February 2022 Monthly Running Challenge
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2/1 – 7.04 miles
2/2 – 3.11 miles
2/5 – 3.15 miles + 9.2 miles
2/7 – 5.18 miles
2/8 – 5.12 miles
2/9 – 3.21 miles + 3.19 miles
2/10 – 5.14 miles
Total – 44.66 miles
I met some friends at 5 am and ran 5 miles this morning. I’m planning to hike 13+ miles on the AT tomorrow. It isn’t a run, but there is a good bit of elevation change and time on my feet, so I’m hoping it will help build up my endurance for Peyton's Wild and Wacky 50k next month.
@shanaber – I have not watched much of the Winter Olympics. Mostly because I forget about them until I see a headline in the news. I watched some of the mogul skiing event and it wore me out with them hitting all those bumps!
Good luck tomorrow @polskagirl01! Hope your shoulder continues to feel better. I may be able to watch a little bit in the morning before heading out on the trail. It looks very cold and foggy there at the moment!
@Scott6255 - Hope you can sneak away from family obligations tomorrow and enjoy the streets of Houston!4 -
Feb totals: 45.1/110 miles
2/1: 4.5 miles
2/2: 7.6 miles
2/4: 4.4 miles
2/5: 9 miles
2/7: 4.6 miles
2/8: 5.6 miles
2/9: 3 miles
2/11: 6.4 miles
Pace workout this morning - 5 miles at HM pace. I did a better job actually finding my pace this morning. The first 3 miles were within just a few seconds of target. The last 2 were a bit too fast, but they felt good, so I’m gonna call it a win. This morning’s weather was basically my version of perfect. Clear skies, 40 F, and low humidity (maybe 50%). The absolute best running weather! And our high today is in the 70’s, which I love. If I could just get these temps year round, that would great, ok, thanks!5 -
@Teresa502 Can’t wait to see some AT pics! From the hiking videos I have seen, that trail looks beautiful. Have fun!2
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@Scott6255- Hope you can sneak away from family obligations tomorrow and enjoy the streets of Houston!
My question for the day . Is does ANYONE really enjoy the streets of houston.
4.06 this morning so 50.29 total for the month out of 100 miles planned. I keep Feb light because this is usually our worst ice month.
Keep forgetting to add my walking mileage to our run the world activity also.5 -
@polskagirl01 as soon as I get home from my club meet I'll be glued to that camera! You'll get there, just take it nice and easy and remember to enjoy the adventure ;-)3
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Have fun on your run @polskagirl01! I'll probably be sleeping at the time you will be on Camera.
@Teresa502 @SummerSkier it won't be the streets of Houston. My daughter lives across the street from a huge trail system. It's really nice.
9 miles this morning. I felt like dog poop. Rarely do I run 2 days in a row, let alone evening then morning back to back. I guess that's why. Hopefully a day in the car, then moving will give me the needed rest 😉
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Today was a rest day. It's a shame because it was great running weather this morning, but I need the rest. I did walk to the park after work today though. It was such a pretty day I couldn't resist.
Good luck tomorrow @polskagirl01!4 -
Nice running @Scott6255 . I hope you manage a run in Houston and the move goes well. Moving doesn't sound like much of a rest day, but I guess it uses different muscles.
Glad you are feeling better @kgirlhart . Taking it easy for a couple of more days is probably smart. I mush have missed the post where you saw they fox. I think they are beautiful animals.
@shanaber I forgot to mention in the nutrition thread that beavers amaze me. I really don't know how they gnaw through trees that big and then drag them into the water to build their home.
@polskagirl01 I hope your shoulder is feeling better. I checked out the camera. Quite a bit of snow on the ground. What time is your race? I'll try to remember to check it out when I get up and see if there is anyone crossing that point. Enjoy the race. You'll do fine and we all be waiting to hear your race report.
Sounds like you are doing great with your HM plan @martaindale !
@Teresa502 Great running. Where are you starting your hike tomorrow? I hope you enjoy it. The weather should be great.
After working from 6:30 - 9:45 this morning, I played doubles tennis for over 1.5 hours. Afterwards, I went to a couple of appointments and then saw my primary care physician.
He is having me increase one of my HBP med to see if it will quit going so high in the afternoons. At his office it was 156/104 or something like that. This morning, it was 121/85. He also said that we will watch my HR going up randomly, but said it could be a side affect of CoVID. His nurse had CoVID last year and that happened to her. She saw a cardiologist who said he was following a lot of people with that issue after having CoVID. She has been on medication for a year and is finally getting back to normal. Her cardiologist said it is taking people 6 months to a year to get back to normal. Since I had CoVID right before my heart surgery, and then again 3 weeks ago, who knows. For now, we are doing nothing about that but watching it, unless it really gets bad. I'll discuss that with my cardiologist when I see him on March 3.
As for the visual migraines and double vision episodes, he and I agreed for me to see a neurologist. They are going to get in touch with one and send them all the info, they'll review, and then I'll get an appointment. I hope it isn't too long. He isn't real concerned, but I told him I needed that for my peace of mind.
