March 2016 Running Challenge

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Replies

  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    edited March 2016
    @skippygirlsmom Yay! Good news! Glad the knee is feeling so much better!

    @rune1990 I second the compression sleeves! I personally can't stand to run in compression gear, but I know a lot of people who run and/or race with calf sleeves on. It looks cool; like they're running-soccer hybrid super stars :)
  • Becky_44
    Becky_44 Posts: 227 Member
    I'm running at a 15 mile pace. I feel like I'm running, not jogging, but I know it's a slow run. I use to run 10 min miles. Last year before June I couldn't run at all past the second half of the first run on c25k because of the fluid retention. I've learned to balance sodium better to help (but that also means I have less sodium than I should when I am on top of it,) and also realized after Stans post on weight and running that I need to be patient because I will continue to get better as the weight comes back off. As long as I'm progressing I really am happy. I just get bogged down sometimes with being this slow.

    Becky_44 wrote: »
    Ha! Love the turtle!
    I'm right there with you! :)Sometimes the challenge for me is not the running, but continuing as a slow runner. Lol!

    I have not made any impressive gains in speed, in my opinion, since I broke the 11-minute-mile last summer. It isn't that I'm not faster, I'm just not a lot faster, and I'm not *consistently* faster. I can run a 4 miles at a 10 minute mile (and could probably do more) on the treadmill, but out in the real world my pace is still more like 11 even when I'm booking it. Road running is where my weight most drags me down. I'd love to lose another 20 lbs...but when I'm running I struggle with will-power over carbs.

  • _EPIC_
    _EPIC_ Posts: 611 Member
    30.67 mi for the month, out of goal of.. I forget what it was. 75?
  • Virkati
    Virkati Posts: 679 Member
    @karllundy I'm so sorry for your loss. Love yourself and your wife through this.
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    @karllundy - Very sorry to hear. I've been trying to think of something helpful to say considering my MIL passed 3 years ago, but there are no words to help, particularly for your wife. Be strong, she will need you now more than ever.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    So here is the other thing as far as losing weight and running performance.

    EDIT: Also, the more weight you are carrying, the more of an impact you make with each step (ground impact forces). So every time your foot hits the ground, your higher weight you are carrying stresses your bones, ligaments, and tendons due to these ground impact forces. So the more chance to injury you have especially as you increase mileage.

    @Stoshew71: So if you ARE carrying extra (or a lot extra poundage), is there a specific part of the running chain that's most susceptible to injury I should focus on looking for strength exercises for because I am GOING to be ratcheting up mileage more and more as I train for the HM in August..in fact, my planned next long run is calling for a 10 miler.


    The weakest link of your chain is most susceptible. Think of your entire body as a chain made up of a complex set of links. All the bones in your foot, ankle, shin (tibia/fibia), thigh bones, hips, ect. Then all the ligaments and tendons in each joint. Every time your foot hit's the ground, the ground impact forces get's absorbed by your entire leg all the way up through your body. All of these things are effected. In whatever is the weakest will get it first. But everything get's weak. But with enough rest in between and the right nutrition and sleep, everything slowly gets stronger.

    Since it is so hard to figure out what would go first, the best thing to do if you are concerned about injury is to strengthen everything. Hips, core, IT band, glutes, calves, shins.

    Here is an example of a workout you can do:
    http://www.runnersworld.com/workouts/10-essential-strength-exercises-for-runners

    The other thing you will need to work on is good form. having bad running form (especially if you are compensating for weaker muscles) will make for inefficient movement (wasted energy) and using muscles to do things that they were not intended to do. This also leads to injury. So doing things like working on a faster candence with shorter steps, making sure you don't over stride, engage your glutes and lock your hips forward are all things to make you less imjury prone.
  • Virkati
    Virkati Posts: 679 Member
    edited March 2016
    Went for my lunch walk and must say, after seeing my PT yesterday, I feel amazing!! Felt like I could run, but forced myself to keep it at a walking pace. He is very enthusiastic about me being able to not just finish my half in May, but actually being able to put in some serious run time! I'm stoked!

    02/20 Snowman Stampede 10 mile race-cancelled due to injury
    04/24 Graffiti Run with grandkids - "Memaw's Mini Posse" is our team name!
    04/30 Greenland Trail Race...8 mile
    05/15 Colfax Marathon (Half)
    08/07 Tri for the Cure Sprint Triathlon
    09/05 Labor Day Mini Marathon (Half)
    10/16 Rock-n-Roll Denver Half

    **Ticker is RUN mileage only. Saving walking mileage if I need it to meet goal!**
    exercise.png
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    edited March 2016
    MobyCarp wrote: »
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    So here is the other thing as far as losing weight and running performance.

