February 2017 Running Challenge

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Replies

  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    Check in: No running Sunday or Monday. Thought I'd get an early start Sunday, and it didn't happen; so I could have got in a morning run but didn't. Teammates who ran reported a lot of black ice and places they had to walk, so I'm not beating myself up too bad about that.

    The drive from Bend to Portland was much nicer weather and lower stress than the drive out. The nice thing about having a red eye flight from the west coast was I actually got to watch most of the second half of the Super Bowl. If I'd been at home, I would have gone to bed with the Falcons leading 28-3 and been very surprised when I saw the final score in the morning. The down side was I got only 3 to 4 hours of low quality sleep on planes. So I got a 2 hour nap this afternoon, and got a lot of administrative re-entry stuff done today, but didn't get a run in. Tomorrow I'll run for sure.

    Oh, yeah. Now all my team mates are assuming I'll run the USATF Masters 8K in Virginia Beach on March 18. Sigh. They'll be mad at me if I don't go, and if I do go it will screw up another weekend of marathon training. But at least travel to Virginia Beach should be easier than travel to Bend.
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    So. Accurding to mapmy run, both my 18 mile and 20 mile point to point routes have more elevation that my marathon......trying to decide if this is a good thing.
  • Calvin2008Brian
    Calvin2008Brian Posts: 1,024 Member
    So. Accurding to mapmy run, both my 18 mile and 20 mile point to point routes have more elevation that my marathon......trying to decide if this is a good thing.

    Yes, it's good. Hills are good for you, and it will be a confidence builder.

    I love doing point to point training runs, btw. It takes some planning, but always seems worth it to me. All great runs are point to point, imho. Phedipides set the standard.
  • JessicaMcB
    JessicaMcB Posts: 1,503 Member
    @Azercord your new puppy is beautiful <3 ! Fluffy running buds for the win! Alllllmost makes me want one, and then I remember how many children under 5 I have lol

    Terrible day with my kids, my nutrition was way off. I snuck in a quickie 15 while the sick baby was willing to hang out with daddy. Think maybe I need to pick up my mileage a bit this week to get out of my head. Maybe run my tempos all as 15's and the weekend trail as a 30...Gah. Too much going on.

    February 1- 15km
    February 2- 11km
    February 3- 11.1km
    February 4- 22km
    February 5- 10km
    February 6- 15.1km

    86.2 km/200km


  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    @MNLittleFinn if there's one thing I'd change about my marathon training last year it would be to seek out hills even though my marathon course was extremely flat.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    @ddmom0811 Awesome bling!!

    @patrikc333 You sprained your knee? That's not supposed to happen! So sorry!


    01 Feb – 10.1 km
    02 Feb – 7.5 km + Body Balance
    04 Feb – 10.7 km including parkrun
    05 Feb – 13.3 km hilly run
    06 Feb – 2.6 km + 1150m swimming
    07 Feb – 9 km + Pilates

    Goal: 100 miles / 160 km
    Total: 53.2 km

    Upcoming:
    25 Feb - 16.4 km Farm to Pub
  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member

    exercise.png
  • kimlight2
    kimlight2 Posts: 483 Member
    @mustb60 Congrats on the 10K!
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member

    Yes, it's good. Hills are good for you, and it will be a confidence builder.

    I love doing point to point training runs, btw. It takes some planning, but always seems worth it to me. All great runs are point to point, imho. Phedipides set the standard.

    Thanks for that. For me, it's part psychological, all my runs have been loops or out and back, but my marathon is a point to point, so I figure that having a couple 18-20 mile runs that are point to point will help with that. And, yeah, Phedipides really set the standard on p2p runs.
  • BeeerRunner
    BeeerRunner Posts: 728 Member
    Question for the marathoners in this group...

    As I'm heading into my 3 week taper, I wanted to see if y'all had any helpful tips. I have my reduced mileage planned. However, I normally lift weights 2x per week and I'm thinking I should put this on hold at some point during the taper. Also, in the last week, I have 2 rest days on Thursday and Friday, a shakeout run on Sat and the marathon on Sunday. Do I really not do anything those 2 days or are short walks ok?

    Thanks in advance for your advice!!
  • garygse
    garygse Posts: 896 Member
    @mustb60 Way to go on that 10K!

