August (2016) Running Challenge

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Replies

  • KatieJane83
    KatieJane83 Posts: 2,002 Member
    Today felt like a fast day, lol. Probably because after the last few weeks it felt almost cool outside (is it sad when almost 83 degrees feels almost cool to run in?). But it really is amazing what a difference a slightly lower temperature, lower humidity, and a fantastic breeze make. Today's pace was 9:33, while yesterday's was 10:09, yet my average hr was only 2 bpm higher today. I seriously can't wait to see what my running looks like once real fall weather hits!

    e1lirmamc7og.jpg

    RCADD 5k for Recovery (maybe???) – 8/27
    South Nyack 10 Miler – 9/11
    Adirondacks Distance Festival ½ Marathon – 9/25
    Sleepy Hollow 10k – 10/22
  • 5512bf
    5512bf Posts: 389 Member
    I seriously can't wait to see what my running looks like once real fall weather hits!

    I here you on that. My run today gravitated to my goal MP with cooler lower humidity weather with easy efforts. Knock off another 25-30 degrees and my Marathon might be a cake walk, I hope anyways.

  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited August 2016
    cljoe7 wrote: »
    Orphia wrote: »

    @Elise4270 :smiley: Been there, done that, ran out of brain bleach to try and forget it! :smiley:

    Bwahaahaa! Cracking up at the "brain bleach" comment. I could definitely use more of that! @Elise4270 I think you should go somewhere with year-round beautiful running/ swimming weather...no humidity, mosquitos, polar vortexes....is there an actual place like this on Earth? Definitely avoid Chicago area/ midwest US in general...

    I half looked for a job this morning. Nothing looked promising. It has to be somewhere with a refinery, idk or something I can do without a pay cut.. Maybe Washington state or Oregon where Oiselle is. Wait. Aren't there bears that way? Alabama and Florida are absolutely out too. What about Tennessee? Lol!

    DH is in recovery. Brain bleach sounds great (margarita style). So I may have to sneak around like a teen. :blush:

    @luluinca You're here. You're a runner :wink:
  • luluinca
    luluinca Posts: 2,899 Member
    @Elise4270, Lol, I guess I am. Just not used to being one yet! I'm still having trouble believing I enjoy it.
  • ceciliaslater
    ceciliaslater Posts: 457 Member
    edited August 2016
    @cljoe7 - I hope running will start being more enjoyable for you once the weather gets cooler and less humid. Summers always kind of suck. Even if you're in a place that may not be considered super hot, it's still warmer than what you--being acclimated to that place--are used to. I personally struggle with most runs in the summer, but LOVE cold weather running.

    I went out for my run over lunch today and it was only about 80 degrees, but 70+% humidity. It felt like an absolute drag. I very strongly considered walking up the hill that takes me back into downtown. Even though I was only doing about 12:00/mile, I felt like I was just dying. Legs weren't tired, but my respiratory system was struggling. I think I am a little dehydrated and had too much salt this morning (canadian bacon on a breakfast sandwich, mixed nuts, cheese, ham). Anyway, I forced myself to make it up the hill at a "run". At that point, I only had about 3/4 mile left to go, so I pushed through and managed to run the whole 3 miles.

    21.5 of 40 miles completed for the month. (Edited mileage, because I can't add)
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    @cljoe7 Hang in there! It really will get better :)
    @ceciliaslater Way to push through!
    @Elise4270 You crack me up. How many people consider the bear population when looking to relocate? Hehe.
    @KatieJane83 That's awesome. I just read an article yesterday about how the humidity affects us while running.
    @luluinca I think 3 miles is magic. Once you get to 3 miles, you suddenly look forward to running :-p

    It's currently 83 with 56% humidity. Last week we were under a heat advisory with heat index of 104. To think of all the suffering I went through to wind up "injured" as soon as the heat broke. LOL I see a 59F in our 10 day forecast. Oh Lord, please let this pain go away!!!
  • DayLi77
    DayLi77 Posts: 655 Member
    @luluinca @ceciliaslater @skippygirlsmom & @greenolivetree thanks for the encouragement! I really needed it today. Hope it is partly because of the weather, not just that I'm getting old & I suck at running :neutral:

