DECEMBER 2024 Monthly Running Challenge

AlphaHowls
AlphaHowls Posts: 2,002 Member
DECEMBER 2024 Monthly Running Challenge

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 NOVEMBER 2024 Monthly Running Challenge which can be found at:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10926454/november-2024-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 DECEMBER 1, 2024 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

Note: we also have a group on Strava and Facebook.
Strava
https://www.strava.com/clubs/mfpmnthlychlng

Have not seen anyone there in a year...
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/133628317200269/about

After you run, come into this thread and post what you did (don't forget to hit the bookmark 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.comandcreate 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

You may see some phrases / words that are unique to our little group when it comes to describing some of our runs. It is a mash-up of words that seem to best describe the way the run felt that day. Here are some examples. Feel free to come up with your own to add to the dictionary 😃

'sleasy' - Slow and Easy
'sneasy' - Slow Not Easy
'scrappy' - mix of Slow and Crappy
'wun' - mix of Walking and Running
'wog' - mix of Walking and Jogging

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay on track.
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Replies

  • tarun_yadavA
    tarun_yadavA Posts: 1,391 Member
    Scott6255 wrote: »
    Thank you @AlphaHowls! Hope you foot gets better soon.
    @tarun_yadavA 139.5 is very specific 😃

    I just want to finish the year without any injuries. But seeing December on the calendar reminds me...is anyone still thinking about a marathon meetup next year? A long time ago we discussed possibly the TX group doing the BCS marathon in College Station. It should be early December 2025.

    @Scott6255 I need 139.5 to make 2024
  • daria0919
    daria0919 Posts: 1,144 Member
    Anyone in this group planning on signing up for Run the Year for 2025? It says there’s a price increase in 2 days. I like how it keeps track of all my runs/walks/steps. Also, it’s been fun watching our team rack up the miles!
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,497 Member
    I hadn't really thought about it @daria0919 , but am willing to join if others want to.
  • SummerSkier
    SummerSkier Posts: 5,159 Member
    I decided not to do RTE this year. But I know that a few folks still will be on so you can still have a good MFP team. I will post our final tally for Shana's team next month!
  • SummerSkier
    SummerSkier Posts: 5,159 Member
    1 Dec. starting the month on a weekend is my favorite. Time to update all the spreadsheets and get a long run in. 8.14 and done today. Back to work tomorrow but going to try and keep up the mileage this month. Gotta earn those shoes!

    Scott, I wish i was about 20 years or more younger and I would love to have a marathon goal for next Dec but I don't think I can survive that sort of training or distance and it would probably put me off running. I do think we should all consolidate our long runs with Vicky and do 10 miles on the 7th....

    exercise.png
  • emptydog
    emptydog Posts: 136 Member
    edited December 1
    I'm in for 50 miles this month. It is mostly walking these days.

    2.26 miles walking this afternoon. 30F, breezy.
  • capewrathultra
    capewrathultra Posts: 119 Member
    Hang in there @steviebee888 . I commend you for coming back when last month didn't go well. You've got this.

    I hope you can meet your goal @ContraryMaryMary .

    @capewrathultra Glad you are back with us.

    @tarun_yadavA You did great running what you did while in the US. Hope you have a safe trip home.

    Nice run today @SummerSkier That's a great idea, but my race is on the 14th, not the 7th. I would love feeling all of you running with me....I'll be the slow one in the back. :lol:

    I wish I had some motivation for you @Emilienewme , but I tend to stay indoors on the treadmill.

    Walking is moving @emptydog . No shame in that.

    Nice run @Scott6255 . I wish I could get the ticker to work for me again, but I haven't been able to for over a year. Not sure why.

    Today is my rest day, so I walked a mile on the treadmill between church and lunch.

    This coming week is going to be a bit crazy, with preps for the trip. I'm going to do my best to get in some runs, but it may not be as much as I would like.

    Thank you!
  • AlphaHowls
    AlphaHowls Posts: 2,002 Member
    Two requests on Strava, let me know if this is you, so I can approve.

    Dicte (Benn) 🐢🍰🐇 🏳️‍⚧️
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Vlad Botsion
    Kyiv, Ukraine
  • capewrathultra
    capewrathultra Posts: 119 Member
    AlphaHowls wrote: »
    Two requests on Strava, let me know if this is you, so I can approve.

    Dicte (Benn) 🐢🍰🐇 🏳️‍⚧️
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Vlad Botsion
    Kyiv, Ukraine

    Anyone who is on Strava can add me, too, if you'd like: Buzz C (https://www.strava.com/athletes/ultratrailghost).
  • WarmJellyfish
    WarmJellyfish Posts: 165 Member
    edited December 2
    AlphaHowls wrote: »
    Two requests on Strava, let me know if this is you, so I can approve.

    Dicte (Benn) 🐢🍰🐇 🏳️‍⚧️
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Thats me! lol.
    Hope your tow gets better soon

  • WarmJellyfish
    WarmJellyfish Posts: 165 Member
    edited December 2
    I struggled to reach my goal last month and I will be travelling and staying with my family for a week for Christmas so I think a running goal of 60km would be more achievable

    Please send me any tips to find the motivation to go run outside in the cold, dark and rainy weather we have in the UK

    It's still miles better than here. Was -18c this morning. Goretex and handwarmers are your friend :)

    @quilteryoyo re-race you got this. Just imagine the cold from the north chasing you all the way, better run faster!

  • capewrathultra
    capewrathultra Posts: 119 Member
    12/01/24: Evening walk (1.38 miles)
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,497 Member
    I added you on Strava @WarmJellyfish . Nice running in the snow. Just a bit too cold for this southerner. That would be great motivation for the race. LOL

    Nice running to start the month @kgirlhart !

    @daria0919 I think it is great that you are setting a step goal while you are in your boot....AND agreed to be a 10K coach as well. You are awesome. I hope you get good news from the doctors.

    @Emilienewme I think they have some walking pads/treadmills that don't take up much room. I don't know how well they work for running, but that might be an alternative.