February 2017 Running Challenge

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Replies

  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    Feb 1 - 20ish min walk in my office building
    Feb 2 - same as above
    Feb 3 - 3 mile run, negative splits but slow
    Feb 4 - taking down Christmas decorations
    Feb 5 - half mile driveway walk with MIL, 1 hr workout dvd (cardio/strength)
    Feb 6 - nothing
    Feb 7 - 5 mile run, slooooow with "pickups" in the 3rd mile
    Feb 8 - 30 mi light walking in office
    Feb 9 - 3 mi run
    Feb 10 - nothing? how'd that happen? spent day with hub
    Feb 11 - 3.8 mi walk, 3.0 mile run - 22,000+steps!
    Feb 12 - nope
    Feb 13 - 3.5 mi run
    Feb 14 - 1 hour cardio/strength workout
    Feb 15 - 1 hour light walking
    Feb 16 - 40 min light walking
    Feb 17 - 5 mi run, 20 min arms/abs strength
    Feb 18 - 3 mi run, 2 mi walk, 15 min lower body strength
    Feb 19 - 2 mi bad run, 15 min arms/abs strength
    Feb 20 - 20 min light walking so far.....

    Goal: 27.5/50 running miles

    Really frustrated with how this month is going. I was hoping to run 5 miles again last night and had shin pain. I don't know why I'm struggling with shin pain as little as I've been running. I've run faster, farther, and more often in the past even as a newbie runner. Why now? I'm in a bad mood and should probably just bow out instead of being a Debbie Downer.

    I don't think you should bow out. Cut back. Run slower. Is it time for new shoes? Has your stride changed?

    Give yourself time to reacclimate. Maybe run/walk some (more). Maybe replace a run with an agressive walk. How's your pace? I (did) do a run walk combination (2 min walk/3min run) or vice versa. And just tried to keep the average pace about 15.

    But, if you need a break to prevent injury, then I say go for it.
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    edited February 2017
    @elise4270 I'll screenshot this year compared to a year ago. A year ago, I was making a comeback after 8 solid weeks off healing high hamstring (sit bone) pain. Thus my frustration that I don't understand why I'm running worse now when I have more miles (longer running history) and no serious injuries the past year. It's not just the past 2 months. It's that I did nothing but decline for the last half of 2016 as far as I'm concerned. It's been soooooo long since I've seen a PR of any kind. Any distance, overall distance, a particular route, a certain hill, nothing. And again, maybe it's the weight gain, but I would think that I could've at least maintained the pace I ran as a beginner, even if I didn't improve. But I've just struggled more and more. I feel like slug.

    I did notice for my bad run last night that my stride was only .82m compared to usual .92 so that was off. My cadence has dropped off a little but not much and I just figure that's because in general I'm running a minute slower per mile.

    Shoes are new. About 100 miles on them. I retired the others a few months back because I thought the old shoes were causing shin pain although I only had about 350 miles on each pair. It's frustrating that it's such mild pain but I'm holding back to try and not worsen it. It's not a pain that tells me I MUST take time off. I think running consecutive days right now it not going to work even though I've done it in the past with no problem. Which annoys me because Fri/Sat/Sun are my best days to run! Wed/Thurs are awful for me. So I tried to do Fri/Sun/Tues but that's only 3 runs a week and then something happens and I miss a day and it turns into 2 per week. Aargh.