    --

    Today was the first day that I've run with a group, and it was a nice change from my normal solo running. They also did some laps in a multi-storey car park, as there's not a lot of hills in Dallas...I hadn't thought of doing that, so that was a good trick to learn.

    03 - 2.24 miles
    04 - 9.30
    06 - 11.67
    07 - 7.25

    Total: 30.46 / 125
  • ddmom0811
    ddmom0811 Posts: 1,881 Member
    @mustbe60 - congrats!
    @Azercord - so cute! Never heard of Kree but cute name!
    @skippygirlsmom - okay, I will email you when they let me know when to register. Apparently I was one of the first ones to register this year - I was number 41. The weather is perfect usually in Feb for it. I'm not a nascar fan but it is very cool running on the track and the beach.

    Went to strength training last night and focused mostly on upper body and then did the compression leg things. He had said I'd feel no soreness after. Well.. I wouldn't really say that was true, lol. But it did feel good!
    Did a little recovery run this morning. I have a slight ache/pain on one foot below ankle, in front of it but it's not awful. I decided if it was painful I would just walk, but it wasn't bad.
    The weird thing is ever since the HM on Sunday the pain down my one leg which my MFP friends here diagnosed as probable sciatic pain seems much better. Probably because everything is just so tight I don't notice it.

    2/1 - strength training
    2/2 - 4.30 miles
    2/3 - rest day
    2/4 - cycling 34 miles
    2/5 - Daytona HM - 2:22.01
    2/6 - Strength training
    2/7 - 3.5 miles


    exercise.png



    Upcoming races
    2/5/17 - Daytona Beach HM
    2/26/17 - Disney Princess HM Orlando
  • BeeerRunner
    BeeerRunner Posts: 728 Member
    garygse wrote: »
    @mustb60 Way to go on that 10K!

    --

    Today was the first day that I've run with a group, and it was a nice change from my normal solo running. They also did some laps in a multi-storey car park, as there's not a lot of hills in Dallas...I hadn't thought of doing that, so that was a good trick to learn.

    03 - 2.24 miles
    04 - 9.30
    06 - 11.67
    07 - 7.25

    Total: 30.46 / 125

    @garygse If you're looking for hills, there are some trail runs with lots of elevation gain near Cedar Hill State Park in Dallas. I know one ran at Cedar Ridge Nature Preserve. He did 15 miles with over 2000' of elevation gain. I haven't been yet but I plan to check it out after my marathon.
  • potatowhoruns
    potatowhoruns Posts: 87 Member
    @mustb60 - well done - great achievement
  • karllundy
    karllundy Posts: 1,490 Member
    2/1 - 3.4 'mill miles and a quick weight session. The scale was ugly today.
    2/2 - 4.1 treadmill miles.
    2/3 - Rest day.
    2/4 - 2.3 'mill miles and then Bodypump class
    2/5 - Super Bowl = no run AND way overeating.
    2/6 - 4.01 miles.
    2/7 - 4.25 miles.

    exercise.png

    Planned Races
    2/11 - Red Flannel Run 5 Mile
    4/8 - Beer and Bagel "Off Road"
    5/13 - Market to Market Relay
    6/3 - Dam to Dam HM
    10/15 - IMT Des Moines HM
  • garygse
    garygse Posts: 896 Member
    @BeeerRunner Thanks for the info, I'll definitely check it out!
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Question for the marathoners in this group...

    As I'm heading into my 3 week taper, I wanted to see if y'all had any helpful tips. I have my reduced mileage planned. However, I normally lift weights 2x per week and I'm thinking I should put this on hold at some point during the taper. Also, in the last week, I have 2 rest days on Thursday and Friday, a shakeout run on Sat and the marathon on Sunday. Do I really not do anything those 2 days or are short walks ok?

    Thanks in advance for your advice!!

    http://therunningstan.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-marathon-taper-and-carb-loading.html

    you're welcome
  • RespectTheKitty
    RespectTheKitty Posts: 1,667 Member
    edited February 2017
    2/1 6.3r 4.4w
    2/2 5.2r 5.3w
    2/3 0.0r 7.25w
    2/4 7.0r 0.5w
    2/5 4.2r 0.0w
    2/6 5.1r 4.6w
    Total so far = 27.8r +22.05w = 49.85 miles

    Not a good day yesterday. seems like everything that could go wrong, did. Anxiety was high. Took a couple of miles to get into the run; I almost quit before then because I was having trouble. Somehow managed 5 miles, then came home and ate all the chocolate.

