May 2018 Running Challenge

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  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    New Jersey decided to skip spring and just head straight into summer, and this heat is not fun! I am a cool-weather runner by nature, and today the lowest temp we're going to see was at pre-dawn when it was 67F. I ran with my running group at 5:40 and we were sweaty and gross and breathing heavy after about a mile.

    Plus it's allergy season, so after running I had to come home and wash my face to get my eyes to stop itching like crazy.

    Summer heat + spring allergies... thanks, Mother Nature! :D Should cool off a bit for a longer run tomorrow morning, but I'll play it by ear. The heat messes with my heart rate/effort a lot; I was running a very easy pace this morning but my HR was still 150s and 160s when in cooler temps it would have been in the 140s.

    5/1: 3.2 miles
    5/2: 3 miles
    5/3: 7 miles of Track Thursday
    5/4: 5.4 miles

    Current: 18.6
    Goal miles: 150

    Upcoming Races:
    5/20: Watershed Running Festival - Trail 10k - Pennington, NJ



  • cburke8909
    cburke8909 Posts: 990 Member
    Muggy run this am got in an easy 7. Long run Saturday, I may break out the hydration pack for the first time this year. I don't think I'll need much water but better to be sure.

    exercise.png
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    Dang...

    ckqc504ww6qz.png

    That is a rough range to dress for. I guess I will have to dress like it is 60?
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    5/1 - 2 miles
    5/2 - 1.8 miles
    5/3 - 1.85 miles
    5/4 - 2 miles

    Total: 7.65 miles

    So early am speed work and my brain dont get along. I was supposed to do a 5 minute warn up followed 5 minutes in z2 then do the 3x speed work. I did 5 minute warm up then 4x speed work because I can't read my watch and forgot about the 5 minutes in z2.
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    @PastorVincent That looks like perfect shorts-and-short-sleeves marathon weather to me! And if the clouds stick around? About 5 degrees warm but almost perfect!
  • BruinsGal_91
    BruinsGal_91 Posts: 1,400 Member
    kristinegift wrote: »
    @PastorVincent That looks like perfect shorts-and-short-sleeves marathon weather to me! And if the clouds stick around? About 5 degrees warm but almost perfect!

    Yep. I agree. Shorts and singlet all the way. Admittedly I've worn shorts and t-shirt when it's been below freezing, so I'm probably not the best judge of what to wear for the conditions.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    Orphia wrote: »
    ctlaws44 wrote: »
    Goal: To reverse time with the speed of my feet. (AKA Superman II) AKA^2 The best superman.

    Secondary Goal: Let everyone know I fight with depression and bi-polar disorder. Total High/Low personality.

    @ctlaws44 I gave you a hug for that. :heart: I've been having psychological counselling for my anxiety. It's really helped. Sympathies from someone constantly battling with their brain. :smile:


    Good to hear you are making progress @Orphia I know you have struggled of late with medication so finding something that seems to be helping is really important for you.

    @ctlaws44 . We’re here for you. We don’t judge.

    I think this might be my first post in the May thread, and we’re on page 14. April kind of fell apart towards the end as after my dance weekend in Vilnius I struggled to get back into things.

    I’m now about 8 weeks from my first marathon and am seriously under-trained. I still want to do it, but need to start making a decision. I was never going to run the whole thing anyway. I too have been suffering under a cloud. I thought it was just tiredness, but I’ve had a massively busy week this week AND limited sleep yet am feeling more positive, so I can pretty much discount that as the sole cause. But I’ve got out for a few runs to get myself back on track. Yesterday I did 7 miles before heading into London for a four hour meeting, finally made it home after delayed trains then fell straight into bed. I figured the long run was a good plan, but then walked another five miles in heels, so now all kinds of muscles in my legs are hurting.

    I’m off camping for the bank holiday weekend. It’s with a group of people I’ve never met, whose stated aim is to Say Yes More to things. I’m hoping this will be the kick up the backside I need. Sunday we are doing a walk, but I am going to run, sheepdog back, and do it my way to get another run in.

