June (2016) Running Challenge
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June Running Totals (miles)
6/1 – rest day
6/2 – 6.11 easy
6/3 – 7.21 easy with hills
June total to date – 13.32
Nominal Challenge Goal – 100 miles
Real Goals: Recover from injury to the point where running feels normal again. Stretch goal, recover to the point where I can run at race pace.
Today's notes – It's still the off season between pacing sessions, so I slept late this morning. Didn't get out to run till a bit past 8:30, at which time it was 64° F (17.8° C) by my porch thermometer. The plan was to run a familiar 7.2 mile route with hills in miles 3 to 5. Wore my Vivofit so I could see my heart rate in real time.
The recovering right leg still isn't 100%, but it is slowly getting better. Today I ran 50% by how the leg felt and 50% to my heart rate, trying to slow down and keep the HR in Zone 2 as much as I could. Yeah, it's going to go into Zone 3 on the uphill stretches. I can live with that.
By halfway through, I noticed that it was possible (though perhaps not wise) to ignore the dull ache in the recovering leg. This is progress. Up till now, ignoring that ache hasn't been possible. But it's enough better that I could give more attention to HR and typical running concerns like traffic.
Today's traffic oddity was that I saw several drivers with their right wheels crossing the solid white line onto the shoulder I was running on. They all correct that before they got to me, but it was something I paid some attention to. One of my running buddies tells me this is a sign that they see me, as it is a normal unconscious reaction to turn toward what you see. I'm not sure I buy that theory. But on the bright side, I got my fair share of courteous, runner-aware drivers right where I needed them the most.
About 5.4 miles in, my right ankle informed me that I had neglected to put on my ankle braces this morning. Oops. Finished the run without serious consequence, and the left ankle never mentioned the oversight. I'm thinking I may forego the left ankle brace when I'm not running; in the warm weather, drying out the braces after washing or rinsing them is a bit of a nuisance.
By mile 6, I'm pretty sure I could handle running 10 miles, as far as cardio conditioning goes. The right leg felt pretty good, too. But I held to discipline and simply finished the planned route while feeling like the leg was good for at least another mile. This is the first time I've run 7 miles since I went into PT, and I don't want to take a chance on pushing too far, too soon.
What do you call an impatient runner? Injured. Oh, yeah. That's me. Got to work on the patience as well as the physical recovery. It's coming along. If I stay patient, I should be able to run Shoreline, no problem. I still make it 50/50 whether I'm able to race the Medved 5K to Cure ALS in two weeks.
2016 races:
January 1, 2016 Resolution Run 7.5 mile (Mendon, NY) finished in 53:58
January 9, 2016 Winter Warrior Half Marathon (Gates, NY) finished in 1:30:59
March 12, 2016 Johnny's Runnin' of the Green 5 mile (Rochester, NY) finished in 32:32
March 26, 2016 Spring Forward Distance Run 15K (Mendon, NY) finished in 1:05:24
April 18, 2016 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA) finished in 3:23:01
April 24, 2016 Flower City Challenge Half Marathon (Rochester, NY) finished in 1:36:50, targeting MP
May 15, 2016 Highland Hospital Lilac Run 10K (Rochester, NY) DNS - injury
June 19, 2016 Medved 5K to Cure ALS (Rochester, NY)
July 16, 2016 Shoreline Half Marathon (Hamlin, NY)
September 18, 2016 Rochester Marathon (Rochester, NY)
November 24, 2016 Race with Grace 10K (Hilton, NY)
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@adrianchr92 You passed a little kid?! Meanie
@MNLittleFinn You have more restraint than I.
@4leighbee The Atlantic Ocean sounds lovely
@janeknoll1 Welcome back.