    Today is day 3 of my car being in the shop. Thank goodness I was able to snag a rental car, otherwise I'd be up kitten's creek. Hoping they figure out what's wrong with it and get it back to me today. So far they haven't been able to replicate the problem, so maybe it was just a one-time glitch.
  • RespectTheKitty
    RespectTheKitty Posts: 1,667 Member
    @mustb60 Congrats on your first 10k! I remember my first 10k, it was SUCH a good feeling. I hope you're feeling the same.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Date Miles today - Miles for February
    2/1 5 miles - 5
    2/2 10miles - 15
    2/3 5 miles - 20
    2/4 18 miles - 38
    2/5 REST DAY
    2/6 10 miles - 48
    2/7 10 miles - 58

    exercise.png

    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 << 44:57 PR
    Firecracker Chase 10.2 miler 6/25 << 1:20:22 1 in AG & 15 OA
    Huntsville Half Marathon - 11/12 << 1:35:55 2 in AG & 25 OA
    Rocket City Marathon - 12/10 << 2:44:41
    Elkmont Hound Dog Half (unofficial) - 1/21 << 1:46:48 2 OA
    Elkmont Hound Dog Half (rescheduled) - 2/18
    Kentucky Derby Marathon - 4/29


    This is weird. My legs felt better this morning after running 10 miles up a mountain yesterday, then how my legs felt yesterday after a full day's rest from running a grueling 18 mile long run on Saturday. I did run yesterday's miles slower than usual. And it's not like I did any speed work today either. Just a nice steady decent pace working on my form, plus some glorious hills.

    Hoping to get in a double today as well as weights this afternoon.
  • KatieJane83
    KatieJane83 Posts: 2,002 Member
    Hi guys! What is everyone's threshold for running in the rain, in regards to temp? I actually really enjoy running in the rain, but I'm uncertain if there's a point where you find the rain, with too cold of a temp, is just too much? It looks like my lunch run today is going to be in the rain, and it'll be about 38ish degrees Fahrenheit. I have a rainproof jacket (still trying to figure out just how rainproof it is, as it's hard to tell if I'm just wet from sweat because it doesn't breath, lol) and a brimmed hat, so I'm thinking I should be fine. weather.com says it'll feel like 33, but Accuweather says it will feel like 42, so who knows.
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    @Stoshew71 - Funny, but I was just thinking about that same thing on my run this morning. Yesterday was a rest day after a fast effort 10K on Saturday and 14 miles on Sunday. Today my legs were heavy. Recently I have realized that if I run in the morning after a rest day, my legs are stiff and take a while to loosen up. But if I run in the evening, they feel great. I guess that's why we always do shake out runs the day before a marathon.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Hi guys! What is everyone's threshold for running in the rain, in regards to temp? I actually really enjoy running in the rain, but I'm uncertain if there's a point where you find the rain, with too cold of a temp, is just too much? It looks like my lunch run today is going to be in the rain, and it'll be about 38ish degrees Fahrenheit. I have a rainproof jacket (still trying to figure out just how rainproof it is, as it's hard to tell if I'm just wet from sweat because it doesn't breath, lol) and a brimmed hat, so I'm thinking I should be fine. weather.com says it'll feel like 33, but Accuweather says it will feel like 42, so who knows.

    Rain does not bother me, even in those temps you describe. Thunder is a different story.
    Layers and rainproof jacket should be your answer. Enough layers appropriate for the temperature drop.


    As far as the treadmill discussion. I don't think any TV program or Amazon Prime (which I do have) will take my mind off how dreadful the dreadmill is. I would rather run for 2 hours in -10 degree weather (dressed correctly) than an hour on the treadmill.

    Now ice, darkness, and traffic are a deadly combination. I would run on ice if I made screw shoes and there's no traffic and in daylight. But running in the dark with crazy drivers (ice or no ice) is the bigger problem. That's the only reason I ended up on a hotel treadmill last month when I was up at Ft. Campbell.

