May 2016 Running Challenge

greenolivetree

PoppetsMaster wrote: »

@MNLittleFinn.

Or do this....

First thing I saw when I opened the thread. Seriously laughed outloud.

We're starting the day mid-70s with high humidity so whatever run I do will be "warm".

ddmom0811

greenolivetree wrote: »

PoppetsMaster wrote: »

@MNLittleFinn.

Or do this....

First thing I saw when I opened the thread. Seriously laughed outloud.

We're starting the day mid-70s with high humidity so whatever run I do will be "warm".

I laughed out loud as well.
Please don't! @MNLittleFinn

My daughter is in NYC and she commented that her run was HOT and I said "what?! Hot?"
Then when I checked, it was warmer in NYC than Orlando this morning. Weird weather.

Stoshew71

Date Miles today. Miles for May
5/1 REST DAY
5/2 6.2 miles - 6.2 << Taper and cutback week. 5K race Wednesday morning
5/3 6.2 miles - 12.4
5/4 4.4 miles - 16.8 << PEO-AVN 5K Fun Run (was only 2.9 miles; plus 1.5 w/u)
5/4 3.1 miles - 19.9 << got some extra miles squeezed in
5/5 7.5 miles - 27.4
5/6 4 miles - 31.4
5/7 REST DAY << Sick +daughter's birthday party
5/8 REST DAY
5/9 9 miles - 40.4 << Madkin Mountain (634 ft elev gain)
5/9 4 miles - 44.4 << Daily Double
5/10 8.3 miles - 52.7
5/10 4 miles 56.7 << Daily Double
5/11 6.2 miles - 62.9
5/12 9 miles - 71.9
5/13 6.4 miles - 78.3
5/14 17 miles - 95.3
5/15 REST DAY
5/16 8 miles - 103.3
5/16 5 miles - 108.3 << Daily Double
5/17 9 miles - 117.3
5/17 4 miles - 121.3 << Daily Double
5/18 6.2 miles - 127.5
5/19 9 miles - 136.5
5/20 6.2 miles - 142.7
5/21 18 miles - 160.7
5/22 REST DAY
5/23 9 miles - 169.7
5/23 4 miles - 173.7 << Daily Double
5/24 9 miles - 182.7
5/24 4 miles - 186.7 << Another Daily Double
5/25 6.2 miles - 192.9
5/26 9 miles - 201.9



Upcoming races:
UAH 8K - 3/6 <<< 34:33 3 in AG
Oak Barrel HM - 4/2 <<<< 1:38:00 3 in AG
Bridge Street HM - 4/10 <<< 1:36:33 3 in AG
PEO-AVN Team Day 5K - 5/4 <<< 19:10 (2.9 mi) 1 in AG 5 OA
Cotton Row Run 10K - 5/30
Firecracker Chase 10.2 miler 6/25

mbaker566

i use body glide @mnlittlefinn

Elise4270

@MNLittleFinn My husband tried the nip guards. They are a bit expensive and do fall off. He's found round Band-Aids to work fine. But they can sweat off too. Seriously, idk why you guys would run in a shirt in the heat. Someone once suggested cheap deodorant. Good luck.

Stoshew71

If you are cheap like me, you can use roll-on deoderant. I find the dollar-store kind to be the most cost effective.


EDITED: LOL That would have been me @Elise4270

9voice9

Orphia wrote: »

Some days I want to run easy, some days try for a PB.

The other stuff confuses me.

This makes me happy.

I think the whole point of this running addiction ... madness ... stuff is to make us happy. Sometimes we're happy when we're running, and sometimes we're happy when we stop running.

9voice9

ddmom0811 wrote: »

My daughter is in NYC and she commented that her run was HOT and I said "what?! Hot?"
Then when I checked, it was warmer in NYC than Orlando this morning. Weird weather.

