January 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

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  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    Saturday night was the Buffaglo run at Shelby Farms, an untimed fun run through the Christmas lights on the last night before they come down.

    What an adventure!
  • TheMrWobbly
    TheMrWobbly Posts: 2,541 Member
    Good to see you are feeling better @Emmamcgarity

    Totally with you on just setting a standard @LoveyChar and I know lots of you guys want the quickest time but I am happy finishing and knowing that the pace was the best I could manage without hurting myself – though I still manage injuries somehow!

    Nicely done on your 9k @Avidkeo

    Great work on rolling back the clock for your 4 miler @kimlight2

    Intersted in that form for shin splints @Scott6255 if you have the podcast link?

    Glad you found the ‘magic’ in the end @rheddmobile

    I have same dilemma @username301 as I power walked the last 0.7 miles as I stopped and picked up bread and a coffee at the shop before the end of my 12 mile run. I still counted it as I have done the miles and not every mile will be at race pace. On days when I don’t feel right if I stop to walk for part of the run then I would still count it.

    Keep updating on the gels @Camaramandy648 as I’m going for a marathon in April and so far haven’t used gels but my longest run is a half and I haven’t managed any sustenance mid-run yet. My best attempt ended in a jelly belly massacre. I was given 1kg of pink shrimp and 1.5kg of jelly belly’s at Christmas so I think I’ll start with those before investing in something more “professional”.

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  • Camaramandy648
    Camaramandy648 Posts: 711 Member
    @LoveyChar i remember once you said how tall you are but it escapes me - but i think we are similar- I am 4 ft 11 inches, and currently weighing in at 123. I started changing my food habits when one day last year I weighed myself and I think it was like 134 or 139 or something. I have endometriosis too so what I eat affects how I feel and look to the max. The women in my family tend to develop food sensitivities in their 30s also. But my question for you is - how do you stay at 110? My “goal” weight is 115 but I’m not really unhappy with 123. I have been focusing more on running than eating and then when I eat (except the last month bc holidays) I try to focus on foods that fuel recovery.

    @PastorVincent how do you run ten miles easy? And I am so glad to know it’s normal to struggle the first few miles! It’s actually a huge relief because yesterday the thought crossed my mind “well maybe I’m just not going to be a real runner. Maybe I just need to accept that I’m not that good at this.” But .... anybody who is running consistently is a runner ..... and if it’s normal to need a couple miles to get into it, then that means most everyone else goes through the same thing. It is encouraging to know I’m not alone!

    And about pace: I wouldn’t even know how to build it up/ cut it back. Tips? Strategies?

    @TheMrWobbly I will post again this upcoming Saturday about how the different fuel sources work. I was surprised by the gel - I had tried some other chews one time and basically didn’t feel a difference at all. But the gel and nuun tabs took me from “there is no way i can do this,” at mile 5 to, “ I feel FINE! I’m doing it!”

    Very sore legs today. Very very sore but my knees don’t seem to be hurting anymore so that’s definitely something.

    Good job to the rest of you on your running and getting out there to just do it!
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    And about pace: I wouldn’t even know how to build it up/ cut it back. Tips? Strategies?

    I am not sure I understand what your question is. Can you ask it again using different words? :)
  • Camaramandy648
    Camaramandy648 Posts: 711 Member
    @LoveyChar i remember once you said how tall you are but it escapes me - but i think we are similar- I am 4 ft 11 inches, and currently weighing in at 123. I started changing my food habits when one day last year I weighed myself and I think it was like 134 or 139 or something. I have endometriosis too so what I eat affects how I feel and look to the max. The women in my family tend to develop food sensitivities in their 30s also. But my question for you is - how do you stay at 110? My “goal” weight is 115 but I’m not really unhappy with 123. I have been focusing more on running than eating and then when I eat (except the last month bc holidays) I try to focus on foods that fuel recovery.

    A bit off-topic of this thread, but PLEASE do not compare your goal weight anyone else, even if they are the same gender/height. There are SO MANY different factors that apply. For example, I am obese by some measures, and yet if you see a picture of me you would be like "Dude, eat a cheeseburger!" :)

    Pick the weight that works for YOUR body and YOUR physiology, and you will be happier and healthier.

    @PastorVincent YASSS!!!! My pastor says - and most of them are saying - comparison is the thief of joy.

