December 2021 Monthly Running Challenge

skippygirlsmom

We are back to having to wear masks at work. As I speak there are 2 of us here, the other gal is literally 50 feet away from and we’re sitting in cubicles. I’m willing to bet her mask is hanging from one ear too LOL

The weather here in Northern AL has been something, in the 70s the past few days. Shorts and tank on my run this morning, earlier this week I was running in a jacket…go figure.

@polksagirl I’m just reading your spoiler, shame about the quarantines. Hopefully a couple weeks out of class will slow things down again. I agree, never take good health for granted.

@quilteryoyo and @Teresa502 it was actually not my HM. Skip was signed up for the full, they cancelled that at like 6:00 am because the weather wise it was beyond insane, then they said everyone will shift to the half. That was better for Skip because she wasn’t prepared for the full really. Once we got there the parking attendant told us the half was cancelled, then we got an email to go and get your medals. It’s a shame because it’s big marathon here and folks come from all over to race it. I’m so sorry your back isn’t getting better. Fingers crossed for answers!

@rheddmobile sorry to hear hubby isn’t feeling well, I hate even more that you are not safe to run in your own neighborhood, it makes me so sad. There are places here I would never run alone. Skip took me to some places she runs in Mobile and I was like holy *kitten* you feel safe here. She looked at me like doesn’t everyone run at the sea port with the all the homeless people sleeping on the benches.

We have a movie theater here that is adults only and you can get lots of fancy (think steak and fish) type food with alcoholic drinks.

I’m all about “sleasy” running 

SummerSkier

70 degree humid warm again this morning. Is it really Dec?.

84.54 miles Dec to date out of 100 planned. or less. 9.75 left for run the year. Was pacing myself this month to work on speed and also not complete the challenge too early. Streak of pace under 10 is up to 134 miles!!!

12-1 4.04 miles
12-2 4.06
12-3 4.07
12-4 6.2
12-5 6.11
12-6 4.09
12-7 5.15
12-8 6.07
12-9 5.02
12-10 4.11
12-11 6.2
12-12 5.03
12-13 4.01
12-14 4.25
12-15 6.03
12-16 4.01
12-17 6.09

Interesting to look back at my trends per my Apple watch. I know if I go back even another qtr or so the pace was 11 or more.. I am hoping for the last qtr of the year to drop below 10 min miles and perhaps for next year my annual will be below as well.... It's something to work for. I believe running less distance the past month has really helped my legs. I am still streaking but the shorter runs more frequently seem to allow for recovery even if they are faster.

martaindale

@SummerSkier You can definitely see your runs trending faster! Good work!

Tramboman

"Keepin' it sleasy!"

12-1 7k slow
12-2 7k slow
12-3 7k slow
12-4 7k sleasy
12-5 7k slow
12-6 7k slow
12-7 7k slow
12-8 7k sleasy
12-9 7k slow
12-10 7k sleasy
12-11 7k slow
12-12 7k sleasy
12-13 7k slow
12-14 7k sleasy
12-15 7k slow
12-16 7k easy
12-17 7k sleasy
12-18 5k treadmill


Don't Rest December Total: 124k
Don't Rest December Goal: 180k

Rainy and mid 30s F today, so went to the treadmill. It will work out well, because my body thinks the treadmill is almost like a rest day.

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)

2021 Races:

6/26 Direction Up 5k, Solon, OH 31:48 chip; 31:59 Garmin; 53d overall; 2d male 65 and over
7/17 Run of the Ox 5k, Mantua, OH 32:19 Garmin; 44th overall; 3d place male 60 and over

Teresa502

December 1 – 5.16 miles
December 4 – 10.05 miles
December 5 – 5.13 miles
December 6 – 5.30 miles
December 7 – 2 miles (treadmill)
December 8 – 5.1 miles
December 9 – 5.11 miles
December 11 -10.13 miles
December 12 – 5.01 miles
December 13 – 4.16 miles
December 15 – 5.14 miles
December 18 – 6.30 miles