    EDIT: Also, the more weight you are carrying, the more of an impact you make with each step (ground impact forces). So every time your foot hits the ground, your higher weight you are carrying stresses your bones, ligaments, and tendons due to these ground impact forces. So the more chance to injury you have especially as you increase mileage.

    @Stoshew71: So if you ARE carrying extra (or a lot extra poundage), is there a specific part of the running chain that's most susceptible to injury I should focus on looking for strength exercises for because I am GOING to be ratcheting up mileage more and more as I train for the HM in August..in fact, my planned next long run is calling for a 10 miler.

    I'm not Stan, but I know the answer to that one: Whatever is weakest in your running chain is most susceptible to injury. That will vary from one person to another. It could be knees, it could be hamstrings, it could be quads, it could be calves, it could be the IT band, it could be core strength, and it's probably not all of that in the same runner. In my case, the weakest link is feet and ankles; I've spent a lot of time learning to deal with that. The amount of time I've spent to correct hamstring and other issues is minor compared to what I've needed to do for my feet. But that doesn't matter to you if your weak area is not the same as my weak area.

    Unfortunately, you tend to find out what is weakest when you notice what hurts the most consistently. If you're lucky, it's only a training soreness; if you're less lucky, you run yourself into injury figuring this out. Been there, done that, would like to retire that tee shirt.

    Funny, I started answering this but got sidetracked at work, then ended where I started. Then I read this post and it pretty much says the same thing that i wrote. :-)

  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    @karllundy I am sorry for the loss of your MIL. I pray for peace for your whole family.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Date Miles today. Miles for March
    3/1 7.25 miles - 7.25
    3/2 4 miles - 11.25
    3/3 9 miles - 20.25
    3/4 3.5 miles - 23.75
    3/5 6.2 miles - 29.95
    3/6 2 miles - 31.95 << race warm-up
    3/6 5 miles - 36.95 << 8K race
    3/7 6.2 miles - 43.15
    3/8 8 miles - 51.15
    3/8 4.1 miles - 55.25 << daily double
    3/9 6.2 miles - 61.45


    exercise.png

    Upcoming races:
    Oak Barrel HM - 4/2
    Bridge Street HM - 4/10
    Cotton Row Run 10K - 5/30
    Firecracker Chase 10.2 miler - 6/25



  • becbo22
    becbo22 Posts: 283 Member
    Hey guys! I am not currently part of this challenge but I thought this might be a good place to get some running advice. I am currently training for my first half marathon in May. My longest run to date was last weekend at 9.3 miles. I am a pretty big girl at 5'11" and 240 pounds. I am super slow (13 min/mile) and my goal is basically just to finish the half and not feel like I'm about to die. Does anyone have any tips for me?
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    becbo22 wrote: »
    Hey guys! I am not currently part of this challenge but I thought this might be a good place to get some running advice. I am currently training for my first half marathon in May. My longest run to date was last weekend at 9.3 miles. I am a pretty big girl at 5'11" and 240 pounds. I am super slow (13 min/mile) and my goal is basically just to finish the half and not feel like I'm about to die. Does anyone have any tips for me?

    First off, joining us is a good start. Just start logging your miles with us every time you run. We all will give you good encouragement along the way.

    Next thing, what was the rest of your runs look like during the week? You need good over all weekly mileage as well as building up your long run. Plus make sure all your runs are at an easy conversational pace. That means you should be able to talk in complete sentences without losing breath. if you can only get one or 2 words out and struggle for a breath, then you are running too fast.
  • becbo22
    becbo22 Posts: 283 Member
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    becbo22 wrote: »
    Hey guys! I am not currently part of this challenge but I thought this might be a good place to get some running advice. I am currently training for my first half marathon in May. My longest run to date was last weekend at 9.3 miles. I am a pretty big girl at 5'11" and 240 pounds. I am super slow (13 min/mile) and my goal is basically just to finish the half and not feel like I'm about to die. Does anyone have any tips for me?

    First off, joining us is a good start. Just start logging your miles with us every time you run. We all will give you good encouragement along the way.

