January 2018 Running Challenge

fithealthygirl · January 2018

8kms done and almost halfway to my goal

$exercise.png[\img]$

Purplebunnysarah · January 2018

1/1 - 5.0 km
1/2 - 5.1 km
1/3 - strength + walk
1/4 - 5.7 km
1/5 - walk
1/6 - 8.1 km

23.9/80 km

Longest run I've done in a while on top of highest weekly mileage in a while = dead thighs. Blisters didn't pop - wore my wider shoes today to give them a little room. It was 4C today so I went in just a long-sleeved tech t-shirt and leggings. It was nice not to be bundled up. Next time I will wear a thinner shirt.

Upcoming Races:
1/1/18 Resolution Run 5K ~38:00 (no official times)
3/4/18 MEC Road Race #1 10K
4/7/18 Jasper Half Marathon
4/22/18 MEC Trail Race #1 5K
5/20/18 MEC Trail Race #2 10K
6/24/18 MEC Trail Race #3 15K
8/18/18 Edmonton Marathon 10K
9/2/18 MEC Trail Race #4 10K
10/7/18 MEC Trail Race #5 15K

ddmom0811 · January 2018

@shanaber - perfect motivation!

I was excited for my long run today. There are no days when I can sleep in but today I could because it was too cold to bike and so no alarm! Of course, I woke up at 3am and couldn't fall back asleep. So I got up and ate something and then went back to sleep till 9:30! So great!
I set out on my long run and the first five miles were pretty good. But then I just wasn't feeling great. I couldn't slow down - wanted to do 11 min miles and everytime I looked it would be 9:30ish which meant my HR was too high. So I would walk to bring it down and repeat the process. Then mile 7 and 8 the bottom of my feet starting hurting. I was wearing my relatively new Brooks Ghost 10s. So those won't be what I wear in the half marathon next month. I'm not sure what I'll be wearing yet!

My daughter is running the Big Sir marathon in April (I think it's then) and she told me she just paid $60 to do some Run Bet thing. If you do all the runs they have listed you split the pot with everyone else that did it. I didn't advise her to sign up (or not sign up) when she asked me about it. But I just know how life gets in the way and it seems like it might make you run on an injury.

Anyway, will be curious to see 1) if she does all the runs and 2) how much she gets! I just looked it up: https://waybetter.com/runbet

I've been really bad about keeping up in this "busiest thread on MFP" so not sure if it has been mentioned before.

1/1 - 4.5 miles #RWRunStreak Day 40!!! I’m done!
1/2 - REST day!
1/3 - Strength training - glutes/arms
1/4 - 5 miles
1/5 - strength training - glutes/arms W4C
1/6 - 8 miles

_nikkiwolf_ · January 2018

My planned run on Thursday was spontaneously replaced by cross training.
I've been meaning to drive by the gym and cancel my membership for a while; and finally went there on Thursday. Unfortunately, they had a really good employe working there - his first reaction was "But then you won't get to try the new water rowing machine we just bought. It's really awesome, you should at least give it a try!". I explained that I usually run or bike for cardio, but he just talked about cross-training and working other muscles and non-impact activities and all that. He got me there, I had some trouble with my left knee last year, so replacing some short runs with rowing might not be a bad idea...
So instead of quitting my membership, I spent half an hour on the new rowing machine. And I have to agree, it is really nice. I guess I can still cancel the membership next month - the next couple of weeks, I think I'll try using the rowing machine twice per week and see if I really like it as a replacement for short runs or not.

Friday was a rest day, so no running, but I had my second ski lesson in the afternoon. If should have been lesson number four already, but Wednesday and Thursday the class was cancelled due to the bad storm we were having.

