January 2018 Running Challenge

Stoshew71
Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
It's January and HAPPY NEW YEAR. Here's to a new you and running with us will help.

WARNING: Following this thread may be addictive and it get's very talkative. Miss a day and you can be 50 posts behind. This is the most popular challenge on MFP. If you found us in the middle (or end) of the month, you're still welcome to join us. No requirements or special invite needed. Once you post, you're in. And yes, we do this every month.

You set your own pace and distance for the month. We will all be doing it together. This is your virtual running group to keep you accountable and enjoy a virtual coffee with your fellow runners after you run. Make new friends and learn a few things.

This is a continuation from the December 2017 Running Challenge which can be found at:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10619493/december-2017-running-challenge

Anyone can join in. New & Old. And if you found this thread late, you can join in at any time.
We have members that are total beginners all the way to Boston Qualifiers and beyond. We are a friendly and encouraging bunch.

Here are the details from last month that applies here again.

Anybody want to join me for a running challenge? Set a goal here and mark it every day here. OPTIONAL: You can post your progress by creating a ticker at http://www.tickerfactory.com (If creating one seems difficult, then don't let that stop you. Just type in your daily miles here.)

You can run, walk, or do treadmill. Just be consistent. I am setting a goal for 200 miles. Don't let my high (or low) goal intimidate you. Some can do 25, 50; whatever you like. We can help motivate each other. What do you say? If you are new to running, set a low goal. (You can also log your miles in km's if you choose.) Also, if you rather log your progress by time rather than distance, you are free to do that as well.

You can set your goal now but wait until Monday January 1 to start logging your runs.

Also, don't forget to join our group which can be found at:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/21182-monthly-running-challange

(We also have a strava group and Facebook group.)

There you will find lots of good info, and it's a place where everyone can talk to each other for further motivation. It's also a place to find help when there is a problem with this thread.

After you run, come into this thread and post what you did. (don't forget to hit the star in the upper right corner to bookmark this thread) Keep a running tally of what you did this month, and interact with the others. Many folks come in here and chat it up even on their rest days or while recouping from injury. This is a very social group and we talk about many things to include running. Very friendly bunch here so don't be afraid to say hi (even if this is your first time). Talk about a recent race or one coming up. Ask questions, provide answers, or just learn. Participation is what makes this group successful.

Not quite sure how to log your runs, follow what many other people are doing. Even look at last month's thread that I posted above.


*******OPTIONAL TICKER*************
Info on tickers since I know there will be questions. Sign up for an account http://www.tickerfactory.com and create your ticker.
Then you need to update it after you do a run and post it here. Here is what you will need to do.


After setting up your ticker, you will need to make note of the weblink they give you so you can return. An example would be:

http://www.tickerfactory.com/exercise/w6K1EiX/ <<<< the last part will be a part of the image link (explained below) that will be supplied to you after you initially create your link.


When you return to TickerFactory with the weblink, go to your settings page. Make sure you type your pin in that you set when you created your ticker account.
Then where it says "Your current cumulative value, there is an add button. Just add what you just did and the cumulative value automatically changes. Then hit next.

Now after you added your new miles (or km's) to your ticker you need to post it here.


After you hit next, it will give you a bunch of codes suggesting on how to display your ticker.
Use the one at the bottom where it says Direct Image URL:

It will look something like:
http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w6K1EiX/exercise.png

To display that correctly in your post, make sure you place the img tags around that link. So it will look, (removing the spaces in the img tags):

[ img ] http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w6K1EiX/exercise.png [ /img ]

^^^^^^^ Don't forget to remove the spaces between the brackets. ^^^^^^^^^^

Some key things to pay attention to when posting your ticker.

1: Use the link that ends in .png
2. Remember the [ img] and [ /img] tags go in between the link
3. remove the spaces in the img tags before posting
4. YES, there is a / in the second /img tag


By the way, everyone here should consider themselves a runner no matter how fast or slow they are(unless you find a dead body- then you're a mere jogger). No judgment here. We all started somewhere. No comparisons, except to your former self. Don't compare my Chapter 20 to your Chapter 1.


“I often hear someone say I’m not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.” – Bart Yasso

“There’s not one body type that equates to success. Accept the body you have and be the best you can be with it.” – Mary Cullen

“‘I breathe in strength and breathe out weakness,’ is my mantra during marathons—it calms me down and helps me focus.” – Amy Hastings

“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” – John Bingham

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." - John Bingham


Good luck! And happy running (or walking or treadmilling, ect). If you have any trouble or have questions, please feel free to PM me.

Stan
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Replies

  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    Back at it. 150km minimum, training cycle starts for the Hypo-Thermic HM, Chilly Willy HM and Jasper HM.
    Some where I had a gif of Calvin and Hobbes from last year - trying to break the Speed of Light and I can't find it. Was going to be the lead post for 2018. Will have to get all my events laid out to solidify Training Cycle(s)
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    Azercord wrote: »
    I'm going to put: "Get out of this stupid boot and get in a run" as my goal. It is going to be a slow month and I don't want to rush anything.