    Monday is for sleeping.

    Re: blood doning. Learnt the hard way about not running after doning. I can donate in the UK despite having had a blood transfusion (cut-off 1st Jan 1980, mine was prior to this) and despite having eaten beef. I wouldn’t be able to donate in the US, Canada or most other countries as I’m so very tainted. Although I’m currently under medical investigation so can’t donate anyway.

    @midwesterner85 – over here, you would not be allowed to donate due to the potential risk to YOUR health when donating (affecting insulin levels in the blood) rather than to anyone else.
  • Teresa502
    Teresa502 Posts: 1,873 Member
    lporter229 wrote: »
    I have not set my May goal yet because I have no clue. May is typically a low mileage month for me because after my marathon, I usually take some down time to catch up with life and May is such a busy month in that regard. I am going to be ambitious here with a goal of 90 miles, but only because I should have around 35 after week one.

    Yesterday I did my final speed before Sunday's race, although it was an abridged version. I did the run with a pal from my training group, but I typically do the speed workouts alone. It was hot out and we agreed to take it easy. I thought that's what we were doing, but when we finished he told me I really pushed him, which caught me a little by surprise. With no real race goal in mind and being my first time training with a group, I have felt like I have been kind of slacking through this training cycle. Maybe I am better prepared than I thought. I hope so. Race forecast temperatures have been rising every day. I am very glad for the 6:30 start!

    5/1-5 miles (3 @ tempo)

    5/90

    Good luck in Cincinnati!
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    7lenny7 wrote: »
    lporter229 wrote: »
    MobyCarp wrote: »
    lporter229 wrote: »
    I've been stalking the weather forecast for Sunday. So far it looks to be pretty good. Low 50s at the start then warming up to the high 70s, but hopefully I will be done before then. There is a chance of thunderstorms later in the day which worries me because out weather people often miss the timing on those kinds of things. Oh well, I will be running either way. Can hardly complain after what @MobyCarp dealt with in Boston and @MNLittleFinn and @7Lenny7 at Zumbro, right?

    Another runner told me the weather is a neutral factor. On race day, everyone gets the same weather. I maintain that runners who trained in the weather that shows up on race day have an advantage. The more extreme the weather is, the greater the advantage for having trained in it.

    At Boston, I had a HUGE advantage over everyone who let rain drive them indoors to run on a dreadmill. Among other things, I knew precisely what I wanted to wear in that weather. No floppy plastic bags for me.

    Of course this only matters if you are competing with the other runners. I have no delusions of placing in my age group in this large race, so my only goal is to have fun running it. It's likely to be a lot more fun if it's not thunder storming.

    But to your point, I totally agree. Although it wasn't very extreme, I know the heat at Boston affected some runners last year (2017). I had made a point of doing some of my training runs in the mid afternoon because I hadn't been acclimated to the heat after training through the winter. I am pretty sure that was a wise move because, even though I wasn't running for a PR and was nearly 15 minutes slower than my qualifying time, I still finished over 6000 spots ahead of where I started.

    I think it matters even if you're not competing with others. Attitude is everything and if you've trained in the same terrible conditions as race day, then you can draw on that experience, be confident in your ability to perform, and go about the race with a better attitude.

    Now if you try to train in terrible conditions but quit halfway through the run and go home, that of course wouldn't be a confidence booster.

    Oh, I definitely agree about the mental preparedness. I did not shy away from training in bad weather at all during this cycle, so I am prepared for whatever the running gods throw my way. But that doesn't meant that i can't hope for a perfect day, right?

    As for bailing on a race halfway through to go home, if that means getting home alive and in once piece, then I would say that should be a huge confidence booster!

