December 2016 Running Challenge

1235748

Replies

  • alipsie19
    alipsie19 Posts: 705 Member
    7lenny7 wrote: »
    December is not starting out to well.
    • Skip the donut run and hit the trails. I could run (or shuffle) slower being solo, I could bail out whenever I needed to, trails are easier on my joints, and I'd be able to run in my new trail shoes that are supposed to arrive today.
    Sorry to hear that. I hate being injured with a passion.

    This is a great group. I just joined MFP in Nov and the friends I've made are similar to this group...Awesome!
    Hoping you're back at it soon! :smiley:
  • Getfitat54
    Getfitat54 Posts: 526 Member

    blk-exercise.png
  • Azercord
    Azercord Posts: 573 Member
    @RunsOnEspresso Yeah I'm hitting the Fleet Feet here in Tuscon, I usually go to them for anything running related that I haven't tried out yet. They tend to be a bit expensive but I really like them beyond that.
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    Walked 3 miles while waiting for a car alignment. Came back and they hadn't even started. Ugh. Still hoping to run 4 miles at some point today. Maybe I'll wait until dark. I love looking at all the Christmas lights :) They better finish this car.....it's almost lunch time :-p
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    Walked 3 miles while waiting for a car alignment. Came back and they hadn't even started. Ugh. Still hoping to run 4 miles at some point today. Maybe I'll wait until dark. I love looking at all the Christmas lights :) They better finish this car.....it's almost lunch time :-p

    Ugh! The dealership where I take my car is a 4 hour deal, even if it's simple stuff. You have my sympathies.
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Walked 3 miles while waiting for a car alignment. Came back and they hadn't even started. Ugh. Still hoping to run 4 miles at some point today. Maybe I'll wait until dark. I love looking at all the Christmas lights :) They better finish this car.....it's almost lunch time :-p

    Ugh! The dealership where I take my car is a 4 hour deal, even if it's simple stuff. You have my sympathies.

    The bonus of your husband being a car salesman. I never have to take the car in and I get killer deals on new cars!
  • HeatherMN
    HeatherMN Posts: 3,821 Member
    Thankfully, I rarely have to take my car in for service. My husband does almost all maintenance and repairs himself.

    My legs are SORE today from the squats and plyometrics in my workout on Wednesday. Last night's run was tough with the leg soreness. So, tonight, my workout will just be yoga and foam rolling to try to loosen things up before tomorrow morning's 5k.
  • trudyschmidt
    trudyschmidt Posts: 8 Member
    Thanks for the cold weather gear advice. I bought some UA Coldgear tights & top and tried them out today and they were great. Also wore a windbreaker but didn't zip it. When I took off the windbreaker my arms were sweaty from it. I didn't notice it when I was running, are there windbreakers that stop the wind but don't make you sweat? It was a good run today - I'm up to 3 miles continuous running now.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Walked 3 miles while waiting for a car alignment. Came back and they hadn't even started. Ugh. Still hoping to run 4 miles at some point today. Maybe I'll wait until dark. I love looking at all the Christmas lights :) They better finish this car.....it's almost lunch time :-p

    Ugh! The dealership where I take my car is a 4 hour deal, even if it's simple stuff. You have my sympathies.

    The bonus of your husband being a car salesman. I never have to take the car in and I get killer deals on new cars!

    Well.... I'll keep that in mind! Haha! it's not too far for me to drive to get a deal!
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    Walking miles

    1---2 hours on YouTube, and a massage
    2---1.7 in the rain


    0/5 running miles
    1.7/50+ walking miles


    12/11/16 BMW Dallas Marathon, Half DNS
    Run the year 2016  898.42/ 2016 (DNF)

    Advisable races:
    March 19th 2017 RNR Half Dallas, TX
    March 26th 2017 A2A 5k Ardmore, OK
    April 30th 2017 OKC Memorial Marathon, Half
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    Had to leave the car and get picked up by hubby. I don't mind taking the car in since I work 28 hours 4 days a week and he works 60 :) I would've walked home except the dog needed picked up from the vet.
  • RespectTheKitty
    RespectTheKitty Posts: 1,667 Member
    Hooray! I finally figured out how to track my walking with my Garmin. I figured out how to load the walking app I downloaded purely by accident... I accidentally hit two buttons at once and POOF! The app came up!

    The walking app also syncs with Strava and MFP so my walks are counted towards my goals. This makes me happy.

