December 2019 Monthly Running Challenge
Replies
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T1DCarnivoreRunner wrote: »Today is the St. Jude's Memphis Marathon... I hope I can get through this.
Oh man, I meant to ask you for your bib number and forgot! Tell us all about it! There is literally nothing on their results page except a message to refresh the page, last year it was a week before any results were visible.
This is my first year not running the St Jude Marathon Weekend 5k, just didn’t want to deal with the logistics and all the people. Instead I have today as a rest day, spent the morning looking at my Christmas tree and drinking coffee with cacao powder and vanilla. But my thoughts are with the rest of you struggling out there!
@Kaitie9399 Have a great race!2 -
Hi all thanks for the supportive messages and a special mention and hug to @LoveyChar.
So I managed two runs and a interval training class in the five days I had in December pre surgery! Didn’t quite get to 15m but close enough.
Had the surgery yesterday and it’s all gone well although it’s very painful and will take a while to recover. I’m definitely going to stick around to keep me motivated and stay in touch. Have a good few days running and I’ll pop back on soon x
12/2: 6.3m
12/3: 2.2m
12/4: 6.2m
December total: 14.7m
November total: 44.8m
October total: 64.1m
September total: 82.2m
August total: 85m
July total: 90.1m
June total: 86.1m
May total: 67.6m
April total: 71.5m
March total: 42.9m
February total: 30.2m
January total: 31.7m
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Goal: 30 miles
12/2 - Ran 2.02 miles
12/3 - Ran 3.05 miles
12/5 - Ran 1.55 miles
12/7 - Ran 4.11 miles (10.73 done, 19.27 miles remaining)
Not my best effort, I've had better runs, I've had worse. I did half road, then finished up on the trails in the state park. At one point, about 2.75 miles, I was running at a pretty good clip (eh, for me, anyways) in a good mind space, then Mother Nature threw a monkey wrench at me. There was an underground root I didn't see, my left foot rolled, I thought I split my shoe (I didn't), but the outside of my foot was sore the rest of the way. So my right hamstrings (they have been tight for a while, but been getting better) decided to shoot some sympathy tightness. Yet, I finished, even going over (Ok, by a little, but still..).7 -
Thank You and Race Report (from my first race ever!)
@greenolivetree, @rheddmobile, @polskagirl01, @dreamer12151, @kgirlhart, @eleanorhawkins, @Avidkeo, @shanaber, @quilteryoyo, @noblsheep, @username301, @LoveyChar, and anyone else I may have missed, thanks for your supportive responses to my post from a few days, when I felt so demotivated.
I decided to run only a couple times this week prior to today, because I had a race on the schedule for earlier this morning, and convinced myself I was tapering. So, minus the race time, I was running at about 60% of my usual time/distance this week.
The race was held in south Durham (NC) today and was sponsored by Race13.1, an organization that a racing buddy of mine calls a McRacer. Not sure what he means, except that Race13.1 seems very corporate and sponsors a lot of races. However, this race was pretty small. They ran an HM, a 10K, a 5K, and a kid's race. 143 people participated in the 5K, which was much smaller than the HM. The 10K looked like the smallest adult race.
I felt kind of like an anthropologist. There is this whole other culture in my community I knew nothing about previously.
The day before the race I picked up my bib at Omega Sports, a little store tucked in a large strip mall. I had never seen it before. So now I have a new place to shop for shoes, besides the regular, better known stores. With my bib they gave me a Santa hat and a green Christmas-themed technical shirt. (BTW, there is no finisher's medal for the 5K.)
I couldn't really sleep last night so I got up a little earlier than intended and was down at the race venue about 50 minutes before the 5K race started. So much was going on at 7:30 AM. The little kid's race (more on little kids later, or at least one particular kid) was ending, people were cheering them on, and there was a lot of really loud music blasting from the "runners' village." I made a note to look for Mr. Peanut after the race. For some reason the Planter's truck was there and they were handing out peanuts. But really, the draw was seeing Mr. Peanut. Mr Peanut, it turns out, has some moves. When he got there, he spent the whole time dancing to the music blasting out of the loudspeakers. The Santa, OTOH, was just kind of hanging out in his tent, looking lonely. Santa definitely needs to up his game if he is going to compete with Mr. Peanut for attention.