  • KatieJane83
    KatieJane83 Posts: 2,002 Member
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    Hi guys! What is everyone's threshold for running in the rain, in regards to temp? I actually really enjoy running in the rain, but I'm uncertain if there's a point where you find the rain, with too cold of a temp, is just too much? It looks like my lunch run today is going to be in the rain, and it'll be about 38ish degrees Fahrenheit. I have a rainproof jacket (still trying to figure out just how rainproof it is, as it's hard to tell if I'm just wet from sweat because it doesn't breath, lol) and a brimmed hat, so I'm thinking I should be fine. weather.com says it'll feel like 33, but Accuweather says it will feel like 42, so who knows.

    Rain does not bother me, even in those temps you describe. Thunder is a different story.
    Layers and rainproof jacket should be your answer. Enough layers appropriate for the temperature drop.


    As far as the treadmill discussion. I don't think any TV program or Amazon Prime (which I do have) will take my mind off how dreadful the dreadmill is. I would rather run for 2 hours in -10 degree weather (dressed correctly) than an hour on the treadmill.

    Now ice, darkness, and traffic are a deadly combination. I would run on ice if I made screw shoes and there's no traffic and in daylight. But running in the dark with crazy drivers (ice or no ice) is the bigger problem. That's the only reason I ended up on a hotel treadmill last month when I was up at Ft. Campbell.

    Thanks @Stoshew71 ! That's exactly what I was thinking, I think I just let other people around me (non-runners) get into my head when they're like, "omg, you're not gonna run in this are you???" Or, "oh you can't, you'll get a chill and get sick!" Personally, I'm kinda looking forward to it, I like being in the little bubble of dryness under my hat brim, lol. But then, I don't think us runners are 'normal' :D

    And I completely agree on the dreadmill. The streaming stuff is what makes it just barely tolerable, but I'd hands down choose outdoors even if it's rain or snow or whatnot. Only unsafe conditions send me to the treadmill. I do need to get some trail shoes or something though, so I feel a little more comfortable if there's snowy conditions out.
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    Now ice, darkness, and traffic are a deadly combination. I would run on ice if I made screw shoes and there's no traffic and in daylight. But running in the dark with crazy drivers (ice or no ice) is the bigger problem. That's the only reason I ended up on a hotel treadmill last month when I was up at Ft. Campbell.

    Every runner has to do what they feel comfortable with but nearly every one of my weeknight runs in the winter are on the roads, in the dark, and sometimes with icy spots. The sidewalks are more dangerous around here because there's much more ice and snowpack whereas the streets are plowed, often salted, and get more traffic making them safer and more pleasant.

    I make myself as visible as I can with a reflective vest, headlamp in front and flashing light in the back, running against traffic. My routes are low traffic residential areas, often with wide shoulders or parking lanes. As cars come towards me I give them a quick flash with my headlight to get their attention. One time I happen to cross paths with my wife when she was driving home and she told me I really stood out and she saw my light bobbing up and down two blocks away.

    I'm definitely a defensive runner out there. I've had close calls but most have been during the day at one particular busy intersection. Since I've developed my bright and blinky strategy, and have learned what to watch out for, I've never felt any more at risk running at night than during the day. Actually I think it's easier to stick out in the dark because of the reflective material and lights.

    I still prefer to run on trails though, day or night.

    @KatieJane83 what I recommend when people run in conditions they're not familiar with is to plan to do multiple short loops so it's easy to either bail out if the conditions are too tough to stand, or to shed layers if you find you wore too much. On my coldest run ever I run four 2 mile loops to get my 8 miles in. It wasn't the most exciting run ever, but it was nice knowing I was never more than a half mile away from home if it got to be too much.
  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    edited February 2017
    @ddmon0811 and @shanaber Great race pictures! Wow, you really get awesome medals in the US - maybe I have to fly over and run a few races there one day :smile:

    @tdbernrd That's great that there's a yoga for runners course close to you. Probably much more fun than doing a DVD at home alone.

    @Azercord Kree is so cute!!
    Shame on me, I didn't get the reference. Does it count as an excuse that my entire SG-1 collection is on VHS, and I don't have anything with with to watch them anymore? :p

    @greenolivetree Sometimes there a phase were other things are more important than exercise (or seem to be). Maybe you can do some exercise while watching TV, if that's the only time you have. And hopefully life will get easier soon and you can again run as much as you want.

