November 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

TheMrWobbly

That was fantastic @emmamcgarity

shanaber

@Avidkeo - loved the pictures too. I was so fascinated by them that when @ContraryMaryMary put the name in her post I had to look it up and see why it looks to be such a perfect circle. According to Wikipedia the government measured out a radius of 6 miles all the way around and let the farms go right up to the edge of the preserve. I would love to visit it some day!
@orphia - it looks like there is a park run somewhere near LA. I will have to check it out!
@noblsheep - I saw the PT yesterday because of off and on pain I have in my left knee. (I thought it was from an old meniscus tear but the ortho doc said he thought it was a strength/form issue and sent me for PT) This was our first 'workout' session and as we went through the various exercises he said doing them regularly will improve my form and a big benefit is in improved performance and pace.
He also told me he thinks I will be able to transition away from the orthotics that have been prescribed for years as I improve my form and strength/stability in the supporting muscles of my ankles and around my knees. My legs are very strong just not in all the right places I guess.
@emmamcgarity - Congratulations on a great PR and loved your race report!
@RunsOnEspresso - I hope the ankle is nothing serious. It does sound like your pup is making progress though. I do wonder about where you run and why there is so much food on the ground 🥴 I mean we occasionally will see a small trail of crackers (gold fish typically) or something like that from little kids but I think the birds and squirrels carry it all away pretty quickly.

No run for me today. I was wiped out last night from strength training followed by PT. I was really surprised at how exhausted I was but them I had also run 8 miles on Thursday. This morning looked beautiful and cool out and I actually thought about going for a short running but decided my body needs some rest. I will be taking the pup out for a fast walk in a bit just to get out and move.

I have 12 miles on the plan for tomorrow for my MobyCarp slot. Haven't joined the group yet but will do so this afternoon.

polskagirl01

shanaber wrote: »

@RunsOnEspresso - I hope the ankle is nothing serious. It does sound like your pup is making progress though. I do wonder about where you run and why there is so much food on the ground 🥴 I mean we occasionally will see a small trail of crackers (gold fish typically) or something like that from little kids but I think the birds and squirrels carry it all away pretty quickly.

@RunsOnEspresso I was just about to offer my condolences and well-wishes about your ankle, and ask the same question about why there's so much food laying around where you run! But @shanaber has beat me to it. Seriously, I hope your ankle is ok.

globalhiker

Nov to date: 9.3 mi
Miles to go: 115.7!

Not yet signed up for 2020 races. Looking for one in the Spring, super-scenic, hills, sunny, in the Western states, no busy cities. I run at 1500 ft altitude but want to try a higher altitude mountain trail half marathon, maybe a full, not worry about time but do it for the experience. Anyone have recommendations?

rheddmobile

@emmamcgarity WOW! Great race and a great time!

@RunsOnEspresso oh no, your poor leg, hope it isn’t serious. I’m also wondering where you run that so many people leave food on the ground.

RunsOnEspresso

@shanaber @polskagirl01 @rheddmobile I run through our neighborhood. Earlier this summer it was chicken bones everywhere (which I know are super bad for dogs so that was fun). I also have to be careful of broken glass. People in Phoenix are apparently very trashy. I always think I could fill so many bags if I ever did plogging (wearing gloves of course). We have no squirrels. Mostly only pigeons.

Ankle is already feeling better. I think it's just sensitive to quick movements still.

PastorVincent

Race Report!

So, as a reminder:

Primary Goal: Finish well. If I run well and accomplish nothing else, still a win
Base Goal: Beat 1:27 (PR from 5 years ago, last time I ran a 10 miler)
Stretch Goal: Beat 1:20 (All things fall perfectly, this is possible)

This race was one I have never ran before because in the past it has been on a Sunday, but this year they moved it to Saturday. For whatever reason, the 10 mile distance is not a popular race length. Really, I have not much in the way of races between 10k and full marathon. This meant I really was not sure what to expect. So months back I chatted with @MobyCarp about it and he told me that if I trained right he was sure I could hit 1:20. He died not that much after that.

So, this morning when I got up and it was 27 degrees F and falling. The weather was calling for light snow, and I was still pretty sleepy, I was like, I have to run it. How could I not?

We arrived in plenty of time, which was good because I made a few wrong turns and ended up in the wrong parking lot. We suited up and walked a good half-mile to the starting area, so despite being the wrong lot it was not too bad, and it had a bonus.

We passed 2 port-a-potties with no lines. So, with both ducked in and did our thing before walking the rest of the way to the start. I will not TMI you, but it was a really good thing I stopped at that bathroom. The morning would have horrible otherwise.