    Next thing, what was the rest of your runs look like during the week? You need good over all weekly mileage as well as building up your long run. Plus make sure all your runs are at an easy conversational pace. That means you should be able to talk in complete sentences without losing breath. if you can only get one or 2 words out and struggle for a breath, then you are running too fast.

    Now that the weather is nicer I've been running about 3 times during the week and I do my long runs on the weekend. During the week my runs are typically 4-5 miles each. I will make another post adding my mileage so I can join you guys!
  • becbo22
    becbo22 Posts: 283 Member
    Hello! Here are my miles so far in March. I think I will aim for a lofty 100 miles this month.

    3/1- 5 mile run
    3/2- rest
    3/3- 4 mile run
    3/4- 2 hours strength/cardio
    3/5- 9.31 mile run
    3/6- walk 2.38 miles
    3/7- 1 hour cardio
    3/8- 5 miles
    3/9- 5 miles

    Running mileage total: 28.31 miles
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    @becbo22 One of the rules to long runs that helps staying injury free is to make sure that your long run is no more than 35% of your weekly mileage. That means about 25-26 miles a week for a 9 mile long run. At this point, 3 runs at 5 miles plus the 9 gives you 24. So you are on the edge. My advice is to make sure you are comfortable with the 3 runs at 5 miles during the week plus keeping the 9 miler on the weekend. Then slowly add another mile to one of those runs each week so that eventually you can maybe do 3x 6 mile runs plus a 10 miler.

    Don't be a fraid to cut back on your miles for a week if you feel like you need the rest. We call these cutback weeks (other people have other names but the concept is the same). I usually stick a cutback week once every 3-4 weeks.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    becbo22 wrote: »
    Hello! Here are my miles so far in March. I think I will aim for a lofty 100 miles this month.

    3/1- 5 mile run
    3/2- rest
    3/3- 4 mile run
    3/4- 2 hours strength/cardio
    3/5- 9.31 mile run
    3/6- walk 2.38 miles
    3/7- 1 hour cardio
    3/8- 5 miles
    3/9- 5 miles

    Running mileage total: 28.31 miles

    Welcome aboard.
  • Ericsmi
    Ericsmi Posts: 128 Member
    Updating for last couple runs

    Goal of 70 Miles for March

    3/1 – 3.21 Mi
    3/3 – 5.91 Mi
    3/6 – 3.17 Mi
    3/7 – 3.28 Mi
    3/9 – 3.97 Mi

    Progress toward Goal 19.54 / 70
  • runner_girl83
    runner_girl83 Posts: 553 Member
    66.55 km down so far. No exercise yesterday due to my littlest one coming down with a vomiting bug and the middle child sneezing and coughing everywhere.. Hoping to go for a walk this afternoon, depending on what time hubby gets home.

    Doing my first half on Saturday.. Have picked up some Gels called "Winners Gels" from the supermarket.. pack of 4 for $7 so pretty well priced I thought? A few runners in my running group said they like this brand so I can only give them a go. I have been having carbs here and there during the last few days.. and upping my water intake.

    Thinking I will have to run with my water bottle which is going to annoy me a lot but I've left it too late to look at hydration packs. There is a cheap one in the local shop at the moment.. I was thinking about it but don't want to chance being really uncomfortable during a 21k run/walk. Will go slow and easy.. Enjoy the run and try not to focus too much on time as it's my first.. As long as I do it under 3:30:00 I will be pleased (cut-off for the half event I am doing in July).

    Aiming to run as much of it as possible, obviously.. Thinking of parking my car half way so I can reapply sunscreen and apply bandaids to my feet if need be. Any other advice you can throw at me?
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    edited March 2016
    66.55 km down so far. No exercise yesterday due to my littlest one coming down with a vomiting bug and the middle child sneezing and coughing everywhere.. Hoping to go for a walk this afternoon, depending on what time hubby gets home.

    Doing my first half on Saturday.. Have picked up some Gels called "Winners Gels" from the supermarket.. pack of 4 for $7 so pretty well priced I thought? A few runners in my running group said they like this brand so I can only give them a go. I have been having carbs here and there during the last few days.. and upping my water intake.

    Thinking I will have to run with my water bottle which is going to annoy me a lot but I've left it too late to look at hydration packs. There is a cheap one in the local shop at the moment.. I was thinking about it but don't want to chance being really uncomfortable during a 21k run/walk. Will go slow and easy.. Enjoy the run and try not to focus too much on time as it's my first.. As long as I do it under 3:30:00 I will be pleased (cut-off for the half event I am doing in July).