    @Elise4270 I bet you could take on the bears
  • mom3over40
    mom3over40 Posts: 253 Member
    8/1 .......... Rest
    8/2 .....5
    8/3 .....3.1
    8/4 ...13.7
    8/5 .....2.2
    8/6 .....3.1
    8/7 .......... Hiked 5+ miles
    8/8 .......... Rest
    8/9 .....8.1
    8/10 ........ Skipped...
    8/11 .10...
    8/12 ........ Skipped...
    8/13 ...2.4
    8/14 ........ Rest
    8/15 ...6.2
    8/16 ........ Rest
    8/17 ...3.8

    Total according to Strava: 58

    Having a hard time to stay at easy pace today. Not sure if it was the coffee in the morning, the anticipation of the HM on Sunday, or the school traffic that made me very aware of my usual slow pace, I kept running faster soon after slowing down...

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  • skippygirlsmom
    skippygirlsmom Posts: 4,433 Member
    @somebody_loved Love it!!!
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    @skippygirlsmom feel like such an excuse maker. sigh. always an excuse

    @Somebody_Loved i taught my friend's cat to be on a leash, but i cannot imagine her running. the grass freaked her out
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    edited August 2016
    My little guy is fascinated by the bucket of ice water I'm soaking my foot/ankle in
  • skippygirlsmom
    skippygirlsmom Posts: 4,433 Member
    @mbaker566 when we aren't feeling good it's not an excuse, it's a reason. Hang in there!
  • TattooedDolphinGirl78
    TattooedDolphinGirl78 Posts: 5,214 Member
    My cat is part squirrel, so she would freak if I tried to: A) put a leash on her, and B) go outdoors. lol
  • samthepanda
    samthepanda Posts: 569 Member
    3rd - 5 miles
    7th - 6 miles (my 10k race)
    10th - 5 miles
    14th - 4 miles
    17th - 4 miles - not a good one. chest felt really heavy at mile 3, slowed pace a little and it improved so continued to end of mile 4, but at the end when we stopped, the world went black for a few minutes. think combination of lack of sleep, not sufficiently hydrated and anxiety levels quite high at the moment.


  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    ah, @skippysmom , but i'm never feeling well
  • TravelBear87
    TravelBear87 Posts: 98 Member
    Logging another 3.26 miles!
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited August 2016
    All these people running today are making me jealous. Here's hoping my foot/ankle feel good to go for my 8 miler by 0400

    My son hasn't run in a few days because his peroneal tendon seems to be irritated and painful. I stuck him in a boot yesterday. He listened? He's still in it... 21 must be the age they actually start listening to you! Haha!

    Be careful with that ankle. An ounce of prevention...

    @mbaker566 I haven't been following your ailment, I may not be on point. If you don't feel well, don't hesitate to cross train, walk, swim, visit your doc or just plain take a week off. Stay healthy (because we love your company and love other runners).

    You too @samthepanda . Take it easy. Especially if you're out in the heat. Hope you get to feeling better asap.
  • Amandajs232
    Amandajs232 Posts: 194 Member
    August

    2Aug - 7m
    4Aug - 8m
    6Aug - 5m
    7Aug - 6.4m
    9Aug - 4.8m
    11Aug - 7m
    13Aug - 8m
    14Aug - 6.2
    17Aug - 5m

    57.6/100miles

    I could not drag myself out of bed early and it was hot yesterday evening so I put off my run until today. Again I failed to rise early so faced the heat. Started fine but each mile got slower and slower. Temp forecast to be lower again tomorrow so should be fine.

    I totally agree with @Elise4270 if you are ill, don't push too hard. If you are just sluggish then try walking or cross training to get your mojo back.

    exercise.png
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    cljoe7 wrote: »
    Orphia wrote: »

    @Elise4270 :smiley: Been there, done that, ran out of brain bleach to try and forget it! :smiley:

    Bwahaahaa! Cracking up at the "brain bleach" comment. I could definitely use more of that! @Elise4270 I think you should go somewhere with year-round beautiful running/ swimming weather...no humidity, mosquitos, polar vortexes....is there an actual place like this on Earth? Definitely avoid Chicago area/ midwest US in general...