    I'm not giving up. I just have a bad attitude right now. Which isn't like me. My husband asked me last night if I'm going through menopause. LOL Nope, just bursting into tears over a bad run like it's the end of the world. And I also cried watching the Wonder Years on Netflix because they had to sell their old car. Ay-yi-yi. rnh09e5m25eq.png
    yzamzgsr5ddk.png
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    Random thought: I previously spent a lot more time running (concrete) trails and although I ran "alone" there were other runners. I wonder how much switching to my neighborhood streets where I rarely see another runner has caused me to unconsciously slow down. I know I used to speed up because of other runners around me. Maybe I should go back to running with a little competition :-/
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited February 2017
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    Random thought: I previously spent a lot more time running (concrete) trails and although I ran "alone" there were other runners. I wonder how much switching to my neighborhood streets where I rarely see another runner has caused me to unconsciously slow down. I know I used to speed up because of other runners around me. Maybe I should go back to running with a little competition :-/

    Maybe! I always wanna out run everyone! Weight gain adds quite a bit to your pace. I'm slower in the gravel/dirt trails. But that's building endurance. How's your iron level? Hormone levels do affect your training. You guys have had a lot going on lately.

    I'm starting back at square 0.005. nothing but up from here. I have faith you'll find your groove again. Then we'll have a run together. I plan on winning the lottery and traveling to run with everyone and shopp for new gear :wink:
  • KatieJane83
    KatieJane83 Posts: 2,002 Member
    2/1 - cross-training - zumba
    2/2 - 7 mile general aerobic run
    2/3 - 6 mile general aerobic run
    2/4 - cross-training - zumba/weights
    2/5 - 9 mile long run
    2/6 - rest
    2/7 - 6 mile general aerobic run / cross-training - weights
    2/8 - cross-training - zumba+7 min elliptical
    2/9 - active rest - shoveling/walk
    2/10 - 7 mile LT tempo run on the dreadmill
    2/11 - 2.5 mile LT pace run to the gym / zumba / 3.5 mile general aerobic run home
    2/12 - rest/some shoveling - snow day!
    2/13 - 9 mile long run
    2/14 - 7 mile general aerobic run / cross-training - weights
    2/15 - cross-training - zumba + a little weighted ab work
    2/16 - 8 mile general aerobic run w/8x100m strides
    2/17 - 6 mile general aerobic run / cross-training - weights
    2/18 - cross-training - zumba
    2/19 - 9 mile long run
    2/20 - rest

    Total: 80/116

    188 miles/2,017 miles - goal for the year

    So, I self-diagnosed, and just had confirmed by the doc today, that I have another sinus infection. Ugh. This has been a banner season for me with them this winter. Blah. Fortunately, today was already a rest day, plus a holiday from work, and I just confirmed with my boss that she's cool with me working from home tomorrow (the headache with this one is a doozy, and I just couldn't face the thought of cubicle life tomorrow, lol). I have my antibiotics now, so that should help in the next day or 2. Still planning on getting my run in tomorrow though, as getting moving actually helps to loosen up my stuffed up head a bit. Will just try to take it real easy.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    Random thought: I previously spent a lot more time running (concrete) trails and although I ran "alone" there were other runners. I wonder how much switching to my neighborhood streets where I rarely see another runner has caused me to unconsciously slow down. I know I used to speed up because of other runners around me. Maybe I should go back to running with a little competition :-/

    Maybe! I always wanna out run everyone! Weight gain adds quite a bit to your pace. I'm slower in the gravel/dirt trails. But that's building endurance. How's your iron level? Hormone levels do affect your training. You guys have had a lot going on lately.

    I'm starting back at square 0.005. nothing but up from here. I have faith you'll find your groove again. Then we'll have a run together. I plan on winning the lottery and traveling to run with everyone and shopp for new gear :wink:

    Sounds good to me. My winning the lottery plan is to become homeless... literally it is to live out of a small RV (Dodge Sprinter), backpack and/or trail run across all the U.S. long trails (most nights I would sleep outside), and pay someone to drive the RV to pick me up at the end of each trail and take me to the next trail. I would through-hike the AT, the PCT, the CDT, the PNT, the Sheltowee Trace, and several others. I've even thought about logistics details... the employee would also receive my mail for me (it would actually go to a central location where it is scanned in and my employee would receive emails of my mail) and handle things like picking up supplies and meeting me at trailheads as I pass through so I never have to go into towns along the way. And I would have storage units strategically located at locations around the country so always within 1 day drive from anywhere. These storage units would contain identical sets of gear - sleeping bags of varying temp. ratings, extra stoves, packs, tents and bivies, clothes, etc... the idea is that as conditions change, I can always get something changed for new conditions pretty quickly.
  • autumnblade75
    autumnblade75 Posts: 1,661 Member
    exercise.png