My asthma issues from yesterday are carrying over into today. I suppose I'll get the albuterol and see how I feel later. Trail is calling my name.2 -
AdrianChr92 wrote: »@MobyCarp Oh no. People that won them are under 18 min. I'm in the wasteland. Just far enough the top men so I can't see them and just fast enough from the rest of the runners so I can't see them. With that time in a "casual race" like this I usually come in top 30 or so. Best I got was 10th place.
I like that phrase, "in the wasteland." I've been there in one 15K, where I couldn't see anyone ahead of me and might have missed a turn if there weren't road marshals. I think I came in 15th out of 83 or 85 that year; the next year, I could always see someone ahead of me, and I came in 9th in a similar size field.2 -
AdrianChr92 wrote: »@MobyCarp Oh no. People that won them are under 18 min. I'm in the wasteland. Just far enough the top men so I can't see them and just fast enough from the rest of the runners so I can't see them. With that time in a "casual race" like this I usually come in top 30 or so. Best I got was 10th place.
I like that phrase, "in the wasteland." I've been there in one 15K, where I couldn't see anyone ahead of me and might have missed a turn if there weren't road marshals. I think I came in 15th out of 83 or 85 that year; the next year, I could always see someone ahead of me, and I came in 9th in a similar size field.
So far it happened to me in the last 2 5ks. Probably because they are more common and not a lot of fast people join. So there usually a pack of them in the lead and the rest of the runners are casual runners that run easy and +30 min. So this leaves us in the middle. I find that in longer distance things balance out. Probably because more people come and they are more trained. Glad to hear your leg is healing nicely. Mine is almost up. Last race I ran I was in a lot of pain after. Now I just feel sore all over. There is still a slight nag in there but next week is rest week and I will take a couple of days in a row off.
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Date Miles MTD ------ ----- ----- June 1 5.1 5.1 June 2 5.6 10.7 June 4 5.8 16.5
Terrible run. Sunny, but not too hot, but I was just slogging through it. Had to stop to walk several times. And all this after a day off! Blerg.2 -
@skippygirlsmom and @louubelle16 thanks for sharing those stories. Hopefully my situation isn't so serious! I get that she's getting on my case out of love but I get a sense that she and my wife are conspiring and are unwilling to listen to what I'm saying. I'm the healthiest person in the house!
@7lenny7 I'm sure your situation isn't nearly as serious I think sometimes people also unconsciously sabotage us. 0 -
6/1 - 3 miles
6/2 - zip
6/3 - 5 miles
6/4 - 5 miles (I did 2 miles of intervals with my friend then walked 2 miles with her) after that I ran 3 miles with Skip so I'm going to count 5 miles
13 of 100 miles
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@skippygirlsmom nice run!0
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@7lenny7 - Sounds like they've been discussing how dad's gone mad with his running. I think my family has done the same thing about me. They just love us and want us to be around. But yeah, I get it. I'm the healthiest I've ever been since high school ... so let me be!
@skippygirlsmom - I enjoyed the story of your dad. Sorry he was sick like that, but it's great he wanted to live it
out doing what he loved.
@adrianchris92 - Awesome race. Speedy too!
6/1 - 22 miles cycling
6/2 - 5 miles + strength training
6/3 -rest and recovery day
6/4 - 34 miles cycling
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@ddmom0811 thank you
@mnlittlefinn thanks I was going to say the same thing about your long run
@juneknoll1 welcome
@adrianchr92 great race report I agree on the 5Ks, when I hear people who only run longer races make comments about "only a 5K" or I'd easily win that 5K, well get your *kitten* out there. They aren't as easy as they sound.1 -
I will review the last couple days posts again later, but I have read through them a bit quickly this morning and just now. So if I miss anyone who raced I apologize. Plus, I tend to reply to various posts and I may get to most of those later.
Congrats @AdrianChr92! That is an impressive time! Great race report too. Really sets the bar, I guess I can't just post that "I ran some races" today. Can't wait to read it again a bit more attentively.
@MNLittleFinn - Yes, you can do a long run as a tempo run. It's called "race day". Make sure you get proper rest and run some easy runs, you took a toll on that long run.
