April 2020 Monthly Running Challenge
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Well, I finally got out the door for my pace test. My legs were not enthusiastic but the rest of me was good. Happy to report that after four weeks of focused and full-on aerobic training, my pace is around 15 seconds a kilometre faster. Woohoo!
I’d can’t wait to see what I can do with fresh legs.7 -
Weekly race report! My husband and I ran week 4 of the Run the 901 Virtual Challenge: 6 miles.
So, 6 miles is like a really poorly measured 10k. Not sure why they chose that distance, but okay! Next week is a full 10k and the week after that 8 miles.
I knew going into this that I don’t have a sub 1-hour 10k in me right now, but was hopeful I could manage a sub 1-hour 6 mile, which would be a 10 minute mile pace. We hit it pretty much on the nose, 59:58. And it took everything I had! I’m improving, last week I did 5 miles at 10 minute pace and when I finished I didn’t have another step in me, this week I kept going for a whole additional mile. Hoping that I will continue to improve!
We drove over and parked at the little park near what has become our usual race spot, the railroad access road. While walking to our start we were met by a delightful sight: the entrance to the access road was blocked off to traffic! Yay we didn’t have to worry about getting hit by cars! Since there are no sidewalks and the road is steeply crested so it’s uncomfortable to run on the side of the road, this was a great improvement. There’s no logical reason for anyone to be driving back there but we always had to dodge a handful of cars each time we ran.
We saw my favorite person the jerk bicyclist! And he was actually okay, he called out what side he wanted to pass on as he approached. No idea what caused the reformation but I’m okay with it. Apart from him it was us and one other jogging lady and a guy walking dogs. Very nice to have the road to ourselves. Knowing that no traffic was coming we just ran right down the crest of the road.
Everything smelled like flowers! Sooo much honeysuckle, but also wisteria and even roses from the gardens which back onto the road. A gray fox crossed the road in front of us, and we saw a Cooper’s hawk, a big old crow sitting right in the middle of the road, and a bunch of bats again. Weather a little warm, otherwise perfect, a few big drops of warm rain.
The road is about a tenth of a mile short of 2 miles so we ran out, back, and out again, then turned and did a fast finish for the final third of a mile. Which was let’s face it not all that fast by that point. Most of it was downhill so we managed something resembling a decent pace, then it started to climb and I started to lose it. And at that point something happened which I’m surprised hasn’t happened before now: a train! Going the same direction we were, fast and loud and just right there. It completely threw me off my stride at first then I decided I was going to try to outrun the train since it was final sprint time. Um... spoiler, the train won.... but it did give me a burst to keep going at the end of our race!
Moments after we finished, with my friend the train. I have salt streaks all down my face!
On the way back to our car after the race. These traffic drums blocking the access road were a joy to behold!7 -
@rheddmobile well done! Maybe next race you will beat that train! Just gotta train for it
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Finally got some shots of the black squirrel that has a nest in our yard. This one almost never shows its face when I have a camera ready. As it is these were shot through a closed window using my 300mm zoom lens.
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PastorVincent wrote: »Finally got some shots of the black squirrel that has a nest in our yard. This one almost never shows its face when I have a camera ready. As it is these were shot through a closed window using my 300mm zoom lens.
They should call those things squirrel feeders as opposed to bird feeders. The only seed the birds can feed on is the ones the squirrels knock out of the feeder and onto the ground.1 -
4-1 7k easy
4-2 7k easy
4-3 8k slow
4-4 7k moderate
4-5 7k moderate
4-6 7k easy
4-7 rest
4-8 7k moderate
4-9 7k easy
4-10 7k easy
4-11 7k easy
4-12 7k moderate
4-13 7k easy
4-14 rest
4-15 7k moderate
4-16 11k slow
4-17 7k moderate
4-18 7k easy
4-19 7k threshold
4-20 7k easy
4-21 rest
4-22 7k easy
4-23 7k easy
4-24 7k moderate
4-25 11k easy
4-26 7k moderate
4-27 7k easy
4-28 rest
April Total: 177k
April Goal: 170k
January Total: 161k
February Total: 167k
March Total: 181k
2020 Total through March: 509k
Scheduled rest day today. Played golf after yesterday's run and reinforced why it's not good to golf and run on the same day.
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
Stretch goal: If I can average 169k per month, I can run 2020K in 2020
Run the Year Team: Pavement Pounders
2020 races:
5-23 Race for the Parks 5k, Hudson OH
6-20 Freedom Run 5k, Aurora, OH3 -
PastorVincent wrote: »Finally got some shots of the black squirrel that has a nest in our yard. This one almost never shows its face when I have a camera ready. As it is these were shot through a closed window using my 300mm zoom lens.
They should call those things squirrel feeders as opposed to bird feeders. The only seed the birds can feed on is the ones the squirrels knock out of the feeder and onto the ground.