I didn't sleep much again last night, so was really tired when I got home. It was beautiful out, 64°F, sunny, and a light breeze. I wish I had felt up to a run, but I didn't. I did get out and walk a mile on the driveway. I hope to sleep better and get in at least one run this weekend.
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Well.. the meds were a bust but possibly not a total bust. After doing a lot of reading I was concerned because I don’t feel the cardio listened to me when I explained I have a 48 resting heart rate, he just kept saying, “This is a tiny dose, you don’t have to worry about that,” while my reading was saying it would drop resting about 12 beats. So more reading told me it was safe to split the pills and I took half of one. Which is a good thing because it took my resting down into the 30s. Which is fine because I’m used to it, but really borderline as far as, you know, being conscious and stuff!
Anyway the beta blocker did exactly what I expected it to, put a solid lid on my heartrate low enough that I wasn’t able to run fast enough to trigger the problem. My heart didn’t freak out and go into tachycardia but then it never has done when it never got above 138 anyway. I can run slow without taking meds to do it. And not gasp for breath and have to walk up hills. In fact, comparing my run today to my run last week when my heart freaked out and I had to sit on a wall and do a valsalva then take a walk break before continuing, the run with the heart freak out was actually five seconds faster, and overall more pleasant. Trying to sprint with your heart capped at lvl 2 isn’t much fun, all my muscles feel baked in lactic acid now because of a lack of oxygen. Looking at the chart of my heart rate from the run, it absolutely will not go above 140 no matter what, which means I start going anaerobic at anything faster than super easy pace. It looks like the sound wave of a song run through an equalizer program to flatten the volume.
So… good news, no freakout. Bad news: but who cares if I can’t run anyway? Plus it causes weight gain and high blood sugar and interacts badly with my metformin. BUT I am hopeful that half of half a dose will still be enough to prevent freakouts and yet allow my heart rate to get high enough to be functional. That was 25 originally, the smallest pill size, so… roughly 7? Kind of a trick to split a tiny pill into quarters. I’m just glad I listened to my instincts which told me taking the whole dose was a bad, bad idea, or I would be in the ER right now with bradycardia.
Anyway it was a beautiful day! It’s supposed to be cold again tomorrow but today was singlet and shorts weather. Saw a kingfisher catch a fish as we ran past the lake!7 -
@quilteryoyo - that is really interesting about the COVID affect. I would never have thought of that. I hope it improves and it will be interesting to hear what the cardiologist thinks too. Do you think the migrants could also be COVID related?
@rheddmobile - Having a super low HR is no fun. Before the PM surgery mine resting HR was in the low 30's and I couldn't get it above 120 no matter how hard I tried. It is impossible to really run with your HR like that because your muscles just can't function at more than just a very basic level. Even now when the PM doesn't kick in to push my HR up higher to something more normal I can tell immediately because my legs feel like lead. I hope the quarter dose works for you, allowing you to push yourself while keeping your heart in line.
@polskagirl01 - Good luck in the snow and have fun! I tried the camera and all it did was spin so maybe too many people are trying it (it is about 7am there I believe). I am looking forward to your race report.
No run today. We said goodbye to Zion and headed home. It is so hot here! I am hoping to get out in the morning before it gets too hot but it will be warming up quickly.5 -
@rheddmobile that sounds awful, but I'm so glad you did your own searching for answers. I hope you can follow up with that doctor so he knows what happened with his recommendation!
I'm still in bed
Camera shot shows fog at the top, but the sun is coming up down below. 2 hours until start time (camera is an hour or 2 into the route). 6 -
Scary stuff @rheddmobile, I hope you find a workable solution.
I have a half tomorrow and I’m kinda dreading it. I’m nowhere near as fit as I was a few months ago and the course is very hilly, however, making it so much worse, the weather is dire. It’s so hot and humid - it’s 8pm right now and still at 28 degrees (82 Fahrenheit) and 90 percent humidity. On top of this, we’re getting gale force winds in the morning. Hooray. Thanks cyclone Dovi. It’s going to be s slow slogfest. It’s s bit like running in soup, but now with someone stirring it.
What the Met Service is predicting for tomorrow (Sunday) in spoiler:
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Looks like a beautiful sunshiney morning for @polskagirl01! I've watched a bunch of runners coming past the camera but couldn't tell that much about their clothing.
Good luck with your HM @ContraryMaryMary!2 -
I am late but it looks like I missed the race. Gorgeous scenery. Hope the race / mountain climb went well.2
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ContraryMaryMary wrote: »Scary stuff @rheddmobile, I hope you find a workable solution.
I have a half tomorrow and I’m kinda dreading it. I’m nowhere near as fit as I was a few months ago and the course is very hilly, however, making it so much worse, the weather is dire. It’s so hot and humid - it’s 8pm right now and still at 28 degrees (82 Fahrenheit) and 90 percent humidity. On top of this, we’re getting gale force winds in the morning. Hooray. Thanks cyclone Dovi. It’s going to be s slow slogfest. It’s s bit like running in soup, but now with someone stirring it.