    I half looked for a job this morning. Nothing looked promising. It has to be somewhere with a refinery, idk or something I can do without a pay cut.. Maybe Washington state or Oregon where Oiselle is. Wait. Aren't there bears that way? Alabama and Florida are absolutely out too. What about Tennessee? Lol!

    DH is in recovery. Brain bleach sounds great (margarita style). So I may have to sneak around like a teen. :blush:

    @luluinca You're here. You're a runner :wink:

    Come on, you would love Alabama. Well northern Alabama. We are 90 minutes from Nashville. So kind of Tennesee. Actually if I drive north for 20 minutes, I cross into the Tennesee border. But running is big here. Very fun and supportive environment. You could join a race within driving distance just about every weekend if you wanted to. Heck, most of them I could run to. LOL

    We have no bears around that I am aware of, but there were a few coyote sightings. :open_mouth:
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    edited August 2016
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    cljoe7 wrote: »
    When does this get easier? More enjoyable (as in, at all enjoyable)? Today's run/ walk in the park sucked but I stuck it out. Temps were ok, but humidity was high & my breathing was tough despite the advair, nose spray, albuterol...ugh... My thoughts went from "why the *kitten* am I doing this again?" to "this sucks. I'm not a runner, who am I kidding?" to "I guess I can stick it out..." to "*kitten*-it, no I can't" to "whew. Finished." I try to push out all the negative thoughts, and I feel good (physically & emotionally) for having done it, but man. If I stick with it, at some point it won't feel torturous-to-tolerable and I'll actually enjoy running...right?

    You are in the stage we call, "Embrace the suck!". Keep at it, and it will no longer suck, but then you stop improving.

    Which is where I invented the mantra, "Invent new ways to make it suck."
    I know that if I want to Boston Qualify some day and continue to improve, then if it's easy and enjoyable, I am not doing enough to get to Boston. But that's just how I am wired, I am very goal orientated. If's it's not a challenge to me then I get bored and I go do something else.

    For you it's a BQ, for me it's my current quest for a sub 2:00 HM. For me running is all about embracing the suck, and find different ways to make it suck. Currently it's increasing the duration of my Steady State runs.

    @cljoe7 running can always kind of suck. It's sometimes about becoming a masochist so you can enjoy it.

    On the topic of of animals, we have bears, wolves and cougars up here.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited August 2016
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    cljoe7 wrote: »
    Orphia wrote: »

    @Elise4270 :smiley: Been there, done that, ran out of brain bleach to try and forget it! :smiley:

    Bwahaahaa! Cracking up at the "brain bleach" comment. I could definitely use more of that! @Elise4270 I think you should go somewhere with year-round beautiful running/ swimming weather...no humidity, mosquitos, polar vortexes....is there an actual place like this on Earth? Definitely avoid Chicago area/ midwest US in general...

    I half looked for a job this morning. Nothing looked promising. It has to be somewhere with a refinery, idk or something I can do without a pay cut.. Maybe Washington state or Oregon where Oiselle is. Wait. Aren't there bears that way? Alabama and Florida are absolutely out too. What about Tennessee? Lol!

    DH is in recovery. Brain bleach sounds great (margarita style). So I may have to sneak around like a teen. :blush:

    @luluinca You're here. You're a runner :wink:

    Come on, you would love Alabama. Well northern Alabama. We are 90 minutes from Nashville. So kind of Tennesee. Actually if I drive north for 20 minutes, I cross into the Tennesee border. But running is big here. Very fun and supportive environment. You could join a race within driving distance just about every weekend if you wanted to. Heck, most of them I could run to. LOL

    We have no bears around that I am aware of, but there were a few coyote sightings. :open_mouth:

    Well, I did a job search and there are opportunities. Makes me regret not finishing that Masters degree in chemistry. I'm making ~90k with a B.S. (hard to walk away from. That's dumb luck, I'm not that smart. Okay yes I am). It does sound like an ideal area. I bookmarked a few jobs.. DH is over being mad at me for the moment... I really could use a running community. We have coyotes here too. They don't bother me. My dad's family is in Alabama.... So tempted.

