December 2018 Monthly Running Challenge

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Replies

  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    _nikkiwolf_ wrote: »
    I have new running shoes! I already mentioned before, I have three pairs I will retire soon, so I ordered three new pairs, and they arrived yesterday. So prepare yourselves for lots of shoes pictures this week :D

    The first ones I tested are Merrell Bare Access Flex Knit. I tried them out tonight. They are on the minimalist side, but the sole feels a bit stiffer/more solid than for the other pair of Merrells I own (Road Glove Dash 3). Not 100% sure yet what I think of that. But I like the soft upper material.

    tsqkvr65t18z.jpg

    ---

    2.12. - 14.7km run
    4.12 - 5.9km run

    oh i like the look of those
  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    mbaker566 wrote: »
    _nikkiwolf_ wrote: »
    I have new running shoes! I already mentioned before, I have three pairs I will retire soon, so I ordered three new pairs, and they arrived yesterday. So prepare yourselves for lots of shoes pictures this week :D

    The first ones I tested are Merrell Bare Access Flex Knit. I tried them out tonight. They are on the minimalist side, but the sole feels a bit stiffer/more solid than for the other pair of Merrells I own (Road Glove Dash 3). Not 100% sure yet what I think of that. But I like the soft upper material.

    tsqkvr65t18z.jpg

    ---

    2.12. - 14.7km run
    4.12 - 5.9km run

    oh i like the look of those
    Me too. Not pink or orange! :smiley:
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    SALE ALERT

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    Our top picks for men include:
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    Our top picks for women include:
    247 Classic $32 (Orig. $80)
    Fresh Foam Lazr Sport $36 (Orig. $90)
    247 Winter Shimmer $32 (Orig. $80)
    Fresh Foam Cruz $32 (Orig. $80)
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    edited December 2018
    @MegaMooseEsq Looking through your race list...let me offer up something for your consideration. You have the four ESTRS races, which is great! I think you're going to really enjoy trail racing. What about a fall trail race? Two great options are the Surly Trail Loppet, which is Sept 21st at Wirth Park. 5K, 7Mi, and HM options. I really enjoy this one.

    A second one to consider is the Big Woods Run on October 12th. It south of town, just south of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. There is about 3 miles of paved/gravel road on the trail, but it's usually the peak of fall colors, the wooded parts are gorgeous, and the church which hosts it are so very welcoming. 5K, 10K, and HM options.

    I wish I could run the Securian race in January! This will be the second year in a row I'll miss it due to injury. I could do the 5K I suppose, but I'm not going to pay $50 for a race I can't race.

    I see the Polar Dash and the Get Lucky races on your schedule. Polar Dash (and Monster Dash, Get Lucky, Women Rock and Minneapolis Marathon) are all run by a company called Team Ortho. Check out that link to see what kind of company they are. They've gotten such bad press for their shenanigans and shady practices that their race registrations have dropped drastically. They've gotten such bad press that they don't even use the name "Team Ortho" on their race site any longer. My first half was their Monster Dash in 2015 and the bad press came out just after that. I'll never run in one of their races again. I sorry to be negative, but runners need to know about this group.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    workaholic_nurse wrote: »
    One of my "jogger" friends sent me this
    1ze5hwers7bu.jpeg

    I laughed at her and kept running down the park trail.

    Definitely a must have on the runners Christmas list!
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    7lenny7 wrote: »
    @MegaMooseEsq Looking through your race list...let me offer up something for your consideration. You have the four ESTRS races, which is great! I think you're going to really enjoy trail racing. What about a fall trail race? Two great options are the Surly Trail Loppet, which is Sept 21st at Wirth Park. 5K, 7Mi, and HM options. I really enjoy this one.

    A second one to consider is the Big Woods Run on October 12th. It south of town, just south of Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. There is about 3 miles of paved/gravel road on the trail, but it's usually the peak of fall colors, the wooded parts are gorgeous, and the church which hosts it are so very welcoming. 5K, 10K, and HM options.

    I wish I could run the Securian race in January! This will be the second year in a row I'll miss it due to injury. I could do the 5K I suppose, but I'm not going to pay $50 for a race I can't race.

