February 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

shanaber

I didn't post anything from my run when we were in Salinas.
I thought I would just be running on streets but I came out of the neighborhood a couple blocks from the hotel to this.

It was just gorgeous! I stayed initially on the Main Street I was on (fields on one side and homes on the other) until it came around into a shopping area. Then I went back and ran down and around the fields on a pretty quiet country farm road (no shoulders to peak of and of course no sidewalks). I was surprised though that there were a couple of short but steep hills.

Ran yesterday and other than some weird HR numbers and fighting allergies it was a good run. Today I went out for a run with sore tired legs from a tough, leg intensive, training session last night; squat to rows, goblet squats, side lunges and farmer carries did them in. So it ended up more of a walk with some running thrown in.
I think I am going back to running M-T Th-F and taking Wednesday as a rest day since it seems to work better with my training schedule on T-Th. I also think since I am no longer running true long runs I can manage another run day instead of having 3 rest days.

Date.........Miles.......Total
02/01......0.00........0.00
02/02....13.10......13.10 - Surf City HM
02/03......2.28......15.38 - + Agility Class
02/04......0.00......15.38 - + Strength Training
02/05......3.89......19.27
02/06......4.46......23.73 - + Strength Training
02/07......3.62......27.35
02/08......0.00......27.35
02/09......0.00......27.35
02/10......5.88......33.23 - + Agility Class
02/11......0.00......33.23 - + Strength Training
02/12......5.42......38.65
02/13......5.37......44.02 - Intervals + Strength Training
02/14......2.56......46.58 - 💕💕
02/15......4.19......50.77 - Salinas run
02/16......0.00......50.77
02/17......0.00......50.77 - + Agility Class
02/18......4.61......55.38 - + Strength Training
02/19......3.29......58.67



2020 Run the Year Team - 2020 R.I.O.T. (Running Is Our Therapy) 262.04/1000 miles (running and walking)

2020 Planned and Completed Races
02/02/20 - Surf City Half Marathon

Tramboman

kgirlhart wrote: »

February Goal: 100 Miles

2/2: 10.05 miles
2/4: 6.02 miles
2/5: 2.10 miles
2/6: 3.52 miles
2/9: 10.10 miles
2/10: 6.31 miles
2/11: 6.31 miles
2/13: 6.11 miles
2/16: 10.02 miles
2/19: 2.61 miles


63.15/100 miles completed for February

173.41/1000 miles for Run the Year Team Pavement Pounders

I went to the doctor this morning for the pain in my toes. She didn't think it was anything to worry about, but I was glad I got it checked out. She said it was probably a little bit of overuse and maybe the way I am landing on my feet and also most of the roads in our town are really bad with potholes filled with gravel and rock. So she suggested that I try to vary my routine some so that I am not always running the same roads in the same direction. I do tend to do that a lot, partially because I run most of my runs early when it is still dark out so I pick the well lit route and also because I know where most of the dogs on my routes are and they usually don't surprise me. But I am going to try to vary it some. Maybe now that it is starting to get light a little earlier I can change it up a bit. Plus I do have my noxgear vest. I have 12 weeks until my HM so I think I am going to try the Hal Higdon HM3 plan. It seems to line up with my running schedule pretty well. I know that I've gotten bad about just running the same runs every day, week in week out. I have to admit that I like my little rut, but it would be good for me to add a little variety, and also to remember to add in some cutback weeks too. So I am going to try. I did get out and run today at lunch for 2.6 miles. It was a pretty nice run and I didn't have any pain in my toes so that was good. I don't know if I will run tomorrow or not. It is supposed to be raining in the morning, so I may run at lunch. But I may also just take another day off. I won't make my goal for February, but that is ok. I am still on track to make my goal for the year and the HM in May is more important to me than the February goal, so I am counting this week as a cutback week before starting the HH plan next week. The plan only has 3 days of running and 2 days of cross training, but it does say that if you want to run a 4th day to do it on the Wednesday XT day so that is my plan.