    2/1/17 - 6 miles

    2/3/17 - 12 miles
    2/4/17 - 7 miles
    2/5/17 - 7 miles

    2/7/17 - 7.5 miles
    2/8/17 - 6 miles

    2/10/17 - 12 miles
    2/11/17 - 4.5 miles
    2/12/17 - 7.5 miles

    2/14/17 - 7 miles
    2/15/17 - 7.2 miles

    2/17/17 - 14 miles
    2/18/17 - 3.25 miles
    2/19/17 - 7.5 miles
    2/20/17 - 2 miles (It was supposed to be a rest day, anyway.)
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    @elise4270 You never cease to crack me up. I've never heard of "square 0.005". LOL Good luck with the lottery and thanks for all your support.

    @katiejane83 I sucked at first running even at a great weight of 115 pounds, but that was because I was sprinting with walk breaks. LOL But once I got the hang of it I quickly ran my 5K pr at an 8:08 pace. I also got a few injuries early on. I need to lose at least 20lbs to be generally healthier and to be an awesome runner, 30lbs. That's a lot more on a 5ft tall person vs a 6ft tall person. I'm wearing a size medium right now but I swear that's like an XL on my tiny frame. I really think the weight is a huge part of my running decline. It's hard to get over being mad at myself. But I need to turn this around. I weigh more than I have in 5 years. I thought I'd overcome and would never be overweight again, blah, blah. Just 6 years ago I was 185lbs and I don't need to go back there. Ugh. No, no, no :(
  • ccontr11
    ccontr11 Posts: 25 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    ccontr11 wrote: »
    ccontr11 wrote: »
    ritzvin wrote: »
    ccontr11 wrote: »
    Anyone have any tips advice on outer knee pain while running? I've been looking it up to see what it could be, in guessing maybe IT band. Let me know if anyone has experienced this type of knee pain and how you dealt with it. Thanks!

    Outer, as in the side or as in the front?

    On the side, the right side of my right knee is mostly where they pain is :(

    Actually and a little bit on the front but like on the lower bone. But it's mostly on that one side bone on the second picture. It sucks... I'm very worried.

    @ccontr11 I've only had inner knee pain (my left front of my right knee), caused by flat feet and my brain/nerves not communicating in tandem quickly enough. I saw a podiatrist and physiotherapist, got orthotics for the flat feet, and did brain/nerve exercises that fixed it completely.

    I think a physiotherapist appointment is in order for you, if you're asking for advice. Best wishes, and hope it's a simple fix.
    Thanks for the advice @Orphia. I guess I should see someone. I hope it's not something too serious either.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited February 2017
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    @elise4270 You never cease to crack me up. I've never heard of "square 0.005". LOL Good luck with the lottery and thanks for all your support.

    Your welcome! I've got one toe in square 1, basically plans without any action, lol! It's a start! Kinda.

    I guess I could stick one whole foot out in square 1 by getting out and joining planet fitness so I can get up early tomorrow and work out.... I mean I could. *Shrugs* I'm just watching Netflix. Wait. Hulu. Know any good shows on either?
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    @elise4270 You never cease to crack me up. I've never heard of "square 0.005". LOL Good luck with the lottery and thanks for all your support.

    Your welcome! I've got one toe in square 1, basically plans without any action, lol! It's a start! Kinda.

    I guess I could stick one whole foot out in square 1 by getting out and joining planet fitness so I can get up early tomorrow and work out.... I mean I could. *Shrugs*

    LOL Do it!
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited February 2017
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    @elise4270 You never cease to crack me up. I've never heard of "square 0.005". LOL Good luck with the lottery and thanks for all your support.