    Aiming to run as much of it as possible, obviously.. Thinking of parking my car half way so I can reapply sunscreen and apply bandaids to my feet if need be. Any other advice you can throw at me?
    Try and find someone going the same pace as you who you can chat with. A lot of people don't mind chatting, talking about what got them into running, hearing others stories, etc. Having that person to chat with will make the miles go by so much faster, and it will help force you to maintain conversational pace. Most importantly though, you can both enter into a pact early on that neither of you will let the other quit. As things get tough later on one of you can be what pushes the other to go the rest of the way.

    ETA: Actually, MOST importantly....HAVE FUN!!! I can't wait to hear a post-race report!:smile:
  • rune1990
    rune1990 Posts: 543 Member
    edited March 2016
    @skippygirlsmom thanks I will do! Then at least I can wear shorts :)

    Actually just had to add, I wasn't too sure how old your daughter was, from your posts. At some points I thought she was very young, like 5 or so, then you'd mention her in another post and I'd think 'omgosh, she's like college age!' Now that you mention she's 15, it all makes complete sense, LOL! (mom to a 16 year old here)
  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    edited March 2016
    I'm hoping to be ready for a half Marathon in September. I have a running plan set up on Runkeeper, but it doesn't start until June, so the plan is to stay about where I'm at, doing 3-4 Miles 2-3 times a week, and a longer 5-6 mile once a week, so when the plan starts up, I'll be in the shape that the first runs are easy.....Hopefully
    @MNLittleFinn Depending on where you are shape-wise, it might make sense to start the plan one or two weeks earlier than determined by the race date. That way, if you miss a week due to injury/travel/work/whatever, you can still follow the plan without issues. And if you get close to race week and it turns out things went well and you didn't need the spare weels, you can just repeat some of the later weeks.

    @skippygirlsmom Wow, no pain on the downhill, sounds like you are well on your way to recovery. Awesome!

    @Virkati The prognosis from your PT sounds great too!
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    edited March 2016
    3/1: Rest day
    3/2: 12 miles (am), 5 miles (pm)
    3/3: 7 miles speedwork (am), 6 miles with Thursday crew (pm)
    3/4: Rest day
    3/5: 7.3 miles
    3/6: 15.2 miles
    3/7: 6 miles with Joe to Go crew
    3/8: Rest day
    3/9: 12 miles (am), 5 miles (pm)

    Nice and easy evening recovery run! Went down to the canal trail and got a cool, refreshing breeze off the water that took the sting out of the 80* starting temp (was about 75* when I got done; that's 25-26C for you lovely non-American folk :) ). Paced a bit faster than I thought I would, which seems to be the theme of the day.

    exercise.png


    Upcoming Races:
    3/12: Run O' The Mill 5K (Clinton, NJ)
    4/3: Caesar Rodney HM (Wilmington, DE)
    5/1: New Jersey Marathon (Lots of towns, NJ)
  • username301
    username301 Posts: 247 Member


    2/3........5k....... With Man flu
    4/3........5k
    6/3........7k
    9/3........5k..... The didn't go to the toilet before running, run. Pleasant.

    Jan 45k
    Feb 61k
    Mar 22k

    Goals for March:
    1. 13 runs @ 74km......4run at 22k
    2. 8km long run...........7k
    3. Be less slow............still slow
  • GBrady43068
    GBrady43068 Posts: 1,256 Member
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    The weakest link of your chain is most susceptible. Think of your entire body as a chain made up of a complex set of links. All the bones in your foot, ankle, shin (tibia/fibia), thigh bones, hips, ect. Then all the ligaments and tendons in each joint. Every time your foot hit's the ground, the ground impact forces get's absorbed by your entire leg all the way up through your body. All of these things are effected. In whatever is the weakest will get it first. But everything get's weak. But with enough rest in between and the right nutrition and sleep, everything slowly gets stronger.

    Since it is so hard to figure out what would go first, the best thing to do if you are concerned about injury is to strengthen everything. Hips, core, IT band, glutes, calves, shins.

