MAY 2024 Monthly Running Challenge

SummerSkier

Hi everyone!

So I have been slacking here commenting this month but I have been running. The air quality, dew point, humidity and temp have not been the best for running but I think I will make the goal of 110 I started with so not a horrific month.

This mornings' 5 mile run was a melt down again. 💦💦💦💦💦I don't mind too much except the air was SO thick i could barely break a 13 min mile to start with. 🐢🐢🐢 But I could also see from my HR that perhaps I was not exactly pushing it (still in the 130's the first few miles) ∾∾ 💤💤💤 so I decided that I would repeat my high intensity song and every time it started I would PUSH 100 steps higher cadence to match the song. I actually ended up with 1 split under a 10 min pace using this method and after about 3 miles I felt a LOT better about the run which ended up about an 11:30 pace. Not exactly my fastest🤣🤣🤣

eleanorhawkins

Hi everyone, I have totally failed to keep up and the 150 unread posts is too much even for me to catch up on! I have a new job with long hours and can't get on the forums from my phone because it will only let me into the Spanish ones. D'oh.
Summary... my ultra was last weekend, it was tough and took quite a long time, but I did it! I am pretty much recovered but waiting until Wednesday to run as per strict coach. Post-race blues suck, but there are some ambitious plans being laid 🤣
I hope I have only missed everyone being awesome and nothing bad.

martaindale

May total: 50.9 miles
YTD: 385.9/1200 miles

5/7: 2 miles
5/8: 1.9 miles
5/9: 2.4 miles
5/11: 3.5 miles
5/12: 2.3 miles
5/14: 6.5 miles
5/15: 6.5 miles
5/19: 2 miles
5/20: 6.5 miles
5/22: 4.1 miles
5/26: 13.2 miles

Couer d'Alene HM done and Idaho checked off the 50 states list. This area is stunning. Mountains surrounding a beautiful lake with lots of trees.
Temperatures were beautiful! Low40s with about 75% humidity. There was a slight breeze, though on some parts of the course that breeze felt rather stiff coming off the lake, it's better than no wind at all.
The race was really well organized. Thankfully they had race morning packet pickup because we arrived too late yesterday evening. They also did a really unique staggered start. Marathon walkers started at 5:30. Marathon started at 6:30. half marathon started at 7:00. The 10K and 5K started at some point after that. In total there were only about 2,500 runners, with 1,100 of those in the HM.

I stuck to my 4-minute run 1 minute walk intervals and the cooler temperatures made it so much easier to pick up the pace. I don't think the altitude ended up being too big of a factor. The first part of the course winds through a really lovely neighborhood and the back part cuts through a college campus and tracks along the lake with lots of pretty views.

Overall, I felt really strong through most of the race. I started tiring a little in the last 2 or 3 miles, but that's not unexpected. Particularly with the low mileage I've been doing the last month or so. My foot is a little bit tender now and I started noticing some twinges in the back half of the course. However, it doesn't seem too bad and I'm hopeful that with some r&r today and trying to stay off my feet, it won't be too terrible.

I have to say I'm really pleased with how this race turned out. I was really concerned that it might be pretty painful from a fitness and PF standpoint. But, the fitness I built up before I got sick carried me through and the intervals really helped a lot with recovery during race.

My shiny new medal

martaindale

Great to hear from you @eleanorhawkins ! I'm glad your Ultra went well and your strict coach is forcing you to recover. If you get a chance and you have any pictures, we'd love to see them!

eleanorhawkins

martaindale wrote: »

Great to hear from you @eleanorhawkins ! I'm glad your Ultra went well and your strict coach is forcing you to recover. If you get a chance and you have any pictures, we'd love to see them!

@martaindale thanks, and well done on your race!
The only photos I have are the two that went on Strava... one group before the start, and one at km 63ish when I came over the top of the last climb and the view was just wow. Somehow we missed all the photographers, and my phone was at the bottom of my pack so I couldn't be bothered to dig it out. I regret that now. Next time I will find somewhere accesible to carry my phone!