    I see the Polar Dash and the Get Lucky races on your schedule. Polar Dash (and Monster Dash, Get Lucky, Women Rock and Minneapolis Marathon) are all run by a company called Team Ortho. Check out that link to see what kind of company they are. They've gotten such bad press for their shenanigans and shady practices that their race registrations have dropped drastically. They've gotten such bad press that they don't even use the name "Team Ortho" on their race site any longer. My first half was their Monster Dash in 2015 and the bad press came out just after that. I'll never run in one of their races again. I sorry to be negative, but runners need to know about this group.

    I did a monster dash too with them in 2015. Loved the swag, best race jacket i have... But i agree. They dont have the best rep. So we avoid them too.
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    MobyCarp wrote: »
    debrakgoogins wrote: »
    mbaker566 wrote: »
    outside is better than treadmill is better than an outdoor track is better than an indoor track imo

    Good Lord. I hate the treadmill. If running on a treadmill is better than something that is better than indoor running, I'm in trouble!

    I would disagree with the order. Outside running is best. Outdoor track next, indoor track after that, the treadmill DFL.

    In February 2016, there was a Saturday when it was so cold and windy that all the group runs were canceled, the Freezeroo race that day was called off because it was too cold for the police to be out controlling traffic, and my training plan called for 22 miles. I thought I couldn't do more than 10 to 13 miles outside in the conditions. I considered running 5 mile laps outside from my home, and discarded the thought because the temptation to quit early would be very high.

    I ended up running my 22 miles as 177 laps of a 200m indoor track. It was long, it was tedious, I learned something about managing distance on a track. (Key was letting my Garmin keep track of how many 8-lap miles I had run.) Later someone pointed out that I could have just used a treadmill in the same facility. I stared at him. I had never considered attempting a 22 mile run on a treadmill.

    I've thought about this many times, and I always come back to the same conclusion: Running 22 miles on a 200m indoor track was awful, but it was better than running on a treadmill.

    Another trick for tracks is to carry pennies. Drop a penny each lap, and when you run out stop. Though 177 pennies would be a lot to deal with :)
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    MobyCarp wrote: »
    debrakgoogins wrote: »
    mbaker566 wrote: »
    outside is better than treadmill is better than an outdoor track is better than an indoor track imo

    Good Lord. I hate the treadmill. If running on a treadmill is better than something that is better than indoor running, I'm in trouble!

    I would disagree with the order. Outside running is best. Outdoor track next, indoor track after that, the treadmill DFL.

    In February 2016, there was a Saturday when it was so cold and windy that all the group runs were canceled, the Freezeroo race that day was called off because it was too cold for the police to be out controlling traffic, and my training plan called for 22 miles. I thought I couldn't do more than 10 to 13 miles outside in the conditions. I considered running 5 mile laps outside from my home, and discarded the thought because the temptation to quit early would be very high.

    I ended up running my 22 miles as 177 laps of a 200m indoor track. It was long, it was tedious, I learned something about managing distance on a track. (Key was letting my Garmin keep track of how many 8-lap miles I had run.) Later someone pointed out that I could have just used a treadmill in the same facility. I stared at him. I had never considered attempting a 22 mile run on a treadmill.

    I've thought about this many times, and I always come back to the same conclusion: Running 22 miles on a 200m indoor track was awful, but it was better than running on a treadmill.

    Kind of funny, last winter when I had the gym at work we had an inside track. If it was too cold to run outside, I hoped on the dreadmill. Running for hours around that 200m track was not something that even occurred to me as an option.
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    edited December 2018
    PastorVincent wrote: »
    MobyCarp wrote: »
    debrakgoogins wrote: »
    mbaker566 wrote: »
    outside is better than treadmill is better than an outdoor track is better than an indoor track imo

    Good Lord. I hate the treadmill. If running on a treadmill is better than something that is better than indoor running, I'm in trouble!

    I would disagree with the order. Outside running is best. Outdoor track next, indoor track after that, the treadmill DFL.