    @pastorvincent- My race day forecast is similar, only about 5 degrees warmer, but my start is at 6:30. I am wearing shorts and a singlet, but I will take a long sleeve tee from my "Goodwill" pile to throw away on the course (in most big races they have boxes for this along the course and volunteers collect and wash the clothing and donate it). The tee will mostly be to keep me warm prior to the race start and will likely be discarded early, so just any old cotton tee should be fine. I also deal with the Reynauds thing, so I will have a cheap dollar store pair of cotton gloves at the start as well. Good luck to you and your wife this weekend! I can't wait to run Pittsburgh sometime soon!
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    @zerlinna87 -Fantastic job on your 5k!

    @Orphia-you ARE awesome!
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    5/1-5 miles (3 @ tempo)
    5/2-P90X3 Isometrix+1.3 miles with Stella
    5/3-4.3 easy miles

    10.6/90

    Easy run last night. Got a little more practice in with dealing with heat and humidity though. Stretching and walking today, then short shake out run downtown after packet pick up tomorrow.
  • Teresa502
    Teresa502 Posts: 1,873 Member
    PastorVincent wrote: »
    So three days out from marathon... in case there are any stalkers, my bib number is 53517 ( http://www.thepittsburghmarathon.com/runnertracking )

    This will be my wife's first marathon and she is very much worried about completing it, but I think she will be fine. She will be running probably a 13 min pace. Her bib is : 53518

    I think I have my sub-4 plan about worked out. I am going to steal a bicycle! :lol:

    More seriously, I ordered one of those fancy Race Tattoos ( AMAZON LINK) for a 3:55 Marathon. That should solve one of my big problems. When I see a mile sign (like say 15) I have no idea what time I should see as I pass it (and I always lose track of the pacer). I have already proven I can not do math while running so figuring it out on my feet is a bad plan. This means I do not really know if I am behind or ahead no matter what the clock says. With this tattoo, I plan to just shoot to stay ahead of where it says I should be.

    So I figure I will find the 3:50 pacer (8:50 min/mile) and stick with them for the start. With the new course, the first half is the flattest easiest section of the route. This worries me a little since it will make it really easy to start too fast. At around mile 13 there is a nasty hill that I was not ready for the last two marathons. I think I am ready for it this year.

    My hope is that I will hit 20 miles by around 2:50 - 2:55. If I do, I should be able to hold that pace all the way to the finish. If not, there is a substantial downhill in the last section and I will push for negative splits.

    Once across I will get food and drink, rest a little, then follow the course backward to find my wife. She will be a good 90-120 minutes behind me I figure. Once I meet up with her I will jog in with her. I have down this at every race where timing allowed for it, but this might be the hardest one ever to pull that off at. :open_mouth:

    I will carry with me Clifbok and water, plus take advantage of the Gatorade at rest stops. Right now it looks like temps will be in the low 50s with low humidity at race start but climb quickly. So hydration will be a big factor.

    Anyways, it is a plan at least. Not sure if it is a good one, but it is a plan. :lol:

    Good luck Pastor Vincent. I'm leaving for Pittsburgh in a couple of hours. Maybe I will see you there!
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    I'm with everyone else in the t-shirt and shorts. I wear tanks and capris in those temps. I warm up pretty quickly when working out though. Any other time? Freezing. HAHA
  • AmyOutOfControl
    AmyOutOfControl Posts: 1,425 Member
    5/1 = 6 hot and humid lunch miles
    5/2 = 3 miles and 30 minutes strength training
    5/3 = Vinyasa yoga class and 3 slow miles with my dog
    5/4 = 6 miles

    Has anyone ever done a Tough Mudder race? Experiences? I have a crazy friend trying to convince me to register with her for one in November.

    May Goal Miles = 140 / May Miles to date = 18
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    Kind of hectic getting ready for vacation (we leave for Mexico tomorrow AM for a week where any running will be done on the resort's treadmill). Finally have a goal for May (it's low) of 50 miles.

