July 2018 Running Challenge
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Group Question???
How long have you been running? Do you have a story to share?
I done did this before and its a two-part post on my website, but linking to your own website is frowned upon by the moderators, so here is a copy/paste of part 1 from my site...I am not a runner
Vincent
February 25, 2015
When people see me pumping away on a treadmill, or pushing myself up the hills on Liberty’s campus one more time, they all assume I am a runner. When people see me run the Virginia 10 Miler with its cruel hills, they all assume I am a runner. I tell everyone, “I am not a runner,” but no one believes me.
They say to me, “You must really love running,” and I tell them, no in fact I do not. They point to the 735 miles I ran in 2014 and say, “Oh really?” To which I reply, “Yes, really.” If I could stop today, I would never run another mile again.
Understand, every single step I take, even when walking, I feel pain. Every mile I run hurts. I have never experienced the runner’s high, and I have never enjoyed my runs. I do all I can to take mind out of my body and forget that I am running. I blast audiobooks in my ears, I mentally work on my novels, or anything else I can come up with so that I do not notice I am running. Running hurts. Running is hard.
So why do I do it? Let me explain. In 2003, my son was born. At that time I was fat. Oh, most people that looked at me would not have known it. I have a large frame that hides my weight well. I was fat, and worse, I was fat with a failing heart.
At that time I could not walk the distance from my front door to my mailbox with out getting winded. That was maybe twenty or thirty feet. I saw the doctor for a physical and suddenly everyone was in a panic. You see my iron count in my blood was zero (yes, zero). My ejection fraction of my heart was below 40% (that is a measure of how well your heart is working, and that is a dangerous score). I had several instances were my blood sugar fell below rush to the ER and hope he survives levels. I was in chronic pain, and slept many extra hours a day just to make it through. All of my vitals were bad, and the doctors were unsure why.
I will not bore you with the details, but what followed was more doctors and drugs then I can count. There was talk of a pacemaker and being placed on restricted activities for fear of heart failure. Understand in 2003 when they were talking about this, I was only twenty-eight years old. I was looking at a life of drugs and fear. At one point I was taking ten pills a day. It got to the point where they started prescribing new pills to counter the side effects of the other pills. It was getting pretty darn scary.
I looked at my son, and decided that would not be the father he knew. He would never know that man. Most people that know me will tell you I am stubborn. Well, in this case that was the virtue that saved my life.
It has taken over a decade of hard work, lots of failures and set backs, but I sit here today typing this after losing fifty pounds, twice. I sit here typing this with a Black Belt in American Freestyle Karate, and belts in two other styles of martial arts. The last 5k I ran, I won for my age group. Oh, and I am off all my medication. ALL of it. That pacemaker? Still might be in my future, but my levels are almost normal level for now.
How did I do this? I am afraid to tell you, because the answer is so simple that most people will discount it but everyone should know, because it probably can help everyone reading this.
I forced myself to exercise. I forced myself to eliminate most processed foods. I avoid corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup as if it is poison, which it is. I try to eat a large variety of vegetables, fruits, meats, and fats. I eat smaller meals through out the day instead of major ones. I drink a lot of water, and only drink zero calorie drinks. I have cut that white garbage out that we call sugar, and try to avoid artificial sweeteners as much as I can. I prefer “no sugar added” to “sugar free.” Sure I use some artificial sweeteners, I still have a sweet tooth or three, but far, far less than most.
The results speak for themselves. My son only knows the man that can out run him, and all his friends. My son only knows the man that wins fights in karate matches. My son only knows the man that led him to the top of the mountain ahead of his entire youth group. My son only knows the man that can play basketball with him, and ride bikes.
I will always be diabetic, I will always have a weak heart, I will always have chronic pain, and I will always be one mistake from knocking my sugars out of control. The road in front of me is easier because I am healthy for the first time in my adult life, but it is not easy. Today I saw a box of Dunkin Donuts offered for free at a meeting, and did not touch a single donut. That is a huge victory. I cling to those victories each day. The fight really is one box of donuts at a time.
You see, I do not run because I love running. I run because I love my wife and do not want her to be a nurse or a widow. I run because I love my son and do not want him to be fatherless.
I run not because I am a runner, but because I am a survivor.
See Part Two: Runner of Steel16 -
the HM training program is mostly just distances with FARTLEK thrown in once a week, or a hills run, but the bulk of it is distances building to 20k long run at week 10, then a taper off for the final 2 weeks.
That makes sense as a generic plan to take someone from running a 10K to completing a half marathon. The fartleks are what the plan has for speed work. Hills intervals/repeats can be done as speed work, or the plan can just say run X distance with hills. The latter would be more common if the plan is trying to develop you to run a race that is known to have hills on the route.