OK, so my race report...
Last night I ran the Hospital Hill 5k at 7pm. It is a hilly course, no flat whatsoever, constant ups and down with the first mile being uphill at a good angle (for roads) the entire way. Since I was signed up for both this 5k and the half marathon the following morning the "master plan" was to run this 5k easy, just run with the strollers perhaps. I managed to line up just ahead of the strollers in the chute. But as the race started I found myself rather agitated by how slow things were going (I felt like I was walking) and having to pass so many people. I broke out of most of the madness around the half mile mark and was able to begin passing with a bit more ease. I wound up running it at a rather speedy effort and my HR was high the whole way. But..it felt FANTASTIC! It's been a while since I busted *kitten* on a run like that and it was overdue. Because of the hills I did not set a 5k PR but did finish in 33:10 which is certainly not an "easy effort" for me. But I felt very satisfied with that run. I needed that apparently.
Afterwards there was free beer and BBQ for all participants. The beer line was a bit long but it sure was nice. There is something about beer after a run that is very special. I'm not sure what it is. The BBQ was also very nice. I got a pulled pork sammich with slaw and some beans and a little cup of sauce and a wet wipe to clean up my sloppy face afterwards.
I was a little worried overnight about what sort of impact running that 5k at that effort would have on the half marathon just a few hours away the following morning...
So this morning I got up, feeling pretty good but could tell there was a little bit of stiffness in a couple spots. Figuring I would not be running of full glycogen tanks I had a few more carbs than normal for breakfast and also had even more about 30 minutes before the race. I brought 3 GU gel packs with me and my new handheld Amphipod 20oz water bottle. I put the gels in the loops on the outside of the hand strap and in the pocket I had some body glide and my phone. It turns out my phone made a few phone calls while I was running unbeknownst to me until after the race and I tried figuring out why I had so many people calling me (who called me back). So in the future I know I need to address that somehow with this water bottle.
Starting off in the half out of the chute I felt a bit "clompy". But that did clear up in the first mile or two. As always, this is a nice, hilly course (as advertised) and I tried to keep my HR in the upper easy effort to steady state ranges. After about mile 6 I had to begin leapfrogging some of the larger hills by walking and running them to keep my HR down. This strategy worked great and I finished feeling strong in 2:39:32 which is right where I lined up in the chute today, just ahead of the 2:40 pacers.
I felt good and got yet another free beer, plus one more that my sister in law decided she didn't want (she ran it too and had almost a PR which is crazy for a hilly route like this). Once I got home though and tried to climb out of the car it was obvious that I was in quite a bit of rigor mortis, more than after any event yet this year. So it will be interesting to see what I can do on tomorrows run. I was hoping to get in around 10 miles, but I might just have to do a short, easy run.
My lovely wife decided she would treat me to some great food upon getting home and I'm waiting for that now. Apparently she decided to show some appreciation for going from complete and total "unhealth" two years ago to where I am now. It's pretty cool because usually my "running addiction" seems to just cause her agitation. I have no idea why...it's not like I am unreasonable about it or anything!
I've also had a very tasty Hopmouth double IPA from Arcadia Ales, and I must admit, I might have a new favorite drink. But since I just ran a half it is not a fair judgement. Beer just tastes good after a race. Oh, and having had 3 beers so shortly now since the race and no food, I may have a bit of a slippery tongue and wobbly keyboard fingers, so I hope this post makes a little sense.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!8 -
@7lenny7 Hope you find a 50k that you can get away with Kind of odd they'd be concerned you're exercising too much.. You're eating, right? Maybe subscribe to an ultra magazine (or pick one up) and leave it laying around. "Other kids get to do 'em" *temper tantrum*.
You may be competitive at some point, make a name for yourself (outside MFP).
Guess I'm lucky, no one misses me
I can run all day.. 