    Think I'll make sure my resume is updated in case something comes along I can't pass up. Or until dh gets mad at me again :wink:
  • ereck44
    ereck44 Posts: 1,170 Member
    ereck44 wrote: »
    ereck44 wrote: »
    ereck44 wrote: »
    ereck44 wrote: »
    ereck44 wrote: »
    ereck44 wrote: »
    Long run planned today....going to slow it waaay down at 70% max heart rate, hopefully 10 miles today...still very hot at Naptown....84 degrees, 91HI, and 52% humidity. Will check in later.

    Achieved goal of 10 miles.....but unable to slow to 70% ...at all. First mile, averaged 75%, then next 6 miles at 80-82%; Felt good, breathing well, focused on posture, arm placement and slowing my steps. Then legs and feet became very sore and I felt like I had to pick up the pace to stretch out my hips...and I noticed that my heart rate decreased by 3%. Co-incidence? It happened on 3 other occasions in the last couple of miles...I really tried to focus on keeping the heart rate down, still at 79-83%. After completing mile 9.25, sprinted the last 3/4 mile...ended with 96% heart rate, but not really breathing hard or bent over trying to catch my breath like I usually am when going full out. ...it took forever (nearly 2.5 hours for 10 miles)....but going to try it again in a couple of weeks. Not sore at all. Even cut my recovery walk (jumping jacks, high knees, etc) short due to my husband needing me to help with the yard.

    August 1---poison ivy....rest day
    August 2....;poison ivy....rest day
    August 3....dr.'s visit for the poison ivy....put on Prednisone....rest again
    August 4....4 miles....
    August 5....husband's 65th birthday....celebration with friends.
    August 6.....10 miles
    August 7....still with poison ivy....rest day...actually I work the night shift.
    August 8th...weight lifting, Spinning class...then 3.87 miles on the treadmill.
    August 9th.....6 miles...
    August 10th....rest day....lots of walking at the Indiana State Fair.
    August 11th...weight lifting....treadmill (rolling hills)....3.89 miles. Worked in some sprints, otherwise running at slower pace...averaged 11:45 minute pace. Drenched in sweat afterward. Last day of Prednisone.

    4 pages of posts that I haven't read yet...you guys are killing me. :smile:

    The prednisone taper was rough. Didn't feel like working out today at all. Slept hard last night 5 hours and then another 3 plus 2 extra in the afternoon...total of 10 hours. Legs today feel heavy esp. around the knees. I don't think that my legs are more sore today than normal but that Prednisone masked my muscle soreness for a week, and I am now feeling it. Skipping my long run this week. Also have a long stretch of work nights ahead....5 out of the next 6.




    August 11th....3.89 miles to add to the total of 23.89.....27.76. Still trying to achieve 85 miles this month.

    August 16th...4 miles....finally got a run in between my work nights....worked 5 out of 6 this stretch. Light drizzle...very humid...the weather is trying to break here...I'll take it over what Louisiana is dealing with. Anyway, pace was 10:45 minute miles...not really pushing myself that hard, probably 88% max heart rate..the first time I have run sub 11 minute miles... total is 31.76
    Sooooo behind with regard to reading posts....about 12 pages.
  • mom3over40
    mom3over40 Posts: 253 Member
    edited August 2016
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    cljoe7 wrote: »
    Orphia wrote: »

    @Elise4270 :smiley: Been there, done that, ran out of brain bleach to try and forget it! :smiley:

    Bwahaahaa! Cracking up at the "brain bleach" comment. I could definitely use more of that! @Elise4270 I think you should go somewhere with year-round beautiful running/ swimming weather...no humidity, mosquitos, polar vortexes....is there an actual place like this on Earth? Definitely avoid Chicago area/ midwest US in general...

