JUNE 2025 Monthly Running Challenge

Mari33a

Hi guys. We had a death in the family (my sister-in-law’s husband). He took unwell and died from heart failure within the week. I had my running gear with me so squeezed a run in each day. I think that gives me my answer to @kgirlhart’s question - I run to keep my stress levels in check & also I like how it makes me feel fitnesswise. Here's my run so far and I plan to be back later with another.

@AlphaHowls I’m sorry for your loss.

01/06 2.65 miles
05/06 3.22 miles
06/06 2.13 miles
07/06 3.56 miles
08/06 3.21 miles
09/06 3.21 miles
10/06 3.25 miles

Total 21.33 / 70 miles

AlphaHowls

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48647377#Comment_48647377

What motivates you to run? All the things you listed are great motivations to run, eat healthy, exercise. I am not motivated to run. I want to run and there are benefits. If I wait for the motivation, I would never do it. I just want to run, I want to breathe and talk to God, see the sunrise, feel the air. It is my place of peace. I am running. My sister did not do it, my brother did not do it. I am not following anyone. It is me and my God, plugging away at the miles. Being disciplined, tempered.

It really is hard to answer, since it is so personal for each and every one of us.

chris_in_cal

Upon sleeping on it, and reading some of your replies to the @kgirlhart question, I have mine. It goes back to an experience at age seventeen. I enjoy athletics and competing at sport and am not particularly gifted. I'm plain average height, stout, and have only moderate eye/hand coordination. In a school class of disinterested, even delinquent, kids in the last year of school, a coach had us run laps around a field. I discovered I had a bit of talent compared to the other kids. Without any coaching, guidance, team, etc. I ran a couple of times in my late teens/early twenties and always felt pretty competent. In my mid-twenties I screwed up my courage and signed up for a race, the NYC Marathon. There was a group of about ten of us men who signed up together, ran together, and did the race together. Still without any coaching, or guidance, I felt like I did pretty well. From there I've more or less stayed with it.

I enjoy running with friends with gentle competition, encouragement and camaraderie . I enjoy signing up and preparing for races, and I have confidence that if I deign to prep, prepare, and train I'll have a pretty good outcome.

I've never put it all together and had a PB that seems noteworthy, and that notion still burns in my mind as something out there to achieve. One day.

chris_in_cal

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/48647830#Comment_48647830

It really is hard to answer

Yet, @AlphaHowls you did a beautiful job of it. Thanks.

WarmJellyfish

Yesterday tried a threshold run as per garmin but nope. Scored 0% execution 🤣 Legs still sore from Sunday. Note to self, don't race a mountain when you don't have to (but I couldn't help myself, its been so long I did that and I wanted to see what I can do…..🙄, have to keep this Ego person in check). Quads still a touch sore and I have another threshold run scheduled because garmin is not happy with me 😶

WarmJellyfish

@kgirlhart hmmm, its funny. There are weight issues, endorphin addiction 😁 but funnily the real reason is because I can't run well. I have Thalessemia, so I am permanently genetically anemic, not matter what I eat and how hard I train. I have teensy teenie tiny red blood cells with a very low hemoglobin count, yet my iron levels are normal, even a bit elevated. My ferritin right now is through the roof. I'll never bust out of the 40th percentile of runners. Even during my army days when I had all the time to train, could never ever get anywhere near the gold standards for the run test. But I sure can do short sprints! I was awesome pounding out pounds in the gym. 300lb squats easy peasy for 10x3sets. I used to leg press 900lbs. I started running marathons for the challenge just because of this lack of blood stamina. I once did a 4:50 doing run walks (sprints!) but never again, sigh….😪

Teresa502

Just got caught up in 118 posts! So haven’t been around to not accept friend requests on Strava! 😂😂😂

At the airport now heading to Munich and then to hike/bike/kayak etc the Austrian Alps

Send hugs to @daria0919 on your poor foot and to @AlphaHowls and @mari33a for your losses.

