March 2021 Monthly Running Challenge
Replies
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pfeiferlindsey wrote: »pfeiferlindsey wrote: »pfeiferlindsey wrote: »3/1 - No running - Spin and strength training
3/2 - 4 early morning miles that felt really awesome
Total for March - 4 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 66 miles
I have to say, even though I don't respond a lot, I do read and you all are such a positive, upbeat bunch and I love it. I love the motivation.
I did the challenges 2 years ago, but then "The Year That Will Be Forgotten" happened.
So:
March 3 - 3.11 miles
March 4 - 3.11 miles
March 5 - Today will be some spin and strength
Total for March - 10.22 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 59.78 miles
My huge goal this year is to get my base back that I lost last year. Before 2020, I was averaging 1000+ mile years and last year, I barely got to 600. So, my base is shot.
I ran 5 miles today without walking and felt totally amazing the entire time. Super happy with how it went and I have no doubt that I'll get to my goals this year. March goal is to get up to 6 miles comfortably and I'm sure I can do it.
March 6 - 5 miles
Total for March - 15.22 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 54.78 miles
Donated blood on Saturday morning, so I kind of expected my Sunday run to be a bit rough. Ended up being a beautiful day and I was actually 20 seconds faster per mile than what I normally run. Perhaps the slight weight loss helped
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March 7 - 3.19 miles
March 8 - Spinning after work - No running today
Total for March - 18.41 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 51.59 miles
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GeminiLady159 wrote: »Just putting it out there that I have a goal to run around my block (I think it’s about a half mile loop). I’m totally a non-runner and pretty heavy and have asthma 😂 but I can do it right!? I’ve looped in my kid and she’s going to do it with me. So...do I just start and try to do more (or same) every day?? Walk the rest? I think it’ll take me a year haha.
You can totally do it!! Like others have said, start slow. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you are going. You're building endurance and letting your body adjust to the activity.
I've fallen into the trap before of pushing too hard too fast then burning out and giving up. You totally got this!! And absolutely keep us updated. We'll always cheer you on!1 -
Already 131 posts behind!
Here is my race report from Saturday. Today and tomorrow are rest days thank God. It was close to 5000 feet of vert ALL day. Lots of DNFs, lots of people puking, lots of people laying on the ground... but I finished. And I never got sick or stopped moving.
By FAR the most difficult ultra I have done. When I asked for a course map and specs on vert, I was told no. I checked with others and they got the same answer.
I also checked with other runners regarding their feelings on the race as well as their prior experience.
We all said the same thing: this was BY FAR the most difficult ultra. The first portion was all vert. My first couple of miles were awesome, probably because i had no idea what was waiting for me.
It wasn’t just regular vert. It was a mixed bag of sand, mud, wet leaves, crazy rocks where steady footing wasn’t even an option - we just had to scramble around and up.
There was NO keeping the feet dry. Every time they’d get close to dry, there was another section of river to run through.
Around mile 26 is when I started to really want that DNF badge of “i got my *kitten* handed to me.” Then I realized, I was getting my *kitten* handed to me either way so FINISH IT.
Met some cool people. Iowa, Dallas, and I got some bonus miles where the course was like a fork x 5. Somebody said up to that point I was like 3rd but what happens when they don’t give you info and@the course is poorly marked is that you get lost.
My legs are absolute trash. I was covered in mud until a few minutes ago. I also found out that i am NOT allergic to bee stings @chadnoelle so we got that going for us too 😂 Also, thorns. Lots of scrapes from those *kitten*.
The way back wasn’t the same as the way out. So the idea of getting any redemption on time by hammering the last half was quickly removed once I realized.... MORE vert. ALL. DAY. Thank God for inhalers. Seriously.
I would rather run 277 miles in ten days or 100 miles in 23 hours four million more times than ever go through this again.
But i didn’t die. And i didn’t give in. Not one time.
Soooo ....... let’s do it again soon?
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Thank you for all the encouraging replies everyone! I do have a C25K app but forgot about that so maybe I’ll try that, in addition to just trying and starting slow in general. Honestly there is no other path than starting and going slow! Ha.
I do think it’s a small goal (for runners) but it still seems like a mountain. But for a couple months, especially at night as I’m falling asleep, I think about running. Weird, but I’m finally listening to that-something is telling me to 🏃🏻♀️
I will update you all! Thank you!10 -
23.4/45 miles
3/2: 4 miles
3/3: 4 miles
3/5: 2.2 miles
3/6: 13.2 miles
Little late on the race report, but here we go. The Woodlands marathon/HM is a pretty big event. Besides the elites that have a shot at prize money, there is a big Ironman community here that uses this race as training.