    Your welcome! I've got one toe in square 1, basically plans without any action, lol! It's a start! Kinda.

    I guess I could stick one whole foot out in square 1 by getting out and joining planet fitness so I can get up early tomorrow and work out.... I mean I could. *Shrugs*

    LOL Do it!

    I'll think about it.... Oh wait. Jakkie Chan does, doesn't dawdle thinking. Ugh alright. Where's my shoes?
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    My new thing all weekend was "can I do it in less than a minute?" then I had to do it right away instead of procrastinating. I'm not sure if you can sign up for Planet Fitness in less than a minute though :)
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    My new thing all weekend was "can I do it in less than a minute?" then I had to do it right away instead of procrastinating. I'm not sure if you can sign up for Planet Fitness in less than a minute though :)

    Hey I like that! Yea ya can online. I made it to the gym. Joined. Booked a 6am15 minute visit with the trainer... On a day that I'm off! Ugh crap. Well, i guess it's time to suck it up!

    Now I gotta plan for my first visit tomorrow morning. What'll I wear? And what to pack for breakfast. It'll be good to plan some meals. I love frozen pizza, but I gotta take charge of the household meals!
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    My new thing all weekend was "can I do it in less than a minute?" then I had to do it right away instead of procrastinating. I'm not sure if you can sign up for Planet Fitness in less than a minute though :)

    Hey I like that! Yea ya can online. I made it to the gym. Joined. Booked a 6am15 minute visit with the trainer... On a day that I'm off! Ugh crap. Well, i guess it's time to suck it up!

    Now I gotta plan for my first visit tomorrow morning. What'll I wear? And what to pack for breakfast. It'll be good to plan some meals. I love frozen pizza, but I gotta take charge of the household meals!

    Nice!
  • ddmom0811
    ddmom0811 Posts: 1,881 Member
    @elise4270 - I find I am only successful on the early morning workouts if everything is laid out the night before. Including what I'm wearing to work. Also, since I go to the gym after work, I have to have that bag of stuff ready to go in the car too. I have to leave by about 6:40am for work so there's time to make decisions! It's a pain - and it cuts into the evening but it's the only way to be ready to go.

    As far as getting up early... it sucks, but you just have to do it. Eventually you will be so tired you go to bed early!

  • dkabambe
    dkabambe Posts: 544 Member
    greenolivetree wrote: »
    My new thing all weekend was "can I do it in less than a minute?" then I had to do it right away instead of procrastinating. I'm not sure if you can sign up for Planet Fitness in less than a minute though :)

    I used to do this in an old job when dealing with (email) overload though I had a 2-minute limit. If can be dealt with in <2min then JFDI, otherwise decide if important (very different to urgent). If important schedule time to do it otherwise ignore it. Never really thought about applying to personal life but maybe I should. I'm the world's best procrastinator .. when I can be bothered!
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    ddmom0811 wrote: »
    @elise4270 - I find I am only successful on the early morning workouts if everything is laid out the night before. Including what I'm wearing to work. Also, since I go to the gym after work, I have to have that bag of stuff ready to go in the car too. I have to leave by about 6:40am for work so there's time to make decisions! It's a pain - and it cuts into the evening but it's the only way to be ready to go.

    As far as getting up early... it sucks, but you just have to do it. Eventually you will be so tired you go to bed early!

    I wake up 4-5 am anyways I just don't wanna get up. I know I won't go after work. And I'll keep that as my running (walking), biking time. I'll get it all ready the night before. I'll probably have to put the alarm across the room though!
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    @elise4270 I'd say I'd get up early to support you, but this is our last week before hubby goes back to work so I'm enjoying every minute of sleep before we resume our previous schedule. LOL That 5:20am alarm next week is gonna suck. Ha. At some point I'll start early morning running again though like last summer. Because it's either that or 9pm. I need to avoid the sun too because I found out they ain't kidding when they put "avoid sun exposure" on a medication warning label. :|
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    7---2.45 mile walk
    10---same 2.45 mile walk
    11---3.79 walk
    16---3.00
    18---3.32
    20---3.39 more walking miles... I shoulda got the bike out but got caught up in the gym... Maybe mañana.