2020 races:
5/16/20: Run for 57th AHC Half Marathon

Glad your doc gave you good news.

ContraryMaryMary

So I started with my new running coach this week. Tuesday was track work, Wednesday a recovery run and yoga. I thought I was doing great until I woke this morning and found I'd been hit quite hard with the DOMS stick. 45 minute aerobic run this morning. It was ok once the legs warmed up, but then I had to do five lots of 80m strides. Survived. But quads protested loudly.
I then we straight to boot camp, which was lunges and squats and pushup (yay!) then came home and sorted out my badly neglected lawn and garden, and now I'm sitting at my computer with barely the strength to type. Seriously, my forearms hurt so bad!

Rest day tomorrow (well, except for Pilates).

kgirlhart

Thanks @Tramboman

katharmonic

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
02/01/20 :::: 7.8 :::: 7.8
02/02/20 :::: 3.1 :::: 10.9
02/03/20 :::: 3.8 :::: 14.7
02/04/20 :::: 2.0 :::: 16.7
02/05/20 :::: 2.2 :::: 19.0
02/06/20 :::: 1.4 :::: 20.4
02/07/20 :::: 7.0 :::: 27.4
02/08/20 :::: 1.6 :::: 29.1
02/09/20 :::: 2.1 :::: 31.2
02/10/20 :::: 3.2 :::: 34.3
02/11/20 :::: 3.4 :::: 37.7
02/12/20 :::: 2.4 :::: 40.1
02/13/20 :::: 1.9 :::: 42.0
02/14/20 :::: 1.6 :::: 43.6
02/15/20 :::: 4.0 :::: 47.6
02/16/20 :::: 9.1 :::: 56.7
02/17/20 :::: 4.0 :::: 60.7
02/18/20 :::: 1.4 :::: 62.1
02/19/20 :::: 2.7 :::: 64.8

Another workout and treadmill run this morning again. I meant to get to yoga tonight but chose to walk my poor neglected dog instead and relax and head to bed early.

So here's some introspection - I ran into my running coach this morning when I was getting ready to get on the treadmill, and looking pretty tired I'm sure after my mace workout. He asked me if I was realizing that all the other training I'm doing is starting to be detrimental to my running (and that he hasn't said anything but he's been waiting for me to realize this). Hmm. I laughed and said non-committally that yes, I was certainly tired. But it bothered me a little and I thought about it off and on today. And it's kind of true, but a couple of things occurred to me. First, I'm not really training for any running races right now nor do I have any specific running/race goals at the moment, so it isn't really detrimental to anything. And I've been running every day!

Second thought = maybe I'm not primarily a runner right now who is also doing some other things, but rather someone who is primarily doing other things (Spartan, rock climbing, hiking, strength training) and just trying to keep up with my running as a secondary thing or supplement to my training. Not that I have to declare myself to be a runner or not (and if you run, you're a runner of course), but interesting to reflect on how things have changed in the past year or so. I know my coach hates to lose his "veteran" run club numbers so I suspect he'll be working on me to come back to the fold and do half marathon/marathon training this spring like a "real" runner. Which also is kind of funny to me to think about when before 4 years ago I had never run at all and now I have a coach trying to keep me on the team

All I know right now is that I'm having a glass of wine, unwinding from a stressful work day, and thinking about how early is too early to go to bed when I have to back to the gym at 6:30 again tomorrow. Answer: now is not too early.

PastorVincent

ContraryMaryMary wrote: »

KimLight2 wrote:

A weird thing happened today that I wanted to pick your collective brains about please. At mile 6 or 7, I got the goosebumps and then the chills. This has never happened before while I was at the gym. Usually I am way to hot and I was soaking wet when I finished. I did drink almost 2 - 32oz bottles of water while I was running but that's all I had since last night. Is this normal or something I should worry about?