The organizers did a good job this year altering the race to fit with COVID protocols. They had staging areas spread across 2 multi-level parking garages with a rolling start. I really like the rolling starts and I would love to see them stick around, even though I know they're probably not practical for these large-scale races in a normal year. It's so nice being able to hit the start line at an actual run and not doing the tippytoe dodging people thing for the first quarter mile or so.
Even though this race was close to my house, I was still up at about 5 a.m. to get a little bit of coffee and breakfast and give plenty of time for parking. It was cool, in the upper 40s around start time, but was going to warm up to the mid-50s, so I stuck with shorts and a tank top and brought an old throwaway windbreaker.
When we got going, I was feeling really strong. I came out a little on the fast side, but not too bad. Mostly, I just needed to warm up a little bit. Once I settled into my pace, I was good for several miles. The course is not particularly hilly, but there are some long slow inclines and some rolling hills that feel extreme to those of us who run at zero elevation gain normally. At the first long sustained climb, I could definitely feel my legs tiring a bit, but I slowed down just a touch and enjoyed the downhill coast on the other side and didn't feel like I had wasted too much energy.
When I reached mile 8, I realized I was on pace to PR if I just maintained my pace, which at the time seemed completely attainable. By about Mile 10, I was starting to tire a little but was still holding on okay. Then somewhere in mile 12 I completely bonked. I don't think it was fueling as I had eaten appropriately and stuck to my fueling plan during the race and it didn't have the same feeling as when my blood sugar drops normally. This was more of a extreme stomach cramping and nausea to the point that I really thought I was about to vomit. I walked most of mile 13, but was able to pull off a slow run across the finish line. I ended up finishing about 6 minutes slower than my current PR.
On a positive note, even with the horrible finish, this is my second fastest HM time. I know that my training was not completely t'ed up and that may have had something to do with how I felt. So, that's the end of my HM for this season. I have one more 10K planned as a race with my family. I haven't decided if maybe I'll find one or two short races just to give me something to work towards in the slightly warmer months.
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Great job hanging in there @Camaramandy648 and @martaindale! I think you both did great! Thanks for those race reports!2
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@martaindale you still crushed it because you did it at all0
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@Camaramandy648 That race sounds brutal! Good job sticking with it.0
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martaindale wrote: »@Camaramandy648 That race sounds brutal! Good job sticking with it.
It was so hard. The elevation was 5000 feet. ALL. DAY.
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@Scott6255 thanks! I’ll never do another race that has that dude as the director again!0
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Camaramandy648 wrote: »@Scott6255 thanks! I’ll never do another race that has that dude as the director again!
Do tell - what race was this?0 -
I was just about to ask, too!Camaramandy648 wrote: »@Scott6255 thanks! I’ll never do another race that has that dude as the director again!
Do tell - what race was this?
Congrats to @martaindale and @Camaramandy648 !!!
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3/1-2.25
3/2-3
3/3-2.5
3/4-2.75
3/5-2.25
3/6-3.5
3/7-Skipped due to my legs hurting
3/8-2
March Goal-18.25/60
2021 Goal-156.75/634 miles
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@polskagirl01 @Teresa502 it was the ozark highlands 50k2
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@pfeiferlindsey The last time I donated blood, I had really bad anemia and couldn't run for days. You did great!
That sounds like a very brutal race @Camaramandy648 ! You're a beast for not quitting! You are awesome.
Great job for hanging in there and finishing when you were feeling so poorly @martaindale ! You did great! Congrats on your second fastest HM time - even with walking a mile!
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3/1 - 2.75 miles - 3.6 mph - Treadmill walk
3/2 - 2.00 miles - 3.6 mph - Treadmill walk
3/3 - 2.00 miles - 3.5 mph - Driveway laps
3/4 - 2.70 miles - 4.5 mph - First run/walk after surgery on the rural road near home
3/5 - 2.00 miles - 3.6 mph - Field walk
3/6 - 3.00 miles - 4.6 mph - Walk/run on rural road
3/7 - 2.00 miles - 3.7 mph - Field and driveway walk
3/8 - 2.25 miles - 4.0 mph - Walk/run on the driveway
March total: 18.7/62 miles
I took Tippy for a stroll after work, put dinner in the oven, and then went for a walk/run on the driveway. I was bound and determined to walk 3 minutes then run 2 for the entire time, regardless of where the runs fell. That meant I ran up the infamous hill that I almost always walked up when I was running pre-surgery...every lap! I would like to think that is why I was so slow today, but even my first walk was slower than normal. Not sure what's up with that. I sure felt like I was working harder than the HR (158 avg) and pace showed. Heck, I can walk at 4.0 mph! Oh well, I'm just happy that I am able to run. Hopefully next time will be better. I may have to go back to walking that hill instead of trudging up it.6 -
@Camaramandy648 well, that sounds brutal. You are a beast to finish that. Congratulations.