It was such a clear sunny morning, about 40F but felt cooler, and dry, just perfect, the exact weather I like to run in. My friend David, who is mostly an ultra/trail runner, signed up for the 5K just so he could run with me. After we met, though, he said he might also try to see if he could get first place in his age category and I told him I was fine with that. I told him going in that my training pace was averaging around 10 minutes per mile, depending on how far I was running, and that I planned to stick close to that pace. Then he asked me if I had a watch (meaning a Garmin like his) and when I said no, he asked how I was going to keep track of my pace. I had not really thought about it. Since I got all my pace information from my b210K app I had not planned on how to run without it, except to not run so fast it was no longer fun.
Anyway, David really helped me; the first mile and a quarter he stuck by me (or I stuck by him.) After that first 1.25 miles, he informed me that we were running at 8:30 and I almost fell out. I told him I didn't think I could keep up with that and that it was fine if he broke away from me, so he did.
As it turns out, my final pace was 9:12/mile. And since it was my first race it was, by definition, a PB. :-)
About that kid... So at a little over 2 miles it was clear that everyone was so spread out that no one was going to lap me any time soon, and I had passed a few people who were too close to me (I thought) but there was this little kid about 2 yards in front of me who I *could* *not* *pass*. I am not good at judging ages but I would say he must have been around 11 or 12 or so. He looked like he stood at about 4 and 1/2 feet tall. And for some reason the sound of his feet just became louder and louder to me. I realized why, and it was because I was in complete awe of his turnover. That boy was flying. To run at that pace with those short legs, it was very humbling to me. And man did I want to pass him.
And, with a *lot* of effort I finally I did. And then we came to a hill and I walked. And I thought, walk breaks are OK and that is that. So the little kid lapped me. But then we came down the hill and I lapped him, lol. I think I finished just in front of him. It was so ridiculous feeling that competitive that I had to laugh at myself. It also made running more fun.
So yay for walk breaks. And yay for good friends to run with. And yay for little kids who can lap me. I had a great time today.
ETA: The race took place on the American Tobacco Trail: https://race131.com/races/race-13-1-durham-nc/course-maps
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@durhammfp Way to go!! That is awesome for you! I can't even imagine running at those paces, so you are laping even me, my friend, and at your 1st 5K to boot. Proud of you for beginning to recognize running your own race, too.
Do you listen to podcasts at all? If so, there is a motivating runner, Kelly Roberts, who has some brilliant podcasts to motivate and make you think. "Run Selfie Repeat".
And what about your friend? Did he place in his AG?4 -
dreamer12151 wrote: »@durhammfp Way to go!! That is awesome for you! I can't even imagine running at those paces, so you are laping even me, my friend, and at your 1st 5K to boot. Proud of you for beginning to recognize running your own race, too.
Do you listen to podcasts at all? If so, there is a motivating runner, Kelly Roberts, who has some brilliant podcasts to motivate and make you think. "Run Selfie Repeat".
And what about your friend? Did he place in his AG?
Thank you!
Yes he did! There were only two people in his category though, lol. Although when looking at the stats it did occur to me that, even though there were fewer people >50 years old, the old folks can be pretty serious about training. They're some of the fastest people in the race.
ETA: As far as podcasts I usually listen to wonky things like https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/. I need to get a few podcasts that, mmm, give me a little more pep.3 -
@durhammfp well done! Congrats!2
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PastorVincent wrote: »@durhammfp well done! Congrats!
Thank you sir!1 -
Congratulations @durhammfp on your 1st 5K race! You really went into race beast mode to crush that PR pace!
Yay @Faebert! So glad to hear the surgery went well 😊
7 miles for me this afternoon. This is considered a long run these days. Was slow, but negative split each mile (except 1). Still didn't feel easy. Can't believe taking off only two weeks loses so much fitness.
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@durhammfp Great race report! Congratulations on a great race and PB!
