December 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

HonuNui

December Goal Do something every day....

12/1 2.50
12/2 3.05 and deep mucked the chicken coop
12/3 1.35
12/4 4.06


Total 10.96

Avidkeo

Hey all.

Legs were both a bit tight last night when I went to bed, was fairly busy at work. But felt fine this morning, so got up and went to Parkrun. Today Hal calls for a 6.5k long run, so I did the 5k, then kept going for the extra 1.5. It felt great. I made sure I had a really good stretch after, and the legs were fine. They are still a little tight but I put that down to increasing activity. They aren't getting worse.

So I continue to watch and wait, and just keep doing what I'm doing. Tomorrow is a rest day, then only 3k again on Monday.

It's a good plan, the first few weeks increase every second week. Means I get used to it, then have the increase.

eleanorhawkins

@quilteryoyo nope, Garmins Fitbits etc are notorious for not counting steps if you're pushing carts, strollers and so on. Mine also tends not to count if I'm carrying heavy shopping bags, because obviously I'm not swinging my arm enough. I've heard of people wearing their watch on their ankle for that reason.

quilteryoyo

@Avidkeo So glad that your able to run and not have problems. Sounds like Hal has a good plan for you.

@eleanorhawkins If I were really concerned about it, I might consider putting it on my ankle. I actually noticed it for the first time when I was at the nursing home, pushing patients to the sing-a-long on Sundays. (Something CoVID has taken away.) Anyway, I also notice that it counted steps when I was playing the piano, so I figured it probably was a wash. LOL

Tramboman

12-1 rest + yoga
12-2 7k treadmill + resistance bands
12-3 7k treadmill + yoga
12-4 7k slow + resistance bands
12-5 7k slow + yoga

December Total: 28k
December Goal: 170k

January Total: 161k
February Total: 167k
March Total: 181k
April Total: 191k
May Total: 200k
June Total: 156k
July Total: 180k
August Total: 172k
September Total: 176k
October Total: 189k
November Total: 180k

2020 Total through November: 1953k

LIVE countdown to 2020k in 2020: 39k remaining

Mostly cloudy, upper 30s F, with a light breeze from the north today. Saw some robins; a fox squirrel; a melanistic phase (black) gray squirrel; geese; and three sets of deer tracks where I hadn't seen any yesterday.

@polskagirl01 Have fun at your 5k race and do well!!!

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 - Completed 10-11
Stretch goal: If I can average 169k per month, I can run 2020k in 2020
Run the Year Team: Pavement Pounders -- Completed 9-29

2020 races:

9-8 to 9-13 "Virtual Boston with Vincent" Time goal 5:15:00; actual time 4:47:01

katharmonic

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
12/01/20 :::: 2.2 :::: 2.2
12/02/20 :::: 3.7 :::: 5.9
12/03/20 :::: 3.5 :::: 9.5
12/04/20 :::: 9.1 :::: 18.6
12/05/20 :::: 5.0 :::: 23.6

With my long run done yesterday, I planned for 5 miles or about an hour running this morning before going to a class at the gym. Run group was meeting at the park that's just a few minutes away from this gym so I met up with them at 7:30. None of my regular running friends were there because they were staying on the other side of town for their long runs, so I ended up running with a guy who I don't normally run with. He's great - he keeps up a very steady stream of conversation so it's entertaining and all I need to do is the occasional "uh huh" and maybe ask a question. But he is definitely way faster than me, so he was slowing down for me and I was pushing it to keep up with him. As a result, 5 miles done in 51 minutes and I learned a lot about deer hunting (not my thing, but passed the time). I had extra time to get gas, leisurely change clothes and have a little snack before class.

AlphaHowls

12/1 14.16 miles So painfully cold!
12/2 13.26 miles start 21°F/-6°C - end 27°F/-2°C
12/3 14.09 miles, 130 days HM+ streak
12/4 13.52 miles Chiropractor today!
12/5 15.44 miles, 950 Days on the run (a night free from most back pain and spasms, shoulder aches, but ok)

Scott6255

Birthday HM this afternoon. I can feel myself getting old. 14 seconds over the 2hr mark. Had to take 2 walk breaks. My right big toe has a huge blister. I broke out my new shoes for this run, but I can't believe that was the cause of the blister. They are the same Ghost 12s as I have been running in for years. Also used my new truly wireless earbuds (thanks DD). They worked great. Even took a call on them in the middle of the run.
Now have to go replace the power steering pump on my truck 😔

quilteryoyo

Nice run @katharmonic ! Sometimes it's nice to meet new people.

Happy Birthday @Scott6255 ! Hope you managed to get your truck fixed.