So, the race was supposed to start at 7:55 for handcycles, and 8:00 for the rest of us. At 7:30 they had not opened the corrals yet. It probably was closer to 7:40 when we lined up. It was freezing (literally). I was cold. I was almost cold enough that I was worried I had underdressed, but I kept telling myself that I would be fine by mile two. So I just bounced in place near the 8:00 pacers.
After a while, I am like “We should have started by now,” and checked my watch, yep, 8:06. Not sure what all the holdup was, but we eventually got going.

Each mile had a theme, I will put that chart down in the spoiler tags for you to read over. There were two things that really stuck out. First coming around the bend and seeing a way larger than life Mr. Rodgers signing “Won’t you be my neighbor.” I think everyone teared up a bit at that. He was a local after all.

The other thing that really stuck out was like 1.5 miles from the finish there was a guy, sitting at a table (you have probably seen this meme) with a sign that said, “You can’t finish, prove me wrong.” Very original, at least in my experience.

As for the running part, my plan was to stick with the 8:00 pacers as long as I could. Nothing fancier than that. Well, we started something like 30 or 45 seconds behind the clock, but the pacers said they wanted to cross the line at exactly 1:20:00 on the clock. That meant we were pushing the pace a little, which I was more than fine with. All of us running with them thought it would be a killer shot to have a big group cross exactly at 1:20. Sadly as the miles went by, we lost people. Just about everyone in the end. Ah well.

By two miles I was starting to get hot.

By three miles I was reducing layers

By four miles my balaclava and gloves came off.

By five miles I was cold again! We turned out of the sun into heavily shaded streets and I swear the temp dropped at least 100 degrees, if not more. I spent the rest of the race on the edge of two cold, but I only put some of my layers back on. I was worried we would turn back out into the sun and I would be hot again.

I had nothing to worry about in that department as we never did.

Had I been doing my normal run by feel, I think I would have gone a little slower. The pace felt pushed to me and looking at the splits it seems we were running closer to a 7:45 pace than 8:00.
We turned into the last mile, and the pacers backed off the pace just a bit. I was having none of that and I pulled ahead. Strava says I ran that last split at 7:24, that matched mile 3 for my fastest split, save that mile 3 was downhill.

As I approached the line, I kept telling myself “hold what you got,” and did not allow myself to kick. See, you can see the finish line almost 3/4ths of a mile out and I was never sure how much distance was left. If I kicked too soon, I would have killed my good run. The few seconds I would have saved on the kick were not worth the risk. I was in no danger of placing, so no need to pass anyone.

That is okay. I crossed the line at 1:19:01 according to the official results! Strava says I hit THREE PRs in that race.

After I collected my medal, I ducked out of the finisher funnel, hid my medal in a jacket pocket and started walking back up the course looking for my wife. I met up with her when she had about 1.3 miles left to go and ran in again with her. She PR’d also.

As for the pacers, they missed their goal of a 1:20:00 finish by like 30 seconds. Ah well.
Oh, funny story. This is the first race ever where I finished with more clothes than I started with! See first at mile 4 they were handing out Pittsburg Steeler’s buffs. Then around mile five or six I see a hat in the road ahead of me. It looks just like my hat, so I snatch it up thinking I had lost it.
Right. See, thinking and running do not go well together, or I would have realized I could not have dropped the hat in a section of the race I had not yet run. Ah well, the hat is in the dryer now.
Some pics below in the spoiler tags.

1:19:01. @MobyCarp said he thought I could do it under 1:20. I will miss him, but at least I got to honor his memory today. Rest well my friend.

Mile themes:

If you haven't heard, this year's race is going to be the MOST Pittsburgh race ever!
Check out the Pittsburgh-themed miles below:

Mile 1

Theme: Military

Kick off the race with the Military Mile, celebrating our servicemen and servicewomen. You will take the start line at Station Square then make your way through West Carson Street.


Mile 2

Theme: City of Bridges

Pittsburgh is the City of Bridges, and you will get to run some of the most famous ones — starting with the West End Bridge on the City of Bridges Mile. As you head out of Southside, snap a pic with the Pittsburgh Flag!


Mile 3

Theme: Mr. Rogers

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood with the Mr. Rogers Mile! Celebrate Pittsburgh’s own favorite neighbor and rehydrate at the water stop with volunteers wearing Mr. Rogers’ trademark red cardigan. Maybe even stop for a brief break and pic on a trolley!