    17.49/something

    Maybe races
    March 26th 2017 A2A 5k Ardmore, OK
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    What ARE you guys smoking?!!!!!
  • katharmonic
    katharmonic Posts: 5,720 Member
    Wow, @HonuNui - that picture is amazing, I can only imagine what it's like to hike there in person.

    Date :::: Miles :::: Feb MTD (goal = 70)
    02/01/17 :::: 2.6 :::: 2.6
    02/02/17 :::: 3.1 :::: 5.7
    02/03/17 :::: 2.6 :::: 8.3
    02/04/17 :::: 6.8 :::: 15.1
    02/05/17 :::: 4.0 :::: 19.1
    02/06/17 :::: 3.7 :::: 22.8
    02/07/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 22.8
    02/08/17 :::: 3.3 :::: 26.1
    02/09/17 :::: 2.6 :::: 28.7
    02/10/17 :::: 3.1 :::: 31.8
    02/11/17 :::: 7.6 :::: 39.4
    02/12/17 :::: 2.5 :::: 41.9
    02/13/17 :::: 2.6 :::: 44.5
    02/14/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 44.5
    02/15/17 :::: 3.5 :::: 48.0
    02/16/17 :::: 3.0 :::: 51.0
    02/17/17 :::: 3.3 :::: 54.3
    02/18/17 :::: 7.4 :::: 61.7
    02/19/17 :::: 3.1 :::: 64.8
    02/20/17 :::: 3.6 :::: 68.4

    Group speedwork tonight was 60-60s. One minute hard, one minute recovery x 9. Plus 4 sprints. Good for the old heart rate. Very happy that it's staying light longer and we didn't have to turn on our headlamps until about halfway through! Spring is coming!
  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    Heavy wet snow Saturday night & Sunday. = no run Sunday. Managed 2 ugly km's tonight after work.
    The footing was horrendous, rough, lumpy compacted snow with a beautiful layer of " Fall on your Kitten " ice underneath it.
    I probably should have turned back after 50m but us runners always think it's going to get better just around the corner. It didn't. Just to add to the running challenge - visibility was non-existent as the sky was overcast with lovely white clouds and white snow on the ground = no visual references. Turned at 1 km and carefully ran home at the sizzling pace of 7:40/km :( , just trying to prevent a fall or injury.

    02/05 21.2 km –21.2km –118.8 km – YTD 141.3 – Chilly Willy HM PB@ 2:12:36
    02/06 3.0 km –24.2km –115.8 km – YTD 144.3
    02/11 3.0 km –27.2km –112.8 km – YTD 147.3
    02/13 5.25 km –32.42km –107.55 km – YTD 152.55
    02/18 16.0 km –48.42km –91.55 km – YTD 168.55
    02/20 2.0 km –50.42km –89.55 km – YTD 170.55 – Ice Run on the dike

    exercise.png
  • RespectTheKitty
    RespectTheKitty Posts: 1,667 Member
    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
    2/7 5.05r 4.4w
    2/8 10.0r 0.5w
    2/9 0.0r 7.3w
    2/10 5.2r 6.1w
    2/11 7.5r 0.5w
    2/12 4.65r 0.0w
    2/13 7.1r 4.0w
    2/14 6.3r 5.0w
    2/15 5.2r 3.2w
    2/16 7.6r 5.6w
    2/17 0.0r 8.7w
    2/18 7.1r 0.75w
    2/19 5.2r 0.0w
    2/20 8.25r 4.0w
    Total so far = 106.95r + 72.1w = 179.05 miles

    I think I can safely say that I am increasing my base mileage. For a moment I considered running 10 on the treadmill but then I got tired of watching endless episodes of Two and a Half Men.