68.6/100 miles completed

Been in a bit of a funk lately but I’ve been reading, liking and hugging here. Between Christmas gatherings, work and car problems and just laziness, I haven’t worked out in the prior two days but I got out for a run around 7 am today. The rain started around mile 3 but the temp was 52F so it wasn’t bad. I went by my driveway around the 5 mile mark and put my phone in my mailbox where it would stay dry and then I continued on for 6.3 miles.

noblsheep

1204-3km 27:05 aHR 144
1206-3.24km 30:00 aHR 146
1213-2.53km 21:54 aHR 148
1218-3.2km 30:00 aHR 157

Heart rate was high today, probably because it was stupid windy and cold. Got new shoes. I was a tad worried because they have a big mesh on the front but my feet were toasty the whole way. I wanted 4km but my knee started grumbling so I pulled the plug early.

katharmonic

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
12/01/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 0.0
12/02/21 :::: 2.2 :::: 2.2
12/03/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 5.3
12/04/21 :::: 10.1 :::: 15.3
12/05/21 :::: 4.0 :::: 19.4
12/06/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 22.5
12/07/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 25.5
12/08/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 28.6
12/09/21 :::: 1.7 :::: 30.3
12/10/21 :::: 3.3 :::: 33.6
12/11/21 :::: 4.5 :::: 38.1
12/12/21 :::: 4.1 :::: 42.2
12/13/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 45.3
12/14/21 :::: 4.0 :::: 49.3
12/15/21 :::: 4.0 :::: 53.3
12/16/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 53.3
12/17/21 :::: 2.7 :::: 56.0
12/18/21 :::: 13.7 :::: 69.7

I don't think I posted the last couple of days. Thursday was a gorgeous day in the 60s but I ran out of time to run. I was dressed to run after work and everything - but had to make a run to the store and decided It was for the best to take a rest day. Friday I ran with Stella on the trails so it was slow going but got something done. I also took a lovely short and easy hike, again taking advantage of a very nice day, although not quite as warm as the day befeore.

Today I did my 12th HM of the year for the 2021 HM a month challenge. Last minute I decided to go along with a friend to do this "Backyard Ultra" that is a 1 mile loop and you complete as many as you can/want in 12 hours. It was a small race raising money for a charity and my friend knew the race director. There were probably 20-30 people there for the ultra, a few more for the 5 mile race. It was very nice that they had an inside area to be able to wait in before and leave things in to be able to stop between loops if you wanted. With bathrooms and snacks available. My friend and I did our 13 loops (which added up to 13.7 for me because I didn't stop my watch when I went in to get snacks and water) and got a medal and a wooden chip that said 13.1 on it. There were chips for 26.2 and I think some higher distances as well and prizes for those who got the most loops and fastest times.

Overall this was much more enjoyable than I expected. The loop was not exciting but seeing and talking to people was fun. I thought it was going to be snowy all morning but it didn't start snowing until we were in our 9th loop and then big fluffy flakes were coming down. I wore my trail shoes because I worried about snow and traction and I should have just worn my regular shoes because my feet are pretty sore from running in the trail shoes on dry pavement. It was a well organized and well supported event and I am in awe of the folks who are still out there running an will be until 8 pm tonight.

So happy to be done with 12 half marathons!

Teresa502

Congrats on your half marathon a month streak @katharmonic!

Scott6255

@katharmonic Great job on getting all your monthly HMs done for the year!

quilteryoyo

@skippygirlsmom Sounds like you have a great relationship with your boss.

I vote for "keeping it sleasy as our motto too!

You're doing awesome @SummerSkier !

Nice running @Teresa502 . I was wondering if you ran in the rain this morning. Sorry about the car problems and that you are in a funk. Hope you feel better soon.

@noblsheep Nice running. Glad you listened to your body and shortened it instead of injuring yourself.