I’ve had that before near the end of a run. I put it down to fatigue and possibly low blood sugar. It doesn’t happen often enough for me to get worried about, but if it persists for you, talk to your GP.

So, AFTER a run chills is completely normal. Your body temperature control system sometimes can get out of sync with your activity level so it is still trying to cool you even though you have stopped running.

Chills in the middle of a run is different, assuming you did not stop and walk for a bit tripping the same problem. I would agree if it persists check with a doctor. Probably nothing, but I would keep an eye on it and see what happens.

ContraryMaryMary

Oh, you may remember my race report from the Coatesville Half that I ran three days prior to the actual event. I mentioned my husband and I were keen to buy out there as it's so pretty. Well, yesterday, we bought a hectare of bare land and will build our 'forever' home there later in the year. Very exciting (and a bit scary).

katharmonic

@kimlight2 sorry I missed this. Dehydration and overheating could cause the chills, mostly in the heat and humidity of summer. You were running inside so maybe you got warm enough to overheat along with some dehydration? It's recommended that if goosebumps and chills happen you should stop running, cool down and take in some electrolytes. I'd follow up if it happens again, but hopefully just an odd circumstance today.

rheddmobile

Very pretty day today, 5k on the Greenline. Saw a pair of red tailed hawks who seem to be a couple. There are wild cherry trees blooming down by the buffalo pastures.

hanlonsk

@kimlight2 even when I am feeling totally sweaty and overheated on a run, I will often have skin that is cold to the touch, usually, oddly around my abdominal area. I would claim it was something to do with wyoming wind cooling off sweaty bits, but it has also happened on longish treadmill runs. So, the conclusion I’ve come to is kind of like when you are cold, blood goes to your core to keep you warm, and extremities are cold.... that logically if you are getting too warm the opposite would happen, especially if you need blood to extremities to keep moving muscles. And since my core seems cold, it seems to lead to chills and goosebumps mid run, especially if the temp drops or the wind comes up.

Also, just as a general human, I tend to feel cold esker/stay cold longer, when I’m tired.... and often when running, I feel tired. So, I guess I’ve always logically explained away a similar circumstance.... and I’m not dead yet.... however, the people recommending monitoring and possible medical input are much more reasonable than me, and so if you find out it isn’t normal or logical, I would appreciate the input!

Today was same workout as yesterday, but I didn’t have to reduce speed nearly as much to get thru it. That is one thing I do appreciate about the hamster wheel, when I’m out of practice, is having something else helping me control pace. And because I can’t math by 630 pm, I actually got my timing wrong, and put myself back to planned pace earlier than I intended. So, I only spent 3ish minutes out of 16 total running intervals below desired pace, as opposed to yesterday’s 8-10 minutes below. And had I remembered the machine had a fan capability, I may have managed to not drop pace. But I’m still pretty happy.

2.2 today = 16.9 / maybe 25?

Also, garmin briefly thought I had done my fastest mile in my garmin history... it later decided it was in July (was falling off wagon by May- got garmin on prime day in July trying to bribe myself to keep dang wagon in sight, it didn’t really work, but none of my real running periods are on my garmin.). Regardless of which one is my fastest, not sure if I feel happy, or feel gutted that today’s run is currently among my best.