    I don’t think about losing weight anymore. It’s not my goal - I think about strengthening muscles to improve running performance and food to aid in recovery as well as improve performance and avoid the pain and bloat of endometriosis. I have found that the more I run, the better I feel. The more I focus on putting in GOOD fuel, the better I perform. The weight game will ebb and flow the more I run and focus on these things, I think.

    And I was wrong - my knees are totally sore today. EVERYTHING is. How do you all even consider a recovery run the day after a long run?!

  • Camaramandy648
    Camaramandy648 Posts: 711 Member
    And about pace: I wouldn’t even know how to build it up/ cut it back. Tips? Strategies?

    I am not sure I understand what your question is. Can you ask it again using different words? :)

    @PastorVincent how do i get faster, lol. Even at 12 minutes outside, I am struggling. A few weeks ago it was easier - and it IS getting easier - but it still feels like maybe 85% effort. It is hard to sustain, ESPECIALLY outside. On the treadmill- not so much. But the treadmill isn’t good training for an outdoor marathon in Nashville.

    It could be that I’m not trying as hard as I think I am. Maybe I just need to go outside with a focus on speed play. Which actually sounds awful today.
  • Camaramandy648
    Camaramandy648 Posts: 711 Member
    @PastorVincent guess my frustration is that the last few weeks, it has seemed to be harder and not progressively easier. I’m hoping the new shoes will help with this.

    If they don’t then I worry I’m doing it all wrong
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    And I was wrong - my knees are totally sore today. EVERYTHING is. How do you all even consider a recovery run the day after a long run?!

    You will perform like you train. :) I have run the day before and the day after long runs, even ultras my entire running career. So when my "long-run" was 4 miles, I ran the next day. "Long run" is very relative though. Keep in mind for me, less than double-digit miles is a "short-run" for me. 10-15 is middle distances, 18-20 is the beginning of a long run. I am in a different running category than 99% of the world, so never judge yourself by what I do. :)

    I can have run 20+ miles one day, and 10 the next - that 10 was WAY slower than it normally would be, but I find recovery is MUCH faster/easier when you do it like that rather than sit around.

    You need to test and see what works for you. If you busted out 10 and that was your limit, make your recovery run like 3 or 4 miles. Play with it and see what works.

    Before starting this plan with this coach, I ran by HOURS not MILES with "2 hours" be around how much time I spent running and pending weather, health, and location it was farther or shorter. :)


  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    @Camaramandy648 have to run, more later.
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    And about pace: I wouldn’t even know how to build it up/ cut it back. Tips? Strategies?

    I am not sure I understand what your question is. Can you ask it again using different words? :)

    @PastorVincent how do i get faster, lol. Even at 12 minutes outside, I am struggling. A few weeks ago it was easier - and it IS getting easier - but it still feels like maybe 85% effort. It is hard to sustain, ESPECIALLY outside. On the treadmill- not so much. But the treadmill isn’t good training for an outdoor marathon in Nashville.

    It could be that I’m not trying as hard as I think I am. Maybe I just need to go outside with a focus on speed play. Which actually sounds awful today.

    If you are struggling at 12 slow down to 13 or or 14 or even slower. Run at conversational pace for your training runs. As you build endurance your conversational pace will get faster on its own. When I was doing the 10k trainer I had to go as slow as 16 just to get through it and build my cardio base. Once I built up more endurance most of my training runs were around 13. Once I started training with a group class my training runs landed around 11.

    Are you following a training plan? Do you have an upcoming race?
  • Scott6255
    Scott6255 Posts: 2,550 Member

    Intersted in that form for shin splints @Scott6255 if you have the podcast link?

    It was the Runner's Connect "Run to the Top" podcast episode "Start With Your Big Toe and Get Those Feet Involved for Better Running: Jay Dicharry". Don't know what app you use to listen to podcast, but here is the link on the web. Some of it is a promotion for his Mobo training board, so take from that what you want.
  • Camaramandy648
    Camaramandy648 Posts: 711 Member
    And about pace: I wouldn’t even know how to build it up/ cut it back. Tips? Strategies?

    I am not sure I understand what your question is. Can you ask it again using different words? :)

    @PastorVincent how do i get faster, lol. Even at 12 minutes outside, I am struggling. A few weeks ago it was easier - and it IS getting easier - but it still feels like maybe 85% effort. It is hard to sustain, ESPECIALLY outside. On the treadmill- not so much. But the treadmill isn’t good training for an outdoor marathon in Nashville.