Congratulations @katharmonic ! That's a huge accomplishment.

quilteryoyo

Thanks for all of the good thoughts on my back. I got some disappointing news. He did an x-ray and turns out I have "dextroscoliosis convex to the right at L2. Curvature measures approximately 33 degrees from the T12 to the L5. Multilevel degenerative disc disease with facet arthropathy without fractures or spondylolisthesis." Not sure what all of those terms mean, but the x-ray looked pretty bad. No wonder it has been hurting. He gave me a steroid pack and some muscle relaxers. I was shocked so wasn't thinking clearly. The prescription for the muscle relaxers is for 2 pills for 45 days. I am going to call him on Monday and see if I really need to take them for 45 days in a row or if I can only take them when it hurts. I hate taking things that mask pain, so that I don't know what it is really doing. He didn't tell my not to run, but did say he didn't recommend it. I'm still trying to process all of this and see what I choose to do. The also gave me more strengthening and stretching exercises to do. I say more, but I wasn't really happy that he didn't ask about the things that the chiropractor had me doing already and didn't make sure that I knew how to do the ones he gave me. They just printed out directions when I checked out.

I'm going to do some research and decide about running and whether I want to try the brace he said could possibly help straighten it out some. But, he wasn't pushing it. He said most people don't get benefit because it isn't a quick fix and you have to wear this bulky brace under your clothes every day or it does no good. Haven't took the time to look at it yet.

Does anyone else on here have scoliosis or degenerative discs?

marisap2010

@katharmonic Great job on your 12th half!

Today was my first run since Tuesday either because of working late or sinus issues. I ran 6x 800m at 9:13-9:33 pace, 400m recovery. With warmup and cooldown, I ran 5 miles.

Scott6255

Oh @quilteryoyo sooo sorry to hear the diagnosis of your back

Tramboman

@quilteryoyo Scoliosis was part of my diagnosis when I first went to my chiropractor back in May. He took X-rays before he started treatment (3x weekly), again at the 2 month point (2x treatment weekly), and again at the 6 month point, when I went down to 1 treatment weekly. My scoliosis improved throughout the treatment.
I'm not sure if your chiro followed the same kind of protocols, and your scoliosis is a bit more than mine was. All I can offer is to take the time necessary to make a good decision, and follow through with the decision you make.

Tramboman

Great half streak, @katharmonic !!!

quilteryoyo

Thanks @Scott6255 and @Tramboman . My chiropractor did not take an x-ray to begin with and, frankly, I'm sort of shocked that he didn't realize I had the scoliosis. I am going to call him on Monday to let him know that the ortho guy said and see what his response is. Thanks for giving me hope that maybe, now that he knows, he can do something to help.

rheddmobile

@quilteryoyo I would absolutely not make a decision about running before finding an ortho who is also a runner. Many old school orthos are very negative about running for reasons which aren’t necessarily valid according to more recent research. Mine told me never to run again because of my knees, which are problematic because I have no ACL, but otherwise mostly fine, and although I may yet be forced to stop for some reason, my knees aren’t it. A sports ortho told me the first ortho was being ridiculous and running and lifting were actually good for my knees.

Also, before freaking out too much about the scoliosis I do wonder what percentage of people have it and don’t realize.

SummerSkier

damn. @quilteryoyo At least you have some idea what is going on. I think you need a new chiro if that is going to be your go to. On the Rx, he probably did not mean for you to take them straight for 45 days but gave you enough to cover you for several months or a year of outbreaks. I can't take muscle relaxers because like Rhedd I have no acls in either knee so they become very unstable if I take relaxers. Agree that almost all the orthos I have known totally think running is bad news. Yours might be in that category but hard to say. The other issue is when you get older they don't really want to fix you anymore - just give you something to deal with the pain and tell you to accept things.

Teresa502

rheddmobile wrote: »

@quilteryoyo I would absolutely not make a decision about running before finding an ortho who is also a runner. Many old school orthos are very negative about running for reasons which aren’t necessarily valid according to more recent research. Mine told me never to run again because of my knees, which are problematic because I have no ACL, but otherwise mostly fine, and although I may yet be forced to stop for some reason, my knees aren’t it. A sports ortho told me the first ortho was being ridiculous and running and lifting were actually good for my knees.

Also, before freaking out too much about the scoliosis I do wonder what percentage of people have it and don’t realize.

Great advice @quilteryoyo. There is an orthopedic clinic in Kingsport that has a running ortho doctor. All my running friends go to him for ANY injury because they know that he gets it. PM me if you want his name and contact information.

quilteryoyo

Thanks for the input everyone. @Teresa502 I will message you.