May 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

PastorVincent

@polskagirl01 w00t! you ran the perfect race and it shows! Well done!

kgirlhart

May goal: 75 miles

5/1: 5.04 miles
5/2: 2.19 miles
5/7: 4.60 miles
5/8: 4.70 miles
5/9: 4.55 miles
5/12: 8.41 miles

29.49/75 miles completed

Last long run before the HM next week. I ran 8.41 miles. It started out chilly and foggy, but then the clouds broke and I was wishing I had worn a tank top instead of a t-shirt. But it was a really lovely day. And the ankle was good. I don't know if I have just rested it enough, or if the KT tape really works. Either way I was relieved that there was no pain and I am feeling good about the race on Saturday. I'll have to go back and catch up on the thread. I know there were lots of good races this weekend. I hope all you moms out there had a great Mother's Day!

2019 races:
2/2/19: Catch the Groundhog Half Marathon - PR 2:15:17
5/18/19: Run for 57th AHC Half Marathon

rheddmobile

So many great races! Congrats @samthepanda @eleanorhawkins and @polska_girl !

Ran / walked 10k today, looking at the stats later, I did more running than walking - about four miles running. Very very slow, 13 minute mile pace overall, about 11 minutes when running, sometimes slower. But I’m so happy to have gotten out there for something approaching a real run. I hope I don’t pay for it later, my Achilles has tightened up and I’m icing it. It seems like my bad knee and the sore Achilles (which is on the same side) are working together, the knee seems to be putting more pressure on the tendon and vice versa.

Perfect running weather, 65 degrees and partly sunny with a soft, flower laden breeze. Fortunately I don’t get hay fever because everything is blooming. We saw dozens of deer, including one family of four which we ran straight through - literally six feet away from us, all standing stock still and staring right at us as if we were dressed funny or something. We also saw a big bunny, and another shrew. Oh, I almost forgot, we stopped to help a tortoise which was stuck under a chicken wire fence.

The shrew we saw today behaved normally (scarpered off and disappeared into the leaves) unlike the last one we saw which chased us around trying to attack our shoes. I did some research on shrews and apparently they are very territorial and it’s not unusual to be attacked if a shrew thinks you are in its territory, it’s just that they are very small and their territories are also very small, so mostly it doesn’t come up. However, it’s odd that the aggressive one’s territory included the middle of the paved bicycle path!

We stopped for bbq later and I let myself go a little wild on carbs, hoping this slow little run would be enough to cover it, and turns out it was! 110 bg at 90 minutes after eating 89g carbs! I love running. Walking the same distance, half that amount of carbs would spike me. It’s super hard to have the discipline to give my tendon enough rest to repair properly when running is so closely tied to what I can eat.

shanaber

Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon race report. Fair warning - I took lots of pictures!
My morning started out a bit off as the coffee maker in the room wouldn’t work (I ended up making a little bit of coffee with just hot water from the sink). Then the oatmeal I normally get from Starbucks has changed (how dare they!) to a different consistency oats (gritty) and no nuts, seeds now with dates and cranberries, and no brown sugar only agave syrup. Uggg, I ended up only eating about half of it if that, but I did eat a banana that I had saved. I have also been having some weird unidentified aching in my thighs/quads that I notice mostly at night and woke up with them aching. I did try rolling them out, hoping it would help before I head out to catch the shuttle to the race start and once there I walked and ran a bit to warm up.
This was a pretty small race compared to the HMs I have run previously, only about 1500 entries, but I was surprised when I got to the start line about 40 mins before the start to find no one there! It was a very pretty morning and kind of cool to see it so empty. Naturally it didn’t stay that way and soon filled up with runners.

I lined up behind the 2:45 pacer knowing that this was a ‘hopeful’ if not realistic pace for where I am at the moment. I was really just hoping to finish under 3 hours and knew I could not possible hit a PR at under 2:15. I planned to keep to my 2.5 min run/30 sec walk intervals as much as possible and walk the water stations regardless. It was a very well supported race with 7 water/electrolyte stations with porta pots at each although fortunately despite having so many GI issues in the previous few weeks, I did not end up needing to stop. I kept with the 2:45 pacer at least in near sight for most of the 1st 6 miles even with the intervals. The weird aching in my legs continued and was really bothersome and was making me have thoughts that I was doing something terrible to them.