Edited to say I ran 5 miles yesterday morning and 3 miles this morning. i was going to run longer this morning but I encountered a couple of dogs who weren’t usually on this route. Not sure where they live but I turned around when I saw them.

John772016

My condolences @Mari33a.

Enjoy the Alps @Teresa502! I'm jealous!

I went out on a street run today then decided to hop onto the trail that I took previously (back when I wiped out on a mud slide last month (or month before? I wipe out a lot 😂 it's hard to remember timelines).
It was a hot one today, & that trail goes through some ravine paths, makes it feel about 10⁰ C cooler. Bonus to me.

Didn't see any mudslides, but did see a deer eating some grass, which really surprised me as it was around 11a.m. & normally I only see deer on those trails in the wee hours of the morning. I could just make out the baby's back in the tall grass but couldn't get a good look and didn't want to get too close and spook Mama, so I let them have lunch. (no pic, I don't usually bring my phone on my runs🤷‍♂️)

Btw - for those that don't know my city, Toronto, is about 3 million people proper, the GTA (Greater Toronto Area- surrounding cities that are all connected) is about 6.5 million - seeing a deer, though it happens quite often to me on trails, still awesome.

June:

01/06 & 02/06 - 0km / 0 miles
03/06 - 12.30km / 7.64 miles
04/06 - 8.19km / 5.09 miles
05/06 - 0km
06/06 - 6.53km / 4.06 miles
07/06 - 10.16km / 6.31 miles
08/06 - 5.44km / 3.38 miles
09/06 - 0km
10/06 - 10.09km / 6.27 miles
11/06 - 10.04km / 6.24 miles

Total = 62.75km / 38.99 miles (Goal - 175Km / 108.74 miles)

@kgirlhart, Motivation → I always say I'm not motivated, just stubborn.
I am stubborn, but a bit more to it than that I guess, as I never knew if I could run at all. I run because it brings me joy.

I actually had lost all my weight (110lbs! & yes I'm still proud) and had been maintaining for almost 2 years before I even tried running. I hadn't run before other than when I was a kid.

Now, though, it definitely helps to maintain my weight.
More detail for anyone interested in the spoiler.

Spoiler Warning

One my best friends asked me awhile ago, 'Why do you force yourself to do that?' After a night of celebrating, he asked me that as I was lacing up the shoes to head out the door and he was heading back to my guest room to go back to sleep after getting up to find out what I was doing awake.

My response at that time is probably the same as here, 'Forced?, I get to'.
I want to run, because I get to run. Not motivation.

Background - There was a bit of fear around running for me, I wasn't cleared to do any activities other than walking for 7 months prior to spinal surgery & then for what ended up being 8 months after.
I was originally cleared for strength training after a month but had a setback and all of that was stopped immediately.
So, 8 months after surgery, I was told walking/cycling would be okay, but still no strength training upper body & no running (or any activity that would have similar impacts).

I wasn't cleared to *do whatever I want for quite some time after that.
* that means, I kept asking 'can I do X?' and added to the list at every appointment with my neurosurgeon, until my he said, 'Do whatever you want but stop if it hurts.'
I first ran a 5K at the end of 2019. My first 5K ever.

At any rate, found out much after my surgery in 2016, my neurosurgeon was worried if I'd be able to walk at all, let alone anything else, as my surgery ended up being much more complicated than expected. I knew at the time that my surgery that was supposed to take 90 mins, took just less than 5 hours, obviously not a cake-walk.

Now, though, not every time I run, I think of 'I was worried if you'd be able to walk', but some times I do.

I'm not motivated → I run because I'm honestly amazed, that I can run.

kgirlhart

June Goal: 140 Miles

6/1: 11.02 miles
6/2: 6.06 miles
6/3: 3.33 miles
6/4: 6.05 miles
6/5: 6.02 miles
6/6: 6.04 miles
6/8: 10.26 miles
6/9: 6.06 miles
6/10: 6.02 miles

6/11: 6.11 miles

66.96/140 miles completed for June

I am loving all of the inspiring responses to my question about motivation. It seems like many of us run for similar reasons. I think the next time someone asks me how I stay motivated to run I'll just tell them that I run because I want to run and I enjoy it.