@Faebert So glad the surgery went well. Hope your recovery is smooth.2 -
I was about to head out and run, but then I notice the weather report for tomorrow called for temps approaching 50F vs today where they are still below freezing. So I think today is a rest day.
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@durhammfp Great first race!!! That's a great pace! I had to laugh at you and the 12 year old. When I first started running 10 years ago, my first race there was a lady who was in her 80's. My goal was just to pass her at the end, since we were so close the entire race. I think I beat her by about 5 seconds. I just didn't want to let someone 30 years my senior beat me. But, now, I want to be that 80 year old that doesn't let the 50 year old pass her.
@Faebert Glad your surgery went well and that you are sticking around for motivation and support - and to support us.
@dreamer12151 Way to hang in there. I hope you didn't hurt your ankle too badly.
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@durhammfp Your PR is coincidentally exactly the same as the time I ran at the Turkey Trot last week, except it was your first race and it took me a year and a half to get a time less than 30 minutes. Way to go!5
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@durhammfp well done! Great race report, and. PB! Now I feel I should have to meet you!
I almost signed up for that one. Race13.1 has a similar one in Raleigh in November and spring time. I’ve run the American Tobacco Trail and love it.
@Faebert glad it went well! Good luck with the recovery2 -
So good so far... Hope you’re all finding the time to stick to your December goal. Lots of distractions this time of year... 😉
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Race report for the 5K I ran this morning. The weather this week has been cool and felt colder than the thermometer read. The forecast was for a great day today, and, for once, they were correct. When I got up this morning it was 38°F and clear. The race started at 10, so I knew it would warm up some. I wasn't sure what to wear, but I know I prefer to be hot and sweat to being cold. So, I overdressed with leggings, a long sleeved shirt, and a jacket.
Race start temperature was 48°F. I probably should have shed the jacket, but during my warm up walk it still felt cold in the shade to me. Since this race was sponsored by a church, we had a pre-race prayer and then the National Anthem was sung. I love this about being in the Bible Belt in a small town. Even if there are non-religious (non-Christians) in the group, no one complains.
I heard some pre-race talk about the course being really hilly and one of the volunteers I know said she didn't run it because the course looked "scary" to her. LOL We set off and I started out a little bit too fast, but tried to reign myself in. The first part of the course was a deceptive hill - one of those that doesn't look too steep, but wears you out before you get to the top. Mile one ended on another long, not quite as steep hill. The course then went down a long, very steep hill, and into a local park, onto a concrete path where the turn around was located. This was all good until coming back out of the park. There was a very steep, short hill I managed to push through and run up. After that the course went up that VERY steep hill we came down. I had done well with my plan to run 4 minutes and then walk one minute until then. I had to quit and walk after only a 3 minute run. I just couldn't do it.
Mile 2 ended about the point where I had to stop and walk. Once I managed to get over that, the rest wasn't horrible. I did have to start my walk a little early one more time and I walked about 15 seconds up the last hill. Then, it was on to the finish line. I still had enough left in me for a pretty good kick at the end. Garmin said my pace for that last sprint was 7:32/mile. Not bad, even if for only about 30 seconds.
My splits were 10:44, 11:18, and 11:39. Elevation gain was 201 feet. I don't have enough experience with races to know if that is a lot or if some of you are laughing at how "level" that is in relation to most. To me, it was a lot!
Results were: I got First Place in my age group!!! I was 70th out of 197 overall. I'm not sure where I am in relation to all other females or how many were in my age group. The results aren't up on the website yet.
Bling was a nice shirt. Instead of medals, they had a tile with the logo for the Isaiah House on it, only for the people who placed in their age groups.
Also, a lady from the church made home made/hand decorated ginger bread house cookies for everyone. They were delicious.
Garmin gave me two PR's for the race - Fastest 5K at 34:42 (Garmin had me going just a little bit further than a 5K) and fastest mile at 10:40. I'm pleased with the results.
