be Named (2x)
Easy run, chasing the sun.

11-15-13
Fri-PM: 7.5 mi (1:04) // Fort Snelling State Park
Pike Island (2x) + 2 leaves
Mile w/u, then two trips around Pike Island. First loop ~9:00 pace, then turned the second loop into a progression (7:55, 6:54, 6:04). Saw some turkey and some deer. Trees looking pretty barren, like big sticks in the ground. Not much wind so the river was still. Felt like a calm before the winter storms commence. Caught two leaves, maybe the last ones on the year...

11-16-13 ----> 11-17-13
Sat-Sun: 0
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11-18-13
Mon-PM: 8 mi (1:11) // Fort Snelling State Park
Pike Island (2x)
Easy cruising around the park trails, with a couple faster miles to warm up in the cooler weather (M3 = 6:14, M5 = 6:02). Lakes are still in liquid form.

11-19-13 ----> 11-20-13

Tue-Wed: 0

11-21-13

Thu-PM: 7 mi (1:07) // Mississippi trails
Bridge Which Must Not Be Named (2x)

Greenway to the river trails. Overcast skies, windy on the way back.

11-22-13

Fri-AM: 4 mi (:31) // Greenway

Sabo (2x)

Quick out and back before lunch. Took the old route, crossing Sabo bridge twice. M3 = 6:15.

11-23-13 ----> 11-24-13

Sat-Sun: 0

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11-25-13 ----> 11-26-13

Mon-Tue: 0

11-27-13

Wed-AM: 8 mi (1:19) // Mississippi trails

Fun run along the river. It's starting to feel like winter: +22F with a noticeable breeze, leaves are 95% down (with the other 5% likely starting to freeze to their branches), and the top of the Mississippi is already iced over in parts. Took ~25 minutes to rid myself of that cold sensation in the hands/feet, longer than I remember it taking last winter. Hmm. Just glad the trails are still open!

11-28-13 ----> 11-30-13

Thu-Sat: 0

12-01-13

Sun-PM: 6 mi (:51) // Mississippi Riverfront

A short out and back in the dark. Brought along a small flashlight, but didn't need it. Pleasant out tonight, near +30F with no wind.

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Week 1 totals: 0 mi
Week 2 totals: 8.5 mi (1:16, 2 bridges, 0 leaves)
Week 3 totals: 13.5 mi (1:59, 4 bridges, 2 leaves)
Week 4 totals: 19.0 mi (2:49, 6 bridges, 0 leaves)
Week 5 totals: 14.0 mi (2:10, 0 bridges, 0 leaves)