    Walked 2.8 (well, 2.79) miles on lunch today. No running tonight because of my son's concert. Looking forward to hearing him sing in the choir!
  • Mari33a
    Mari33a Posts: 1,281 Member
    01/12 3.12 miles
    02/12 3 miles - that's 6 in a row for me this week, Blimey!


    exercise.png

  • NikolaosKey
    NikolaosKey Posts: 410 Member
    Hi all!

    Goal for December: 120k

    12/1: 8k
    12/2: 2.2k (warmup for strength training)

    10.2/120k

    Stay free of injuries!
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    So I totally forgot I bought 2 winter/reflective outfits awhile back. Fall felt like summer and we're just now getting cooler weather. I never even tried the stuff on! I should do that today. And return if they don't fit. I was really excited about the bright colors and reflective features. I ran in a lot of black last winter but never in the dark.
  • lissadecker
    lissadecker Posts: 220 Member
    December goal: 100 miles
    12/1: 3.25 miles
    12/2: 2.75 miles

    My Total/December: 6 miles
    Mike's Total: 0 miles

    So, today is my 48th birthday and I have to say, it has been a heck of a year. I have lost 90 pounds since January and am probably in better shape now than I was 20 years ago. I had a nice run this morning with Fergus. It was maybe a little short, but I've been kind of sore lately. Plus today was my 9th day in a row of running and have my race tomorrow so I didn't want to overdo it. After my run, I went shopping for some badly needed new pants. I'll be going out for a nice long walk in a little bit and am looking forward to a birthday dinner with Mike and some cake. Birthday calories don't count, right?!

    @greenolivetree Dig those purple shoes! I love 'em!

    @_nikkiwolf_ Running after midnight in the cold - that's dedication there. Do you always run so late? I couldn't even imagine. It is a struggle for me to stay up past 9 or 10. LOL.

    @MNLittleFinn I don't think Burpee, Death and Drop belong in the same sentence...unless it is to say that I dropped to my death doing burpees...which, for me, I think could actually happen. You are braver and stronger than I! :) Glad you are enjoying your new routine.

    @RespectTheKitty Enjoy the concert! I'm sure your son will do great!

    Have a fabulous rest of the day everyone!

    Upcoming Races:
    12/3 Snowball Run 5K, Kingwood TX
    1/22 Choco Loco 10K, Houston, TX

    exercise.png
  • ceciliaslater
    ceciliaslater Posts: 457 Member
    edited December 2016
    12/1: Step class/rest from running
    12/2: 5.5 miles

    Total: 5.5 / 75 miles completed
    Winter Warrior Challenge: 12.75 / 250 miles completed

    I was planning on running yesterday evening, but my ankle was still feeling pretty tight. I had already done step class over lunch to get some cardio in, so didn't feel too bad about skipping it. I could feel something in my ankle trying to shift/give when I stepped just right (wrong) during class, but I just took it easy on the movement (and added 3lb dumbbells in my hands to keep the cardio factor up), and all turned out well.

    Woke up this morning with the ankle feeling much better, but still with a nice bruise. Decided to skip Insanity class today--too much jumping around for my ankle, I think--and get my run in over lunch. Took a route that I thought was 5 miles, but turned out to be 5.41 miles (Didn't I do the same thing a couple months back, on the same route? Pretty sure I did...). Couldn't let myself stop at 5.41, so I made a short little loop past the doors to my building to get the full 5.5 in.

    On a side note, I did my last two runs in those Newton shoes @Elise4270 gave me several months ago. This is the first time I've used them (since I had surgery shortly after I got them). Even though they're technically trail shoes, I've been using them on the road. So far, I really like them. It was a little weird the first time out, with the lugs on the ball of the foot and not having any ground contact in the midfoot or toes. But, I really like the push-off/lift sensation I get from the roll onto the toes in the back-stride. Plus, no blisters so far! Even in the spots I already had blisters, they aren't getting irritated at all. I may just end up trying out some of their other (road) models soon!