Today I finally went running again. My training plan said 10km, but I only had time for 8.4km, and even that distance I only managed because I made today's run a "tempo run" - at least for me 6:26min/km (10:21min/mi) is fast!
Afterwards I went to my third ski lesson. It's the last class, unfortunately, from now I'm on my own (if I'm brave enough to try again ^^). But at least I got doubly lucky today: the weather was perfect. And despite the sun being visible for the first time this year, I was the only one from the group who came, so I got a private lesson with the instructor

Weird coincidence, but the downhill ski parts also add up to 8.4km, like my run this morning.
My watch (GPS/HR mon) tries telling my I burned 527 kcal skiing, which is slightly more than I got for running the same distance. I doubt that somehow - it seems like running a given distance should burn a lot more than going downhill on skis?
My TomTom actually has a skiing mode (with fancy features like "lift detection", so whenever I was in the lift back it up recognised that and showed me the statistics for the previous run down), so it might know what it's doing when it gives me a calorie number in the end. But according to my watch, I only spent 1:16 out of 2 hours actively skiing, so that burn seems quite high...

In any case, I'm really tired now, I should go to bed soon if I want to be in shape for my long run tomorrow. Going to bed early on a Saturday night.. We runners sure know how to have a good time

RunsOnEspresso · January 2018

@MNLittleFinn Ahhh, I've heard mixed things about that diet. People who commit to doing it for life, love it. People that do it to lose weight seem to gain everything back. I need to reduce my carbs but I don't think I could go low carb. Everyone is different. It's so fascinating.

I am planning to get my blog going again. Starting with every other week posts. I hope to be consistent with it, as that is my word of the year.

1/1/17 1.65 Leg Day 10 min stretch
1/2/17 sick
1/3/17 sick
1/4/17 Biceps and abs
1/5/17 3
1/6/17 Booty Day! Hopefully, I get some stretching in later

Total 4.65 / 50

Tomorrow I am aiming for 5.5 miles. It will be the longest I've done since I had to drop out of my marathon. I am planning to run a mile, walk (undecided how long, maybe .25 or .5), repeat.

lporter229 · January 2018

1/1-4 miles New Years run
1/2-4.1 miles dreadmill intervals+ "Functional Training with Stella"
1/3-4.4 miles+ stretching/PT
1/4-3.7 miles trail running
1/5-Rest day
1/6-7 miles

I chickened out on my group run this morning because I could not justify running in -4F/FL -12F temps when I knew I could wait until it warmed up to 15F. When I woke up to go this morning, it was one of those "chilled to the bone" mornings and I just didn't have it in me to do another frigid run. It was a good decision because I just finished a nice little run in my neighborhood that was cold but offset with plenty of sunshine to help drown out those winter blues. I am looking forward to doing my longer run tomorrow when we are finally projected to get above freezing for the first time in two weeks.

@MNLittleFinn - I do not subscribe to the HFLC diet, but, by virtue of being gluten free, my diet tends to trend towards those macros. I definitely feel that my training has benefited from it though. Will you still carb load for your event? That is what I do (reverse tapering up the carbs about a week before hand or else the sudden onslaught of carbs messes with my digestive system), and I think my body really appreciates those carbs come race day!

@ddmom0811 -How awesome for your daughter to be running Big Sur! It's a definite bucket list race for me! You will have to give us a recap of her experience.

MNLittleFinn · January 2018

@lporter229 nope, no carb loading. If I go HFLC carb loading would be an issue because my body would have a hard time using them properly since it had adapted to using fat as a primary fuel source.

MobyCarp · January 2018

January Running Totals (miles)
1/1 – rest/injury
1/2 – rest/injury
1/3 – rest/injury
1/4 – rest/injury
1/5 – rest/injury
1/6 – 1.59 test run

January running total to date – 1.59

Nominal challenge goal: No specific distance

Real goals: Start January getting back to running regularly. Finish January in base building mode, giving myself a chance to start and complete Boston 2018.

Today's notes – *FINALLY* got my first run of the year in, even if it was a short one. It's been stupid cold here, and with my quad injury I haven't been out there running as it gets progressively colder and becoming acclimated to it. So I set out to run before lunch in the heat of the day today. Garmin says it was 1º F outside. My porch thermometer said it was 4º F. At least I waited till the minus sign disappeared. Oh, yeah, Garmin says I had 17 mph WNW wind. That seems about right.