    In February 2016, there was a Saturday when it was so cold and windy that all the group runs were canceled, the Freezeroo race that day was called off because it was too cold for the police to be out controlling traffic, and my training plan called for 22 miles. I thought I couldn't do more than 10 to 13 miles outside in the conditions. I considered running 5 mile laps outside from my home, and discarded the thought because the temptation to quit early would be very high.

    I ended up running my 22 miles as 177 laps of a 200m indoor track. It was long, it was tedious, I learned something about managing distance on a track. (Key was letting my Garmin keep track of how many 8-lap miles I had run.) Later someone pointed out that I could have just used a treadmill in the same facility. I stared at him. I had never considered attempting a 22 mile run on a treadmill.

    I've thought about this many times, and I always come back to the same conclusion: Running 22 miles on a 200m indoor track was awful, but it was better than running on a treadmill.

    Kind of funny, last winter when I had the gym at work we had an inside track. If it was too cold to run outside, I hoped on the dreadmill. Running for hours around that 200m track was not something that even occurred to me as an option.

    One of the things that helps the track be less monotonous is having other runners on the track. I spent a lot of time being aware of the people who were running 2 abreast on a nominally 3 lane track that was actually 2 good lanes plus some wide spots. I was annoyed at them breaking the rules, till they left; then it got more boring without having to think about how I would pass them.
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    MobyCarp wrote: »
    PastorVincent wrote: »
    MobyCarp wrote: »
    debrakgoogins wrote: »
    mbaker566 wrote: »
    outside is better than treadmill is better than an outdoor track is better than an indoor track imo

    Good Lord. I hate the treadmill. If running on a treadmill is better than something that is better than indoor running, I'm in trouble!

    I would disagree with the order. Outside running is best. Outdoor track next, indoor track after that, the treadmill DFL.

    In February 2016, there was a Saturday when it was so cold and windy that all the group runs were canceled, the Freezeroo race that day was called off because it was too cold for the police to be out controlling traffic, and my training plan called for 22 miles. I thought I couldn't do more than 10 to 13 miles outside in the conditions. I considered running 5 mile laps outside from my home, and discarded the thought because the temptation to quit early would be very high.

    I ended up running my 22 miles as 177 laps of a 200m indoor track. It was long, it was tedious, I learned something about managing distance on a track. (Key was letting my Garmin keep track of how many 8-lap miles I had run.) Later someone pointed out that I could have just used a treadmill in the same facility. I stared at him. I had never considered attempting a 22 mile run on a treadmill.

    I've thought about this many times, and I always come back to the same conclusion: Running 22 miles on a 200m indoor track was awful, but it was better than running on a treadmill.

    Kind of funny, last winter when I had the gym at work we had an inside track. If it was too cold to run outside, I hoped on the dreadmill. Running for hours around that 200m track was not something that even occurred to me as an option.

    One of the things that helps the track be less monotonous is having other runners on the track. I spent a lot of time being aware of the people who were running 2 abreast on a nominally 3 lane track that was actually 2 good lanes plus some wide spots. I was annoyed at them breaking the rules, till they left; then it got more boring without having to think about how I would pass them.

    On the flip side... one of the things that made the dreadmills slightly bearable was that you could set an average incline and it would vary the incline to match a trail it had on the screen. Mine at home does not do that, and it does make it a bit more dread.
  • rg4517rg
    rg4517rg Posts: 14 Member
    edited December 2018
    This December, I'm focusing on burning fat and losing inches around my body. I will be mixing up running on the treadmill with weight training and at home exercises. I have been stressing out quite a bit, so spending time at TruFit is key to getting my mind back in alignment. The one thing that I love about the gym I go to is that they have a low lit cardio room with treadmill machines. There's rarely anyone there and I like it that way, it helps me focus on my goals more. :) As far as nutrition goes, I'm trying to eliminate lean meat entirely and stick to chicken, fish, and vegetables.