    I joined a "Winter Warrior Challenge" through the local Fleet Feet store. It's a free training program where you self-log your miles, committing to either 100 miles, 250 miles or 500 miles between 11/25/16 (Turkey Trot Race) and 2/18/17 (Sweetheart Run). I signed up for the 250 miles. It will definitely be a challenge, requiring about 21 miles per week. Should be doable, though. I'm at 12.75 of 250 miles now, so a bit behind schedule. Should be pretty well caught up after this weekend if I manage to run both days as planned, though.
  • ceciliaslater
    ceciliaslater Posts: 457 Member
    @MNLittleFinn - Please expound on this "Burpee Death Drop" you speak of. Sounds like a good one...
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    @lissadecker HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And awesome job on the weight loss :)

    I tried on the new clothes and I need to lose 20 lbs. Aargh. I just can't come to grips with this it seems.

    And why do they make running clothes like all runners are 5'9? It really sucks that I have to roll up my running tights bc they're 6 inches too long. And those tops with the thumb hole? Great idea if my arms were down to my knees.

    Any other shorties? I'm 5 ft 3/4 in.
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    @lissadecker @ceciliaslater

    Burpee Death Drop

    5 burpees -> 10 inch worm
    5 burpees -> 20 jumping jacks
    5 burpees -> 30 push ups
    5 burpees -> 40 squats
    5 burpees -> 50 high kicks (per leg)
    5 burpees -> 60 calf raises
    5 burpees -> 70 starter jumps
    5 burpees -> 80 skaters
    5 burpees -> 90 push jacks
    5 burpees -> 100 skaters
    then start at the bottom and reverse it
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited December 2016

    On a side note, I did my last two runs in those Newton shoes @Elise4270 gave me several months ago. This is the first time I've used them (since I had surgery shortly after I got them). Even though they're technically trail shoes, I've been using them on the road. So far, I really like them. It was a little weird the first time out, with the lugs on the ball of the foot and not having any ground contact in the midfoot or toes. But, I really like the push-off/lift sensation I get from the roll onto the toes in the back-stride. Plus, no blisters so far! Even in the spots I already had blisters, they aren't getting irritated at all. I may just end up trying out some of their other (road) models soon!

    Really glad you could use them! I find i need to heel strike to keep my ars' engaged. maybe that'll change.

    My husband runs in them and changed to the Nike recently. He's having a hard time liking the Nikes now. But- he's not gonna be running for a bit. A few days ago he dropped a 45 pound disc weight on his foot. He had it x-rayed at urgent care with their playskool brand x-ray machine and it's fine. Haha! It could be broke, so I told him no running until it's 100%.

    @MNLittleFinn I DO NOT want to know what the death drop burpee thing is. Good lord! Who decided to make burpees harder! I have back spasms just thinking about doing one.
  • ceciliaslater
    ceciliaslater Posts: 457 Member
    @MNLittleFinn - I may have to send that to my Power Hour instructor. Seems right up her ally. I mean, who doesn't want to do 100 burpees, right? I'll just make sure I'm "sick" for her next class after I send it over. :lol:

    @Elise4270 - OUCH! Yeah...maybe a podiatrist or ortho would be better than the urgent care. As for the heel strike, I'm a natural forefoot to midfoot striker. I think that's why I'm so fond of the zero or near-zero drop shoes. They don't force me to land on my heel, which tends to hurt my poor gimpy ankles (even with the extra cushioning of the higher drop shoes).
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    And why do they make running clothes like all runners are 5'9? It really sucks that I have to roll up my running tights bc they're 6 inches too long. And those tops with the thumb hole? Great idea if my arms were down to my knees.

    Any other shorties? I'm 5 ft 3/4 in.

    I wonder the same thing!...but for opposite reasons. Buying tights is pretty challenging for me. They usually look like capri's. I have to wear taller socks in the winter or my ankles get cold.

    I'm 6' 5"
  • louubelle16
    louubelle16 Posts: 579 Member
    @greenolivetree Where are you getting these clothes?! I'm 5ft9 and 95% of running clothes I find are too short in the leg and arms, and the ones with thumb holes are my absolute favourite. Which brands are you talking about? NEED!

    @7lenny7 Sorry to hear you're injured. Have you decided what do do yet? Sounds like you still need to eat the donuts though, you know, to give your body the energy it needs to recover. That's a thing, right?

    @Virkati Sorry to hear things are tough for you right now, fingers crossed you're back to running soon.

