November 2022 Monthly Running Challenge

tarun_yadavA

Thanks @Scott6255 ! Yeah took it easy over the 2 weeks with just 2 runs; rest of the time- either rest days or elliptical in the gym +weights.
PS: well done on getting 7 in!

@quilteryoyo @eleanorhawkins - awww thanks ladies 😊

shanaber

martaindale wrote: »

@Scott6255 It would be super cool to BQ. I hope conditions and race day magic converge and make that happen for you. You've certainly put the work in!

^^^ THIS! ^^^

re: flavored KitKats - @martaindale I also like the chocolate/strawberry ones. When I was traveling to Montreal for work I could find dark chocolate KitKats and one of my favorites - dark chocolate mint! They seem so ordinary but I have never seen them here.

@eleanorhawkins - it is so sad to see the forest devastation but amazing how quickly it starts to come back. I don't know about there but here there are some conifers whose seeds have to burn before they will sprout. I don't recall which one it is... sequoias, redwoods??? Will have to look it up.

No runs for me the last 2 days... yesterday we had a huge storm go thru with all kinds of flood warnings and some people actually got swept away. 1 person drowned and several are missing. We had areas of flooding around our house but mostly all is ok.
Today was cleanup and errands that needed to get done so running tomorrow for sure.

Teresa502

I slept in this morning, drank some coffee, did a short yoga video and then headed out for a run. While yesterday’s 2 miler felt like a struggle fest, I ran 6 miles this morning and felt like I could keep going. Since I had ran 9 on Monday, I didn’t want to push it so I stopped at 6 and walked the 2.30 miles back to the condo. The temp was about 15 degrees cooler this morning when it was 57F. I then did some exploring in a nearby town and when I got back I decided to go out on the bike since it is supposed to rain all day tomorrow.

@shanaber - scary about the flooding. Getting swept away in flood waters is my biggest fear.

SummerSkier

OK - added my miles to Run the World! We are still freezing in the Atlantic but now we are a little ahead of pace. It's tedious since I have to manually add so I just did a month at a time to catch up. Will try to log more frequently...

I am at 41.5 for the month out of 120 goal. And as @kgirlhart said I did end up seeing the eclipse yesterday which was amazing because I thought it was supposed to be cloudy and rainy and I got up in time for the total but I did not walk out the door until it was waning. Still there is something quite eerie about the atmospheric feel during an eclipse. I think the lighting is just not quite normal which sort of makes it very mystical and fun. Instead of going back for my camera/phone I just decided to continue running and enjoy the whole experience without putting my poor excuse for a photo out on the web.

Today's run was 5 miles. It was humid and warm still but that's about to change. I played quite a hard game of tennis yesterday afternoon so I wasn't sure what would be left in the energy pot but it wasn't too bad and I just went with the flow which to me is always nice and relaxing. I am finding my joy again in life (almost a year after losing Bandit) with the tennis. The running and the barn/riding has allowed me to maintain a level of fitness which now that I am playing more regularly is really a blast! My older brother and I grew up playing tennis and did all the junior and college stuff and even leagues but when I got Bandit I quit completely. My brother never stopped and has been a teaching pro for a long long time. I wonder if he still gets joy from it tho? I will have to ask next time I see him at Thanksgiving. I think sometimes making your passion your job can ruin it?

Sorry for going on and on this evening...

This is one of the most amazing photos of the eclipse I have seen. Elizabeth Bourne photo credit.
Lunar eclipse from Svalbard.

kgirlhart

November Goal: 100 Miles

11/1: 5.26 miles
11/2: 5.26 miles
11/4: 5.55 miles
11/6: 11.15 miles
11/7: 2.11 miles
11/8: 5.26 miles
11/9: 5.31 miles

39.9/100 miles completed for November

It was another hot and humid morning and I ran another 5 miles. We are supposed to get some low 30's and maybe a freeze next week. You just never know what kind of weather you will get in Texas in November.

It was a lovely morning though. It was dark when I started out. The moon was hiding behind the clouds. It did not look like an eclipse though. 😁 It was light when I got home. I really love that time of morning when the sky is light and the clouds were pink and blueish grey.

tarun_yadavA

Morning all.
Busy morning... Calls. The game.
Squeezed in 4.

martaindale

@Teresa502 I probably would have abandoned the kayaking too. Open water makes me a little nervous. I missed the eclipse too.

@eleanorhawkins Wildfire damage is so striking. Just totally changes a landscape. It’s nice that you are already seeing some new growth come in.