The deer were eating out of them till we moved them much higher LOL
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SO THOSE OF US IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE:
Do not forget Summer is coming - and you WILL slow down. You may even lose 1-2 or more minutes off your pace. You did not lose ground, it is just hot. Do not worry when cool weather returns your pace will too. Just readjust expectations and carry on.
Do not only look at the AIR TEMP, also pay attention to:
DEW POINT
HUMIDITY
HEAT INDEX
UV INDEX
Check and track all those numbers. You want all those numbers low as possible during the summer heat.
Learn how each effects you personally by tracking them. Most weather apps these days will give you these numbers by the hour. If yours does not, get one that does like Dark Sky. You can use the hourly numbers to move your run around the day to when the numbers are the lowest possible given your schedule.
UV is highest when the sun is highest so you can avoid burns/skin cancer or at least reduce chances by running early or late in the day.
For the rest of the numbers, log and track to see how each affects you personally.
If I remember I will repost this in May too... possibly June
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morning all. back in the office. was hoping to get a run in yesterday but that didn't happen. fell asleep and then rain with rumbles
saturday i had a meet and greet with the foster. and then i took roody out for a run. he made it 2 miles before he started lagging so we stopped by the river and headed back home. he really impressed me. he walked when i walked. matched my pace when we ran. he ran by my side. he kept checking in with me. the only time it didn't work was with squirrels and mountain bikers in the distance. in our area, we have painted rocks. i find one now and then along the runs. this is a chronically muddy path and i was really struggling staying upright at some parts. then i discovered why when i needed to tie my shoe. 2 different shoes. 1 road shoe. the first time we passed the river he wasn't interested but after 2 miles he jumped right in. i think he'll love walking and hiking. running was not his thing
sunday the goal was a long run. double digits. at least 13. preferably 16. and that didn't happen. after dropping off roody to his new family, Speed Demon and i found part of the ice age trail. Speed Demon started showing signs of getting too hot and didn't want to drink from the water bottle i had around 3.5 miles which was fine because we hit the end of the trail segment. it felt humid and there wasn't a lot of shade. more people than i'd prefer even social distancing but trail etiquette was mostly followed. i still dislike bikers. more often than not they swing past without announcing themselves. we were also charged by a shihtzu. i was getting ready to punt it but when Speed Demon didn't react, he started following us wagging his tail. we walked him back to his yard and he wandered off. he was cute but didn't get a photo.
the trail itself was a mix of environments. marsh, city, forest, along the highway, along a golf course. some good hills. I'm glad i took this part of the ice age trail because it was good for me to see how to follow the markings. if i did get lost, which i didn't, i would have been near civilization.
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PastorVincent wrote: »PastorVincent wrote: »Finally got some shots of the black squirrel that has a nest in our yard. This one almost never shows its face when I have a camera ready. As it is these were shot through a closed window using my 300mm zoom lens.
They should call those things squirrel feeders as opposed to bird feeders. The only seed the birds can feed on is the ones the squirrels knock out of the feeder and onto the ground.
The deer were eating out of them till we moved them much higher LOL
Be thankful you don't have bears. When we lived in PA, we had to stop feeding about March. If we didn't, the bears would make a shambles of the feeders to get their free post hibernation meal.3 -
@PastorVincent Thanks for the PSA. Every year I'm like "Why am I slowing down?!?" before I remember . . . oh yeah, I'm working a lot harder in the heat and humidity.
Light rain during this morning's run and it's finally spring enough that it felt refreshing instead of like a vengeful punishment from a frozen sky.
4/1: 7.75m
4/2: 4m
4/3: 2.5m
4/4: 7.25m
4/5: 13.5m
4/6: 1.25m
4/8: 7m
4/9: 4m
4/10: 3.75m
4/11: 7.5m
4/12: 15.25m
4/13: 1.5m
4/14: 4m
4/15: 5m
4/16: 4m
4/17: 1.5m
4/18: 3.5m
4/19: 12.75m
4/20: 2.5m
4/21: 4m, 2.25m
4/22: 4m
4/23: 8m
4/24: 2m
4/25: 8m
4/26: 17m
4/27: 1m
4/28: 5.5m.5 -
Great race @rheddmobile ! You'll beat that train next time! Love all of the wildlife you get to see. I'm allergic to honeysuckle, so I would have been sneezing my head off. I like the smell, but it doesn't like me.
@PastorVincent Cool black squirrel. Thanks for the reminder about the weather and how it affects us.
@mbaker566 That's so funny about the shoes. Hope it didn't throw you off too bad and hurt your back or knees. Looks like a great place to run. Sounds like Roody did great. He looks like a sweet heart. Speed Demon looks like he had fun too!
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janejellyroll wrote: »@PastorVincent Thanks for the PSA. Every year I'm like "Why am I slowing down?!?" before I remember . . . oh yeah, I'm working a lot harder in the heat and humidity.
heh, that is actually what reminded me to post it. I was looking at my pace for the last week and I was like "UGH! What happened?"