My son is teaching in Japan, and he reported that one of their (jr. high age) students passed out (heat stroke?) in the assembly yesterday - it was 80 degrees. OTOH - he's from Georgia, and so he was in a full suit and feeling fine.

'Round here, it's been warm-to-hot and muggy (typical Georgia weather for a third of the year), so I've been successful in forcing myself to run in adverse conditions to prep for the Peachtree 10K in July.... Not saying I've been fast. Or "not walking." But I've been out there.

instantmartian

_nikkiwolf_ wrote: »

Two questions for the [strike]mudloving lunatics[/strike] experienced trail runners around:

- What do you do when the trail crosses a creek that is too wide to jump over and doesn't have any handy stepping stones either? a) be bada$$ about it and just run through the water, or b) take of your shoes and socks before wading through?
I chose option a today; but mostly due to the fact that I only thought of option b when I was already ankledeep in cold water Not that spending the next hour running in soaking wet socks and shoes wasn't fun, but running in slightly less drenched footwear might have been nice as well...

- In the description of a few trail races I looked at (just out of curiosity ^^), there were sometimes mentions of weather poles were forbidden/allowed/required. I'm guessing they would be a tool for steep climbs and descents, but I'm not sure how you'd run with them or when you would use them. Do any of you have experience with those things?

I wouldn't necessarily call myself an "experienced trail runner," but I do enjoy a good trail run, and I wish I had some more serious trails to run that are closer than a half-hour drive away (not including tourism traffic). I have, however, done quite a few 10K trails runs, and one 25K trail run that turned into more like a super-grueling hike with a little jogging (check this out: Hyner View Trail Challenge).

As far as the water crossing goes, just run straight through it. With good trail runners and wool/tech socks, your feet will dry out in no time. During a race, the water crossings tend to back up with people trying to hop rocks across, which I find super annoying. I never considered taking my shoes and socks off, but I feel like that would be more work than it's worth. Also, during races, running straight through automatically put me ahead of well over 20 people, so that's definitely a plus!

Poles: I have never used them, but there were quite a few people on the Hyner run that were using them. For that race, I could definitely see where they would come in handy, but I don't think I'd want to carry them around with me for the 1K or so where I could use them. I did actually discuss them with a few people during the race. Some swore by them, some decided they were a pain to lug around and not worth it. I feel like poles are definitely a personal preference thing.

7lenny7

MNLittleFinn wrote: »

Sode note, chafing nipples suck....first time that's happened to me.....it's going to be a long day now.

@mnlittlefinn I use the round band-aids as pasties whenever I have a run over 6 miles. I thought about just manning up and letting the nips chafe & bleed, hoping to develop protective scars, but I'm not there yet. Every once in a while I'll forget I have my nips covered and will take off my shirt during a run. I get a few odd stares, which makes it all worth it. Find something. You don't want to be this guy:




@poppetsmaster, that Trail Toes stuff kicks *puppies*!! I used it for the first time during my marathon, on my toes and chafy bits. When I got home I threw my Body Glide away.

Ericsmi

Goal of 75 Miles for May

5/2 – 5.73 Mi
5/4 – 5.56 Mi
5/7 – 7.67 Mi
5/8 – 5.60 Mi
5/10 – 5.67 Mi
5/12 – 5.86 Mi
5/15 – 6.62 Mi
5/17 – 5.60 Mi
5/21 – 6.63 Mi
5/24 – 5.59 Mi