About mile 6.5 despite the gradual incline we hit the one really big hill called the ‘corkscrew’ I tried to run as much of it as I could at the beginning and quickly realized that was not going to happen and walked along with the vast majority of other runners. This was also where I lost sight of the 2:45 pacer. I stopped to take a picture about midway up the hill and had another runner ask to take a picture so we traded. The views were spectacular and continued as we went up and over the crest.

Check out the runners below on the road in the valley

After walking up the hill and starting the downhill my quads finally started to feel a bit better. I was with a group of other runners who were also mostly running intervals (none of us in-synch though) and a couple of girls were stopping to take selfies at each mile marker as well as each winery sign. By mile 10 or so my feet were really starting to hurt from the rough asphalt and started trying to keep as much as possible to the dirt on the side of the road. My hamstrings and quad were also complaining and I stopped a couple of times just to stretch. I kept thinking that while I hadn’t seen the 2:45 pacer for a long while but I also hadn’t seen the 3:00 pacer and never did.

Our cheering squad!

It was great coming back into town and seeing the cheering crowds and my husband waiting at the finish line.
There was no chocolate milk in the finish line goodie bag so we hobbled over to a liquor store and got some Nestles! My legs were absolutely toast! Every single step hurt but the chocolate milk helped so much!

We got our wine glasses and headed over to the post-race wine festival and tasting. It was incredibly crowded with long lines at each winery tasting. These things always sound really great in theory but not so much when it comes to reality. I really just wanted to go get a shower and something to eat so we didn’t stay long and headed back to the hotel. After a nice long soak in the tub with some Epsom salts we headed out for a burger and a small beer at a local brewery for my celebratory dinner!!

Race Swag! Not shown - Mortensen's Danish Bakery cookies not shown because I ate them

I met my goal of under 3 hours (2:55 official time) and I am ok with that. Now I have to start working on picking up some speed and getting ready for my next race in September. I see lots of hill repeats in my future!

polskagirl01

@shanaber that looks like a really fun race! Great job!

Eileen_05

Joining late ... May 12

May goal: 25 miles (walk to run)

5/12: 1 mile (walked)

1/25 miles completed

noblsheep

OK. Race report.

I was nearly late to the start line, so I had a rushed breakfast, rushed bag drop and rushed journey to my corral. Was only standing there for a few minutes before gun time. The race was quite crowded, and I somehow got pulled along with the crowd to a 6:26 pace until I realized my mistake and backed down. Oops.

I was feeling the heat for the first half, but it was windy enough that the temp didn't bother me. Took walk breaks through all the aid stations. Something got into my shoe at 10km, so stopped to shake it out. Must've done something weird to my sock at that point, because it promptly started cutting into my toes and gave me a blister (these are two-year-old Injinjis that I've raced in multiple times, dunno what happened).

Started raining on and off at around 13km, which is also the point that the organizers thought people would need sprayers to cool them off. Yay for everybody looking like they'd been dumped in a pool. Also a reminder that, for all its merits, my Mizunos do not have an abundance of grip. Ah well.

Lost a bit of speed after 18km (obviously reaching the outer limits of my stamina), but managed to finish in 2:28:43, which nicely surpasses my goal of 2:30. Met up with girlfriend at the finish - she'd somehow elbowed her way right to the front and got me a nice finishing video looking like a very happy, very wet [insert furry animal of your preference]. Got my chocolate milk and went home to eat All The Carbs.

Splits for anyone interested:

eleanorhawkins

PastorVincent wrote: »

@polskagirl01 w00t! you ran the perfect race and it shows! Well done!

@polskagirl01 What he said! Awesome!
@shanaber sounds like a good time
@noblsheep well done!

shanaber

Welcome to all the newbies!

So many great races going on over the weekend!
@ereck44 - congratulations on your HM!
@ContraryMaryMary - Congratulations on your wine country HM! 🍷🏃‍♀️
@midwesterner85 - sounds like a pretty good run until it wasn't but you finished and got it done and learned from it!
@eleanorhawkins - Awesome job using your husband to keep your pace in check as well as taking on and smashing those 'mean girls'!
@samthepanda - Fantastic job for your first HM!
@polskagirl01 - Wow! Congratulations on your marathon and feeling strong all the way thru even while getting a fantastic PR! All of your hard work and training paid off!
@noblsheep - Congratulations on your HM and coming in under your goal!

polskagirl01

shanaber wrote: »

Welcome to all the newbies!