    Here is an example of a workout you can do:
    http://www.runnersworld.com/workouts/10-essential-strength-exercises-for-runners

    The other thing you will need to work on is good form. having bad running form (especially if you are compensating for weaker muscles) will make for inefficient movement (wasted energy) and using muscles to do things that they were not intended to do. This also leads to injury. So doing things like working on a faster candence with shorter steps, making sure you don't over stride, engage your glutes and lock your hips forward are all things to make you less imjury prone.

    I am doing the "butt quarter" thing now and when I use the elliptical I set it on the glute setting. I suspect my weakest link is my ankles..not sure if there's anything I can do to target those, I tend to feel soreness around that area more. (I'm not feeling the hip soreness as much anymore..yeah!) I'm guessing by "locking" my hips you just mean to try and make sure I'm not swiveling them as I run? My cadence is not very fast though..not sure what will speed that up except lots and lots more running? I am doing some speedwork (strides) now here and there since the canned run program I'm using is calling for them... I'll look over the article. I'm so bad about doing strength stuff. :*

  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited March 2016
    1---3.57 walk
    2---7.06
    3---3.55
    4---7.47 walk
    5---5.75
    6---3.03
    7--- worked late, DOMS- dog trimming, rain
    8---worked late, headache (soy allergy), rain
    9---6.61 CRAMPS!
     
    37.06 miles/150


    Upcoming races:
    03/19/16 Rock N Roll 5K Dallas
    03/20/16 Rock N Roll Half Dallas
    04/24/16 OKC Memorial undecided distance
    10/16/16 THAT dam half, Lewisville TX
    11/05/16 Jenks Half Jenks OK
    Run the year 2016  247.14/ 2016
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    I'm hoping to be ready for a half Marathon in September. I have a running plan set up on Runkeeper, but it doesn't start until June, so the plan is to stay about where I'm at, doing 3-4 Miles 2-3 times a week, and a longer 5-6 mile once a week, so when the plan starts up, I'll be in the shape that the first runs are easy.....Hopefully
    @MNLittleFinn Depending on where you are shape-wise, it might make sense to start the plan one or two weeks earlier than determined by the race date. That way, if you miss a week due to injury/travel/work/whatever, you can still follow the plan without issues. And if you get close to race week and it turns out things went well and you didn't need the spare weels, you can just repeat some of the later weeks.
    @_nikkiwolf_ I might just do that. I'm already basically doing the running for the first couple weeks the way it is, in my normal routine.
  • ddmom0811
    ddmom0811 Posts: 1,881 Member
    WOW! This place is hopping! I swear I checked it first thing this morning and then it said 78 new posts. I have to just skim the posts and try to read/comment on what I can. What an awesome, supportive group!

    @karlLundy - sorry about your MIL. Hope your wife is doing okay.

    @Ally_mf18007 - your dogs! so cute! Welcome!

    @skippygirlsmom - Awesome news on the PT!

    I've been doing strength training for almost two years and it has definitely helped with not getting injuries but somehow this week I'm suddenly having elbow soreness (biking or lifting related) and ankle soreness - from doing intervals and not focusing on form like I do when I go slow. But, I am going to just go slow the next few runs until it goes away. It's nothing serious just soreness.

    March 1 - 5.05 miles + 1 hour spinning
    March 2 - strength training
    March 3 - 5K for Orlando City Soccer (not sure why they need $) + 1 mile warmup
    March 4- strength training
    March 5 - 43 mile bike ride (went 9 more than the usual 34 mile Sat ride).
    March 6 - 51 mile bike ride
    March 7 - 5 miles
    March 8 - recovery/rest day
    March 9 - 5.1 miles + strength training


    exercise.png


  • skippygirlsmom
    skippygirlsmom Posts: 4,433 Member
    rune1990 wrote: »
    @skippygirlsmom thanks I will do! Then at least I can wear shorts :)

    Actually just had to add, I wasn't too sure how old your daughter was, from your posts. At some points I thought she was very young, like 5 or so, then you'd mention her in another post and I'd think 'omgosh, she's like college age!' Now that you mention she's 15, it all makes complete sense, LOL! (mom to a 16 year old here)

    @rune1990 isn't it a delightful age ;-)
  • smilelaughlove17
    smilelaughlove17 Posts: 134 Member

    exercise.png

  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    Got in another run tonight and, according to my new (Garmin) HRM....I need to slow way down on my training runs, but my estimated VO2 max is good for my age

    3/1 2.03
    3/2 3.53
    3/5 6.00
    3/6 3.13
    3/7 3.26
    3/9 3.23

    Total: 21.8/54