In terms of favorite places to run, I’m jealous of you DC runners, my first two trips to dc, i remember doing some early morning sight seeing, because having to work interfered with doing it like a normal person, and the only other people I would see were runners who looked like they really enjoyed it. My last trip, the boyfriend was working, I was the tourist.... I brought running stuff, having remembered those runners. And then I walked too much and got too sunburnt like my first day for running to still be considered a good idea.
My current place of residence is totally NOT my favorite... which is problematic... just no good routes without driving somewhere first... boring, lacking sidewalks, etc.
Ummmm... most of the places I’m coming up with are places that have significance, or an accomplishment attached, more so than an actual happy run. Like, my first Greenland trail race (in Colorado, by larkspur, not the country).... was a frozen, snowy, underprepared, hate my life, mess... but it makes for an amazing story! A st. Patrick’s day themed race in Fort Collins, I’ve done multiple times... one time it was my first chip time “real” race. One time was a PR, despite a pneumonia diagnosis the week before, and one time was my only (barely) sub 30min 5k, and it’s always been done with several friends, and not just by myself or just my one running buddy. Colder boulder 5k and bolder boulder that spring both just felt good, and were fun, and went better than expected for me.
My first attempt at HM distance stands out even tho it wasn’t an awesome place or route, my official HM (Mickelson Trail) was pretty, and awesome. Bridges to brews in Portland last year was awesome even tho I was terribly under trained, in the “places you can’t run any other time” way. And my brother meeting my running buddy and I at the finish line was neat.

So.... I am leaving my favorite place open for future adventures.... but the above are the current favorite running memories, lacking favorite place.

Avidkeo

PastorVincent wrote: »

ContraryMaryMary wrote: »

KimLight2 wrote:

A weird thing happened today that I wanted to pick your collective brains about please. At mile 6 or 7, I got the goosebumps and then the chills. This has never happened before while I was at the gym. Usually I am way to hot and I was soaking wet when I finished. I did drink almost 2 - 32oz bottles of water while I was running but that's all I had since last night. Is this normal or something I should worry about?

I’ve had that before near the end of a run. I put it down to fatigue and possibly low blood sugar. It doesn’t happen often enough for me to get worried about, but if it persists for you, talk to your GP.

So, AFTER a run chills is completely normal. Your body temperature control system sometimes can get out of sync with your activity level so it is still trying to cool you even though you have stopped running.

Chills in the middle of a run is different, assuming you did not stop and walk for a bit tripping the same problem. I would agree if it persists check with a doctor. Probably nothing, but I would keep an eye on it and see what happens.

I've had this happen. It's when I've been running in the heat and haven't had enough fluids while on the run.

If that's accurate, it's not life threatening but definitely worth watching and keeping an eye on it.

Avidkeo

ContraryMaryMary wrote: »

Oh, you may remember my race report from the Coatesville Half that I ran three days prior to the actual event. I mentioned my husband and I were keen to buy out there as it's so pretty. Well, yesterday, we bought a hectare of bare land and will build our 'forever' home there later in the year. Very exciting (and a bit scary).

Oh wow! So I can come visit someday?

Avidkeo

Hey all.

Well carb loading is really a thing, even for a long-short run lol.

Yesterday was a lot of carbs (French toast, pizza, chocolate brownie...). Today I had so much energy for my run, I felt like I could have gone forever. I did 8k, and I also think it helped that I wasn't in a deficit sigh. I'm resigned to the fact I'm not going to improve much with my running until I stop dieting, which should be around the time I start training for my half marathon. So that works out!

___________________________
Feb - goal 150k
Feb 1 - 7.2k
Feb 2 - 5k
Feb 3 - 7k
Feb 4 - 4k
Feb 5 - 5.4k
Feb 6 - 9k
Feb 7 - 3k
Feb 8 - 7k
Feb 9 - 4.2k
Feb 10 - 8k
Feb 11 - 4k
Feb 12 - 6.2k
Feb 13 - 4k
Feb 14 - 11.1k
Feb 15 - 5k
Feb 16 - 3k
Feb 17 - 6.3k
Feb 18 - 4.1k
Feb 19 - 5.4k
Feb 20 - 8.1

Total: 117. 1
Run streak - 62 days

eleanorhawkins

Avidkeo wrote: »

Hey all.

Well carb loading is really a thing, even for a long-short run lol.

Yesterday was a lot of carbs (French toast, pizza, chocolate brownie...). Today I had so much energy for my run, I felt like I could have gone forever. I did 8k, and I also think it helped that I wasn't in a deficit sigh. I'm resigned to the fact I'm not going to improve much with my running until I stop dieting, which should be around the time I start training for my half marathon. So that works out!