I don't do "feels like" or wind chill numbers. Actual temperature plus wind speed and direction mean more to me than the "feels like" number does. So, 4º F and 17 mph wind. Packed snow on the roads, because it's too cold for salt to work. Clear driveway, because I went out and shoveled before it got this warm. Ain't it great having Lake Ontario a few miles north of me? Get to shovel snow every day, because it snows every night.

With my iffy quads, I intended a 1 to 2 mile test run. I deliberately overdressed for it, 4 layers on top and heavier tights plus warmup pants on the bottom. Trail shoes, and my warmest wool running socks. Put on my lightest running gloves, and put those inside my warmest running mittens. That would have been too much on my hands for real length run, but it worked out well today.

Well, I ran. I didn't run fast, my stride length was shorter than normal, and I could feel that the quad wasn't totally healthy. On the plus side, the quad got better through the first mile. Got back to my driveway at 1.25 mile, and felt good enough to do a short out and back to get a mile and a half in. In nicer weather, I might have pushed it to 2 miles; but it's stupid cold and I'm not used to it.

The only real problem with the weather was that my hood kept blowing off when I ran into the wind. If I'd been running all along, I would have re-learned to secure the hood better. Or perhaps just put one of my Winter Warrior hats on that's usually too warm to run in. Oh, well. It was only a mile and a half.

Came in, put my snowy trail shoes aside to melt, and put on street shoes to stretch in. Did some gentle rolling, per instruction from the sports doc. All afternoon I could feel that I irritated the quad, but not as bad as the test run a week ago. I tested going down stairs; I have to pay attention, but I don't have to grab the hand rail. Gentle walking indoors is just about the same as it was yesterday.

Tomorrow I'll see how the quad reacts. Best case, I run a mile or two tomorrow. More likely case, I take tomorrow as a rest day and see whether I'm up to running a mile or two on Monday.

And I noticed that, even with a bad quad, it's much better running weather than walking weather, standing around weather, or snow shoveling weather. Even for running, it's important to have a warm shelter to retreat into when I'm done running. Taking a DNS for Winter Warrior Half was definitely the right decision; there will be a heated tent, but no good place to stretch and no good place to change into dry clothes afterward. Even the chopped down option of 3.275 miles would have been too much for me, given the poor post-race logistical support for injured runners. It would have been fine if I were healthy . . . hopefully next year.

So I took my 2 DNS races off my 2018 race list. What's left is what I am currently registered for. I may have to DNS one or more of the remaining Freezeroo races, and even if I run them I may have to run one or more of them easy. That's okay. Getting back to running regularly is more important than running fast times in low key races.

2018 races:
January 13, 2018 Freezeroo #3 (Pineway Ponds Park 5 mile) (Spencerport, NY)
January 27, 2018 Freezeroo #4 (Hearnish 5 mile) (Victor, NY)
February 17, 2018 Freezeroo #5 (Valentines Run "In Memory of Tom Brannon" 8 Mile) (Greece, NY)
February 24, 2018 Freezeroo #6 (White House Challenge 4.4 mile) (Webster, NY)
April 16, 2018 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)

hist_doc · January 2018

PastorVincent · January 2018

01/01/2018 - 3.0 miles @ 9:15
01/02/2018 - 6.5 MPH and 4% Grade for 1 hour
01/03/2018 - 6.5 MPH For 8 Miles at 4% grade
01/04/2018 - 6.7 MPH For 8 Miles at 4% grade
01/05/2018 - 6.8 MPH For 8 Miles at 4% grade
01/06/2018 - Rest

Big Hairy Audacious Goal: Sub 4 hours in Pittsburgh 2018!

Official Marathon PR: 4:11:28

Next Races (more as I find them):

03/17/18 - Shamrock Shuffle Half Marathon
05/06/18 - Pittsburgh Marathon - aiming for sub four hours.
05/12/18 - Glacier Ridge 50k Trail Ultra (I must hate myself)

2020 - Disney World Dopey! (if can raise funds)

Nothing today. Was planning a short dreadmill run on my home dreadmill, but son needed help with his homework, so that trumps dreadmill with ease. Perhaps tomorrow.