Progress toward Goal 60.53 / 75

karllundy

5/1 - Rest day after HM to finish April. Another ugly, rainy day.
5/2 - 4.25 miles.
5/3 - 3.1 miles. Quick 5k while my daughter had soccer practice.
5/4 - 4.53 miles. Cool, pleasant morning run. Mostly base pace, but last mile tempo.
5/5 - 4.95 miles on treadmill (Trek class).
5/6 - 4.47 miles. Base pace.
5/7 - 4.84 miles, Market to Market Relay Leg 4
- 4.01 miles, Market to Market Relay Leg 11
5/8 - Planned rest day
5/9 - Unplanned rest day
5/10 - 5.17 miles
5/11 - Misty, foggy 5.01 miles
5/12 - 4.31 miles.
5/13 - 3.1 miles on treadmill, plus weights/abs
5/14 - 6 miles. Abbreviated 10k. Ran first 5k with my daughter...her 1st! Then 2nd loop in what would have been a 5k PR. Had so much fun!
5/15 - 9.02 miles. Gorgeous afternoon!
5/16 - Planned rest day.
5/17 - 4.39 miles. Cool, pleasant, misty morning.
5/18 - Unplanned rest day
5/19 - 4.8 miles on treadmill (Trek class), then weights
5/20 - 5.09 pleasant miles. Negative splits.
5/21 - 11.04 mile long run
5/22 - Day of baseball
5/23 - Unplanned rest day. First cold of the "summer".
5/24 - Another missed run due to illness. Ugh!! Head is so full of goop, I think I would get dizzy if I ran.
5/25 - And another day missed.
5/26 - And another! I am starting to get concerned that I will have to miss the HM I have scheduled for June 4. Anyone have advice for making sure I can do it without killing myself if I miss any more days?

@MNLittleFinn, @7lenny7, @poppetsmaster, @AdrianChr92 - I would like to offer advice, but I have never had even the slightest issue with this. I think it is one of the side benefits of losing a lot of weight and being left with saggy skin...my nipples are in totally the wrong spot, so they don't chafe on my shirt when I run! Perhaps TMI, but the truth. I shared this with my 10 year-old twins (one boy, one girl) who are just beginning to run for fitness a little and they laughed hysterically after responding "Daaaadd! That's gross!"

lporter229

@karllundy-How has your training been up to this point? June 4th is not that far away. If you have been training properly throughout, a few missed days near the end of your training cycle will not matter. In fact, the additional rest may even have a positive impact. This is not your first HM, correct?

PoppetsMaster

@karlundy... you ran 11 miles 5 days ago... you are fine.

karllundy

lporter229 wrote: »

@karllundy-How has your training been up to this point? June 4th is not that far away. If you have been training properly throughout, a few missed days near the end of your training cycle will not matter. In fact, the additional rest may even have a positive impact. This is not your first HM, correct?

Nope. In fact, I just ran one the end of April.

Thanks @PoppetsMaster. Just a little freaked out.

skippygirlsmom

5/26 - 6 miles

79 of 100 miles

21 Miles to go. Gonna to close.

Way behind on reading. We are away at Allen's daughters graduation. Hard run today we are on Fort Rucker and it's all long upgrades and hills. Skip killed it.

Elise4270

@karllundy haha! I think most of us have that doubt right up to the morning of the race. I have it on training runs and have to remind myself I've run 13 miles 3 times, I can surely run 4-6 without crying about it ;-) You got this. When that negative talk starts, counter with a mantra. "I'm strong, I'm trained, I can do this" or some such badassery.

7lenny7

Race Report:

Last night I ran in my first trail race. The group that put it on, Rocksteady Running, puts on several great long trail races from 17 miles to 100 miles, including one of the best in the country (so I'm told) along the Superior Hiking Trail. Five years ago they started the Endless Summer Trail Running Series, which is a series of four races in the Minneapolis area, on Wednesday nights, between 5K to 7 Miles. Last night was the first race of the summer, a 10K race at Lebanon Hills Park, which is where I did most of my trail running over the winter.

Coming off a marathon and still in recovery mode, my plan was to take this easy. I got caught up in the race atmosphere and raced the first 2 miles but the heat and humidity started wearing on me so I reigned it in for the last 4 miles. This was my first warm weather run of the season and I could definitely feel it. We were supposed to have showers all day but the rain stopped in the afternoon and the sun came out, making it a somewhat humid 75°F.