    I half looked for a job this morning. Nothing looked promising. It has to be somewhere with a refinery, idk or something I can do without a pay cut.. Maybe Washington state or Oregon where Oiselle is. Wait. Aren't there bears that way? Alabama and Florida are absolutely out too. What about Tennessee? Lol!

    DH is in recovery. Brain bleach sounds great (margarita style). So I may have to sneak around like a teen. :blush:

    @luluinca You're here. You're a runner :wink:

    Come on, you would love Alabama. Well northern Alabama. We are 90 minutes from Nashville. So kind of Tennesee. Actually if I drive north for 20 minutes, I cross into the Tennesee border. But running is big here. Very fun and supportive environment. You could join a race within driving distance just about every weekend if you wanted to. Heck, most of them I could run to. LOL

    We have no bears around that I am aware of, but there were a few coyote sightings. :open_mouth:

    Well, I did a job search and there are opportunities. Makes me regret not finishing that Masters degree in chemistry. I'm making ~90k with a B.S. (hard to walk away from. That's dumb luck, I'm not that smart. Okay yes I am). It does sound like an ideal area. I bookmarked a few jobs.. DH is over being mad at me for the moment... I really could use a running community. We have coyotes here too. They don't bother me. My dad's family is in Alabama.... So tempted.

    Think I'll make sure my resume is updated in case something comes along I can't pass up. Or until dh gets mad at me again :wink:

    Not sure about the job market on your line of work, but as far as running friendly, I think my neighborhood is pretty nice. We also have a race nearby almost every weekend. But here in San Diego, we do get whinny about weather, we start to say "too hot" before it hits 80F and "too cold" when it gets below 60F :wink:
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    mom3over40 wrote: »
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    cljoe7 wrote: »
    Orphia wrote: »

    @Elise4270 :smiley: Been there, done that, ran out of brain bleach to try and forget it! :smiley:

    Bwahaahaa! Cracking up at the "brain bleach" comment. I could definitely use more of that! @Elise4270 I think you should go somewhere with year-round beautiful running/ swimming weather...no humidity, mosquitos, polar vortexes....is there an actual place like this on Earth? Definitely avoid Chicago area/ midwest US in general...

    I half looked for a job this morning. Nothing looked promising. It has to be somewhere with a refinery, idk or something I can do without a pay cut.. Maybe Washington state or Oregon where Oiselle is. Wait. Aren't there bears that way? Alabama and Florida are absolutely out too. What about Tennessee? Lol!

    DH is in recovery. Brain bleach sounds great (margarita style). So I may have to sneak around like a teen. :blush:

    @luluinca You're here. You're a runner :wink:

    Come on, you would love Alabama. Well northern Alabama. We are 90 minutes from Nashville. So kind of Tennesee. Actually if I drive north for 20 minutes, I cross into the Tennesee border. But running is big here. Very fun and supportive environment. You could join a race within driving distance just about every weekend if you wanted to. Heck, most of them I could run to. LOL

    We have no bears around that I am aware of, but there were a few coyote sightings. :open_mouth:

    Well, I did a job search and there are opportunities. Makes me regret not finishing that Masters degree in chemistry. I'm making ~90k with a B.S. (hard to walk away from. That's dumb luck, I'm not that smart. Okay yes I am). It does sound like an ideal area. I bookmarked a few jobs.. DH is over being mad at me for the moment... I really could use a running community. We have coyotes here too. They don't bother me. My dad's family is in Alabama.... So tempted.

    Think I'll make sure my resume is updated in case something comes along I can't pass up. Or until dh gets mad at me again :wink:

    Not sure about the job market on your line of work, but as far as running friendly, I think my neighborhood is pretty nice. We also have a race nearby almost every weekend. But here in San Diego, we do get whinny about weather, we start to say "too hot" before it hits 80F and "too cold" when it gets below 60F :wink:

    I was born in San Diego! Sounds nice there!
  • katharmonic
    katharmonic Posts: 5,720 Member
    8/17: 2.42 miles

    Took it very easy tonight. The humidity was way down so even though it was 80 degrees it felt much nicer. My right leg is a bit twingey so I want to take it easy the next couple of days.


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