The days that aren't fartleks, you run easy. Running the easy runs slow enough is typically challenging for people new to structured training.1 -
@sarahthes you saying your slow and then running an 8:17! LOL took me a moment to think "OH! I bet she means minutes per KILOMETER not MILE."
Congrats on your race AND surviving the night before!5 -
the HM training program is mostly just distances with FARTLEK thrown in once a week, or a hills run, but the bulk of it is distances building to 20k long run at week 10, then a taper off for the final 2 weeks.
That makes sense as a generic plan to take someone from running a 10K to completing a half marathon. The fartleks are what the plan has for speed work. Hills intervals/repeats can be done as speed work, or the plan can just say run X distance with hills. The latter would be more common if the plan is trying to develop you to run a race that is known to have hills on the route.
The days that aren't fartleks, you run easy. Running the easy runs slow enough is typically challenging for people new to structured training.
Thanks. Ill do the pre-training schedule for the next few weeks then before heading into the HM training. Thank you for listening and all your advice.0 -
July 1st - ran 4 miles. Without appearing like a complete imbecile, would someone mind explaining how these challenges work....i.e. where can I log my miles and how to view my ticker? I would really appreciate it. Thanks!! Hope everyone is have a beautiful 1st - heatwave in my part of the world...97 degrees with a feel of 110....
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July 1st - ran 4 miles. Without appearing like a complete imbecile, would someone mind explaining how these challenges work....i.e. where can I log my miles and how to view my ticker? I would really appreciate it. Thanks!! Hope everyone is have a beautiful 1st - heatwave in my part of the world...97 degrees with a feel of 110....
The first post of the thread has a bunch of details about tickers, but plenty of people don't use them. It's really a free-form support kind of challenge - I log my miles on my own spreadsheet then post an update after each run (or so). Skimming through the June thread can give you an idea of what different people do. Welcome and hopefully your heatwave breaks soon!2 -
PastorVincent wrote: »@sarahthes you saying your slow and then running an 8:17! LOL took me a moment to think "OH! I bet she means minutes per KILOMETER not MILE."
Congrats on your race AND surviving the night before!
LOL yes, per km. It's about a 13 minute mile (and change). Definitely slow! (But I was really consistent this time and didn't have to walk nearly as much as during my previous races.)7 -
July goals 60 miles. Bike often. Rehab smart.
1---5.52 mtn bike (not a run
) rain/ storm threat. No brick.
MILES
Running
Cycling/MTN bike 5.52
Upcoming Races
July 22 Draper Lake Duathlon (3k,22.5k,3k). Norman OK
October 14th Spirit of Survival Lawton OK. Quarter Marathon
March 31, 2019 A2A Undecided distance. Ardmore OK
April 28, 2019 OKC Memorial Marathon (half)4 -
@Scott6255 thanks. She’s a great kid. Her friend wants to start running and asked her to help. Sincr the friend can’t do any type of distance yet she told me she would run with her on her normal rest day. She makes me so proud.5
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June goal: 80 miles
7/1: 7.6 miles
7.6/80 miles
First run for July 7.6 miles. At mile 5 I was bit by a dog. It was more if a nip and I knew the owner so I know the dog had his shots, but it was still pretty annoying. It also left a nice bruise on my calf. The dog's owner is my sister's ex sister in law and I know she felt terrible. It always seems to be little dogs that bite. But it really was a minor nip and I didn't have any problem finishing the run. I had pepper spray and I almost used it, but when I saw Amy I didn't think I would need to. I guess he was protecting her though so he still nipped me.
@Elise4270 I came on mfp in late September of 2015. My youngest had just gone off to college and I had really become unhappy with my weight. I decided I would start walking my son's dog and lose 60 pounds. I was never really athletic growing up and I always disliked running. I thought it was the worst type of exercise possible. But as the weight came off and my walking distances increased I started feeling an urge to run. When I hit my original goal of 60 pounds lost I decided I needed some fitness goals so I decided to do the C25K app. I ended up losing ~15 more pounds after I started running. I started c25k on 9/25/2016 and I really never thought I would run an actual 5k race. But as I did the c25k I found that I was really enjoying it. I ran my first 5k in May of 2017 and my second a few weeks later. I ran a couple more 5k's in 2017 and then ran my first Half Marathon on 5/19/18. For now I am really just running for fitness. The first 5k I ran was to benefit our local animal shelter and they moved it from May to November this year so I am planning to run it and hoping to finally run a 5k in under 30minutes. (My PR is 30:46.). I don't see any marathons in my future, but I would like to run the HM in May again that I ran this year. We'll just have to see. For now I just want to run and I hope that I will always be able to be a runner.