@kgirlhart One of the things I love about early morning running is being out for the sunrise. Our sunrises seem to be more colorful than sunsets, so if I’m going to catch one, sunrise wins. I am soooo looking forward to the cold front! It’s kind of weird to think I’m going to go from shorts and sports bra to leggings and long sleeves in 1 day.

@SummerSkier Thanks for getting us closer to land!

martaindale

November total: 50.5/200 miles

11/1: 5 miles
11/3: 10 miles
11/5: 16 miles
11/6: 5 miles
11/7: 9.5 miles
11/9: 5 miles

Treadmill recovery miles yesterday before heading out to see a jr high play. My kid is in theatre this year so we are seeing lots of shows. Last play they had a speaking part but this time they did props. Honestly, they like theater more for the backstage stuff. They can be pretty crafty, so props was a lot of fun for them.

I am going camping this weekend to see my parents. Since they started rving we have to be more flexible with when we see them and I need to get out of the house. The daytime temps will be fine, especially with a fire, but it’s going to get cold overnight. Sat night it’s right around freezing. But, I would rather camp in really cold conditions than hot. Heat builds up in a tent and you can always add layers. But that early morning walk to the bathroom and coffee will be quite a shock!

QOTD: I know @Teresa502 has had several camping adventures. How about the rest of you? Do you enjoy camping? Or are you like my husband, and prefer a bed?

tarun_yadavA

@martaindale - Happy to hike and all. do outdoorsy stuff... But, BED.
Bed all day!!!

Scott6255

@martaindale I used to go camping almost every weekend as a teen, then when I had my son we would go often with Boy Scouts. But after that, nothing. I love the outdoors, but as I have gotten older, I much prefer sleeping in a bed.

7 miles this morning. This felt a lot harder than yesterday, and it was 1:00/mi slower. Legs just felt heavy.

shanaber

@martaindale - QOTD - My dad was a geologist for the government and we would go to wherever his work project was each summer and camp, sometimes for weeks or even a couple of months. It was rough, hiking in type camping, no campgrounds with facilities. While dad went to work we would hike, swim and fish and my mom would teach us about the plants, bugs and animals. As a kid it was awesome and I can say I have camped and hiked some pretty remote areas of Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming. As an adult I can't imagine how my mom managed it. I camped with our daughter too with Girl Scouts and it was fun. Now I prefer a bed but I wouldn't mind it if someone hauled all the stuff and set everything up for me 😁 It doesn't help that my husband has never camped and isn't interested.

ETA - I can still 'smell' the coffee cooking on the fire and 'taste' the toast my mom would make over the fire and of course the fresh fish right out of the stream.

martaindale

Wow @shanaber your childhood camping experience is hardcore!!
I am more of a state park kind of camper. No real hauling of equipment and actual bathrooms nearby. I think when I get older and have more time, I will get a small camper. But for 2-3 day trips a tent is still ok. But, I also don't sleep on the ground. I have a cot and I put a pretty thick foam sleeping pad on that. So, sort of a bed. But also in a tent. Borderline glamping!! That's my jam. I also really enjoy cooking on my little camp stove.

SummerSkier

oh my! I had enough "camping" in the military in my younger days to last a lifetime.

martaindale

November total: 61.5/200 miles

11/1: 5 miles
11/3: 10 miles
11/5: 16 miles
11/6: 5 miles
11/7: 9.5 miles
11/9: 5 miles
11/10: 11 miles

Marathon pace run today. 9 miles at pace, 1 more than the prior weeks. I'm still struggling with finding this pace. Usually, I'm pretty consistent but this pace lies in a weird zone that I just don't usually run in very often. Today, I oscillated between running two-three miles too fast and then having one too slow and then back to too fast. Overall, my average pace was pretty close to target just not as consistent as I would like to see.

I also tried something new for fueling today that didn't work well. I don't have a lot of time between waking up and needing to hit the road in order to squeeze in this many miles before work. The muffin and coffee combo worked really well nutrition-wise, but I would start running feeling a bit full. So today, I tried these little poptart bites instead thinking they might digest a little bit quicker. They were too little food. Ended up adding half a banana and then I felt too full! I considered bringing an extra gel just in case but ultimately left it behind. Bad call. I usually fuel every 3.5 miles so 11 miles as barely beyond my 10.5 mile fuel point. But I burned through those poptart things super fast and was struggling more than I should have been to get through the run. Lesson learned is just bring the extra gel and eat the muffin.

eleanorhawkins

Camping... we're picky, we started off with a caravan then upgraded to a motorhome so we have all the luxuries😂
I love being outdoors in the middle of nowhere, but I need a bed and a bathroom!