    12/3 - 5 miles
    12/4 - Cheat Day (Whataburger)
    12/5 -
    12/6 -
    12/7 -
    12/8 -
    12/9 -
    12/10 -



    exercise.png[img][/img]
  • eleanorhawkins
    eleanorhawkins Posts: 1,659 Member
    MegaMooseEsq wrote: »
    So instead of running I tossed on a Fitness Blender video and did an upper body dumbbell workout, my first strength workout in a couple of months! For the next two weeks my goal is going to be three days running, two days core or upper body workouts. I did a lot of Fitness Blender videos last winter and really enjoyed the variety. I never did many of their dumbbell workouts as I preferred a more straightforward progressive program once I got into lifting, but considering how badly my strength training has stalled, I think that this will be a good way to ease back in.

    @MegaMooseEsq if you haven't come across it already, have a look for their 60 minute Tabata upper body dumbbell workout. That has to be my favourite for when I can't run and need something that will leave me feeling I've done something!

    @Avidkeo glad the lurgy passed quickly and you're bouncing back.
  • TimeToReduceFat
    TimeToReduceFat Posts: 127 Member
    rheddmobile wrote: »
    TimeToReduceFat wrote: »
    Any tip for beginner runners? I desperately need to get fit. Just climbing up a floor makes me breathless. Never been this bad. :/

    Two years ago I was morbidly obese and couldn't walk to the mailbox without getting out of breath. A month ago I finished my first half marathon. You have taken the most important step by just coming here, asking for help, and resolving to change. Now take small steps towards your goal every day. You got this!

    C25k is excellent but is best for people who have a base of being able to briskly walk 30 minutes at a time. If you're not there yet, get some good, supportive walking shoes and start walking. If five minutes is all you can do at first, do five minutes. Then more the next time. When you can briskly walk 30 minutes, you're good to start c25k. Rest days from walking/running are an excellent time to work on your upper body strength - I started by swinging around water bottles, then moved gradually to real weights.

    Edit: just read that you already walk. Then you are way ahead of where I was when I started! I used the app on my phone when I started, strapped to my arm - no headphones involved.

    Thank you



  • TimeToReduceFat
    TimeToReduceFat Posts: 127 Member
    7lenny7 wrote: »
    @TimeToReduceFat if you're already walking but climbing one flight of stairs makes you breathe hard, perhaps you could try walking faster. I obviously have no way of knowing what you're walking is like but you want to walk fast enough that your heart rate increases. No need to go so hard that it hurts, but push yourself hard enough that it's actually a cardio workout. This builds up your heart and lungs while getting your joints ready for the rigors of running.

    Power walking, or fitness walking, is a fantastic way to get into running. It's how I started. I was power walking for a few months before I started running and it really worked well to get me ready for running.

    And when you start running, go SLOW and take as many walking breaks as you need. That's where we all started.

    @rheddmobile you're 50?!?! I would have guessed mid to upper 30's. Seriously.

    Thanks for the tip
  • TimeToReduceFat
    TimeToReduceFat Posts: 127 Member
    dreamer12151 wrote: »
    TimeToReduceFat wrote: »
    Any tip for beginner runners? I desperately need to get fit. Just climbing up a floor makes me breathless. Never been this bad. :/

    Welcome! And great on you for wanting to make a change!!

    I've been running for about 5 1/2 years, and still consider myself to be a beginner. My friend started me off on a run 2 minutes, walk 2 minutes for 20 minutes, 3 times a week. I kept at it until I felt better at it, increasing my run minutes, eventually cutting down the walks, until 1 day, I just ran. That's MY story in a nutshell.

    Several people, both here & in my personal life have gotten amazingly good results with the CT5K (Couch to 5k) programs, like others have said. I was so impressed with their results that I started using the CT10K when I started training for that.

    I agree with the others: REST days are a MUST! Even if you think you can do more, rest. Your body will thank you. Go slowly at first. Yes, kinda goes against what you want to do, but building up a good base is important! Get some good shoes. No, not talking about a new pair of Walmart shoes, but go to a running store, get fitted. THAT was possibly 1 of the things that has helped me the most. I started in a pair of Walmart tennies (nothing wrong with them, they just ain't made for running!) and ended up making my knee issues worse, and I had to take a few months off running per the doctor. Set a goal for yourself. Small ones are great (eg: run 3X this week, once I make 10 miles, give myself a pedi) for me, I entered a 5K 5 months after I started running. (When the idea hit me, I had to google how long it even was!) I picked one that meant a lot for me and my goal was to cross both lines. I wasn't fast, I didn't care. I accomplished my goal!