    May 1 - Rest
    May 2 - Rest
    May 3 - Rest
    May 4 - 3 (FINALLY)

    @PastorVincent Just also want to send you all the best for the marathon on Sunday. You're totally gonna be awesome and crush it!
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    @lporter229 I hope you get perfect weather too!
    @orphia you are definitely awesome!
    @zerlinna87 congrats on the 5k! Is it possible that you changed your stride somewhat to account for the tendinitis, and that caused your ankle and hip to hurt?
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    @AlphaHowls -Thanks!

    @7Lenny7- Stella struggled on our run the other night too. She is definitely feeling the effects of the heat and humidity. I am sure it will take some time to get re-adjusted. I also reminded my husband yesterday that it's still kind of early in the season for these temps and she is still in the process of shedding her winter coat, so she is probably even hotter than we realize. She doesn't get the choice to dress appropriately for the weather...her biology just tells her how it's going to be!
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    @7lenny7 Good call on turning back.
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    @lporter229 I should have taken our river route. There's nothing like a swim to cool down a dog, and it's 2 miles away so there's time to dry before we get home. Next time. Run well this weekend!
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    amymoreorless wrote: »
    5/1 = 6 hot and humid lunch miles
    5/2 = 3 miles and 30 minutes strength training
    5/3 = Vinyasa yoga class and 3 slow miles with my dog
    5/4 = 6 miles

    Has anyone ever done a Tough Mudder race? Experiences? I have a crazy friend trying to convince me to register with her for one in November.

    May Goal Miles = 140 / May Miles to date = 18

    Yes, I have. In fact, that’s what got me started with this running lark. I started c25k to ‘train’ for it, did the Tough Mudder and was shocked about how much I needed to run at the start, got through the 12 miles of the event four hours later and figured I ought to train more if I wanted to do another. Could barely move after.
    It’s very much a team event, and there are some obstacles where you CANNOT do them without help. Everyone will help you though, even if you don’t have your own team. You’ll be fine on the running side, as the running is broken up by obstacles, but what you’ll want to work on is upper body strength. You’ll need that. And a gritted teeth mentality. The live wires electrifying you is not pleasant. I say that as someone who was hit several times, in the buttocks and kidneys, and after getting finally clean towards the end, was mightily annoyed to then get faceplanted by ten thousand volts and a mouthful of mud.
    That said, it WAS fun. I’ve done a different obstacle race since, and preferred it, as the obstacles were more of a ‘challenge’ than out to get you. There is nothing so malicious as electrocution. A couple of the obstacles were mind issues too – swimming a tunnel under a cage with barely enough room to get air springs to mind.
    If you like a challenge, go for it. They’re not cheap events though!!!
  • Purplebunnysarah
    Purplebunnysarah Posts: 3,252 Member
    @7lenny7 sounds like the right call. My husband just got rollerblades and the oldest kid is working on ditching training wheels so we just have to get the 3 year old moving a little faster somehow and then I want to do one run a week as a family activity.
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    PastorVincent wrote: »
    Dang...

    ckqc504ww6qz.png

    That is a rough range to dress for. I guess I will have to dress like it is 60?

    Singlet and shorts. You might not need sunscreen.
  • Scott6255
    Scott6255 Posts: 2,571 Member
    @7lenny7 you are a smart man. That is exactly what I should do more often.
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    @Pastorvincent I'm not as experienced as a runner, but for those temps., I would go with shorts, light shirt, and ball cap.

    This is my experience: There was a HM once where we parked and took buses to the starting line pre-dawn. We waited for about 1-2 hrs. as more and more buses kept coming in. In the meantime, they had coffee and raffle prizes and such for those of us waiting (to keep us entertained). We could also leave drop bags, but I just wore my standard outfit (see profile pic - different race, same outfit). Pre-dawn, it was 40's, but lots of people standing around and coffee. I didn't bring anything extra aside from gloves (put in pocket along the way). Some people were shivering, but I was only a little cold. By the time I finished, it was 70's.
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