So many great races going on over the weekend!
@ereck44 - congratulations on your HM!
@ContraryMaryMary - Congratulations on your wine country HM! 🍷🏃‍♀️
@midwesterner85 - sounds like a pretty good run until it wasn't but you finished and got it done and learned from it!
@eleanorhawkins - Awesome job using your husband to keep your pace in check as well as taking on and smashing those 'mean girls'!
@samthepanda - Fantastic job for your first HM!
@polskagirl01 - Wow! Congratulations on your marathon and feeling strong all the way thru even while getting a fantastic PR! All of your hard work and training paid off!
@noblsheep - Congratulations on your HM and coming in under your goal!

Thanks for this list of everyone who raced this weekend - Congratulations to all! I especially enjoyed @eleanorhawkins taking down those snotty younger girls. Yes!

noblsheep wrote: »

Lost a bit of speed after 18km (obviously reaching the outer limits of my stamina), but managed to finish in 2:28:43, which nicely surpasses my goal of 2:30. Met up with girlfriend at the finish - she'd somehow elbowed her way right to the front and got me a nice finishing video looking like a very happy, very wet [insert furry animal of your preference]. Got my chocolate milk and went home to eat All The Carbs.

I think the proper animal is bad-*kitten*

I couldn't get to sleep last night and am now home with a sick kid today. Is it naptime yet?

PastorVincent

@shanaber that medal looks like you could use as a weapon if need be! Well done!
@noblsheep Great job! I hope you had some truly wonderful carbs

Tramboman

PastorVincent wrote: »

@shanaber that medal looks like you could use as a weapon if need be! Well done!
@noblsheep Great job! I hope you had some truly wonderful carbs

As usual, @PastorVincent says it better than I ever could. Congratulations to you both on excellent races!!!

Tramboman

5-1 injury idle
5-2 rest
5-3 injury idle
5-4 injury idle
5-5 injury idle
5-6 rest
5-7 3.5k slow
5-8 7.5k slow
5-9 rest
5-10 7k easy
5-11 11k slow
5-12 7k recovery
5-13 rest

May Total: 36k
May Goal: 100k

January Total: 131k
February Total: 159.5k
March Total: 183k
April Total: 126k

Monthly average: 149.875k

Next year when you pop in here claiming your December 2019 mileage, what accomplishments will you have made?
Run at least 4 5k races.
Get under 30:00 and a PR for 5k.
Average at least 135k per month, which would put me over 1,000 miles for the year.

Run the Year Team: Five for Nineteen

Scheduled rest day today. Golf instead of running.

2019 Races:

4-13 Shine the Light 5K - 31:12 chip time; First Place male 65 and older
6-1 Freedom 5K (Will be off the schedule due to another commitment)
6-30 Strides for Starfish 5K

Scott6255

@shanaber great race! You have been through a lot these last few months with injury, so getting through that HM is a huge accomplishment. Way to go
@noblsheep awesome job getting under your goal! Congratulations!

8 miles this morning. Such beautiful weather! I know it won't last, but it was glorious (61F, light wind). Slept like crap again last night, so thought I might as well just get up and run.

zeesparrow

quilteryoyo wrote: »

@samthepanda Congratulations on finishing your first HM! You did awesome!

@Elise4270 Sorry you are having a grumpy day. If you dislike people, today was NOT the day to go out to eat. I'm sure all the restaurants were crowded. Good luck at the Y. Hope is went well.

@polskagirl01 CONGRATULATIONS!!! Awesome on the PR, beating your stretch goal, and negative splits!!! I can see how this would inspire you to do another one.

@hanlonsk I agree that is a good reason to not run circles near your house. I do out and backs often. I'm usually ok on the way out. Having to get back home is great motivation on the way back. LOL Glad the snake didn't actually reach out and touch you. (BTW, when I read your description before I saw the picture, I thought you were talking about a human guy and was wondering why some random guy would be trying to touch you while you were running.)