I got there in plenty of time to check in, get my swag (a pint glass, some samples of stuff, and a pair of cheap sunglasses...the keep the cost down to $25 by not including a shirt). I ran those back to my truck and came back to hang out and talk to other runners. Salomon had a table with dozens of their shoes you could try out during the race but since I hadn't yet raced in my Merrells, I didn't take advantage of that. Perhaps next time I will. They limit the field and had just under 400 running last night.

After a 8 minute delay due to a bathroom malfunction that left longer than normal lines at the porta-potties, we were off. The course started on a gravel road to thin out the pack, then turned onto mostly wide single track through the woods and around a lake. We ran two 5K loops. It was beautiful!! Nothing technical, plenty of rolling hills, and since it was well drained, very few puddles. I actually was hoping we would be running in the rain.

I lined up in the middle of the pack and ended up passing a lot of folks in the first couple of miles with a 9 minute pace. Once I realized I needed to take it easier due to heat and recovery, I settled into a 10 to 10.5 minute pace and some people I passed started passing me. After the first loop I decided to walk up any steep hill I came to. Not that I needed to, but it's what I'll do for an ultra, so I might as well start practicing that now.

Nothing eventful happened during the race. Folks were polite about passing and about moving out of the way so you could pass. On the final approach, coming out of the woods, I went into a sprint and finished strong.

My official time was 1:01:51, a new PR for both a 10K trail race, and any 10K for that matter. I'm now anxious to race a 10k road race to see how low I can get that. My prior 10K PR was 1:03+ in a race I ran 10 months ago and I've gotten much faster since then.

The finish line had a party-like atmosphere. Music playing, folks milling around being social, cheering on those coming in behind them, and generally enjoying the great night. It would be hard not to have a good time.

I found several things that impressed the hell out of me about this race.

- as you finished you passed a station with buckets of ice water, full of cheap sponges. Grab your ice cold sponge, squeeze over your head, instant cool!!! That felt fantastic! I had never seen that at a race before.
- A wide assortment of post race beverages...water, ice tea, lemonade, Heed, soda, beer (craft beer and Miller Light), hard lemonade, and one other flavored malt beverage.
- All the beer and pizza you wanted. I had plenty of both and probably gained calories for the night. They never even came close to running out. They were handing out the extra boxes of pizza to runners as they tore down. They never ran out of beer either.
- Huge support for ALL runners. Nearing the 2 hour mark, they announced the last runner was about to come in and asked everyone still there to gather around the finish line to cheer her one. A couple minutes later in comes this overweight older gal, kickin' *kitten* on her terms, running across the finish to a hero's welcome. It seemed like it meant a lot to her to have such a reception. I felt it was rather touching that this organization, which puts on some elite ultras, cares just as much a this person who came in last as they did the person who finished first. They have a short video of her coming in on their facebook page. Toward the end of the video you'll see a tall guy in a yellow shirt. That's me.
- John, the race director, didn't just direct the race, he was busting his tail getting things done. When I went over to him to tell him how impressed I was with everything, he was busy emptying garbage cans! He was also the one who went out in the afternoon rain to set the course flags. He clearly loves what he does and wants to make sure every single runner has a fantastic experience.

I'm signed up for the June race, will sign up for his July race (if it doesn't conflict with the state soccer tournament) but won't be able to run the August race. They also have 25k and 50K trail races on July 2nd, an hour from our boat. If I can, I may try to sneak out that morning to run one of those.

Sorry for another long winded report!

Mileage for the month is 87.6. I hope to break 100.

ceciliaslater

@karllundy - I agree, you're going to be totally fine for that half! You're just taking your taper very seriously.

RespectTheKitty

I'm glad I don't have to worry about bleeding nipples. I do, however, have something else to worry about, and that's GIGANTIC BOUNCING BOOBS. Gotta rein those puppies in. I can't even think about running if I'm not wearing the right bra. (That's how I've been preventing myself from running too much. If I'm on a non-running day, I don't wear my sports bra out on the walk, so I'm not tempted to run.)