Funnily enough, I decided yesterday that bingeing on jaffa cakes and mars bars totally works as carb loading the day before a long run!

PastorVincent

An interesting read if you have a block of time this morning...

Strava wrote:

It’s hard. It Hurts. We do it anyway.
We surveyed 25,000 Strava athletes and the reasons why we run are as diverse as we are. Find out what we learned: https://bit.ly/strava-whywerun

One neat fact I saw in there... 52% of runners enjoy running. They did not point out that means almost HALF of us do NOT.

TheMrWobbly

I'm carb loading all day long today! Not running but I'll be ready when it happens!

Good news from the docs @kgirlhart really pleased.

I had a short while in South NYC @bearly63 and there are regualr 5k events down by the waterfront for your son to enjoy. Not sure being a sweaty mess is a good pick up technique though

Hydration is the difference between a good race and a disaster for me @kimlight2 and I now go through 3-4 litres a day, everyday, running or not.

Good to see you back on the C25K @enaliba

I'm stuck in that middle point also @katharmonic in that I am training to run a race and not training to be a runner though I want to keep running in future years.

Great news @ContraryMaryMary and you can swap your boot camps for labouring on the house build - win, win!

Love the new pic @LoveyChar

About half of my office has gone down with illness, I am in work but started struggling today. The half is on Sunday - time to tough it out. Also I work in Brighton, centre of the UK coronavirus outbreak and my boss recently came back from skiing near to where the Brighton doctor visited before bringing it back here. I'm going to be really unhappy if I get 14 days quarantine!

polskagirl01

I faced my fears and went back to the route where I encountered the German Shepherd last week. His gate was shut and he was no where in sight.
I was feeling tired but just kept an easy, steady pace and it was good.

February goal 100 miles (stretch goal 200 km)



Upcoming races:
Mar. 1 - Bieg Tropem Wilczym 5889m race (in memory of underground soldiers 1944-1963)
Mar. 7 - CityTrail 5k (#6 of 6)
Mar. 27 - "Green Shoelaces" HM (Puławy, Poland)

TheMrWobbly

Nice going 'big dawg'

Tramboman

2-1 7k easy + yoga
2-2 11k slow
2-3 7k easy + resistance bands
2-4 rest + yoga
2-5 7k slow + resistance bands
2-6 7k slow + yoga
2-7 rest + resistance bands
2-8 7k easy + yoga
2-9 8.2k moderate
2-10 7k moderate + resistance bands
2-11 rest + yoga
2-12 7k moderate + resistance bands
2-13 7k slow + yoga
2-14 7k slow + resistance bands
2-15 7k easy + yoga
2-16 11k slow
2-17 7k easy + resistance bands
2-18 rest + yoga
2-19 7k easy + resistance bands
2-20 7k moderate + yoga


February Total: 121.2k
February Goal: 140k

January Total: 161k

Cloudy, low 20s F, and a biting wind out of the west this morning.
I find myself in the same run or diet boat as others. If I diet too hard, it negatively affects my running. If I run too hard, it negatively affects my dieting. Somehow I need to find an effective middle ground that works.

Next year when you pop in here claiming your December 2020 mileage, what accomplishments will you have made?

Return to a good running weight of 175 lbs
Run at least 4 5k races
Get a 5k PR
Average at least 138k per month, to meet my Run the Year pledge of 1,020 miles

Run the Year Team: Pavement Pounders

2020 races:
4-25 Shine the Light 5k, Twinsburg, OH
5-23 Race for the Parks 5k, Hudson OH
6-20 Freedom Run 5k, Aurora, OH

kimlight2

@TheMrWobbly , @katharmonic , @hanlonsk and @PastorVincent Thank you for the feedback and information. I will keep an eye on it and maybe switch my plain water to Nuun. Hopefully it was just a one time bit of weirdness.