May 2021 Monthly Running Challenge
Avidkeo
Posts: 3,212 Member
in Challenges
WARNING: Following this thread may be addictive; it gets very talkative...miss a day and you can be 50 posts behind. This is the most popular challenge on MFP. If you found us in the middle (or end) of the month, you're still very welcome to join in - no requirements or special invite needed. Once you post, that's it you're in. And yes, we do this every month.
You set your own pace and distance for the month. We will all be doing it together. This is your virtual running group to help keep you accountable, to enjoy a virtual post-run coffee with your fellow runners, and to make new friends and learn a few things.
This is a continuation from the April 2021 Running Challenge which can be found at:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10828841/april-2021-monthly-running-challenge/p1
Anyone can join in, new and old, and if you found this thread late, you can join in at any time.
We have members ranging from total beginners all the way to Boston Qualifiers and beyond. We are a friendly and encouraging bunch. You never need to be ashamed of your miles. If you are making the effort, you will find only support here.
Here are the details from last month that apply again:
Anybody want to join in for a running challenge? Set a goal here and update us every day. OPTIONAL: You can post your progress by creating a ticker at http://www.tickerfactory.com (if creating one seems difficult, or you're like me and can't be bothered, then just type in your daily miles in this thread).
You can run, walk, or do treadmill - just be consistent. Don't let the high (or low) goals of others intimidate you. Some do 25 miles, others do 50, some go higher than that, some do lower; it's entirely your goal and therefore completely up to you. We help motivate each other, so what do you say? If you're new to running, set a low goal. If you're from a part of the world where miles aren't your thing, log your distances in KMs. And if you'd rather log your progress by time rather than distance, then you're entirely free to do that as well.
Feel free to set your goal now but wait until May 1, 2021 to start logging your runs!
Also, don't forget to join our group which can be found at:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/21182-monthly-running-challenges
Bookmark the previous and past challenges: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10393468/current-past-challenges#latest
Find a small group of runners that encourage and offer food support:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10573619/runners-that-need-some-nutritional-accountability#latest
There you will find lots of good info, and it's a place where everyone can talk to each other for further motivation. It's also a place to find help when there is a problem with this thread.
Note: we also have a group on Strava and Facebook.
After you run, come into this thread and post what you did (don't forget to hit the star in the upper right corner to bookmark this thread). Simply keep a running tally of what you've done this month, and interact with the others. Many folks come in here and chit-chat it up, even on their rest days or while recouping from injury. This is a very social group and we talk about many things (sometimes even about running ). It's a very friendly bunch here so don't be afraid to say hi (even if this is your first time), talk about a recent or up-coming race, ask questions, provide answers, or just lurk-n-learn. Participation is what makes this group successful.
Not quite sure how to log your runs? Follow the examples of many other challenge members. Even take a peek at last month's thread (posted above).
*******OPTIONAL TICKER*************
Info on tickers since I know there will be questions. Sign up for an account at http://www.tickerfactory.com and create your ticker. Then you need to update it after you finish a run and post it here. Here is what you will need to do.
After setting up your ticker, you will need to make note of the weblink they give you so you can return. An example would be:
http://www.tickerfactory.com/exercise/w6K1EiX/ <<<< the last part will be a part of the image link (explained below) that will be supplied to you after you initially create your link.
When you return to TickerFactory with the weblink, go to your settings page. Make sure you type your PIN in that you set when you created your ticker account. Then, where it says "Your current cumulative value", there is an add button. Simply add the distance that you just did, and the cumulative value automatically changes. Then hit next.
After adding your new miles (or KMs) to your ticker, you need to post it here.
After you hit next, it will give you a bunch of codes suggesting how to display your ticker.
Use the one at the bottom where it says Direct Image URL:
It will look something like:
http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w6K1EiX/exercise.png
To display that correctly in your post, make sure you place the image (img) tags around that link. So it will look something like the following (but removing the spaces in the img tags):
[ img ] http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w6K1EiX/exercise.png [ /img ]
^^^^^^^ Don't forget to remove the spaces between the brackets ^^^^^^^^^^
Some key things to pay attention to when posting your ticker:
Use the link that ends in .png
Remember the [ img] and [ /img] tags go in between the link
Remove the spaces in the img tags before posting
YES, there is a / in the second /img tag
By the way, everyone here should consider themselves a runner no matter how fast or slow. There's no judgment, we all started somewhere. And no comparisons, except with your former self. Don't compare your Chapter 1 to somebody else’s Chapter 20.
“I often hear someone say I’m not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.” – Bart Yasso
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
"We all know that if you run, you are pretty much choosing a life of success because of it.” – Deena Kastor
“Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.” – Steve Prefontaine
“Get going … walk if you have to, but finish the damned race.” – Ron Hill
"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." - John Bingham
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay on track.