yirara

01.11 Tue 12°C 4.0km 33min 8:09/km
02.11 Wed 10°C 6.4km 51min 8:00/km
04.11 Fri 10°C 5.5km 45min 8:13/km
05.11 Sat 7°C 7.5km 65min 8:40/km
06.11 Sun 10°C 3.7km 30min 8:06/km
08.11 Tue 12°C 6.0km 48min 8:07/km
10.11 Thu 11°C 5.4km 46min 8:35/km

total: 38.64/80.5km (11.4km ahead)

Slower run to keep HR below a certain number. Very windy again. Garmin will give me a badge if I run 10km sometime from Friday to Sunday. So... I guess tomorrow might be the day.

kgirlhart

November Goal: 100 Miles

11/1: 5.26 miles
11/2: 5.26 miles
11/4: 5.55 miles
11/6: 11.15 miles
11/7: 2.11 miles
11/8: 5.26 miles
11/9: 5.31 miles
11/10: 6.01 miles


45.91/100 miles completed for November

It was another hot and humid morning. I had to go to Abilene (60 miles away) for a doctor's appointment so I took the day off work and went out for my run a little later than usual. It was nice to go when it wasn't dark and I was able to vary my route more than my usual weekday rum. I try to stick to the well lit areas most mornings. I ended up running 6 miles today. It is supposed to get cold tonight and maybe even freeze this weekend.

We used to camp at the state park at Possum Kingdom Lake when I was a kid. I loved it. When my kids were younger my family had our family reunions at different lakes and we camped then too. I still like camping, but haven't been in a while. I thin I would need an RV if I were to go now. I feel like I am too old for tent camping.

tarun_yadavA

Morning everyone! Happy Friday!

Tired. Got up at 3am to drop teenager off at 4am, for his history School trip to Belgium. Felt like a zombie. Several cups of Tea later, forced in a run!

9k. And 1400 up for the calendar year.

kgirlhart

November Goal: 100 Miles

11/1: 5.26 miles
11/2: 5.26 miles
11/4: 5.55 miles
11/6: 11.15 miles
11/7: 2.11 miles
11/8: 5.26 miles
11/9: 5.31 miles
11/10: 6.01 miles
11/11: 3.30 miles


49.21/100 miles completed for November

It was not hot and humid this morning. The cold front was coming in and it was 48°F and it was misty. Today was the first day of the RTE Hug a Runner challenge, so I just ran a 5K. There was a dog that was out and he was barking at me. He stayed in front of his house and didn't come after me, but I was distracted by him and then noticed movement right beside me and it was a skunk. He was just running next to me. Normally I would have been looking for him because I often see the skunk on that block but I wasn't looking for him today. Luckily he wasn't bothered by me.

Teresa502

I got out for a slow 5.5 miles this morning. Then walked down to the beach to check out the storm damage. It wasn’t too bad here but there wasn’t a lot of beach to walk on so I just headed back to the condo. I really wanted a nap but I signed up for a yoga class so off I went to class. It was a good stretch class but the room was overcrowded and you had to be careful of where your arms and legs went! Heading home tomorrow.

AlphaHowls

@kgirlhart wrote: »

but I was distracted by him and then noticed movement right beside me and it was a skunk. He was just running next to me. Normally I would have been looking for him because I often see the skunk on that block but I wasn't looking for him today. Luckily he wasn't bothered by me.

I admit to laughing about this!

tarun_yadavA

Good morning all.
Got in a 12k. Ran into the city and back.

quilteryoyo

Well, I think I am caught up again. I hope my comments are too confusing since they are on some older posts. LOL Hoping to get a run in later today. I'll catch up on my exercises for the week then.

Haha @Scott6255 . Glad you didn't feel like you were going to die on your run on the 9th. 🤣. Sounds like you did great.

@shanaber So sorry to hear about the floods and loss of life. I've not caught the news in a couple of days, so had no idea. 😢

@Teresa502 You are doing great while on vacation.... well even if you weren't. 🤣 I hope you have a safe trip home.

@SummerSkier Thanks for adding your miles to RTW. I enter mine manually too, so know how tedious it can be. Glad you are enjoying tennis so much. Wish we lived closer. That is a beautiful picture of the eclipse.

Great run @kgirlhart . Love the picture!

You are so consistent @tarun_yadavA ! Must be great to be able to have a school trip to Belgium. I hope your son enjoyed the experience.

@martaindale I'm glad your child has something they love to do - theater. I hear ya on those early morning bathroom walks in the cold. As for camping, my husband and I used to tent camp in FL. It wasn't too cold there. I think I am getting to where I would prefer glamping or RVing. LOL I'm not sure sleeping on the ground is something I would enjoy now. And, at my age, going to the bathroom in the middle of the night is a thing, so having to do that alone, in the dark, in the cold....doesn't sound like fun to me. You are doing great figuring out your fueling needs. Your lesson learned to just take the extra gel and eat the muffin made me chuckle a little.