Mile 4

Theme: City of Champions

The City of Champions Mile will take you past Heinz Field and PNC Park along the North Shore, where you can run to the beat of the Steeline Drumline, wave your Pittsburgh towels, and maybe even snag a high five from two-time Super Bowl Champion Chris Hoke.


Mile 5

Theme: Pickle

Calling all Pickle lovers for the Pickle Mile! This leg of the race on the North Side features an on-course pickle giveaway, shots of pickle juice, and pickle pins to satisfy all your pickle cravings.


Mile 6

Theme: Pittsburgh Cookie Table

Carry on the Pittsburgh wedding tradition with the Cookie Table Mile. Grab some cookies from our cookie table station to carb up for the last four miles!


Mile 7

Theme: Pittsburghese

On the Pittsburghese Mile, yinz will run past signs featuring the very best of Pittsburgh’s own language and hear the legendary Pittsburgh Dad tell you what a GREAT job you’re doing.


Mile 8

Theme: Strip District

Only a few more miles to go! Pass through the Strip District Mile and experience the historic area known for its food and shopping.


Mile 9

Theme: Pierogies

A Pittsburgh favorite is on the menu for the Pierogi Mile! Pick up some pierogies to get your last carbs in as you head downtown toward the finish .


Mile 10

Theme: Parking Chairs

Check out our parking chair display in the home stretch on the Parking Chair Mile. Pull Up a Chair with VisitPittsburgh, and take a well-deserved break after crossing the finish line in Downtown Pittsburgh.

PastorVincent

Oh, my previous 10 mile PR was 1:27:something. So yeah. That happened.

LoveyChar

I fell short of 70 for October when my goal was 100! I'm getting 100 this month!

emmamcgarity

PastorVincent wrote: »

Oh, my previous 10 mile PR was 1:27:something. So yeah. That happened.

Admittedly I was stalking Strava today to see how your race turned out. Great race report! I love the themed miles! Congrats on your PR!

PastorVincent

emmamcgarity wrote: »

PastorVincent wrote: »

Oh, my previous 10 mile PR was 1:27:something. So yeah. That happened.

Admittedly I was stalking Strava today to see how your race turned out. Great race report! I love the themed miles! Congrats on your PR!

Thanks! I know we are a group of stalkers. Creepy in any other scenario though! LOL!

kgirlhart

@emmamcgarity and @PastorVincent I saw both of your great races on Strava this morning! Great job both of you on getting PRs.

rheddmobile

@PastorVincent Amazing PRs! Kudos to Kristi too! Also, in the pic where you are holding up your medal your fingers look the normal color, so I assume no problems on that front despite the cold.

PastorVincent

rheddmobile wrote: »

@PastorVincent Amazing PRs! Kudos to Kristi too! Also, in the pic where you are holding up your medal your fingers look the normal color, so I assume no problems on that front despite the cold.

Thanks!

I had my heat factory gloves and hand warmers. I got them started while still in the warm Jeep and was able to stay just ahead of the cooling the entire race. Had it been a full marathon it probably would not have gone as well, but only 10 miles I was able to manage it.

Thanks @kgirlhart !

marisap2010

Hubby and I went on a 3.6 mile walk today at a local park, and then I ran 3 miles for Kevin after we got home. The weather was perfect today!

Tramboman

Congratulations, @PastorVincent and Kristi!!! Nothing like a double PR in a tough race!!!

PastorVincent

Tramboman wrote: »

Congratulations, @PastorVincent and Kristi!!! Nothing like a double PR in a tough race!!!

Thanks!

quilteryoyo

Great race @emmamcgarity ! Congratulations on that awesome improvement!!!

@RunsOnEspresso Hope your ankle is okay and that your dog didn't eat anything that would make her sick.

Congratulations on your awesome race @PastorVincent and Kristi! Great race report. I had to laugh at you picking up the hat, thinking that you had dropped it.

PastorVincent

RunsOnEspresso wrote: »

@shanaber @polskagirl01 @rheddmobile I run through our neighborhood. Earlier this summer it was chicken bones everywhere (which I know are super bad for dogs so that was fun). I also have to be careful of broken glass. People in Phoenix are apparently very trashy. I always think I could fill so many bags if I ever did plogging (wearing gloves of course). We have no squirrels. Mostly only pigeons.

Ankle is already feeling better. I think it's just sensitive to quick movements still.

Erf. Slobs. Well glad to hear your ankle is not serious at least.

Scott6255

@emmamcgarity, @PastorVincent , and Kristi Huge Kudos and big Congratulations for your PRs!!! All of really CRUSHED your previous times. Great race reports!