Today has kind of sucked. About 9am, I started feeling achy. I took my temperature and it was 98.9. That's not too bad, but my normal temp runs around 97.6. I kept checking it and it kept going up. Never got over 100, but did get to 99.6. However, I am afraid that I may have been exposed to someone with CoVID on Tuesday. I took my dad to the VA and I overheard the nurse who checked him in telling someone that she "still can't smell or taste, but tested negative." Then, the doctor that came in was coughing and sneezing and going on...did have on a mask and was good about washing her hands well. But, she said that she had taken Thur, Fri, and Monday off and had tested negative, so she was there, with a "cold."

I talked with a doctor at one of the local Urgent Care Clinics and he said I should come in...after telling him I was potentially exposed to someone with CoVID. Well, before I left, my temperature was back to normal, my normal. I went anyway, hoping to see the doctor and get some reassurance, or something. When I got there, the lady at the front desk said they only give Rapid Tests to people who are in their group - I'm not. Also, she and the doctor emphasized that if you get a positive result from the rapid test, you know you have it. If you get a negative one, you really don't know if you have it or not. Apparently there are a lot of false negatives with it. There was no offer for me to see the doctor, just if I wanted to take the other test or go somewhere else for a rapid one.

Since the fever was gone and I wasn't feeling too bad, I opted to do nothing unless it goes up to over 100 later. Since I've been home, it has fluctuated back and forth. (I'm taking it every hour.) Highest 99.4. I'll talk to the surgeon on Monday. (No way to get in touch with him over the weekend that I am aware of.) I'm worried, even if it isn't CoVID, but is something else, that it will still precipitate a delay in the surgery. This is hard ya'll.

shanaber

@quilteryoyo - Is there somewhere else you could go for a Covid test? like a drive up test site? Just for your peace of mind? They might have the results back by Monday which could help prevent the surgery getting pushed out.
@Scott6255 - Happy Birthday, birthday twin! I'm sorry the birthday HM left you feeling old! I do think new shoes, even the same models can have variations in them that can result in blisters and the like on a longer run/race. They haven't been broken in on your shorter runs yet so it is possible.

Before I headed out today I looked up to see how many miles 6.5kms is so that if my hamstring was problematic I could bail and still have a 6.5 birthday run. Fortunately it was not a problem and this run was definitely another step forward after yesterday's step back. It really felt great and was absolutely perfect running weather, mid 50's and partly cloudy with a nice breeze! Headphones died just as we got to the trail so I changed my plan and went out on the dirt near the river so I could turn up the volume on my phone. There were a ton of gnats in the air and I was afraid I would swallow one or breath some into my noise - yuck. So I was waving my arms around crazily for a while through the thickest parts. It should have occurred to me to put my mask on! I used a Peloton run without pushing the pace. My intent was to just complete the run intervals and was successful with that and even running some of the recovery intervals to string together a longer effort. I did have to make an emergency detour on the way back to stop at the bathroom but all in all it was a great birthday run! I do not feel 65!

Date..........Miles........Total
12/01.......0.00.........0.00 - Strength Training at Home
12/02.......5.41.........5.41
12/03.......0.00.........5.41 - Strength Training at Home
12/04.......4.33.........9.74
12/05.......7.04.......16.78 - 6.5 Birthday Run plus a bit

2020 Run the Year Team - 2020 R.I.O.T. (Running Is Our Therapy) 1568.91/1000 miles (running and walking)

2020 Planned and Completed Races
02/02/20 - Surf City Half Marathon
07/31/20 - ISS Virtual 10K (Late)
08/15-09/30 - eRace Racism (200 miles) 200+ miles completed.
09/21-09/27 - Womxn Run the Vote - 680 mile virtual relay
09/26/20 - Beat the Blerch 10K Virtual
10/03-11/03 - Race to the Polls - 80 miles
10/01-11/18 - Fit Witch Challenge - 100 miles
11/11/20 - ASICS World Ekiden 2020 (Team 2)
12/01-12/25 - Merry Fitmas Challenge - 50 miles
09/11/21 - Surf City Half Marathon

katharmonic

Oh @quilteryoyo I'm sorry you are not feeling well and have this worry before your surgery! I hope it is nothing serious but I can understand your worry and stress, especially over the weekend. Take care of yourself. Hope your temp stays down now.

Happy birthday @Scott6255!! Good job getting a HM done! Getting older happens to us all, but you are doing great. Sorry about the blister and the power steering though. Those should not happen on your birthday!

@AlphaHowls congrats on 950 days on the run! I'm at 355 (much lower mileage per day) as of today and I'm in awe of you. Especially if you are having back pain - hope it is better soon.

Tramboman

Happy birthday, @Scott6255 and @shanaber!!!