You set your own pace and distance for the month. We will all be doing it together. This is your virtual running group to help keep you accountable, to enjoy a virtual post-run coffee with your fellow runners, and to make new friends and learn a few things.
This is a continuation from the April 2021 Running Challenge which can be found at:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10828841/april-2021-monthly-running-challenge/p1
Anyone can join in, new and old, and if you found this thread late, you can join in at any time.
We have members ranging from total beginners all the way to Boston Qualifiers and beyond. We are a friendly and encouraging bunch. You never need to be ashamed of your miles. If you are making the effort, you will find only support here.
Here are the details from last month that apply again:
Anybody want to join in for a running challenge? Set a goal here and update us every day. OPTIONAL: You can post your progress by creating a ticker at http://www.tickerfactory.com (if creating one seems difficult, or you're like me and can't be bothered, then just type in your daily miles in this thread).
You can run, walk, or do treadmill - just be consistent. Don't let the high (or low) goals of others intimidate you. Some do 25 miles, others do 50, some go higher than that, some do lower; it's entirely your goal and therefore completely up to you. We help motivate each other, so what do you say? If you're new to running, set a low goal. If you're from a part of the world where miles aren't your thing, log your distances in KMs. And if you'd rather log your progress by time rather than distance, then you're entirely free to do that as well.
Feel free to set your goal now but wait until May 1, 2021 to start logging your runs!
Also, don't forget to join our group which can be found at:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/21182-monthly-running-challenges
Bookmark the previous and past challenges: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10393468/current-past-challenges#latest
Find a small group of runners that encourage and offer food support:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10573619/runners-that-need-some-nutritional-accountability#latest
There you will find lots of good info, and it's a place where everyone can talk to each other for further motivation. It's also a place to find help when there is a problem with this thread.
Note: we also have a group on Strava and Facebook.
After you run, come into this thread and post what you did (don't forget to hit the star in the upper right corner to bookmark this thread). Simply keep a running tally of what you've done this month, and interact with the others. Many folks come in here and chit-chat it up, even on their rest days or while recouping from injury. This is a very social group and we talk about many things (sometimes even about running ). It's a very friendly bunch here so don't be afraid to say hi (even if this is your first time), talk about a recent or up-coming race, ask questions, provide answers, or just lurk-n-learn. Participation is what makes this group successful.
Not quite sure how to log your runs? Follow the examples of many other challenge members. Even take a peek at last month's thread (posted above).
*******OPTIONAL TICKER*************
Info on tickers since I know there will be questions. Sign up for an account at http://www.tickerfactory.com and create your ticker. Then you need to update it after you finish a run and post it here. Here is what you will need to do.
After setting up your ticker, you will need to make note of the weblink they give you so you can return. An example would be:
http://www.tickerfactory.com/exercise/w6K1EiX/ <<<< the last part will be a part of the image link (explained below) that will be supplied to you after you initially create your link.
When you return to TickerFactory with the weblink, go to your settings page. Make sure you type your PIN in that you set when you created your ticker account. Then, where it says "Your current cumulative value", there is an add button. Simply add the distance that you just did, and the cumulative value automatically changes. Then hit next.
After adding your new miles (or KMs) to your ticker, you need to post it here.
After you hit next, it will give you a bunch of codes suggesting how to display your ticker.
Use the one at the bottom where it says Direct Image URL:
It will look something like:
http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w6K1EiX/exercise.png
To display that correctly in your post, make sure you place the image (img) tags around that link. So it will look something like the following (but removing the spaces in the img tags):
[ img ] http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w6K1EiX/exercise.png [ /img ]
^^^^^^^ Don't forget to remove the spaces between the brackets ^^^^^^^^^^
Some key things to pay attention to when posting your ticker:
Use the link that ends in .png
Remember the [ img] and [ /img] tags go in between the link
Remove the spaces in the img tags before posting
YES, there is a / in the second /img tag
By the way, everyone here should consider themselves a runner no matter how fast or slow. There's no judgment, we all started somewhere. And no comparisons, except with your former self. Don't compare your Chapter 1 to somebody else’s Chapter 20.
“I often hear someone say I’m not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.” – Bart Yasso
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
"We all know that if you run, you are pretty much choosing a life of success because of it.” – Deena Kastor
“Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.” – Steve Prefontaine
“Get going … walk if you have to, but finish the damned race.” – Ron Hill
"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." - John Bingham
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay on track.
2
Replies
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I'm taking the opportunity to reset my goal. 150k for the month - though must of my running is by time this month so that's going to be a mind twist!
May 1: 13.96k (that's going to annoy me!)2 -
So we should all move over here?