Temps are still single digit highs and negative lows. Windchills are of course well below that. Going to keep being a wimp about the weather for now.

PastorVincent · January 2018

So a runner at work has started running with a 20 pound vest on. She plans to do all her training runs wearing it, and then leave it off at races.

What are y'all's thoughts on them?

JessicaMcB · January 2018

Back in black (well pink but whatever man, same difference). Had a wildly instructive morning re: why naproxen is king in racing ultra #takeyouralevedammit

@lporter229 so I've been keto for 2 years and carb loading/carb reintroduction are not "things" for legitimate ketogenic athletes, it kind of entirely defeats the purpose of going through that 6-8 weeks of fat adaptation only to kick your *kitten* out you know?

Thankfully that whole preemptive fueling process is irrelevant for HFLC endurance athletics as you can't hit the wall if it doesn't exist. Training and racing from glycogen depletion is fast becoming more common place at the ultra level. Will the Usain Bolts ever have much utility for ketogenic protocols? No, unlikely because of the absolute upper limit explosivity they require to be the best. But the American men's 100 mile champion Zach Bitter has said himself he is HFLC so it clearly has it place in high end race nutrition. @midwesterner85 is also a keto runner

January 1- 18
January 2- 20
January 3- 19
January 4- Ran but I'm not counting it because slow
January 5- Off
January 6- 62

119/550

119/6000

2018 Races
*Gord's Frozen A** 50K, February 19
*JAJA Trail Marathon, April 1
*Red Deer Marathon, May 20
*Lone Wolf Last Man Standing Race, June 17
*Eddie's Half Marathon, TBA June
*Run in the Buff 120km TBA August
*Lost Souls 100 Miler, September

T1DCarnivoreRunner · January 2018

@JessicaMcB @lporter229 Yes, but on a bit of a break right now... long story.

Anyway, I did not see all the details on this conversation. If you are interested in becoming a fat adapted runner, I suggest reading The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance by Volek and Phinney. The authors are leading researchers into ketogenic diets and this book is specifically geared towards athletes who want to use a low carb diet in conjunction with training.

_nikkiwolf_ · January 2018

juliet3455 wrote: »

The Running Room on-line magazine had a very small but interesting piece on pg 28/29 about shoes rotation reducing injury rates. Unfortunately they did not post the source of the study - just that it was based in Luxembourg. 3.6 pairs of shoes in rotation is the minimum magic number from the study.
You might have to copy and paste the link into your browser of choice
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/2663cae8#/2663cae8/28

@juliet3455 I found the study, I think: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24286345
Unfortunately I can't see a way to get the full text for free, but if you speak French, I also found a two-page discussion about it with some more details in a Swiss magazine..

eta: okay, found a full-text pdf of the original study: here.

JessicaMcB · January 2018

PastorVincent wrote: »

So a runner at work has started running with a 20 pound vest on. She plans to do all her training runs wearing it, and then leave it off at races.

What are y'all's thoughts on them?

I mean I kind of do this, I train with 15-20lbs of gear and might race with 4. I am unsurprisingly faster on race day

garygse · January 2018

@_nikkiwolf_ They say if you don't like the weather in Texas, wait a few hours. Today, the temps were in the 60s (16C+).

@PastorVincent Surely it depends on the type of running? If she runs trails, then it's probably no big deal, but if she does street running, then going straight to 20 lbs could be too much. I imagine it would affect running form, which could then make race day a disaster when suddenly switching to running unweighted.

Today's run was a change from the others...a short-sleeved top and it still felt very warm, and these mild temps are supposed to last until Friday when the cold front returns. I ran a little higher mileage, but at a slower pace, and on grass where I could, and although I still think I can feel my shin during my run, I think most of it is just in my head; afterwards, my shin feels fine.