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quilteryoyo wrote: »Race report for the 5K I ran this morning. The weather this week has been cool and felt colder than the thermometer read. The forecast was for a great day today, and, for once, they were correct. When I got up this morning it was 38°F and clear. The race started at 10, so I knew it would warm up some. I wasn't sure what to wear, but I know I prefer to be hot and sweat to being cold. So, I overdressed with leggings, a long sleeved shirt, and a jacket.
Race start temperature was 48°F. I probably should have shed the jacket, but during my warm up walk it still felt cold in the shade to me. Since this race was sponsored by a church, we had a pre-race prayer and then the National Anthem was sung. I love this about being in the Bible Belt in a small town. Even if there are non-religious (non-Christians) in the group, no one complains.
I heard some pre-race talk about the course being really hilly and one of the volunteers I know said she didn't run it because the course looked "scary" to her. LOL We set off and I started out a little bit too fast, but tried to reign myself in. The first part of the course was a deceptive hill - one of those that doesn't look too steep, but wears you out before you get to the top. Mile one ended on another long, not quite as steep hill. The course then went down a long, very steep hill, and into a local park, onto a concrete path where the turn around was located. This was all good until coming back out of the park. There was a very steep, short hill I managed to push through and run up. After that the course went up that VERY steep hill we came down. I had done well with my plan to run 4 minutes and then walk one minute until then. I had to quit and walk after only a 3 minute run. I just couldn't do it.
Mile 2 ended about the point where I had to stop and walk. Once I managed to get over that, the rest wasn't horrible. I did have to start my walk a little early one more time and I walked about 15 seconds up the last hill. Then, it was on to the finish line. I still had enough left in me for a pretty good kick at the end. Garmin said my pace for that last sprint was 7:32/mile. Not bad, even if for only about 30 seconds.
My splits were 10:44, 11:18, and 11:39. Elevation gain was 201 feet. I don't have enough experience with races to know if that is a lot or if some of you are laughing at how "level" that is in relation to most. To me, it was a lot!
Results were: I got First Place in my age group!!! I was 70th out of 197 overall. I'm not sure where I am in relation to all other females or how many were in my age group. The results aren't up on the website yet.
Bling was a nice shirt. Instead of medals, they had a tile with the logo for the Isaiah House on it, only for the people who placed in their age groups.
Also, a lady from the church made home made/hand decorated ginger bread house cookies for everyone. They were delicious.
Garmin gave me two PR's for the race - Fastest 5K at 34:42 (Garmin had me going just a little bit further than a 5K) and fastest mile at 10:40. I'm pleased with the results.
Fantastic! Way to go and well done managing the race your way. Great report and pics! And a first place, woohoo!2 -
@T1DCarnivoreRunner Awwwwww, what a great cause, not a better reason in the world to run for than those sweet babies...you will be AMAZING today!
@Kaitie9399 Good luck and enjoy it!
Eh, I am not really passionate about St. Jude at all, it is just a race that fits my schedule and is in TN, one of the states I needed to add.
So I finished despite injury and severe calf cramps. It was my new 2nd slowest race, by about 13 seconds. But I finished, and that was the goal.9 -
@T1DCarnivoreRunner That sounds like you had a rough race. Hope your injury isn't too severe. Way to hang in there and finish.1
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hamsterwheel6 wrote: »quilteryoyo wrote: »Race report for the 5K I ran this morning. The weather this week has been cool and felt colder than the thermometer read. The forecast was for a great day today, and, for once, they were correct. When I got up this morning it was 38°F and clear. The race started at 10, so I knew it would warm up some. I wasn't sure what to wear, but I know I prefer to be hot and sweat to being cold. So, I overdressed with leggings, a long sleeved shirt, and a jacket.
Race start temperature was 48°F. I probably should have shed the jacket, but during my warm up walk it still felt cold in the shade to me. Since this race was sponsored by a church, we had a pre-race prayer and then the National Anthem was sung. I love this about being in the Bible Belt in a small town. Even if there are non-religious (non-Christians) in the group, no one complains.