0 -
polskagirl01 wrote: »So we should all move over here?
I think that's the general feeling. It's been mentioned a couple of times and feels appropriate. We really want people to find us, and you know, posterity lol2 -
I've been having some thoughts about an annual memorial run in August for @KeepRunningFatboy @MobyCarp and @PastorVincent
I think we lost them around july/August.
Any thoughts? I've been thinking of organising a virtual challenge where everyone signs up and contributes what every they feel they want to, and I want to be clear that people don't have to pay at all. And donate all the funds to a charity - though choosing a charity could be difficult. Rather than a medal which gets really expensive to make and post we could do a cool finishers certificate instead. And run over the month of August, culminating in a world wide Marathon - get everyone to run/walk/cycle 1km on 31st August at a set time. I think it would be awesome for everyone to all run at the exact same time (I'll happily get up at 3am to do it!)
Any thoughts?6 -
<a href="https://www.tickerfactory.com/exercise/wIribqY/"><img src="https://www.tickerfactory.com/ezt/t/wIribqY/exercise.png"></a>
Testing testing0 -
I am thinking my May mileage will be around 95 miles. It's tempting to round up to 100 but since I'm currently running by time, not distance, I'll stick with 95.
Today is a rest day for me. Good luck to everyone running today!5 -
Testing ... Ahh there we go
So hey, I am sort of new here. Teqnically joined two years ago but fell off. Well I am back now. Since then the world flipped upside down and I quit smoking. So running has kept me sane. Don't know what I am capable of because it's been years since I last ran so I'm starting off fresh with a small starting goal7 -
Welcome @abowersgirl1
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Welcome back @abowersgirl1
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6.8 mile trail run today with 1,786 feet of elevation.
I'm going to aim for 100 miles again this month and 10,000 feet of elevation.
May cumulative:
6.8/100 miles
1,786/10,000 feet of elevation3 -
2 -
Posting so I can find later. Goal is still 100 mile club
5.10 trail run/hike with DH & doggo this morning5 -
Hello,
New here but would like to try something more than what I'm doing...Current goal is 40 miles.
Only did 1.65 miles today..(the park was unusually crowded)9 -
Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie to the group. A former runner getting back to it.
I lost 75+ lbs about 10 years ago after getting into running and ran regularly for 5 years, maintaining my weight loss. Running was, not surprisingly, huge for my physical and mental health. I was never super speedy or a long distance runner, but consistent: 5 km x 2-3/week around 6:30 - 7 mins/km. Life happened in 2015/16, and an assortment of health issues have derailed my running since. Not surprisingly, as my running continued to decrease over the past five years, my weight increased to my current all-time high. I've been cleared to get back at it, and I've done the first week of C25K. Although physically it's been tough, mentally it's been more tough to not compare where I am now to where I used to be.
Happy to find this challenge, and I look forward to the motivation and inspiration that comes with it.
My goal for May is 35 km and my long term goal is to get back to the frequency/distance/time that kept me healthy for those 5 years.
9 -
-
I've been having some thoughts about an annual memorial run in August for @KeepRunningFatboy @MobyCarp and @PastorVincent
I think we lost them around july/August.
Any thoughts? I've been thinking of organising a virtual challenge where everyone signs up and contributes what every they feel they want to, and I want to be clear that people don't have to pay at all. And donate all the funds to a charity - though choosing a charity could be difficult. Rather than a medal which gets really expensive to make and post we could do a cool finishers certificate instead. And run over the month of August, culminating in a world wide Marathon - get everyone to run/walk/cycle 1km on 31st August at a set time. I think it would be awesome for everyone to all run at the exact same time (I'll happily get up at 3am to do it!)
Any thoughts?
I think the idea of doing an annual memorial run is excellent, with details to be figured out.
Last year’s medal was kindly paid for and donated to group members by an anonymous donor!
The one suggestion I would make is that having participated in three of these and organized one of them, details should remain super simple. The simpler the better. Organizing everyone to run a relay marathon on the same day as was done for Dennis and Moby was like herding cats, several people missed their slots or got confused and ran at the wrong time, and those who couldn’t make it ended up getting left out. So if the finale on the same day could be more of an option than a requirement that might be a good plan.
Challenge hound has been great to work with. When I did PastorVincent’s memorial I was concerned about randos signing up without even knowing what it was if I posted the link here, so I ended up making a lot more work for myself by making everything private and DMing people. But with the Run the world group set up by @TheMrWobbly it seems to have turned out okay being a public link. It’s not free - it’s a buck a participant - which is a trivial amount if thirty people join but I was concerned about a flood of strangers. But it seems like it has not been an issue.9 -
Everything @rheddmobile said. I helped with the one for Dennis and agree - the simpler, the better so that we can focus on remembering our friends.5
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Thanks @rheddmobile and @polskagirl.