Ditto on all of this!

samthepanda

So after yesterday’s half I feel a bit tired, some aches in the thighs and core, big blister on my toe, but nowhere as as sore as I thought I’d feel. There was a discount on next years event if we signed up within 24 hours - so I did! I have a 10k in August then the half next year. Advise me knowledgable people - do I keep doing long runs, or do I lay off for a while?

katharmonic

@polska_girl congratulations on your marathon with a PR and negative splits!! That's very impressive and shows how well you've been training. Incredible job!!!

@shanaber congrats on your HM!! Looks like a beautiful race, but that's a long climb in the first 8 miles, especially when your legs were feeling sore. Great job making it through that in less than 3 hours! I can imagine the lines for wine tasting are not want you want to do after the race and your post-race soak in the tub and dinner at the brewery sounds better. I like the wine stopper medal - now that's a useful piece of bling!

@noblsheep congratulations on your HM as well, and beating your goal time! Well done! A well-timed rain shower would be welcome on some races for sure.

PastorVincent

samthepanda wrote: »

So after yesterday’s half I feel a bit tired, some aches in the thighs and core, big blister on my toe, but nowhere as as sore as I thought I’d feel. There was a discount on next years event if we signed up within 24 hours - so I did! I have a 10k in August then the half next year. Advise me knowledgable people - do I keep doing long runs, or do I lay off for a while?

We can not. Only YOU can prevent forest fires.... wait wrong thread.

Anyways, the only legit advice will be to listen to you your body and ramp up as slowly or as fast as your body seems ready. Personally *I* take no time at all off from a half, and start running 1 day after a full or ultra - BUT I am stupid and crazy so not the best model in this case.

Take a day, see how you feel, and then try running and see how it goes. Your blister will hinder you more than your muscles I bet. With time and experience, you will learn your body and how fast you can push it.

zeesparrow

Congratulations @shanaber and @noblsheep!

No running for me this weekend. We spent Saturday with the kids and their SO's. I squatted deep and fast at one point and my knee was not happy about it. Lots of ice that night and yesterday, and it feels much better this morning.

While walking the dogs yesterday morning, an off-leash dog came up to us. His owner was calling him but he ignored her and kept coming. She apologized and said "Charlie's friendly" and I yelled "but mine aren't"! My girl typically isn't... and then she slipped her collar. I instantly freaked out. I need to chill. She was fine. She tried to play with him for about 3 seconds and came back when I called her. Thank God.

I didn't realize how much that stressed me out until I got home. I debated going for my run then but decided against it. That was probably wise as my knee was still a little tender. Instead, I put together a storage bench for our entryway. That was probably not so wise. Now my hamstrings and back are sore.

Time to take the dogs out again. Hopefully Charlie's still in bed.

PastorVincent

PastorVincent wrote: »

samthepanda wrote: »

So after yesterday’s half I feel a bit tired, some aches in the thighs and core, big blister on my toe, but nowhere as as sore as I thought I’d feel. There was a discount on next years event if we signed up within 24 hours - so I did! I have a 10k in August then the half next year. Advise me knowledgable people - do I keep doing long runs, or do I lay off for a while?

We can not. Only YOU can prevent forest fires.... wait wrong thread.

Anyways, the only legit advice will be to listen to you your body and ramp up as slowly or as fast as your body seems ready. Personally *I* take no time at all off from a half, and start running 1 day after a full or ultra - BUT I am stupid and crazy so not the best model in this case.

Take a day, see how you feel, and then try running and see how it goes. Your blister will hinder you more than your muscles I bet. With time and experience, you will learn your body and how fast you can push it.

Sorry, failed my reading comprehension - you only asked about long runs not starting running back up in general.

OKAY - so that all depends on your goals. Do you WANT to build distance and speed? Then, keep doing long runs.

Do you just want to work speed? Then you can lay off long runs for now, BUT they would still help with speed so I would not.

Do you not want to build anything, but just coast for a while and then restart hard training as your next long race approaches? Then do that, but know that your performance will suffer.

So what it really comes down to is how much YOU WANT to run farther and faster. If you do, then you need to keep up the long runs. If not then you have choices.