    It could be that I’m not trying as hard as I think I am. Maybe I just need to go outside with a focus on speed play. Which actually sounds awful today.

    If you are struggling at 12 slow down to 13 or or 14 or even slower. Run at conversational pace for your training runs. As you build endurance your conversational pace will get faster on its own. When I was doing the 10k trainer I had to go as slow as 16 just to get through it and build my cardio base. Once I built up more endurance most of my training runs were around 13. Once I started training with a group class my training runs landed around 11.

    Are you following a training plan? Do you have an upcoming race?

    @emmamcgarity yes! I finished C25K and am now doing the 10K trainer while incorporating long runs on the weekends - marathon April 25!!!!

    This is all good advice! I have a really short stride and i don’t know how to change that so I’ll be still running at 14 or sixteen minutes. Sixteen minutes for me is walking really fast.

    I’m trying to get my pace down because I think the time limit for the marathon is 6 hours!
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    Just found this group and I could use some help with accountability, so here goes!

    Just starting back up with running after having done a couple of triathlons about 10 years ago. The running seems to have been correlated with lower back pain that has been with me ever since (likely due to tight hip flexors). I hated the running part so I wasn't sad to give it up, but I've always wanted to like running, so I decided to try again recently. Found the None 2 Run program and decided to give it another go.

    Unfortunately, I was really dumb on the first run and didn't stretch out beforehand and ended up with some really weird hip pain. I ran a few more times after that, but decided to give myself some time to heal. I've now decided it's time to try again, but the spectre of that hip pain has me a bit anxious.

    Anyway, my goal for January is to stretch every day and to stick with the None 2 Run plan, so interval running 3 times a week on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. With a slightly longer term goal of running a 5k in my neighborhood at the end of March.

    Hopefully having this group to report to will helpe keep going!

    Welcome!
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    And about pace: I wouldn’t even know how to build it up/ cut it back. Tips? Strategies?

    I am not sure I understand what your question is. Can you ask it again using different words? :)

    @PastorVincent how do i get faster, lol. Even at 12 minutes outside, I am struggling. A few weeks ago it was easier - and it IS getting easier - but it still feels like maybe 85% effort. It is hard to sustain, ESPECIALLY outside. On the treadmill- not so much. But the treadmill isn’t good training for an outdoor marathon in Nashville.

    It could be that I’m not trying as hard as I think I am. Maybe I just need to go outside with a focus on speed play. Which actually sounds awful today.

    If you are struggling at 12 slow down to 13 or or 14 or even slower. Run at conversational pace for your training runs. As you build endurance your conversational pace will get faster on its own. When I was doing the 10k trainer I had to go as slow as 16 just to get through it and build my cardio base. Once I built up more endurance most of my training runs were around 13. Once I started training with a group class my training runs landed around 11.

    Are you following a training plan? Do you have an upcoming race?

    @emmamcgarity yes! I finished C25K and am now doing the 10K trainer while incorporating long runs on the weekends - marathon April 25!!!!

    This is all good advice! I have a really short stride and i don’t know how to change that so I’ll be still running at 14 or sixteen minutes. Sixteen minutes for me is walking really fast.

    I’m trying to get my pace down because I think the time limit for the marathon is 6 hours!

    Do you have a specific training plan you are following for the marathon? I haven’t run a marathon but based on the plans I’ve read 14 miles might be too far for you right now for a long run. Are you almost done with the 10k trainer?
  • Camaramandy648
    Camaramandy648 Posts: 711 Member
    And about pace: I wouldn’t even know how to build it up/ cut it back. Tips? Strategies?

    I am not sure I understand what your question is. Can you ask it again using different words? :)

    @PastorVincent how do i get faster, lol. Even at 12 minutes outside, I am struggling. A few weeks ago it was easier - and it IS getting easier - but it still feels like maybe 85% effort. It is hard to sustain, ESPECIALLY outside. On the treadmill- not so much. But the treadmill isn’t good training for an outdoor marathon in Nashville.

    It could be that I’m not trying as hard as I think I am. Maybe I just need to go outside with a focus on speed play. Which actually sounds awful today.

    If you are struggling at 12 slow down to 13 or or 14 or even slower. Run at conversational pace for your training runs. As you build endurance your conversational pace will get faster on its own. When I was doing the 10k trainer I had to go as slow as 16 just to get through it and build my cardio base. Once I built up more endurance most of my training runs were around 13. Once I started training with a group class my training runs landed around 11.