AlphaHowls

I am ok for now. First two storms have rolled through, with damage. The next one will hit us in the night.

kgirlhart

May Goal: 115 Miles

5/1: 6.03 miles
5/2: 4.11 miles
5/3: 6.02 miles
5/5: 10.05 miles
5/6: 3.12 miles
5/8: 6.25 miles
5/9: 6.02 miles
5/10: 6.02 miles
5/11: 8.18 miles
5/13: 6.02 miles
5/14: 4.10 miles
5/15: 3.52 miles
5/16: 2.12 miles
5/18: 8.37 miles - Possum's Revenge Trail Race
5/20: 3.52 miles
5/21: 5.60 miles
5/22: 6.02 miles
5/24: 5.62 miles
5/26: 10.05 miles

110.74/115 miles completed for May

I didn't get out as early this morning as I should have, so it was pretty hot for my 10 mile run. It was 75°F feels like 76° when I started, which wasn't too bad. There was some wind that helped it not be too hot. But it was 86° F feels like 88° at the end. The last two miles were pretty tough. When I got home my husband was in the back yard watering the garden, so I got him to hold the sprayer up and stod under the water and that felt really good. I did ru through the cemetery snd made sure my grandad, great grandad and father- in- law had flags. My Dad is 60 miles away at a veteran's cemetery so I didn't get to check his. But one of my sisters lives there and I think her motorcycle club helps to put the flags out there.

I don't know if we will hit 100° or not today. It is 99° now and it is definitely hot. I may take a rest day tomorrow. It's my husband's birthday and a holiday, so we may just relax most of the day. We are meeting some friends who are in town for dinner tonight. We haven't seen them in a couple of years, so we are really looking forward to it.

Edit to add: We did hit 100°F.

Great job on your race @martaindale! You did really well especially since you were sick so recently.

Glad your ultra went well @Eleanorhawkins!

Stay safe @alphahowls!

Great run @SummerSkier I usually try to keep my long run under a 12 minute pace, but the heat was too much for me today and I came in at 12:09 average.

shanaber

Stay safe @AlphaHowls!!
@martaindale - the HM sounds awesome! Will keep it on my bucket list for when I can get back to running, even if I do a shorter distance. Have fun exploring - it is a beautiful area!

steviebee888

Hello Everyone. My name is Stevie and I’m trying to get back into running. Unfortunately due to the crazy year of the pandemic and then some, I gained weight and I’m trying to get it off by getting back on the pavement. I’m glad I found this group to help with accountability. For my birthday, I bought myself the Garmin Vivoactive 5, because I was having trouble with my Fitbit. So, I wanted to try something new. I’m getting back into running with Jeff Galloway’s walk/run/walk method, which was quite successful for me in times past. This method helped me achieve some personal best as well as conquer some back-2-back races in various states when I was conquering my Half Marathon goal in all 50 states. I accomplished this goal back in April 2019. Thank goodness I got it done right before the pandemic. Since, we only have a week left in May, I’m going to hang out until the June 2024 challenge. Looking forward to getting to know the team.

chris_in_cal

NOT MY Neighborhood 1Mile (at 12"51 ). Day 26.

I went to LA for a big beautiful 50th birthday party for a friend (The rented a taco truck! Yum)

I stopped at the beach in Oceanside, CA on the way home and got in a sunset 1.4 mile run. It was nice.

tarun_yadavA

Morning all. Got in 7.56M (at 11"03). Was ill yesterday - temperature, nausea bodyache. Think a week of just drinking and eating cr-p just caught up with me!
44, eh!? Mind still thinks like it's 22, but Body be all, 'Brohhh try 66'.

4 runs... 30 miles to 200. I think I can do this!

@martaindale what a lovely HM! Congratulations...
Btw. Have you done New Jersey yet?

@AlphaHowls glad you're ok

Laurz9191

Hi everyone!

Yesterday I ran at my city's spring 5k. I can't say it was fun but I did it and earned a brand new coffee cup to add to my collection (now I have 4, from the last 4 years). It was quite hot out and I was a minute slower than last year. I expected this, as I haven't done a whole lot of speed work lately (one of my goals for June). The goal I set for myself yesterday was ideally to finish in under 26 minutes, which I did, but I forgot to stop my watch while catching my breath, so Garmin and Strava don't know that I did! But at least I can tell you all the truth .

Next month I have a 5k (plus ca. 200 meters) race around the main downtown area, so my aim is to get my speed up for that and also to start adding some distance again to my training.