I ran a 6-mile interval run today. It was supposed to rain, but the rain held off until after I got home. I am hoping we get a break from the rain. My yard is a swamp and the grass is getting out of control.

@Mari33a I am so sorry for your loss.

tarun_yadavA

@Mari33a sorry for your loss 🙏🏽

@Teresa502 ooohhh niiiice! Enjoy!!!

tarun_yadavA

Morning all

Got in 3.39M at 10'18

SummerSkier

Good Morning. So perhaps today will be a boyfriend run if it doesn't storm… I have been trying to run the past week and so far improvement as follows.

Run/Month to date/Year to date/walk/pace. My foot still has good and bad times through out the day and I am still trying to limit things and ice it. The bruising is gone but I think the lump is still there a little. TOmorrow will be 2 weeks and I am pleased that perhaps it will be a 4 week recovery total vs a 6 or 8 or 10. time will tell.

1.44	1.72	1054.28	0.64		21:00
1.59	3.31	1055.87	2.11		18:52
2.17	5.48	1058.04	2.95		16.12
2.21	7.69	1060.25	2.42		15:52
3.3	10.99	1063.55	0		14:17
2.67	13.66	1066.22	1.09		13:14

daria0919

Hi Running Friends,

Husband had a set back with his hip replacement surgery recovery. I had to call 911 Tuesday late afternoon - he had stroke symptoms. We’ve been in the hospital ever since. Turns out it was a TIA (you can read up on it, but in short, a small stroke-like episode - his lasted several hours) from which he is recovering fairly well now. A lot of testing. Still waiting for some results and for the doctor to make morning rounds. Hoping he’ll be discharged from hospital today.

Glanced through the recent posts here - great motivation for running is for our health! Hubby’s quite healthy and performs physical labor at work which helps keep him fit. Still medical complications can happen to anyone.

For me, running motivations have been two-fold: I love the social aspect of it AND the health benefits. I find it very hard to do it on my own. This group has helped tremendously for the times when I don’t feel like it, but know I should for my health. It always feels great when I finish a session. It’s the getting out the door on my own that’s difficult.

Mari33a

01/06 2.65 miles
05/06 3.22 miles
06/06 2.13 miles
07/06 3.56 miles
08/06 3.21 miles
09/06 3.21 miles
10/06 3.25 miles
11/06 3.24 miles
12/06 3.62 miles

Total 28.09 / 70 miles

I had a hot muggy run yesterday evening and I got today's run in just before the heavy rain and thundery weather that was forecast arrived.

@daria0919 This is so stressful for you. I hope your husband will be ok.

@Teresa502 Enjoy the Austrian alps! My husband and I have been to the French Alps three times and they are breathtaking.

AlphaHowls

1 6.39 miles, hazy
2 7.14 miles, hazy and foggy
3 7.26 miles, hazy
4 1.54 miles, 6.03 miles
5 7.24 miles
6 13.29 miles, Running Partner E!
7 7.2 miles, 2595 days on the run
8 3.08 miles, Fitbit says I am dead, I agree
9 6.37 miles
10 9.11 miles, Running Partner A!
11 6.33 miles
12 8.2 miles, 2600 days on the run, Running Partner A

WarmJellyfish

@daria0919 that sucks to hear, hope your hubby is doing much better now

So yesterday garmin had me doing another threshold run because I sucked at the one I did on tuesday but the environment wasn't cooperative with heavy smoke. The Aqi was at 185 😶. Usually around here it's like 25ish. It was visibly rather muggy/misty/smoky but I gave it go, pace was much better, managed boyfriend pace 😂, legs still a bit achy but then I started breathing hard at 3k so I called it day. Garmin is still not happy with me and has scheduled another threshold run for this evening. Evil 👿. But I'm a sucker for pain. Fortunately rain last night cleared up a lot of the smoke, as well as a wind change and its forecasted for much less smoke today ☺️.