@martaindale congrats on your race. I'm sorry you had the stomach cramping issues, it sounds like you were running really well. But you finished despite it and still with a good time! That's such a good sign for where you are that you can have a really bad end to the race and still end up with your second fastest time! Well done.
@Teresa502 that hike looks challenging and fun! Looks like the day was gorgeous even if chilly. Hope you are warming up!
@quilteryoyo you are doing great. You will definitely improve quickly but it's not surprising if it feels a little harder than normal as you get back into things.
Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
03/01/21 :::: 3.2 :::: 3.2
03/02/21 :::: 2.1 :::: 5.2
03/03/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 8.4
03/04/21 :::: 2.9 :::: 11.2
03/05/21 :::: 5.0 :::: 16.3
03/06/21 :::: 9.0 :::: 25.3
03/07/21 :::: 4.0 :::: 29.3
03/08/21 :::: 2.4 :::: 31.7
Busy day, so treadmill run squeezed in before strength training. Not too eventful run and training was HARD today My arms already ache from all the pushups and pullups3 -
@martaindale Electrolytes maybe? Good job finishing anyway!
@Camaramandy648 Crazy that they wouldn’t give you a course map, what did they think they were the Barkeley Marathons or something? Sounds like rough going, great job!
I’ve decided since this year’s MRTC Winter Off-Road series has two races at Stanky Creek, the 5k and the 8k, that I am going to christen the two courses Little Stanky and Big Stanky. That means my husband and I are planning to run Big Stanky tomorrow as the final race of our homegrown series. The official race was Sunday.
I made a mistake which fortunately I was able to correct with some trouble! I was planning to look at the Strava runs of people who did the 8k race to see if they ran the course as posted on the website, and also make it into a Route on Strava so I could try not to get lost. Well, I forgot to do it right after the race, and this morning when I went to do it, the runs from last night had been pushed off the “recent activity” page of the MRTC Strava club. Clicked on a couple of people I knew had run it, and they had run a shake-out run this morning, and only the most recent run was visible on the profile, not sure why. It took me nearly two dozen tries to find someone who had run the race yesterday but NOT run this morning. Geez, what a bunch of runners! Then when I found someone, her data from the race was corrupt and jumped around in straight lines! Ahhhh! Finally I did find someone and made my route, thank you. Which is good because as usual they did NOT run the course posted on the race site. They modified the start not to require a road closure. I have never been the way they got back from the road to the main part of the race, will have to walk it tomorrow and try to figure it out before running.
I’m not feeling optimistic about the 8k since my legs were so tired yesterday - we did Little Stanky last month, and even the shorter course took it out of me. Big Stanky is mostly mountain bike trail. It involves a long uphill which is all tree roots forming steps, it’s like the Stairmaster of trail races. A couple of steep muddy descents and at least one jump across (or splash through if like me you are a bad jumper) the Stanky Creek itself. It’s a fun course! We also always get lost when doing it in practice, so this year we put up marker tape. That was more than a month ago, since they have postponed the race twice, and it remains to be seen if someone has helpfully removed our tape between then and now. Wish us luck!6 -
Hi all, v late to this party and so terribly behind! So my 2021 has been pretty annoying so far. Covid, dental surgery and a stupid ankle injury. London is still in lockdown and to be honest I think I’ve just been really down and feeling like I’m never going to feel fit again. Stupid as I know I made it back after the mastectomy last year, but I have just felt quite negative.
Long story short, I have been hiding and working on getting back to routine. Alternating strength days and running days, with one rest day a week. Tracking food, drinking plenty of water - back to basics time. Feeling better and determined to do my best and turn this year around.
I hope you are all well. I will try and catch up but I know there have been mad weather issues over in the US, and ongoing restrictions everywhere. Great to see people are racing again. Hugs and high fives to all. I’ve missed you x
March goal - 50 miles
March total - 17m
1/3: 4m
3/3: 4m
5/3: 4.2m
8/3: 4.8m7 -
@rheddmobile I don't know what kind of watch you have, but I've been playing around with routes lately on mine and discovered how amazing it is.