Way to get in a hard 7 miles @Scott6255 .

@kgirlhart So glad that skunk just wanted a running partner. Yikes.

SummerSkier

"Dances with wolves. Runs with skunks"

@kgirlhart you will NEVER live this one down.

Wow chilly run this morning mid 30's as opposed to mid 70's all last week. First time furnace. Long pants hat and gloves and hand warmers. 5 miles this morning total 54.86 for the month. Only 49 more days left in the year and so I need to avg 3.5 to hit my mileage goal. Having grown up in the NE I don't really mind the colder weather but once it drops below freezing unless it's snowing or something exciting like that I don't enjoy it as much.

quilteryoyo

Great run @SummerSkier . It's the drastic change in temperatures that gets me more than anything else. I'll probably be on the treadmill for at least a week.

yirara

01.11 Tue 12°C 4.0km 33min 8:09/km
02.11 Wed 10°C 6.4km 51min 8:00/km
04.11 Fri 10°C 5.5km 45min 8:13/km
05.11 Sat 7°C 7.5km 65min 8:40/km
06.11 Sun 10°C 3.7km 30min 8:06/km
08.11 Tue 12°C 6.0km 48min 8:07/km
10.11 Thu 11°C 5.4km 46min 8:35/km
12.11 Sat 7°C 10.2km 88min 8:40/km

total: 48.64/80.5km (16.2km ahead)

third and last run in lovely flat landscape. I think I will miss this

shanaber

@kgirlhart - maybe that skunk recognizes you and knows you aren't going to threaten it. It may also have been hoping it could hide beside you and/or be protected from the dog if it ran next to you! 🦨 I am glad you didn't react badly (I probably would have jumped/screamed) and didn't get sprayed!!

Thanks for updating your miles in RTW @SummerSkier - We are no longer sinking into the cold Atlantic!

Great running @tarun_yadavA!

No run today. Got out for a good walk yesterday but didn't sleep well last night so now I am tired. Will get in a strength workout today and maybe a short pup walk and get out for a run tomorrow.

For Sträva users have you found that it shorts the distance with the 'walk' selection? I walked what I know to be right about 3 miles yesterday and it gave me 2.74 and that was after I used the distance correction on the web version. Seems way off for a GPS issue but who knows.

tarun_yadavA

@quilteryoyo @shanaber - thanks ladies! 😊

Eldest went on an overnight coach trip to Ypres in Belgium. There on Remembrance Day. Pretty cool. But then groan on how much of it is just lost on young teenagers!
"How was the trip?"
>>> "The coach was awesome... I saw XYZ on Netflix... We ate fries at this place... This kid nearly peed his pants". Etc etc.

"Ummm... Belgium?
>>> "Oh yeah. That was ok".

Ugh. 🤦.

Oh. And reviving something from a month or so ago...
Coffee and Walnut cake. I had some today!😊

Scott6255

12 miles this afternoon. After playing golf for 4 1/2 hours this morning, I thought this was going to be pretty tough. But it was a perfect 52F and light wind. Wasn't going for a fast pace, but after the first mile it was just over BQ pace, and didn't feel that hard. Now I don't think I could have sustained it for too much longer, but felt good.

quilteryoyo

@tarun_yadavA Haha about your son's conversation re Belgium. Oh to be young again. That cake looks delicious!

Great running @Scott6255 !

I haven't posted since Tuesday, but have kept up my streak. I played tennis twice, worked a couple of days, and cleared leaves again on Thursday! Each day, I walked at least a mile. Today, I had time to run, but was just tired and the drizzly, cool weather didn't help. My plan is to run tomorrow afternoon. We shall see. My monthly total so far is 21.50 miles/70 mile goal.

Yesterday was a good Veteran's Day for me. I worked at the daycare all day where the two older classes sang the song "Thank You Soldiers" for me, made me a poster and pictures to thank me for my service, the daycare gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and my aunt joined me for dinner at Fatz (so I could get my free Calabash Chicken Basket). Couldn't think of much that would have made it better. Pictures under the spoiler.

The eagles one of the classes made me. I'm not posting the poster that was made because it has the kid's names and we're not supposed to put those on social media.


My pretty bouquet.


Me and my aunt after dinner.

I almost forgot, I finally made hotel reservations for the race in FL in Dec. That makes it real, right? I really do need to try to get some longish runs in over the next few weeks.