Question. What is girlfriend pace supposed to be? 😁

Scott6255

Oh @daria0919 so sorry to hear about your husband! That's scary that a 'routine' surgery has a risk of complications like that. I wasn't too worried about my brother's upcoming hip replacement surgery, but now I am 😥 I hope your hubby make a full and fast recovery!

@Mari33a condolences for your sister-in-law’s husband.

@Teresa502 your trip sounds Amazing! Have a great time!

John772016

Nice runs @kgirlhart, @tarun_yadavA, @Mari33a, @AlphaHowls, @WarmJellyfish & @SummerSkier (& it looks like you're recovering well)!
Hope it's all good news now for your husband @daria0919!

June:

01/06 & 02/06 - 0km / 0 miles
03/06 - 12.30km / 7.64 miles
04/06 - 8.19km / 5.09 miles
05/06 - 0km
06/06 - 6.53km / 4.06 miles
07/06 - 10.16km / 6.31 miles
08/06 - 5.44km / 3.38 miles
09/06 - 0km
10/06 - 10.09km / 6.27 miles
11/06 - 10.04km / 6.24 miles
12/06 - 13.16km / 8.18 miles

Total = 75.91km / 47.17 miles (Goal - 175Km / 108.74 miles)

Didn't see any deer today but I must have run into a swarm of bugs in one of the parks I ran through. Was picking off little dead winged bugs off my arms and legs when I was done my run and noticed them on me. Makes me wonder how many I probably swallowed while running…..

ContraryMaryMary

@daria0919 so scary. I trust hubby is ok.

I ran 8km yesterday. I like to do a 10k Thursday (stretching to 12k) but I had a busy work day and left things a little late. I headed out at 4:30, but as the shortest day is less than two weeks away, I knew I’d have issues with losing daylight. I live in the country and there’s no footpaths so I run on the road. Normally this is ok as my road is not that busy if I avoid commuter times. So, at 5:15 and dusk it was a bit hairy. I discovered it was best to run in the road so an approaching car would definitely see me before I moved right to the edge. It seemed if I stayed on the edge of the road they often didn’t see me in time (or at all) so didn’t give me room. Where I could I ran on the shoulder but largely there is no shoulder, just a deep ditch full of water which I wasn’t going into if I could possibly help it. Let’s just say, next time I’ll drive to somewhere with a footpath.

Rest day today, which is very welcome.

quilteryoyo

Great running everyone. I'm a bit behind, but have liked and hugged as appropriate.

Sorry for your family's loss @Mari33a .

@WarmJellyfish I'm impressed by your previous accomplishments, but am even more impressed with what you do now when you have to deal with chronic anemia and muscle issues!

@Teresa502 Enjoy the Alps! Looking forward to hearing all about your trip.

@John772016 I'm glad you didn't wipe out on your run this time and so cool that you saw the deer. That's an awesome weight loss and keeping it off. Great reason for running! I'm glad that all worked out as it did.

OH NO @daria0919 . That is a scary situation with your hubby. I'm glad he seems to be doing better. I hope they discharged him today. And, you are right, anyone can have complications regardless of how healthy you are. We just have to do what we can to stay as healthy as we can for as long as we can. Know you aren't the only one that has a hard time getting out the door. That's usually the hardest part of my workouts too!

@ContraryMaryMary I have found the same thing when running on my rural road. I've started running in the middle of the road and move over after I am sure, or at least pretty sure, that the driver has seen me. Fortunately, there usually aren't a lot of cars pass when I'm running, so I have the road to myself. LOL My closest call was a couple of years ago when I was running on the edge of the road on a curve and a neighbor was on a tractor, of all things. He was looking elsewhere and didn't see me. I was getting ready to jump over the guard rail when he finally did and later apologized to me. I don't blame him. I would have been hard to see.