I ran yesterday morning, my standard "Around the Block" 6-ish km, and then in the afternoon took the kids to the Polar Bear Club meeting. This was my 3rd time, their 2nd time, and we love it. They meet twice a week at a local outdoor pool (closed for the winter except to this group and another club that meets on Sundays). They are a very fun group of people - of all ages. It's just too bad we got started so late in the season, as this is the last month they'll be meeting. It was just above freezing yesterday (air and water around 2 or 3°C), so a "normal" day for them.
Tonight is running club, so I'm trying to get my mind ready for that... last week was really challenging for me.4 -
@Camaramandy648 and @martaindale Great job on your races! Sorry you had stomach cramps, @martaindale, but you rocked it anyway.
Mileage is low right now due to life, but I ran 2 miles last night and did some an work. I’m going to run a virtual St. Patty’s 10k this weekend and wear my new awesome green shoes!5 -
Good luck with Big Stanky Creek run this morning @rheddmobile ! I hope you don't get lost and have fun! It sounds like a challenging course. I'm looking forward to hearing about how it went.
Glad you are back @Faebert ! It sounds like you are doing everything right to get your fitness back. You'll get there. I'm in the same boat, coming back from my open heart surgery. We can do it.
@polskagirl01 You are doing great getting involved with groups in your new location. I'm not sure I would want to be in the Polar Bear Club myself, but glad you are all enjoying it. You'll do great at the running club. Just remember how much fun, even if it was challenging, that you had last week.
You'll rock the race and shoes this weekend @marisap2010 !
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3-1 7k slow
3-2 7k easy
3-3 7k easy
3-4 7k slow
3-5 7k easy
3-6 7k measy (between moderate and easy)
3-7 7k slow
3-8 7k moderate
3-9 7k easy
March Total: 63k
March Goal: 150k
Mostly sunny, low 40s F, and little wind today. Gave some thought to just shorts and a short sleeved tech shirt, but my wife said "no." Plenty of plump robins today; and most of the ice has disappeared from the ponds.
When you pop in here claiming your December 2021 mileage, what accomplishments will you have made?
PUT THE FUN BACK IN THE RUN!
Return to a good running weight of 175 lbs (second attempt)3 -
Good luck @rheddmobile !
@marisap2010 Good luck on your race. I actually saw someone wearing those shoes at my race this past week and I thought of you! They are definitely easy to spot!!
@Faebert Glad to have you back. I have no doubt that you will get there! Keep on truckin'.4 -
Hi all, v late to this party and so terribly behind! So my 2021 has been pretty annoying so far. Covid, dental surgery and a stupid ankle injury. London is still in lockdown and to be honest I think I’ve just been really down and feeling like I’m never going to feel fit again. Stupid as I know I made it back after the mastectomy last year, but I have just felt quite negative.
Long story short, I have been hiding and working on getting back to routine. Alternating strength days and running days, with one rest day a week. Tracking food, drinking plenty of water - back to basics time. Feeling better and determined to do my best and turn this year around.
I hope you are all well. I will try and catch up but I know there have been mad weather issues over in the US, and ongoing restrictions everywhere. Great to see people are racing again. Hugs and high fives to all. I’ve missed you x
March goal - 50 miles
March total - 17m
1/3: 4m
3/3: 4m
5/3: 4.2m
8/3: 4.8m
I hope it helps to know that you are not alone in feeling down. We all had such high hopes in putting 2020 behind us but truth is that 2021 did not start out much better. There is hope on the horizon with the vaccines but it's going to take time. With London being on a lockdown and your recent health issues, well no wonder you feel blue! Just wanted you to know that we're here for you to vent, cry or celebrate whatever you may be feeling!
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pfeiferlindsey wrote: »pfeiferlindsey wrote: »pfeiferlindsey wrote: »pfeiferlindsey wrote: »3/1 - No running - Spin and strength training
3/2 - 4 early morning miles that felt really awesome
Total for March - 4 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 66 miles
I have to say, even though I don't respond a lot, I do read and you all are such a positive, upbeat bunch and I love it. I love the motivation. I did the challenges 2 years ago, but then "The Year That Will Be Forgotten" happened.
So:
March 3 - 3.11 miles
March 4 - 3.11 miles
March 5 - Today will be some spin and strength
Total for March - 10.22 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 59.78 miles
My huge goal this year is to get my base back that I lost last year. Before 2020, I was averaging 1000+ mile years and last year, I barely got to 600. So, my base is shot.
I ran 5 miles today without walking and felt totally amazing the entire time. Super happy with how it went and I have no doubt that I'll get to my goals this year. March goal is to get up to 6 miles comfortably and I'm sure I can do it.