    @katharmonic I love the ninja pic! Looks like a fun running group.

    @JessicaMcB Wow, you are already at 86km after 6 days of the month? That's impressive - especially if you are still thinking about "picking up the milage a bit" for this week!

    @KatieJane83 I don't have a threshold temperature for running in the rain. Just Sunday I ran 23km in 2°C/35F rain. Sure, I complained about it a lot (especially since my jacket isn't really rainproof), and I was running half blind since constantly wiping the rain from my glasses got annoying and I took them off, and it probably took an hour until I was indifferent enough to the weather to start enjoying the run. But that's not a reason to skip a run >:) As long as you are moving, unless it's really stormy on top of the rain, you shouldn't get too cold. Sheer layers of ice without a single patch of okayish road in between, or cherry-sized hail stones are where I draw the line, but a bit of rain isn't going to kill me.

    @BeeerRunner I only ran one marathon so far, so I'm not an expert, but what I did worked for me: I didn't do any strength training for ~10days before the race. I still took the bike to work almost every day, but that's only about 10km per day, I didn't think that would endanger the taper, and not moving (apart from the increasingly short runs in the training plan) at all would have driven me insane. I wouldn't do deadlifts or squats in the week of the race, but a short walk can't hurt!


    --

    I'm not sure yet if I can run today. I bumped my little toe on the couch yesterday (can an "injury" get any more pathetic than that?), as I was looking for my bike shoes to do a bit of indoor cycling. After 20min on the bike I had to stop because the pain didn't get any better, and found that the front of the sock was soaked in blood - ewww. This morning every step still hurt, but by now I can almost walk without limping. So with some very plush socks and roomy shoes a short run should be doable. I'm just afraid I'll run weirdly/with bad form due to favouring the toe, and injure something more serious.. :/
  • KatieJane83
    KatieJane83 Posts: 2,002 Member
    7lenny7 wrote: »
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    Now ice, darkness, and traffic are a deadly combination. I would run on ice if I made screw shoes and there's no traffic and in daylight. But running in the dark with crazy drivers (ice or no ice) is the bigger problem. That's the only reason I ended up on a hotel treadmill last month when I was up at Ft. Campbell.

    Every runner has to do what they feel comfortable with but nearly every one of my weeknight runs in the winter are on the roads, in the dark, and sometimes with icy spots. The sidewalks are more dangerous around here because there's much more ice and snowpack whereas the streets are plowed, often salted, and get more traffic making them safer and more pleasant.

    I make myself as visible as I can with a reflective vest, headlamp in front and flashing light in the back, running against traffic. My routes are low traffic residential areas, often with wide shoulders or parking lanes. As cars come towards me I give them a quick flash with my headlight to get their attention. One time I happen to cross paths with my wife when she was driving home and she told me I really stood out and she saw my light bobbing up and down two blocks away.

    I'm definitely a defensive runner out there. I've had close calls but most have been during the day at one particular busy intersection. Since I've developed my bright and blinky strategy, and have learned what to watch out for, I've never felt any more at risk running at night than during the day. Actually I think it's easier to stick out in the dark because of the reflective material and lights.

    I still prefer to run on trails though, day or night.

    @KatieJane83 what I recommend when people run in conditions they're not familiar with is to plan to do multiple short loops so it's easy to either bail out if the conditions are too tough to stand, or to shed layers if you find you wore too much. On my coldest run ever I run four 2 mile loops to get my 8 miles in. It wasn't the most exciting run ever, but it was nice knowing I was never more than a half mile away from home if it got to be too much.

    Ha, I have the exact same nighttime running gear: reflective vest, headlamp, and blinky light on my back, and I do the same thing, sticking to less busy roads, always against traffic. Glad to hear you've gotten direct positive feedback on your visibility, makes me feel good about my setup!

    And that's an excellent point about running in new conditions. That's my plan for when I do my first very cold run (if it ever happens this winter, so far my coldest run has been around 28F at night). If it's a shorter run I'll do the 2 mile loop from my front door on repeat, and if it's a long run I'll do the 3 mile loop around the lake on repeat, with my car right there.