I'll try to post my runs/walks/activities tomorrow.

kgirlhart

June Goal: 140 Miles

6/1: 11.02 miles
6/2: 6.06 miles
6/3: 3.33 miles
6/4: 6.05 miles
6/5: 6.02 miles
6/6: 6.04 miles
6/8: 10.26 miles
6/9: 6.06 miles
6/10: 6.02 miles

6/11: 6.11 miles

6/12: 6.06 miles

73.02/140 miles completed for June

@daria0919 I hate to hear that. TIAs are scary. I hope he is better now.

@Teresa502 I am so jealous! We need lots if pictures so we can live vicariously through you!

Today's run was a 6 miler. I got out a little late so I had to really speed up the last couple of miles. It was kind if hazy when I started out, but it was clearing up by the end and the moon was very pretty. I saw a fox today. I think it is the same one I saw a couple of days ago. He was in the same place. I enjoyed the run today so much. It was one of those runs where I felt like I could run forever. My hip has felt a little cranky today though. It wasn't bothering me when I was running just later after I got home. Hopefully it won't be a problem tomorrow.

I have my family reunion this weekend. I have to work tomorrow, but luckily, the lake is only 6 miles from my house, so I won't really miss anything. I'm just glad that I am working. The new job is going great. I know it is early days, but I can already tell that it is a much better place to be.

tarun_yadavA

Morning all

I got in 3.39M at 08'50.

Busy day today. Taking youngest for his induction to his new school, then office for a bit... And then going to Lords (cricket stadium in London) in the afternoon to watch South Africa v Australia

SummerSkier

took a recovery day yesterday after my attempts to gain more cardio and movement on week 2 of injury. I usually binge when I am a toadstool but managed to not yesterday altho I was feeling quite sorry for myself. LOL. Today is Fri the 13th so I am going to embrace this fun day!

WarmJellyfish

@quilteryoyo 😋 there is also fibrosis in in the lungs 😥😂 😈

Friday the 13th! Jason!!! Where's the chainsaw???

Took the day off yesterday. Smoke didn't improve. Meh

John772016

Nice run @ContraryMaryMary (& I thought city street running was scary!)
Thanks @quilteryoyo!
Nice run @kgirlhart & glad to hear you're enjoying the job. Hope you have a great family reunion!
Nice run @tarun_yadavA, & great pace!
Those smokey skies are no joke, I had a real hard time breathing & cut my run short last week @WarmJellyfish. I can only imagine how difficult it would have been with fibrosis in the lungs!

June:

01/06 & 02/06 - 0km / 0 miles
03/06 - 12.30km / 7.64 miles
04/06 - 8.19km / 5.09 miles
05/06 - 0km
06/06 - 6.53km / 4.06 miles
07/06 - 10.16km / 6.31 miles
08/06 - 5.44km / 3.38 miles
09/06 - 0km
10/06 - 10.09km / 6.27 miles
11/06 - 10.04km / 6.24 miles
12/06 - 13.16km / 8.18 miles
13/06 - 6.13km / 3.81 miles

Total = 82.04km / 50.98 miles (Goal - 175Km / 108.74 miles)

Easy 6K today as I've got a 10K race tomorrow. Went a bit faster than planned but it was just a beautiful day for a run and couldn't help it 😁

emptydog

27.8 miles of 50 miles. Over halfway to the month's goal.

6/1 - 2.15 miles, 54F, Cloudy.
6/2 - 2.02 miles, 71F, Sunny.
6/3 - 2.75 miles, 60F, Cloudy.
6/4 - 1.60 miles, 87F, Sunny.
6/5 - 1.50 miles, 78F, Mostly Sunny.
6/6 - 3.03 miles, 63F, Mostly Cloudy.
6/7 - 1.50 miles, 75F, Sunny.
6/8 - 1.33 miles, 75F, Muggy.
6/9 - 0 miles.
6/10 - 3.10 miles, 62F, Mostly Cloudy.
6/11 - 3.26 miles, 69F, Sunny.
6/12 - 3.71 miles, 71F, Partly Cloudy,
6/13 - 1.81 miles, 55F, Mostly Cloudy.

quilteryoyo

@kgirlhart Nice running and so glad you like your new job! Enjoy your family reunion.