Maybe to start we get some ideas of what people would want to do, and go from there. I agree the worldwide marathon was a challenge! And I can see a lot of issues with trying to say everyone run bwtween 9am - 11am GMT or something like that - though it sounds fun!
I had thought of keeping it really simple, set up a give a little or everyday hero page to a specific charity, probably an American running related charity, and people can sign up, contribute what ever they want (if they want to contribute, no one has to, that's important).
Or another idea is a month long bingo type challenge. So we make up a bingo card with several options, people check off their bingo card, and when they have completed it, they get the certificate.
Challenges can include run in a tutu, find a dog on your run, say what motivated you for this run etc. Can post in a seperate forum post dedicated to it, or our private FB page.5 -
Also my suggestion for a charity is Achillies International. They are a group focused on helping disabled people get into mainstream running events. I think given the type of all inclusive group we are, they would be a great group to support. Running, support everyone, international, a political.
https://www.achillesinternational.org/
As always though, I'm open to suggestions.5 -
Welcome @gamommy2 and @jane_76!
I am not sure if I have any input on how the suggested memorial event should go outside of leaving it accessible to the capability of both our new and veteran runners. One thing, I recall a memorial run around a cause with personal ties several years ago (not here) which I was unable to run due to injury and have never felt right about missing that, but that's just me and how I am. So not sure if there is a path for those folks, but a plan B may come in handy if someone finds themselves in a similar type situation.
My experience is that the social bond is as important, perhaps more so than the running itself, and can be part of the draw people have to get back to running again (like myself coming back to running and to here for example). So I really love the idea of honoring the memory of the members who ran on ahead of us by doing exactly what they did here; support themselves and others in a friendly and communal interest towards improving fitness and running abilities.5 -
Welcome @abowersgirl , @gamommy2 , and @jane_76 .
@gamommy2 Unless you had planned to run more, you don't have to use the word "only." YOU RAN 1.65 miles today. That's awesome!
Nice running @sweetdaisy13 !
@jane_76 Great job on completing the first week of C25K! I had open heart surgery in Jan, so understand that it is hard to not compare to what you were doing before. If you must compare, compare to what you were doing last year, not 5 years ago! You've got this.
@Avidkeo I think an annual memorial run is a great idea. Everyone had some good comments too. Way too early for me to think that deeply, but I'm in for whatever the group decides.
7 -
Morning all!
In for another 100 miles this month. Stretch goal will be 110 miles, but have a lot planned this month, so we'll see if I can squeak that out.
May 1 - 3.09 miles
Total for May - 3.09 miles
May Goal - 100 miles
Miles to go - 96.91 miles4 -
So confused. Both threads have the same title.... Can someone close the other one?1
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I remember helping with the organization for Dennis. The time difference was a huge issue.
I would suggest maybe making it a weekend where people can participate anytime from say Fri-Mon. And however long they feel is appropriate. Maybe we can do a mile for each member we've lost for those of us that want specific amount.6 -
5/2 - 5.66 mile 82 min easy effort
May total: 5.66 miles
May goal: 95 miles
First May run completed this morning! It was also the last run of my first 6 week base building period since I started running again in March. Tomorrow starts a down week, after which I have planned another 6 week base building period. So, this week is "lather and rinse" then "repeat" next week. Or maybe I just need a bath or something.8 -
Not a terrible HM this morning, but should have felt easier. But it was really hot (well felt hot due to 65F and 100% humidity), so was carrying about 5 extra pounds of sweat in my clothes. But did manage to hit exactly 2 hours.
12 -
1
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I love the idea of a memorial run. Participating in ones we have done before really made me feel even more connected with this group and seemed like the type of memorial our running friends would have liked.
3 -
@Scott6255 Wow! That's an excellent HM time! I'm hoping to complete my first one in 3 hours. Yes, I'm really slow!
3 -
pfeiferlindsey wrote: »Morning all!
In for another 100 miles this month. Stretch goal will be 110 miles, but have a lot planned this month, so we'll see if I can squeak that out.
May 1 - 3.09 miles
Total for May - 3.09 miles
May Goal - 100 miles
Miles to go - 96.91 milespfeiferlindsey wrote: »Morning all!
In for another 100 miles this month. Stretch goal will be 110 miles, but have a lot planned this month, so we'll see if I can squeak that out.
May 1 - 3.09 miles
Total for May - 3.09 miles
May Goal - 100 miles
Miles to go - 96.91 miles
Ha, I should have waited until after my run to post everything, but oh well.
May 2 - 6.43 miles
Total for May - 9.52 miles
May Goal - 100 miles
Miles to go - 90.48 miles7
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