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Congratulations @whatmerunning !!1
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@whatmerunning. This really was a one-off "can I run almost HM distance at a "fast for me" pace? Kind of run....and as it turns out I did still have some gas left in the tank when I finished......Good sign for my HM....
...As far as rest this week goes.... Tomorrow is 4 miles easy, Monday is rest, Tuesday is 40m-1h easy, Wed is probably rest, Thursday is tempo intervals 2x2 miles with 4 minute recovery, though I may skip that stamina workout infavor of an easy run, since today was a killer run, Friday is rest, and Sat is 10k race....
Timing for a "race pace" run was just about perfect, LR before a cutback week. except the 10k, which "should" be faster, I won't be running any where near this fast for another month, and that will be the HM.
BTW, great race report and awesome job running.2 -
Congratulations @adrianchris92 on a great race! Really enjoyed your report.
Fantastic job @whatmerunning! Way to bust out a 5k and a HM. Great report also.
So, I did a 5k today too.
It was called Paige's Butterfly Run (raises money to fight pediatric cancer) and had a team entry where you could form a centipede linking together runners. We had 9 runners linked together to form our "megapede". We dressed in antennae, wings, tutus, and whatnot and had bungee cords linking us. We had to have an official measurement at the beginning proving that there could be 4 feet between us for safety reasons.
We started way at the back to stay out of the way of runners. We had to do quite a bit of weaving through the back of the pack of walkers and slower runners (lots of kids running their first 5k - very cute). We finished in about 42 minutes and it was the most fun and relaxing race I've done! I'm going to bring a bungee and link myself to other runners at every race I enter
Here's me in my antennae and wings (if you look closely you can see the black wings). The wings also made for a nice little breeze while running.
And so I added another 3.23 miles running today
P.S. Today I celebrate 1 year exactly on MFP. In that time I've lost about 46 lbs and become a runner! A year ago I never would have dreamed I could run and now I've completed 4 5k races, an 8k and am starting training for a half marathon. Thanks to all for being an inspiration!
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Went long today. 6 mile jog/walk and 3 mile walk.
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@katharmonic Congrats on your success the past year! Cute race theme
@WhatMeRunning Great job on back to back races!
@vandinem Way to tough it out
My morning didn't go as planned. Felt like crap with asthma issues then shaky from albuterol (hate that stuff) then the dryer wasn't drying my laundry so we spent an hour fixing that. Now is just past 2pm and no lunch yet. So the plan is tacos in awhile and give my food time to settle then go run. It's currently 75. Bleh.
Supposed to do my virtual 5k today or tomorrow but I'll probably just do a 5k in the middle of a longer run
Warm up a mile or 2 then count my time for 5k then cool down run. I'm actually feeling inspired to really try to do a fast 5k. It won't be my fastest ever but it would be nice to update my PR on Garmin. 4 -
I will catch up and reply properly when I'm on my laptop tomorrow, instead of my phone, but well done @AdrianChr92 and @WhatMeRunning for your races and your brilliant race reports. You're making me twitchy to run a race soon, all of mine are ages away...
2nd June - 3.53 miles
4th June - 3.41 miles
MTD - 6.94/80 miles
Upcoming races:
18th Sept - Run Reigate Half Marathon
2nd Oct - Tonbridge Half Marathon
30th Oct - River Thames Half Marathon
9th April 2017 - Brighton Marathon3 -
really thinking about skipping tomorrow's run. Today's run was pretty brutal, and I'm only half a mile short of last week's mileage with 1 less run, so maybe start my cutback week a day early with rest tomorrow and Monday......thoughts?2
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MNLittleFinn wrote: »really thinking about skipping tomorrow's run. Today's run was pretty brutal, and I'm only half a mile short of last week's mileage with 1 less run, so maybe start my cutback week a day early with rest tomorrow and Monday......thoughts?
If you feel that you need to take a day off just do it.4
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