150.7/160km for May.

daria0919

So very glad you’re safe @AlphaHowls! That was a rough stormy period for you and a lot of rain.

daria0919

steviebee888 wrote: »

Hello Everyone. My name is Stevie and I’m trying to get back into running. Unfortunately due to the crazy year of the pandemic and then some, I gained weight and I’m trying to get it off by getting back on the pavement. I’m glad I found this group to help with accountability. For my birthday, I bought myself the Garmin Vivoactive 5, because I was having trouble with my Fitbit. So, I wanted to try something new. I’m getting back into running with Jeff Galloway’s walk/run/walk method, which was quite successful for me in times past. This method helped me achieve some personal best as well as conquer some back-2-back races in various states when I was conquering my Half Marathon goal in all 50 states. I accomplished this goal back in April 2019. Thank goodness I got it done right before the pandemic. Since, we only have a week left in May, I’m going to hang out until the June 2024 challenge. Looking forward to getting to know the team.

Welcome @steviebee888! This is a great running (and walking) group! Hope to see you regularly. You can still hop right in for the rest of May. In a few days the June thread link will be posted here and then you can bookmark that tread and continue on with us folks.

Teresa502

Congratulations on your half marathon @martaindale! It sounds like a beautiful place to run. Hope you enjoy playing tourist with the family for a few days.

Congratulations on your ultra @eleanorhawkins!

Welcome @steviebee888!

@alphahowls - those same storms hit us late yesterday afternoon and overnight. Lots of trees down but thankfully our power is still on.

emptydog

Just checking in. I ran this morning. It is going to rain shortly here.
This month has flown by and I am looking forward to more miles in June.

5/1 - 3.13 Miles. Lakefront Park. 50F, Very foggy.
5/2 - 3.01 Miles. Lakefront Park. 61F, Clear.
5/3 - 3.07 Miles. Lakefront Park. 47F, Sunny.
5/4 - 1.66 Miles. Lakefront Park. 59F, Cloudy, Very windy.
5/6 - 1.35 Miles. Lakefront Park. 57F, Misty.
5/7 - 3.08 Miles. Lakefront Park. 43F, Sunny.
5/9 - 2.28 Miles. Lakefront Park. 49F, Cloudy.
5/10 - 1.14 Miles. Lakefront Park. 49F, Misty.
5/11 - 3.1 Miles. 5K Race. 52F Sunny.
5/12 - 1.07 Miles. Lakefront Park. 50F Mostly Cloudy. Tough.
5/16 - 1.20 Miles. Lakefront Park. 60F, Partly Cloudy, Calm. Good.
5/18 - 1.17 Miles. Lakefront Park. 60F, Some misty rain.
5/19 - 2.16 Miles. Lakefront Park. 57F, Clear.
5/20 - 2.06 Miles. Lakefront Park. 59F, Clear.
5/21 - 3.05 Miles. Lakefront Park. 64F, Clear.
5/23 - 3.13 Miles. Lakefront Park. 67F, Cloudy.
5/24 - 1.31 Miles. Lakefront Park. 61F, Clear, Great full moon.
5/25 - 3.1 Miles. 5K Race. 70F, Sunny.
5/27 - 3.02 Miles. Lakefront Park. 69F, Cloudy.

SummerSkier

add 10K to the mileage to make 105 out of 110 goal. I swear for the FIRST time in almost 20 years I almost had heat exhaustion today. The dewpoint was 77 and the air quality was moderate and the temp was over 80! But I should be used to that right? Somewhere about mile 5 my HR went over 180 *which is not unusual for me* and I tried slowing down but then I started feeling bad so about 5.5 I walked the rest in and then had some salt tabs and lay down. How crazy is that? Just goes to show that sometimes it is NOT easy. 😳😳

martaindale

tarun_yadavA wrote: »

@martaindale what a lovely HM! Congratulations...
Btw. Have you done New Jersey yet?

No but I have one tentatively planned. There's a race along a boardwalk. Can't remember the name right now. I put the PTO request in so waiting to see if that one will work out.

chris_in_cal

martaindale wrote: »

I have to say I'm really pleased with how this race turned out.

Fantastic!

I am just catching up, I scoffed abit at your pre-race post "perfect weather and an extra hour in the morning!" -What is she concerned with?

I think you were just expressing normally pre-race jitters. It sounds like a beautiful event, and family there with you too.

Come off being sick, and a niggling foot concern, you rocked it. Very inspiring.

chris_in_cal

SummerSkier wrote: »

... had some salt tabs and lay down. How crazy is that? Just goes to show that sometimes it is NOT easy.

I am glad you made it through, this sounds scary.