What the Met Service is predicting for tomorrow (Sunday) in spoiler:
Sunday looks like a good day to be running downwind...1 -
"Keepin' it sleasy since 1952"
2-1 4k treadmill
2-2 7k easy
2-3 4k treadmill
2-4 4k treadmill
2-5 4k treadmill
2-6 7k slow
2-7 rest
2-8 7k sleasy
2-9 4k slow
2-10 rest
2-11 7k sleasy
2-12 7k sleasy
February Total: 55k
February Goal: 140k
Cloudy, low 30s F, and a gusty wind from the west. A little snow overnight made the footing treacherous.
@rheddmobile Sorry to hear about your beta blocker experience. Perhaps you could crush the pill, weigh it, and then just take a quarter of what the whole pill weighs.
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@rheddmobile No one knows our bodies like ourselves. I am glad you listened to your instincts and cut it in half. I hope a quarter of the pill works and you are able to run like you want to again. I take a low dose beta blocker and don't feel like it has made my weight go up - so that may not happen to everyone.
@shanaber It is possible that the migraines are CoVID related. Who knows? I think it affects everyone differently and, either it has a huge range of effects or it is blamed for everything that the doctor's don't have an explanation for. I'm sure the heart rate thing is based on empirical data where the cardiologists have noticed the increase in patients with the same problem and all of them having had CoVID at some point. I know in younger people it can cause severe heart issues. It's just a really strange virus. I'm lucky that my HR doesn't go up to the point that it really bothers me physically...just mentally I know it shouldn't be that high.
@polskagirl01 I slept too late, so missed seeing any of the runners. I did check out the camera and saw lots of foot prints. I hope you enjoyed the race. The weather looks nice and sunny now.
Good luck tomorrow @ContraryMaryMary . I love your description of the weather conditions...but not the conditions themselves. I guess that will be one of those races where you take it easy and don't worry about anything but having as much fun as possible and finishing upright.1 -
Race report!
It was AMAZING. What a difference good weather and race atmosphere can make.I got a room the night before, to avoid getting up early and making family wait for me all day. It was just under 3k from the start, so perfect warmup walk. I really had timed it right, but then came in from the other side and had to walk a ways to pick up my number... so I was putting myself together (number, chip, pole assembly, repacking bag to leave at deposit, picking apple up several times trying to shove it into the pocket of my pack - still haven't eaten it) in the last moments while they were doing the warmup and lining up to start. Dropped of bag at deposit, set watch and we were off. No need to have worried about getting cold at the start!
The weather was so beautiful. Blue skies, sun shining on the snow, temperature around zero. Really, really nice. This was the complete opposite of that colder, windy, snowy day when I did this route alone, got off-course several times, and never wanted to do it again.
Having people around made all the difference as well, especially on the dreaded section under the lift. It was motivating seeing others, regardless of their pace, tackling the same obstacle. Even one of the photographers was slowly making the ascent, stopping to take pictures as he went. One guy was crawling a few paces on all fours, then sitting. A girl said this was her first ever trail race, and she was very surprised and struggling. I hope she doesn't give up on trail racing after this. That really wasn't "normal". Others were actually running up that section, and I was passed by several of the 2- and 3-loop runners. Pretty cool. My determination really came out towards the top, just keep moving up, keep going. It took me an HOUR to go not-quite 2k, and I reached the spot visible to the camera right at 11:15, and did make a big deal of waving at the camera, so if anyone was on, you'd have seen me. Even if no one caught me, knowing it was possible was motivating, too.
After a short recovery walk/inhaler stop (which maybe I should've done earlier because it helped), I got back to my hike/jog thing, and the math-while-running said I needed to keep running as much as possible. My A goal was to finish under the 3-hr cutoff, B goal was finish after that but close enough that they still give me a finishing time, and C goal was no disasters. I'm not good at downhill trail running yet, and was worried about twisting an ankle, so went as fast as I could comfortably. Meanwhile I'm getting lapped by multi-loopers, but still seemed to be on track as long as I didn't stop for anything. Finished in 2:56:xx. Perfect.
Got my medal and yummy alcohol-free beer and checked the message that had come in a few minutes earlier. Husband: we're by the drums. Me: Hmmm. Last I remember seeing drums was 2 hours earlier, at the bottom of the lift. There was a loudspeaker with music playing here. I checked, and had indeed sent the correct map point for "Saturday pickup 12:30/45, same playground next to go-carts as last time". Why he was miles away, I have no idea. But I had warm clothes to change into, and a bag of chips to eat. The kids had fun cheering for people by the drums, and we went for pizza, so I was happy, too. Pizza Hut stuffed crust. Mmmm.
Just 2 pictures for now - bottom of lift, and medal/hat:
The hat might actually be big enough to cover my ears without being repeatedly pulled down!
I still plan to never again do that as a training run, but the race was great.8 -
Congratulations, @polskagirl01 !!!!!!1
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Way to go @polskagirl01!1