    Good planning. Here's to you running by the end of the month.
  • garygse
    garygse Posts: 896 Member
    @Azercord I know that feeling all too well...hope your recovery is swift and you're able to get some miles in before the end of the month.
  • garygse
    garygse Posts: 896 Member
    Still recovering here, so I'll put myself down for an optimistic 40 miles.
  • abutcher2122
    abutcher2122 Posts: 175 Member
    January here I come. Im gonna make my goal 100 miles but im gonna try for 120 since I pumped it out for December. My family said I looked like a "real runner" so now I have to go harder. Lol
  • shanaber
    shanaber Posts: 6,423 Member
    Even though I already have travel scheduled for January I am hoping it won't be as bad as November when I was gone almost all month. I am going to say 100 again - I really want to get back to that or more each month again as long as I stay healthy!

    @Stoshew71 - thanks for getting us going again for 2018!! WhooHoo!
  • Purplebunnysarah
    Purplebunnysarah Posts: 3,252 Member
    Hooray for starting off 2018 with the MFP Running Challenge! I'm starting the year off right with a 5K Resolution Run on the 1st.

    Goal for January is 80 km as I start half marathon training mid-month.
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    I was a runner when I was much much younger and now I’m trying to get myself back into a healthier lifestyle. I want to start running but getting outside to do so is hard between a two working parent household and four kids. I’m doing all my running on an elliptical and I’m hoping this group will motivate me to do more and push myself. I’m going to try for 80 miles for the month.

    Welcome to the group. There's quite a few running parents in this group, we're all here to help each other out.
    PaytraB wrote: »
    I'd like to join in 2018. I tried this a few years back when I was just beginning to run and was quickly overwhelmed by the number of posts. I think I'm more prepared now to be an active member.

    I'm a slow runner and run 3 times a week. I haven't been in any offical races. My runs consist of a warm up walk, my run and a cool down walk. I will record all mileage for walking and running, if that's okay. (Let me know if it's not. It only changes my monthly goal).

    For logging running/walking, my goal would be 100K a month. If only the running, probably around 80K, I'm guessing.

    Like @7lenny7 said, the challenge is a personal challenge. You set the goal you want, and we all support you in going for it. We have people of all distances and abilities, from people just starting C25K all the way to future super stars like @JessicaMcB
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    7lenny7 wrote: »
    Since this is a new year I'll post my year goal. For 2018 I hope to run 1500 miles. That was my goal for 2017 but I'll fall well short of that with just over 1200 miles. I will, however, beat my 2016 total of 1194 miles.

    You got this. I see it being a good year for you.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    7lenny7 wrote: »
    January Goal - Recover from ITBS and continue strengthening my glutes.
    Target distance - 125 Miles

    January Races:
    Securian Winter 10K - St. Paul, MN - I wanted to enter the HM but this IT band of mine is not cooperating. I think I can do the 10K though, and should easily PR since I haven't run a paved 10K in well over 2 years.

    I have the same diagnosis. Although I wasn't smart enough to discern that the mild knee pain I has was ITBS. I just figured it was mechanics and would work out after the first surgery.

    Do you have a glute strength regiment you can point me to or share?

    I have a post op PT schedule I look to start. Since I gave up on running/biking, I think I can actually tolerate some exercises. Like single leg balance on the foam pad. Triangles. Donkey kicks. Planks.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    Thanks @Stoshew71 It's been a while since I've read your opening post love it.

    I'm in for 110 miles this month. Have my half in April so need to start training and adding longer runs.

    I love reading it, it's so encouraging. Do you have a time goal for the half?
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    First timer to this challenge. Trying to get back into an exercise routine.

    January Goal: 50 mile walk/run


    exercise.png


    Welcome. As I tell the first timers. We have a lot of very experienced runners here. Feel free to ask ANY questions you may have. They will answer.
  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
    7lenny7 wrote: »
    @paytraB the running challenge is a personal challenge and YOU get to define how you total your distance. You most certainly can include your warm up and cool down, any walking, running or crawling.

    Thank you! I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and encourage/be encouraged by everyone's various goals.

    My goal will be to log 100K a month.
  • weat0043
    weat0043 Posts: 172 Member
    I'm already 2 pages behind!! My goal for this month is to run more consistently...I'm going to aim for 4 running/elliptical days a week minimum at around 20-45 minutes, and maybe one-two full body workout a week. I'll figure out distance later :)
  • polskagirl01
    polskagirl01 Posts: 2,024 Member
    I'm jumping in to the conversation this month, too. Have been running almost 2 years, not beating any records - but my own!!! - and am really enjoying it. My main goal for January is to get to the starting line of my 2nd marathon (Jan. 28 in Madeira, Portugal) healthy, so I'm setting a nominal goal of 150 km. Feel free to add me :)

    Now to see if I figured out this ticker thing or not...

    exercise.png