Week 4: Hot Chocolate 15K Training & Watercolor Sketchbooking

Find links to my other #HC15K sketchbook pages here.

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This week I tried to focus on fast and loose sketches and painting. (Images: ThisOldRunner)

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Disclaimer: I received a free Hot Chocolate 15K race entry as a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro ambassador, and check out BibRave.com to review, find and write race reviews!

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​Week four of training for the Hot Chocolate 15K/5K in Tampa on Dec. 19 is done. I finished the week with a 9.4 mile run on Sunday. It was hard, but incredibly satisfying.

The training program I'm using is kind to my old runner body, but after 4 weeks things are getting serious. TBH, I'm loving the workouts. 

The humidity returned at the end of the week, but that's okay. The UV rays are down and Sunday was overcast.  I love running on overcast days — almost as much as rainy days. 

On the watercolor front, I focused on vignettes I see on my runs: a butterfly garden on a median, spooky creatures, and a lovely Secret Garden door in an alley.

I feel like my sketches are looser this week — which is good. I love how relaxing the sketching and painting is. I get lost in the painting. So. Much. Fun.

Onward we go with more miles and sketchbooking. Keep scrolling if you'd like to see how my Week 4 pages look.

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How Week 4 Sketching Started

Halloween season has been a big help for my sketch inspirations. This week, I practiced light washes. I enjoyed figuring out how to paint a hairy spider, too. 

I'm enjoying the parallel progress of working on my running and painting.

Figuring out the weekly layout seems hardest to me. This week I used Halloween painted rocks for inspiration. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

After painting watercolor versions of the rocks, I practiced light watercolor washes and shading for the individual day boxes. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

Week 4 Ended with 24.41 Miles

A decent week of running despite the return of serious humidity. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

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Roadside Butterfly Garden

I'm an avid butterfly gardener. I'm also a butterfly garden appreciator. I always admire and enjoy the plants and care a local homeowner extends to the public property next to the road.

Right now everyone gets to enjoy vibrant orange daisies and fluttering monarchs. (The pumpkin bucket represents the hundreds of pumpkins hanging from all the trees right now.)

This page was inspired by a butterfly garden and the massive number of pumpkin buckets hanging in trees. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

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Creepy Creatures

The inflatables are everywhere this week. Saturday night was the Haunted Hike in our hood, so we got to see all the creatures lit up in the dark. It was fun.

I painted this guy because he's always fully inflated. I have no idea who or what he is, but he's on the job day and night. There are purple flashing lights at night.

My quick sketch and watercolor of this creature. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

This guy. He's out there spooking everyday. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

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The Secret Garden Door in the Alley

This door is in an alley where I sometimes run. I often forget which one. But, I'm so happy to see it each time I find it again. I imagine there is a beautiful secret garden on the other side of the door and wall.

​It's one of the prettiest alley entrances I've seen. This quick sketch doesn't do it justice; it does remind me how much I like it. I wish all alley barriers were this nice.

This Secret Garden door in an alley intrigues me. (Image: ThisOldRunner)

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Weekly Mileage and Shoe Tracker

This week's mileage came in at 24.41. I have 91+ miles logged on my two pairs of Puma Deviate Nitros. Time for a Rest Day on Monday!

Weekly Mileage: 24.41.

91+ Miles on My Shoes.

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Register and Run the Tampa Hot Chocolate 15K / 5K

Use code: "HC21" when you register to get a BONUS Buff in your SWAG bag.

Don't forget! If you want to join me at the Hot Chocolate 15K or 5K in Tampa on December 19 — sign up now! Prices increase on November 7th.

Use my promo code "HC21" to get a FREE custom #HotChocolate Buff added to your goodie bag.

Register here 👉http://bit.ly/HCTampa 

​Happy running, everyone! I hope you reach all your goals this week.

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