    I changed my goal in MFP and it recalculated my net calories to 1300. Oh boy.

    Also, my running bra apparently hates my boobs. It's leaving painful red areas (I assume it's chafing) along where the wires are. My bf says that means there's something wrong with the bra, but this was the only one I could find that fits. Gonna try some Gold Bond Friction Defense stick and see if that helps.
  • OSUbuckeye906
    OSUbuckeye906 Posts: 315 Member
    @HonuNui Wow, that's crazy...and stunning!
    RespectTheKitty wrote: »
    Also, my running bra apparently hates my boobs. It's leaving painful red areas (I assume it's chafing) along where the wires are. My bf says that means there's something wrong with the bra, but this was the only one I could find that fits. Gonna try some Gold Bond Friction Defense stick and see if that helps.
    @RespectTheKitty Vaseline!! I always use vaseline for this on my long runs and it really helps.
    KatieJane83 wrote: »
    Ok, here's my personal experience in terms of the effects of weight. And that is that the effects are bigger than I would have anticipated. The first time I got into running was back in around 2012. I was the lowest weight I've ever been. I had NO history of running, had just been using the elliptical like a madwoman, and one day went out and ran 4 miles. I very very quickly improved my pace, and PR'd my 5k at just a hair under 22 minutes. Crazy, I know. I also ran 12 miles at I think around an 8:00ish pace, or just over? And I was not using any kind of a training plan or anything. So anyway, I ended up with an overuse injury (of course) because I was also dancing at the same time, and just being stupid about it. And that injury really set me back. It took me a couple years to really find my motivation/drive/dedication to running again.

    This time around I have a training plan. I'm being consistent. I'm logging more miles, consistently, than I did back then. This week was my first time ever having a 30 mile week. However, I'm just about 25-30 lbs heavier than I was that first time around. I'm currently 9 lbs over the top end of my healthy BMI range (of course, taking that chart with a grain of salt). And I am sooooo much slower than I was that first time around. Right now, my 5k time is somewhere around 28-29 minutes. I am slowly increasing my speed now, and I am also slowly decreasing my weight, but my speed is NOTHING like it was that first time around. I don't know for sure, but I feel like it is really tied to the weight that I was back then, versus the weight that I am right now. The good thing is, I know that as I continue to stick to my structured/progressive running plan, and continue to lose weight, BOTH of those things will contribute to getting faster. But I know how frustrating it can be, when you know what you were once capable of, and it feels so difficult to regain it.

    All I can say is, DON'T GIVE UP! You've got this, you can do it, and you'll get there! Try to stay positive about it as much as you can.
    @KatieJane83 @greenolivetree Definitely agree with this, especially the bold parts. The beginning of my running journey was also the beginning of my weight loss journey so I didn't exactly start out like you two...I was my heaviest when I started running in 2011. However, I don't think it's any coincidence that the same time I was at my lowest weight in 2012/2014, my running also peaked and then I received a stress fracture to go along with it. My weight crept back up and my training/performance slid backward. After Chicago this past fall, I committed myself to losing the 10-15 pounds I knew I needed to help out my training. It worked, but too well and here I am recovering from another stress injury (although yes, I think I jumped the gun a little bit in increasing pace and mileage too fast, my doctor also thinks my bone density has something to do it with too). Something that also may be obvious but I don't think has been mentioned yet is that when I am losing weight or maintaining a lower/ideal weight, I am most likely eating a more balanced diet that better fuels my body for running. Diet and weight definitely go hand in hand and it's easy (at least for me) to justify some junk food here or there with the extra calories I'm burning, but it can easily spiral out of control and then I'm back to where I started. Currently fighting that battle with the Girl Scout cookies that just arrived. But I agree with @katiejane83 's sentiment...don't give up! This seems like it is a great passion of yours and you will get back to that happy running place!
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    @HonuNui That's a spectacular photo! Thanks for sharing it!
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