    Just a few laps of the village tonight to stretch the legs out and run off a horrible day. Ready for an early night before long run + parkrun in the morning. I'm actually already dressed in my running clothes for the morning, I'm just going to sleep like this. The joys of being single :lol:

    December Running Challenge

    2nd - 3.06 miles

    MTD - 3.06/80 miles

    Upcoming races:
    17th Dec - Lee Valley VeloPark Half Marathon
    9th April 2017 - Brighton Marathon
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    @kristinegift - If you think you're not doing deadlifts right, definitely seek coaching. The deadlift is the ultimate vanity lift, designed to use as much of the body as possible to lift as much weight as possible. Screw up on form when trying to lift heavy, and you can really mess yourself up. So yeah, seek help and get that form right before you make them really challenging.

    FWIW, I gave up doing deadlifts after my PT expressed disapproval of them. At my peak, I deadlifted 245 lbs. for 3 reps, when I weighed something in the low 190s. At a healthy weight, I never deadlifted anything over 225 lbs. But I got to thinking, the PT gives me these exercises that are body weight or use really small weights and are still challenging; if I screw them up, worst case I drop a small weight and don't make progress.

    So now, I'm not doing deadlifts. I'm squatting 85 lbs., in the form of 45 lb. and 40 lb. kettlebells held at the rack position; when I was lifting weights but not running, I squatted 165 with the Olympic bar. That was a vanity lift at the time, squatting my weight. Now I realize I just can't do everything, and squatting 85 lbs. (or probably even 50 lbs.) is enough to support my running habit.

    But you do make me think that maybe I should start doing some chest presses again. I do push-ups, which build muscle endurance; but I could use more weight and build some strength with chest presses. Oh, well. I'll see what fits into the time I'm willing to put into exercise.


    Rest day today, because I felt a bit beat up after yesterday evening's speed work. Went online and found the certification map for tomorrow's 5K. I've run in that part of town, and was pretty sure it was mostly flat; the map says max elevation 542 feet, min elevation 530 feet. Yeah, that makes a stack of pancakes look hilly.
  • RandiNoelle
    RandiNoelle Posts: 374 Member
    Getting back into running so I can train for a half in April 2017. I'm a couple days late to the party.

    Looking to do 75 miles this month (5 miles a day/5 days a week). :smile:
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    @7lenny7 Sorry to hear you're injured. Have you decided what do do yet? Sounds like you still need to eat the donuts though, you know, to give your body the energy it needs to recover. That's a thing, right?

    Thanks. I've been tormenting myself all day pondering the options...deciding between what I *want* to do vs. what I think I *should* do. The Donut Day 25K sounds like an awesomely fun time, particularly since it's not a race but a social event and...donuts.

    I think I've decided that I need to be smart and do what's best long term and that means I'm going to skip it, even the shorter distances, and run on my own, on the trails. Benefits are:
    • Trail running!
    • Kody can join me
    • It will be easier to keep to a slower pace if I'm on my own, and on a trail
    • I can start earlier in the day, and therefore end earlier in the day.
    • I can structure my route so that I'm never more than a couple of miles from my truck should the pain get too bad
    • I get to run in both pairs of my new trail running shoes!
    • There's a donut shop nearby...I'll hit that on the way there.

    I have to list the benefits to make myself feel better about missing the donut run.




  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    Any and all brands are way too long for me :( the ankle part of the pants sticks past my toes and the wrist part of the sleeve is past my fingertips :'(
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited December 2016
    Any and all brands are way too long for me :( the ankle part of the pants sticks past my toes and the wrist part of the sleeve is past my fingertips :'(

    Hahaha! Awwww!

    https://youtu.be/8bfyS-S-IJs

    Idk why I loved that stupid song as a kid. I was a short people then.

    Maybe there's a line that offers petite sizes?
    Ooh! http://www.athleta.com/products/petite-workout-clothes.jsp
  • OSUbuckeye906
    OSUbuckeye906 Posts: 315 Member
    Haven't really been able to check in since I posted yesterday morning and I see we're already on page 5! I'll have to get caught up.

    12/1: 5 miles
    12/2: 4 miles

    TOTAL: 7 miles

    4 miles in 37:50 (9:28 pace). It was supposed to be a slow-ish run or more like a whatever feels easy/comfortable. Wellllll, this pace DID feel comfortable but I probably shouldn't have let myself run this fast (was thinking more like 9:45/10 pace). I have been experiencing some tightness in my left calf as a result of overcompensating for my right shin and I was trying to avoid setting myself up for a painful longer run tomorrow. Hopefully all is well for tomorrow. Now, I just need to really pace myself slower tomorrow.
This discussion has been closed.