I heard some pre-race talk about the course being really hilly and one of the volunteers I know said she didn't run it because the course looked "scary" to her. LOL We set off and I started out a little bit too fast, but tried to reign myself in. The first part of the course was a deceptive hill - one of those that doesn't look too steep, but wears you out before you get to the top. Mile one ended on another long, not quite as steep hill. The course then went down a long, very steep hill, and into a local park, onto a concrete path where the turn around was located. This was all good until coming back out of the park. There was a very steep, short hill I managed to push through and run up. After that the course went up that VERY steep hill we came down. I had done well with my plan to run 4 minutes and then walk one minute until then. I had to quit and walk after only a 3 minute run. I just couldn't do it.
Mile 2 ended about the point where I had to stop and walk. Once I managed to get over that, the rest wasn't horrible. I did have to start my walk a little early one more time and I walked about 15 seconds up the last hill. Then, it was on to the finish line. I still had enough left in me for a pretty good kick at the end. Garmin said my pace for that last sprint was 7:32/mile. Not bad, even if for only about 30 seconds.
My splits were 10:44, 11:18, and 11:39. Elevation gain was 201 feet. I don't have enough experience with races to know if that is a lot or if some of you are laughing at how "level" that is in relation to most. To me, it was a lot!
Results were: I got First Place in my age group!!! I was 70th out of 197 overall. I'm not sure where I am in relation to all other females or how many were in my age group. The results aren't up on the website yet.
Bling was a nice shirt. Instead of medals, they had a tile with the logo for the Isaiah House on it, only for the people who placed in their age groups.
Also, a lady from the church made home made/hand decorated ginger bread house cookies for everyone. They were delicious.
Garmin gave me two PR's for the race - Fastest 5K at 34:42 (Garmin had me going just a little bit further than a 5K) and fastest mile at 10:40. I'm pleased with the results.
Fantastic! Way to go and well done managing the race your way. Great report and pics! And a first place, woohoo!
First is first - doesn't matter how many finished behind you.
Well done!!!!
Now you have a feel for the strategy you need to implement for your next 5k race.1 -
Today's race was harder than I expected. We ran a mountain biking trail at a zip line park. Lots of slow and sneaky ups and downs. And then some brutal uphills. Trails were very technical. One dog broke his lead and caused a bit of havoc before the start. Speed demon was anxious but once we hit the trail, she found her stride and enjoyed it. It was slow race. I had to walk the first mile.
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So i did it! Today, I realized that it’s time to get a running pack for water. I got so thirsty that i drank from a spring. I hope it was safe!
I also realized that the reason my time is so bad is that I spend so much time goofing off on the trail, taking pictures, walking .....
I was getting pretty discouraged by my first mile being 23 minutes! So i decided to get out of the woods and run on the paved trail for a solid mile to see what my time actually is.
12 minutes - on a day when I had already lifted and ran! I can effectively do a 12 minute mile conversationally! I know that’s not fast, but it’s a good marathon pace and that’s what I need. I was so excited that after a walking interval, I did it again!!!!! I had been so bummed because I struggle so much on the pavement whereas in the gym I don’t seem to have the same problem. I am thinking I need to switch up my training schedule so that on days when i have a long run, that’s ALL I’m doing. I need to figure it out because the whole marathon in April is on pavement.
A couple of weeks ago i ran 2 miles in 20 minutes with C25K- i think that program is structured in such a way where it focuses on a faster pace. That’s fine, but I have to remember I can’t run that pace for 26 miles.
Anyway, I made it to the top of the little mountain today. 10.5 miles total today!10 -
Here are some pics from today0
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Here are some pics from today0
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Here are some pics from today0
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HOW DO I DELETE MULTIPLE IDENTICAL POSTS?
AND WHY IS IT SAYING “you are not allowed to upload images in this category?”1 -
Well done @mbaker566 and @quilteryoyo
Magnificent first race @durhammfp - great pace and great commitment!1 -
Congratulations on your race and AG win @quilteryoyo!
Congratulations on your race too @mbaker566 and Speed Demon!1 -
@Camaramandy648 Are you using Android? You might need to do this with a browser... even when I load pics from android, I can't use the app. I just use Chrome.1
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