Sounds like a fun day @tarun_yadavA .

Great job on NOT binging @SummerSkier .

Even more impressive @WarmJellyfish !

Enjoy your race tomorrow @John772016 . Looking forward to the race report.

Great running @emptydog .

quilteryoyo

1 June Walked 1.10 miles - Ran 0.00 miles
2 June Walked 0.90 miles - Ran 2.35 miles - Driveway laps - Mowed 1h44m56s (2.32 miles)
3 June Walked 0.94 miles - Ran 2.31 miles - Driveway laps
4 June Walked 2.60Miles - Ran 0.00 miles - Mostly driveway laps - Gym 54m16s
5 June Walked 3.05 miles - Ran 0.20 miles - Driveway laps
6 June Walked 1.10 miles - Ran 2.00 miles - Driveway laps
7 June Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 2.50 miles - Treadmill
8 June Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - Driveway laps
9 June Walked 1.49 miles - Ran 3.01 miles - Driveway and rural road
10 June Walked 1.75 miles - Ran 2.50 miles - Driveway and road
11 June Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - treadmill
12 June Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - treadmill - Gym 1h2m26s - Tennis 51m25s
13 June Walked 2.50 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - Driveway laps

34.30/70 mile goal

Posting three days today.

Wednesday I got up early and did a quick treadmill walk before heading out for my annual cardiologist appointment. As expected, my cardiologist said everything is stable (bi-cuspid valve and aneurysm repair). He basically said to keep doing what I am doing. This time, though, he did make sure that I was keeping up with dental appointments and my dental hygiene (which I am) and said that was very important for my heart health. I just thought that was interesting and something not everyone may know.

Yesterday, I had planned on an early treadmill run before heading to the gym in the afternoon, but I got called into work so just did another mile walk on the treadmill before work.

I only worked for a couple of hours and then went to the gym. Nothing real exciting. I'm maintaining the same weight on the bench press, but can't seem to get more there. Eventually, but it's slow going. My assisted pull ups was a bit better with 9 X with 70# assist and then 14 and 8 times at 80# assist. We did a few more things single arm, to try to strengthen my left arm and even things out. I know I tend to use my right arm more on the exercises where the two are connected, so single arm exercises is needed. I can tell it today. My left arm is a little sore and the right isn't.

I was home for a couple of hours and then played round robin doubles tennis. My first partner and I won 6-1. My second partner and I were behind 1-4 when it started raining and we had to call it. It was fun and I felt like I played well.

Today, I took Tippy and mom's cat, Socks, to the vet. Since they hate each other, I had to make two trips. It wouldn't be a big deal, but the vet is 30 min away, so an hour round trip for each. I was tired when I got home, so relaxed some and then made myself go out for a wun. It was a true wun today, on purpose. Just didn't want to expend a ton of energy that I really didn't have. Avg pace was 14:51 min/mile. Avg HR was 130 with a max of 145 bpm.

I planted a rose a couple of months ago. It's getting ready to bloom. I can hardly wait since I forgot which rose I bought.

Tippy thinks it smells good.

chris_in_cal

I ran 3.76M at 13'23 out at Mission Bay around Sea World.

With the late sunset times and it's starting to warm up, it is getting nice around here.

ContraryMaryMary

Slept for 10 hours last night and woke too late to go to parkrun. Another busy work day today, even though it’s a Saturday, but that’s thanks to my designer booking a holiday to Vietnam right in the middle of production. He seems to think he can do his design work remotely but I have my doubts. So, to be nice, I did Monday’s work today to give him two extra design days at home. Totally buggered my weekend but could save me a whole lot of grief later in the week.

I’m hoping to get a nice long run in tomorrow.