October’s recorded training distance was just 2.84 km lower than September’s. On mileage alone, the two months look much the same. What changed was the strength work alongside the runs, a visit to a new mountain, and the watch doing the measuring.
The Month at a Glance#
| Metric | October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Recorded training distance | 288.47 km |
| Recorded duration | 31h 08m 01s |
| Elevation gain | 3,137 m |
| Efficiency Factor | 1.19, up 0.01 in the report |
As in September’s recap, I’m treating the distance as a recorded training total, with a mountain outing alongside the road runs, rather than calling it all running mileage.
Starting Strength Work, With Running Form in Mind#
I started strength workouts early in October, focusing on the glutes and posterior chain. The aim is to improve running dynamics and develop a longer stride through better movement, not by deliberately reaching farther forward with each step.
Some runs in the mid-month log showed stride lengths around 1.00-1.03 m, with cadence still around 176-181 spm. That was encouraging to see, though a few weeks of running data are not enough to credit every change to strength training.
For now, the useful change is simply making room for the workouts. I’ve also been using the Runner Strength & Core Timer during the sessions and adjusting its phone layout along the way. Using the tool still seems to be the best way to discover what needs changing.
A New Mountain: Mount Wutai#
After Mount Hua in September, this month added Mount Wutai to the list. Another outing away from the usual running routes.
October 24 stands out in the report with 1,257 m of ascent and the month’s longest recorded activity at 3:29:27. That one outing accounts for roughly 40% of October’s elevation gain.
The mountain day explains a large part of the climbing total. It also gives me something to remember about October beyond another set of familiar road runs.
A New Watch, a Different Number#
I got a new watch this month, and the VO2 max estimate seems to have dropped after the switch. The monthly report now shows 50.6. No idea why, or which watch’s estimate is closer to the mark.
New watch, lower number. Not quite the upgrade I was expecting, haha.
If your monthly numbers look different from how training felt, open your monthly report and look at the outings and changes behind the totals.