01 - 4.98
04 - 4.11
06 - 5.48

zdyb23456 · January 2018

1/1 5.9miles
1/2 5miles
1/3 13.1miles!
1/4 5miles
1/5 8.4miles
1/6 4miles

Hopefully my last treadmill run for awhile! Although I don’t think the snow is going to melt until Monday afternoon at best. I have a feeling the kids will be home from school on Monday due to how crappy the roads are.

RunsOnEspresso · January 2018

@lporter229 I'm gluten free and always go way over on my carbs. I keep trying to reduce them and increase protein but I seem to get stuck around 100g of protein. My goal percents are 27C 36F 37P but I average 39C 36F (thanks to all the cheese I eat lol) 25P.

I've been trying to work on each meal and am getting closer to goal but man it's hard to keep my carbs down.

blambo61 · January 2018

Ran 4-miles at 9:29-min/mile pace. Did so completely fasted (17-hours or so) and bonked last 1.2-miles. Would have been closer to 9:00-min miles if I'd remembered to eat a little something before I ran. About 600-kcal effort. I usually will take a tsp of coconut oil or 1-scoop of corn-starch before the run and can go 6-miles hard with no problems after a 20-hr fast.

blambo61 · January 2018

JessicaMcB wrote: »

PastorVincent wrote: »

So a runner at work has started running with a 20 pound vest on. She plans to do all her training runs wearing it, and then leave it off at races.

What are y'all's thoughts on them?

I mean I kind of do this, I train with 15-20lbs of gear and might race with 4. I am unsurprisingly faster on race day

Great for hill runs going up (go slow coming down), but I wouldn't do it otherwise. Will mess up form and could cause injuries.

JessicaMcB · January 2018

blambo61 wrote: »

JessicaMcB wrote: »

PastorVincent wrote: »

So a runner at work has started running with a 20 pound vest on. She plans to do all her training runs wearing it, and then leave it off at races.

What are y'all's thoughts on them?

I mean I kind of do this, I train with 15-20lbs of gear and might race with 4. I am unsurprisingly faster on race day

Great for hill runs going up (go slow coming down), but I wouldn't do it otherwise. Will mess up form and could cause injuries.

I do it because I run the bush and am semi-neurotic about my packing as I described months ago...September or August maybe? I got fully into my crazy anyway haha! I've been training and racing that way for about a year, can't say my form is too ridiculous until I get over that 65 mile mark and by then everyone is *kitten*

blambo61 · January 2018

JessicaMcB wrote: »

blambo61 wrote: »

JessicaMcB wrote: »

PastorVincent wrote: »

So a runner at work has started running with a 20 pound vest on. She plans to do all her training runs wearing it, and then leave it off at races.

What are y'all's thoughts on them?

I mean I kind of do this, I train with 15-20lbs of gear and might race with 4. I am unsurprisingly faster on race day

Great for hill runs going up (go slow coming down), but I wouldn't do it otherwise. Will mess up form and could cause injuries.

I do it because I run the bush and am semi-neurotic about my packing as I described months ago...September or August maybe? I got fully into my crazy anyway haha! I've been training and racing that way for about a year, can't say my form is too ridiculous until I get over that 65 mile mark and by then everyone is *kitten*

Trail running is another story I think like your doing.

PastorVincent · January 2018

garygse wrote: »

@PastorVincent Surely it depends on the type of running? If she runs trails, then it's probably no big deal, but if she does street running, then going straight to 20 lbs could be too much. I imagine it would affect running form, which could then make race day a disaster when suddenly switching to running unweighted.

Yeah, street running. She jokes about being 1/2 the person she used to be (she last lost that much) and is still loosing. Not sure what prompted the addition of the weight jacket, other than a belief it would help somehow.

PastorVincent · January 2018

RunsOnEspresso wrote: »

@lporter229 I'm gluten free and always go way over on my carbs. I keep trying to reduce them and increase protein but I seem to get stuck around 100g of protein. My goal percents are 27C 36F 37P but I average 39C 36F (thanks to all the cheese I eat lol) 25P.