    And don't be afraid to talk to people & ask questions. There is a lot to learn, and as you get going, there will be more, too.

    Good luck to you, and hope to see you posting!

    Thank you
  • TimeToReduceFat
    TimeToReduceFat Posts: 127 Member
    debrakgoogins wrote: »
    TimeToReduceFat wrote: »
    Any tip for beginner runners? I desperately need to get fit. Just climbing up a floor makes me breathless. Never been this bad. :/

    I am assuming you have the go ahead from your doctor to begin running. Mind you, I am an analyst and a researcher by nature. I study and research almost everything before I attempt it. If you are good to go, just walk to warm up, run a short distance then walk to recover, repeat, then do a walk to cool down.

    This is my story. 27 surgeries after an accident, led me to believe I would not run again. I just ran my first mile nonstop last week. I attempted a C25K a few years ago but it was too much for me and I had to stop. I was out of breath quickly and felt pain in my knees and hips anytime I attempted to go from a walk to a run. I am not an expert by any means but I can share what helped me become a runner.

    1) I got inspired to try running again after watching a documentary called From Fat to Finish Line on Amazon Prime. It isn't the greatest documentary ever made but it is inspiring and proves you can be any size or shape and still be a runner. Whenever I have a bad run, I watch it and it reminds me that everyone has set backs and bad runs. I could be running in the Florida heat overnight with alligators and cramping up like one of the poor women on the movie. What matters is listening to your body, making the appropriate adjustments, and not giving up forever.
    2) I took everyones advice and I got fitted with running shoes at a real running store. Having proper support for my gait, pronation and stride made all the difference. Oh, and good socks. There is nothing worse than having your socks cause blisters or slide down your heels while you are trying to run.
    3) I watched videos on proper running technique. Some might not agree with this but it helped me personally. I had my husband video tape me running so I could see what I look like then compared myself to the videos. I realized that had several bad habits that were causing my pain. My stride was way too long; I hunched my shoulders as I ran; I looked at the ground in front of me instead of looking up ahead of me; I was trying to run too fast; I swung my arms across my body instead of using them for forward motion. Once I started having better posture, keeping my head up and concentrating on having my foot fall directly under my body instead of way out in front of me, I could run without pain. I also realized that no matter how slow I thought I was running, I could always run slower which helped me build stamina. At first, when I was "fixing" my running style, it was exhaustive. I was constantly thinking about where my feet were falling...were my shoulders relaxed...slow down Deb, slow down...then it started to be normal. Now, I don't think about those things nearly as much.
    4) I researched the documentary I had watched (remember, analyst) and found out they offer a free a program called Fat to First Mile. It is similar to a couch to 5k but less agressive and designed for the absolute beginner. There is a great support group on Facebook and you can sign up to have a running mentor. My running mentor is an ultra marathoner and triathlete. She's wonderful. Every Sunday, they have a live question and answer forum on FB as well. Ryk, one of the runners from the documentary is the person who answers questions live. I found this program to be a great way to break into running since I wasn't physically prepared to tackle a couch to 5k. If you feel like you are struggling, you can always repeat a week until you feel comfortable then move on to the next week.
    5) I downloaded an app that let me preprogram all of my intervals so I didn't have to watch my phone to know when to run and when to walk. It is one less thing I have to worry about when I run. There are several different apps that do this. The one I use is called Seconds Pro.
    6) I just started doing it.

    Then, I found this group who are amazingly supportive and helpful. You can do this! Go for it!!!

    Thank you for the tips
  • TimeToReduceFat
    TimeToReduceFat Posts: 127 Member
    PastorVincent wrote: »
    TimeToReduceFat wrote: »
    Any tip for beginner runners? I desperately need to get fit. Just climbing up a floor makes me breathless. Never been this bad. :/

    Start with walking, then move to vigorous walking, then SLOWLY transition to walk/run.

    Also, most importantly, check with your doctor to make sure you do not have a heart condition or other medical issue.

    Mainly, start with tiny baby goals and slowly build.

    Thank you for your response & the headphone suggestion.

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