March 6 - 5 miles
Total for March - 15.22 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 54.78 miles
Donated blood on Saturday morning, so I kind of expected my Sunday run to be a bit rough. Ended up being a beautiful day and I was actually 20 seconds faster per mile than what I normally run. Perhaps the slight weight loss helped .
March 7 - 3.19 miles
March 8 - Spinning after work - No running today
Total for March - 18.41 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 51.59 miles
Well...it caught up to me. Today's run with rough, but I got through it. Was a beautiful morning and considering I almost didn't get out there, I'll take it as a win.
March 9 - 4.5 miles
Total for March - 22.91 miles
Goal for March - 70 miles
Miles to go - 47.09 miles9 -
Lots of great running going on here the last few days!!
@Camaramandy648 and @martaindale - great job finishing tough races.
@Camaramandy648 I would have been a definite DNF but awesome job sticking with it and finishing!
@martaindale - It's tough when that nausea feeling hits you anywhere in a race but one mile out sucks! You finished though and with a great time even if not a new PR. You do know now that it is a possibility. Were you fueling with anything newish that you hadn't used on a run that distance previously. Also as @rheddmobile said did you drink or eat anything that would replenish your electrolytes (NUUN, Skratch, Tailwind, etc.)?
@GeminiLady159 - welcome to the group. As others have said I would recommend taking it slow in terms of increasing distance or speed. Right now just try to be consistent and get out 3-4 times a week if you can with maybe an active (walking) rest day in between. Also its going to be so hard at least initially, just know that it does feel better and eventually you too may get hooked on how wonderful it can feel to get outside for a run!
Note: when I started running I was mid 50ish and 60lbs overweight. I just wanted to run one short block, couldn't do it initially but I kept trying and eventually made it the full block and then a mile and then another. You can do this! Also I didn't have C25K or this group I had no idea they existed but I sure wish I had!
@Teresa502 - I would be like your friend hanging on to the tree for dear life! The hike looks tough but the reward of that view is awesome!
@rheddmobile - hope your Big Stanky race is a good one!
@marisap2010 - Yay for an in person race!
@quilteryoyo - you are doing so great! That pace will come back - maybe just run that hill once during your workout to build up to being able to do it every time?
@Faebert - glad to see you back! I think most all of us have felt that sadness more than once during this pandemic so you are definitely not alone. I am just hoping to have some sense of normalcy by summer but we'll just have to keep hanging in there and see.
I have been running a bit as the hamstring allows. Also doing a lot of yoga and strength work pretty much every day to hopefully help it along. Still no word on PT. Thought maybe it would come through this week, yah it's only Tuesday morning so maybe...
I also was sent an app from my health insurance with a bunch of different challenges for running, and walking and steps, logging food, etc. You earn 'coins' for completing the challenges but I have no idea what they are good for. It has though incentivized me to get more steps in on non-running days. I think getting out for a recovery walk or slow walk/run just around the neighborhood is a good thing for strength and rest days. With our change to daylight savings time I am also hoping to get my DH out for a walk with Hobbes the Vizsla after dinner most days. We'll see on that one.
Date..........Miles........Total
03/01.......0.00.........0.00
03/02.......4.51.........4.51
03/03.......0.00.........4.51
03/04.......2.49.........7.00
03/05.......0.00.........7.00 - + Strength Training @ Home
03/06.......6.50.......13.50
03/07.......1.73.......15.23 - + Peloton Yoga - Hips & Hamstrings, Peloton Strength Training for Runners
03/08.......5.40.......20.63 - + Agility
2021 Run the Year Team - LeftRightLeftRepeat 168.48/1256 miles (running and walking)
2021 Planned and Completed Races
09/11/21 - Surf City Half Marathon (rescheduled)5 -
March 1 – Exercise Bike (6.33 miles) + Strength training
March 2 – 5.07 miles
March 3 – Exercise Bike (7 miles) + strength
March 4 – 5.35 miles (morning) + 3.05 miles (evening – hill repeats)
March 5 – rest
March 6 – 12.01 miles
March 7 – Hiking – 2.27 miles – 1340 elevation gain
March 8 – 5.18 miles
March 9 – 3.34 miles
I took my bike to the shop at lunch today for a routine service and then went out for a short run. It was just too nice of a day not to go out. Temp was around 61F and it was partly cloudy but mostly sunny! 😊
@shanaber – I had to laugh at you not knowing the value of the coins but they inspired you to move more anyway! Some times it’s the little things!
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