AlphaHowls

@Scott6255 wrote: »

Birthday HM this afternoon. I can feel myself getting old. 14 seconds over the 2hr mark.

*!* HAPPY BIRTHDAY *!*

I have moved from about 6 mph to 5.5 mph over last few months. I might not beat that young whippersnapper, but I can whip them in endurance!

katharmonic

Happy birthday @shanaber!!! Glad you had a great birthday run, gnats notwithstanding. You make 65 look awesome.

Scott6255

Happy birthday @shanaber! I forgot we were birthday twins. It is a busy day for birthdays. Not only is it my real twin brother's birthday, but 2 other people in my family. Oh, and Walt Disney 😁

@quilteryoyo soooo sorry you are feeling bad 😔 I hope it isn't Covid and you get better before you go to see the doctor.

@AlphaHowls and @katharmonic those are some fantastic streaks!

rheddmobile

@shanaber and @Scott6255 Happy birthday!

@quilteryoyo just shaking my head at the VA nurse... geez I wish we could all safely hide in a bunker until this is over. Hoping you don’t have the Rona or anything else serious.

rheddmobile

Haven’t been posting about runs lately but I have been running.

Had a great long run Weds last, was thinking gee I’m getting used to these 8 milers, this felt good... and then my heel was super sore. Worried about lower hamstring attachment or maybe a stress fracture. The positive sign for a stress fracture there is supposedly squeezing the sides of your heel which should be painful. Nope, no pain. Squeeze harder. Nope, nothing, except it seems the tissue is sore on the back of my heel. Running on it doesn’t hurt. It mostly hurts when I take my shoes on and off. I’m thinking these shoes, which tend to ride up and down on the back of my heel unless I tie them really tight, just gave me a deep bruise. Ran a short easy run Thursday, seems not better, not worse. Ran a tempo 5k Saturday, again not better, not worse. It feels sore when flexing like tendon pain, but then none of the usual tendon pain things like jumping up and down on one foot hurt at all. I think I need new shoes but can’t get any, the ones I have now were secondhand on eBay and I can’t find another pair for sale.

So, something weird happened after today’s run. We were just doing our finishing sprint when we noticed a guy we had passed before stopped in the middle of the road. Was thinking, geez how annoying, why isn’t he getting out of the way so we can pass, when something rushed out of the underbrush and into the road towards him. I’m thinking, does he have a cat? But it’s not a cat. It’s a woodchuck. And it keeps charging him and then wandering away while acting like something might be off with it’s rear end. Finally goes off into the underbrush by the tracks, but stays there and lets me walk up to it (I was ready to run like hell if it moved towards me) and take a photo.

So what I know about rabies is first of all Shelby county hasn’t had a case in any animal in like 20 years - looked this up to be sure it’s still true and it is - and when we do have cases here they are usually in bats. And rodents rarely get rabies. So I look up woodchuck rabies and find that woodchucks are the exception to the rule about rodents, of rodents with rabies 93% are in woodchucks. Still it would be very unlikely. There’s a county rabies officer but the office isn’t open til Monday by which time this woodchuck will be long gone, and I am not up for heading back out to find and trap a possibly rabid woodchuck. However I plan to call and make a report. I’m hoping the little guy was just dazed and injured from a brush with a car or something.

Woodchucks are surprisingly well camouflaged.

kgirlhart

Thanks @noblsheep and @HonuNui. My hip feels better today.  Not 100% so definitely no long run for me tomorrow,  but it is much improved so I know I'll be back to running soon.

Happy Birthday @scott2655 and @Shanaber! Great birthday runs!

Oh @quilteryoyo I am so sorry you aren't feeling well.

@rheddmobile That woodchuck is hard to see. I hope he's ok. And I hope your heel feels better.

HonuNui

December Goal Do something every day....

12/1 2.50
12/2 3.05 and deep mucked the chicken coop
12/3 1.35
12/4 4.06
12/5 1.00...VERY leisurely walk around the property looking to see (and pick) whatever fruit is ripe. Anyone need avocado.....? Tangerine? Grapefruit?


Total 11.96

Happy birthday, @Scott6255 and @shanaber!

shorkster

2/12 - 1.84
4/12 - 1.84
6/12 - 1.74

5.42 / 30 miles for December

Hi guys, hope you're all OK.
So today marked my completion of week 7 of C25K so I've only 6 runs left before I'm out into the wild! Struggled a lot today as I haven't ran as far in the same amount of time as you can see. Not sure why. All I can do is carry on but I'm now considering that 30 miles is perhaps a little ambitious for a newbie runner, we shall see. I guess if I don't manage it then I'll make that my goal for Jan.

Have a great day everyone.