2018 races:
5/19/18: Run for 57th AHC Half Marathon - 2:43:59.7. - 2nd place AG
11/10/18: Wags & Whiskers 5K6 -
0701-5.2k, total-5.2k, goal-90k
Was planning for 7k and secretly hoping for 10 when I headed out yesterday. Not to be. For some reason back started hurting again around 4k, and even the other side grumbled a bit, which makes me think this might be an acute case of "never used these muscles before". 5k it will be.
Upcoming races:
20181027 Mogan Ultra 30k
20181118 Shanghai Marathon (maybe)
Re: running story
I began running in earnest in late 2013 after a bunch of false starts. I’d been cycling my commutes all summer and autumn, but when the temps dipped below freezing I decided that I was not confident enough to continue with all the ice. By week 2 of not cycling I was miserable. One night I laced up some shoes and began to run.
At the time, I was fat, out of shape, depressed (bit better after cycling), and knew absolutely nothing about running. I’d never heard of c25k. My approach was to jog as slowly as possible, as long as possible, walk recover, and do it again until I hit 40 minutes. It was slow going, but on my fifth or sixth run something clicked and I was suddenly able to snail out an entire 5k.
Funnily enough, 2013 was also the year one of the companies I work with started sponsoring marathons in China. I ran my first race, a 10k, in June 2014 as part of my job. I did my first marathon in March 2015. I ran a lot of races in the year or so that followed, joined a club, met a bunch of people, got faster (albeit still slow). Everything looked great.
In May 2016 I did a 50k trail race. It probably counts as the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. After that I kind of lost my focus. Still raced a bit, and even ran/walked another marathon in November, but I spent the rest of the year slowly falling off the wagon. A bike injury early in 2017 certainly didn’t help, and I ran maybe once or twice a month for the whole of last year.
This January I randomly came upon a post about UTMF (ultra trail Mount Fuji). I’m not sure why, but this race spoke to me loud and clear. I need to do this, and to that end, I need to get myself back up running.
Ran a work-related half marathon in March. I was totally not prepared but still made it through. Might run a work-related marathon in November. I know I’m really lucky on this front. Dunno how long it will take me to get back to where I used to be, but there is no doubt that I will get there, and better. Life is so much better when I’m running.8 -
Hey everyone!
I hope you guys are off to a great start. I didn't get any miles in today, but I did get to create something to keep me focus. I had to do a creative motivational board for another Group I'm in and I thought I'd share it here to. Its how I plan to keep better tabs on my miles without having to check online. I hope it can also motivate someone else to create their own board at home. I love mine and will be using it strictly for this month.
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PastorVincent wrote: »Group Question???
How long have you been running? Do you have a story to share?
I haven't been running long. The last time I actually ran for workouts was 7 years ago. I just started training myself again this past month (June) and I'm still at a slow pace. I'm still at the 'run as much as you can and walk' phase, then repeat how every many times I need to in order to reach 3 miles.
Much like your story, I don't enjoy it either, but I hope to. I have problems with my knee which makes me want to stop and give up at times, but I push through. I do it more because my body needs a change and this could be the right change. I'm also a head start teacher and if you work with young children (3-5 year olds), you know they love to be chased. "Come get me", "Haha, you can't get me". I want to be that fun teacher that can have fun out on the playground with them without getting out of breath every 5 seconds.
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July....she will fly (at least her feet will)
July 1: 3.92
total 3.92
Running story: in November of 2012 my son sent me a pic he had recently taken of me. I weighed about 250. I barfed a bit, then came to MFP to get under control. I lost some weight, and started walking. The two young dogs walked with me, but they wanted to go faster than I did....so I sped up. And up. And up. And I lost 85lbs. And the following December on my 60th birthday, I ran 1.25 miles (all downhill after walking UP to the starting spot. Then I ran my first 5k EVER and WON my age division (not hard when you're old and the field is small.....). And I was hooked.
Ticker is my goal for 2018 and progress to date:
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LaDispute57 wrote: »I posted this before...a slideshow from a couple of years ago... two ultras... I love trail running...
https://youtube.com/watch?v=RLyphBuSBic
@LaDispute57 - I need to watch this when I am feeling low and frustrated with my running! Love the picture with you both giving your mom a kiss and remember the story/video about her and the shoes! Awesome!
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Group Question???
How long have you been running? Do you have a story to share?
I have been overweight and/or struggling with my weight pretty much my entire life. I can remember my mom telling me it was ‘OK’ that I was chubby, she was chubby too when she was small. The fact that she was 5’5” and weighed 110 pounds made me think anything was possible – one day I too would grow up to be tall and slender! Unfortunately I took after others in my family who were very short and no one expected me to even hit 5’ – we actually celebrated when I did! When pregnant with my daughter I gained close to 60 pounds and never really lost any of it. In 2010, at 54, after much harassment from my daughter I contacted a friend of hers who is a trainer. At that time I was walking consistently 2-3 miles 4-5 times a week with no measurable results. So I started to work out with him specifically to lose weight. At one point he suggested I start adding a small amount of running into my walks to increase my cardio ('just try running a block' he said!). When he mentioned running I almost shut down… What, ME run, never! I HATE running… I tell people now, to be careful when they start running because it can be addicting (once you get over it hurting).