Same here, when I had to go GF my carbs shot through the roof. I need to get back to HFLC. I am making fixing that somehow part of my winter training plan. I used to be under 60 carbs a day, now I am way way too high. Problem is companies like Enjoy Life make really yummy cookies.

PastorVincent · January 2018

JessicaMcB wrote: »

PastorVincent wrote: »

So a runner at work has started running with a 20 pound vest on. She plans to do all her training runs wearing it, and then leave it off at races.

What are y'all's thoughts on them?

I mean I kind of do this, I train with 15-20lbs of gear and might race with 4. I am unsurprisingly faster on race day

Well that is cause you need carry all your supplies with you though? Right? In a race you have support and can leave it behind. This would be a 20lb vest in addition to any supplies. Though in her case that is probably just water and gels.

karynhamilton1 · January 2018

Recovered from being ill and feeling out of shape. Getting back into exercise! Setting my January goal at 40 miles - ambitious, maybe too ambitious! 3 down, 37 to go!

crazychlobug09 · January 2018

Took the 4th and 5th off but got 2 miles in OUTSIDE today. I've been wanting to run outside but its been very cold in PA, but today I decided to give it a go. Wasn't too bad even with the wind. January total 8.06 miles out of my 50mi goal

MNLittleFinn · January 2018

karynhamilton1 wrote: »

Recovered from being ill and feeling out of shape. Getting back into exercise! Setting my January goal at 40 miles - ambitious, maybe too ambitious! 3 down, 37 to go!

welcome. If you are new to running this is a great place to land. There are a lot of very experienced runners who will answer questions you might have. Also, don't be intimidated, this group has a hugely diverse set of runners, from folks working on C25K to Boston Qualifiers ad even a few insane ultramarathon runners. Everyone has their running journey and we're all here to help everyone else achieve their goals.

You got this!

Teresa502 · January 2018

ddmom0811 wrote: »

@shanaber - perfect motivation!

I was excited for my long run today. There are no days when I can sleep in but today I could because it was too cold to bike and so no alarm! Of course, I woke up at 3am and couldn't fall back asleep. So I got up and ate something and then went back to sleep till 9:30! So great!
I set out on my long run and the first five miles were pretty good. But then I just wasn't feeling great. I couldn't slow down - wanted to do 11 min miles and everytime I looked it would be 9:30ish which meant my HR was too high. So I would walk to bring it down and repeat the process. Then mile 7 and 8 the bottom of my feet starting hurting. I was wearing my relatively new Brooks Ghost 10s. So those won't be what I wear in the half marathon next month. I'm not sure what I'll be wearing yet!

My daughter is running the Big Sir marathon in April (I think it's then) and she told me she just paid $60 to do some Run Bet thing. If you do all the runs they have listed you split the pot with everyone else that did it. I didn't advise her to sign up (or not sign up) when she asked me about it. But I just know how life gets in the way and it seems like it might make you run on an injury. Anyway, will be curious to see 1) if she does all the runs and 2) how much she gets! I just looked it up: https://waybetter.com/runbet

I've been really bad about keeping up in this "busiest thread on MFP" so not sure if it has been mentioned before.

1/1 - 4.5 miles #RWRunStreak Day 40!!! I’m done!
1/2 - REST day!
1/3 - Strength training - glutes/arms
1/4 - 5 miles
1/5 - strength training - glutes/arms W4C
1/6 - 8 miles

I have some friends who ran the Big Sur marathon last year and the pictures along the course were absolutely gorgeous! If I ever run another full I would strongly consider that one.

Sorry your shoes didn’t work out today. I love my Brooks Ghosts 10!

ddmom0811 · January 2018

Teresa502 wrote: »

I have some friends who ran the Big Sur marathon last year and the pictures along the course were absolutely gorgeous! If I ever run another full I would strongly consider that one.

Sorry your shoes didn’t work out today. I love my Brooks Ghosts 10!

[/quote]

She got in through the lottery and was shocked she made it! I am not going to watch her like I did for NYC marathon because of the timing. I am just getting back from a trip to London a couple weeks prior and she also said that there are no spectators along most of the course.

January 2018 Running Challenge

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