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PastorVincent wrote: »PastorVincent wrote: »Finally got some shots of the black squirrel that has a nest in our yard. This one almost never shows its face when I have a camera ready. As it is these were shot through a closed window using my 300mm zoom lens.
They should call those things squirrel feeders as opposed to bird feeders. The only seed the birds can feed on is the ones the squirrels knock out of the feeder and onto the ground.
The deer were eating out of them till we moved them much higher LOL
Be thankful you don't have bears. When we lived in PA, we had to stop feeding about March. If we didn't, the bears would make a shambles of the feeders to get their free post hibernation meal.
I have not seen any bears since we left Virginia. Snakes, coons, rabbits, mountain lions, eagles, and the like... but no bears yet.0 -
4/3 - 3
4/4 - 3
4/7 - 3
4/9 - 2
4/10 - 3
4/11 - 3
4/12 - 2
4/15 – 3
4/16 - 3
4/18 - 3
4/19 – 3
4/21 – 2
4/22 – 3
4/24 – 3
4/25 – 4
4/26 – 3
4/28 – 3
49 of 40 miles
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quilteryoyo wrote: »Great race @rheddmobile ! You'll beat that train next time! Love all of the wildlife you get to see. I'm allergic to honeysuckle, so I would have been sneezing my head off. I like the smell, but it doesn't like me.
@PastorVincent Cool black squirrel. Thanks for the reminder about the weather and how it affects us.
@mbaker566 That's so funny about the shoes. Hope it didn't throw you off too bad and hurt your back or knees. Looks like a great place to run. Sounds like Roody did great. He looks like a sweet heart. Speed Demon looks like he had fun too!
he was. he was totally untrained. kinda knew sit. his new family is super excited.
speed demon loves her water times. i've been trying to find stuff with water for her especially as it warms up.2 -
@eleanorhawkins Every time I read one of your HAL is happy with me comments I think of this version of HAL4
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April Goal: 100 Miles
4/1: 5.16 miles
4/2: 5.15 miles
4/5: 9.02 miles
4/7: 6.22 miles
4/8: 5.51 miles
4/9: 5.26 miles
4/12: 10.2 miles
4/14: 6.23 miles
4/15: 5.15 miles
4/16: 5.20 miles
4/18: 5.2 🎂 miles
4/19: 9.55 miles
4/21: 5.42 miles
4/22: 5.91 miles
4/23: 6.30 miles
4/26: 10.51 miles
4/28: 6.52 miles
112.5/100 miles completed for April
423.89/1000 miles for Run the Year Team Pavement Pounders
Today's run was a really nice 6.5 miles. I was surprised that it was so good. When I walked out the door this morning at 5:55 am it was already hot. And it was humid too. The first half mile or so felt really sluggish, but then I just kind of relaxed into it and really enjoyed it. There was enough of a breeze to keep it nice, but not so much that it was a struggle to run in. I'm over my 100 mile goal for April and I have 2 more runs this month. It looks like I might hit 200 Km this month.
@rheddmobile I loved your race report. And I love the pictures. How loud was that train?
@mbaker566 I always love your photos too. Roody looks like a great dog and Speed Demon looks like she was having a great time as well.
@PastorVincent Thanks for posting the reminder about the heat. It is always hard for me when my performance starts to slip and a good reminder that it is often the heat that is the problem.
2020 races:
5/16/20: Run for 57th AHC Half Marathon 🤞5 -
Hi all, missed a day and fell behind! I’ve read all the updates but too many to respond. Love reading about how different everyone’s running environments are. The most I see in the way of wildlife is the odd pigeon and (since lockdown) a fox or two. The idea of snakes and bears!!!
I missed yesterday’s run as I was exhausted after a terrible sleep and just felt really sad about everything. It’s like I was completely drained of energy. I felt better for the rest today and got out and did a steady 4 miles. Going to try and do a couple of slightly longer runs for the last two days of the month to round out at 115 maybe...
April goal: 75 miles
April total: 105.2 miles
1/4: 3.6 miles
2/4: 3.7 miles
3/4: 3.5 miles
4/4: 4.1 miles
5/4: 3.5 miles
6/4: 3.6 miles
7/4: 3.5 miles
8/4: 3.5 miles
9/4: 3.5 miles
10/4: 5 miles
11/4: 4 miles
12/4: 3.7 miles
13/4: 3.6 miles
14/4: 4.5 miles
15/4: 6.2 miles
18/4: 5.6 miles
19/4: 5.1 miles
20/4: 4.7 miles
21/4: 3.8 miles
22/4: 4 miles
23/4: 3.8 miles
24/4: 3.9 miles
25/4: 6.6 miles
26/4: 4 miles
28/4: 4.2 miles
March: 76.4 m
February: 17.8 m
January: 04 -
I've been known to scream when I see a bee. Encountering a mountain lion on a run would be too much!2
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