By the end of the first year of my trainer/self-made program I was down 30 pounds and multiple sizes and more than doubled the weights I could lift, as well as completed my first half marathon. After two years I was down 60 pounds and hit my seemingly unreachable goal. I had gone from wearing XLs and XXLs to now S and XS and another friend signed me up for my 1st HM.
Now I am running about 100 miles a month and this month will have completed 23 half marathons, made the qualifying time requirement for the USA Invitational HM and have run a few 5 and 10Ks (not my favorite distances).
I continue to do strength training twice a week, lifting heavy now, and am still working out with the same trainer. I still tell him this is all his fault
Like others though, my DH is not super supportive. He will take me to races but makes fun of my prep and recovery routines. I have learned to ignore it though and assume he is proud of my accomplishments - he does like to tell everyone about them...
I got a 7.64 mile run in today. Not the long run I had planned but I procrastinated and really didn't want to go. Can't say I am glad I did. It was a tough run from the very start. Somewhere around mile 5 or 6 I landed wrong tweaking my knee with the torn meniscus. Initially it hurt in my shin but once that passed my knee was very unhappy and continues to be. I don't have a run planned tomorrow other than for agility class in the evening and hopefully that doesn't aggravate it. We have an agility trial next weekend that I need to be healthy for and of course the HM at the end of the month. Will get a ticker up soon.
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Hey, everyone! I'm new(ish) here. I've been lurking for a month or so, just reading and taking it all in.
I won't have time to be very active here, but I try to read the posts. I work, have a family, and am a grad school student. So, just like everyone else, l am busy!
My July goal is 60 miles, but that may be lofty (or not)!
Group Question???
How long have you been running? Do you have a story to share?
I have been running since 2017. I don't know what month, but I started a walking for weight loss program by John Bingham in May of '17, and it had three phases and ultimately ended with running. From there I completed a 5k program by him. My boyfriend and I have run a 5k each month this year. (He's been running for years and done a few half marathons). I finished a Hal Higdon 10k program last week and this week I am starting a different one of his 10k programs. My first official 10k is August 25th, but I've completed one on my own.
I have been a MFP member for years, but only got serious about a year and a half ago. I have lost 110 pounds, and I love my new active lifestyle!
UPCOMING RACES
July 4th - Firecracker 5k
August 25th - Camp New Hope 10k
September 7th - 5k Glow Run11 -
woo hoo first 5k done! 85 to go lol.
I went out only 30 mins after a light dinner and boy did I pay for that. I'm thinking ill switch to morning runs, I run better on an emptyish stomach, and I have to balance training with two young kids.
oh well, ill do better tomorrow!8 -
I lost 80 lb / 36 kg between April 2015 and April 2016 by eating whatever I felt like (in moderation) within my calorie limit, using MFP and have maintained goal weight since then.
I had started feeling better and better after quitting smoking cigarettes cold turkey in May 2014 and have just kept going.
In 2015 I started walking a bit more every day.
On 22 September 2015 on a walk, I suddenly felt the urge to run for the first time in 30 years. 2 weeks later, I started doing parkrun on Saturdays when it started in my town and I have only missed parkrun 3 times since then. #loveparkrun
I ran 50 km in 6 hours on 10 June 2018.
Along the way, these are the goals I’ve made and completed:
Raise money for cerebral palsy and walk 10,000 steps a day for Steptember 2015.
Run 5 km. 5 December 2015.
Run 10 km. 6 March 2016.
Run 15 km by end of June 2016. 27 March 2016.
Run 5 km in under 30 minutes. 9 April 2016.
30 Day Planking Challenge. May 2016.
Run a half marathon. 26 June 2016.
Run 100 miles in August 2016. Done by 22 August 2016.
Run 1,000 km in 2016. Done by 27 August 2016.
Walk 35 km on 23 October 2016.
Run 100 miles in October 2016.
Run 10 km in under 55 minutes. 8 Jan 2017.
Run 30 km. Done 24 March 2017.
Walk 50 km on 6 May 2017.
Hike 80 km in 2 days. 10-11 June 2017.
Run my first marathon in my year of turning 50. Sunday 27 August 2017.
Run my 100th parkrun. 17 February 2018.
Run a half marathon run (or further) every month for a year. July 2017 to June 2018.
Run a 50 km run in 2018. Sunday 10 June 2018.
It all happens by making a bit of an effort every day.15 -
Date Miles MTD ------- ----- ------- Jul 02 4.1 4.1
4
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