    Are you following a training plan? Do you have an upcoming race?

    @emmamcgarity yes! I finished C25K and am now doing the 10K trainer while incorporating long runs on the weekends - marathon April 25!!!!

    This is all good advice! I have a really short stride and i don’t know how to change that so I’ll be still running at 14 or sixteen minutes. Sixteen minutes for me is walking really fast.

    I’m trying to get my pace down because I think the time limit for the marathon is 6 hours!

    Do you have a specific training plan you are following for the marathon? I haven’t run a marathon but based on the plans I’ve read 14 miles might be too far for you right now for a long run. Are you almost done with the 10k trainer?


    @emmamcgarity yep! I have a 24 week marathon schedule that I have been incorporating as well. I’m sure I’ve made this much more difficult on myself that I should have, but I’ve found that if I don’t have something pushing me - even a box to check to say I completed that day’s run, it is hard to feel like I should get out. So I have all these little goals to reach on my way to the big one. According to the marathon plan, I’m exactly where I should be in terms of distance. According to the 10K trainer, I’m just doing ten minute running intervals with 1 minute walking in between, just coming off running the full 5k distance with no walking.

    Upcoming weekend is 15 miles followed by a cutback week.
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    And about pace: I wouldn’t even know how to build it up/ cut it back. Tips? Strategies?

    I am not sure I understand what your question is. Can you ask it again using different words? :)

    @PastorVincent how do i get faster, lol. Even at 12 minutes outside, I am struggling. A few weeks ago it was easier - and it IS getting easier - but it still feels like maybe 85% effort. It is hard to sustain, ESPECIALLY outside. On the treadmill- not so much. But the treadmill isn’t good training for an outdoor marathon in Nashville.

    It could be that I’m not trying as hard as I think I am. Maybe I just need to go outside with a focus on speed play. Which actually sounds awful today.

    If you are struggling at 12 slow down to 13 or or 14 or even slower. Run at conversational pace for your training runs. As you build endurance your conversational pace will get faster on its own. When I was doing the 10k trainer I had to go as slow as 16 just to get through it and build my cardio base. Once I built up more endurance most of my training runs were around 13. Once I started training with a group class my training runs landed around 11.

    Are you following a training plan? Do you have an upcoming race?

    @emmamcgarity yes! I finished C25K and am now doing the 10K trainer while incorporating long runs on the weekends - marathon April 25!!!!

    This is all good advice! I have a really short stride and i don’t know how to change that so I’ll be still running at 14 or sixteen minutes. Sixteen minutes for me is walking really fast.

    I’m trying to get my pace down because I think the time limit for the marathon is 6 hours!

    Do you have a specific training plan you are following for the marathon? I haven’t run a marathon but based on the plans I’ve read 14 miles might be too far for you right now for a long run. Are you almost done with the 10k trainer?


    @emmamcgarity yep! I have a 24 week marathon schedule that I have been incorporating as well. I’m sure I’ve made this much more difficult on myself that I should have, but I’ve found that if I don’t have something pushing me - even a box to check to say I completed that day’s run, it is hard to feel like I should get out. So I have all these little goals to reach on my way to the big one. According to the marathon plan, I’m exactly where I should be in terms of distance. According to the 10K trainer, I’m just doing ten minute running intervals with 1 minute walking in between, just coming off running the full 5k distance with no walking.

    Upcoming weekend is 15 miles followed by a cutback week.

    Are you doing the 10k trainer in addition to your marathon plan? Or are you counting the miles from the 10k trainer in your marathon plan?
  • Camaramandy648
    Camaramandy648 Posts: 711 Member
    @emmamcgarity i am counting the 10K miles in the marathon plan. For instance if tomorrow I run six miles, I will do the first three or four with the 10K trainer in my ear and then finish out the rest as part of the marathon schedule.
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    @emmamcgarity i am counting the 10K miles in the marathon plan. For instance if tomorrow I run six miles, I will do the first three or four with the 10K trainer in my ear and then finish out the rest as part of the marathon schedule.

    Thanks for clarifying. Are you using a specific walk/run intervals strategy? Or are you walking when overtired from running? (I am also someone that does well with a plan or a list of boxes to check. I do think slowing down is going to help significantly, but you might want to table to 10k trainer for now if it’s clouding your marathon plan).