August 2015 Running Challenge

@crimsonwhite short of Texas I don't think there is another state that loves their college football like Alabama does. I was like holy crap when I moved here.
@ruqayyahsmum glad missy is okay, all I can say on the medical history is wow, what she has gone through and survived is amazing, a true tribute to her spirit
@kimlight2 I thought the same thing about the streetlights the first time I ran in the dark
@jorocka I'm rolling reading about your run, oh we all have definitely been there
@whatmerunning glad you are feeling better, great come back run
@7lenny7 I loves Brooks, they have a green rain coat that I look at every time I'm in Fleet Feet.
@kristinegift cool seeing the fox
@sushan88 the indoor marathon sounds really neat

@Elise4270 I can just imagine running with arms out like Frankenstein--all those cross country kids would think I'm even crazier than they do now (I'm fairly certain they call me "that really slow mom lady" when they lap me. Again.)

@7lenny7 and @mwyvr I have just started to run long enough to need water--so far I've done without because I really don't like my nathan holder that fits on my belt. I hadn't thought about just filling it a 1/4 way, though. Maybe that will help, although I just don't like the "bounce" more than the weight.

I have a question--I'll probably post over on the "Long Distance Runners" group, but if anyone here can help me, I'd love the input. I seem to have something going on with my long run where my left achilles/arch hurts and my right knee/hip flexor hurt. I'm fine (except for the normal first mile stiffness) until about mile 5 or so, and then the twinges start. I don't think I'm to the point I'd call anything an injury--but I'd like to keep it that way! What is the most likely thing I'm doing wrong that would cause these problems? I don't have any pain to speak of when I run on the treadmill, or outside on shorter runs. I don't know if the problem is my gait, the distance, or the fact that my long run is in my trail shoes (a neutral shoe with orthotics, vs my gym/street shoe) and primarily on gravel.

8/1 3.2 @ 10:55 (race)
8/2 5.0 @ 20:00 (hiking)
8/3 4.5 @ 18:00 (walk with kids and dog)
8/4 4.0 @ 11:30 (treadmill) and strength training
8/5 Amusement Park Day
8/6 3.0 @ 12:00 and strength training
8/7 Aquarium Day

8/8 4.0 @ 15:00 (my first technical trail)
8/9 5.0 @ 12:00 on my normal trail--felt a little sluggish
8/10 4.5 @ 12:00 on a new trail near my house
8/11 3.5 @ 11:00 on the treadmill, laughing like an insane person, and strength training
8/12 Rest Day. Yuck.
8/13 7.5 @ 12:56 (the first 10K were at about 12:15; I walked the last mile and a quarter with a terrible stitch in my side)
8/14 3.25 @ 11:04 on the treadmill and strength training

8/15 5.0 @ 11:48 road/flat trail combo
8/16 Rest Day
8/17 4.0 @ 12:47--I got out late and it was really hot. I also got "lost" a couple times, exploring a new section of trail.
8/18 4.25 @ 11:17 on the treadmill and strength training
8/19 7.5 @ 12:42 --it was drippy muggy but at least overcast, so not *too* hot. I'll take it!

68.25/100

Elise4270 wrote: »

So funny, I did some research on running form. So I toyed with running intermittently with my arms out like Frankenstein, then out like Frankenstein but together. Peoples reactions are hilarious! Then stop an do the Frankenstein kicks to loosen up the hamstrings.

Non-Running people think you have just lost your mind!

I get the kicks to loosen up, I do those, but why the arms while you are running? I would think that take up more energy.

(is secretly hoping there is not a really good reason for running around like Frankenstein because I really don't want to run around like Frankenstein)

(or maybe I do...)

(...and do we have to make Frankenstein sounds?)

5 km

61/60 done

Will be away on vacation next week. Going over is a good idea

skippygirlsmom wrote: »

Elise4270 wrote: »

So funny, I did some research on running form. So I toyed with running intermittently with my arms out like Frankenstein, then out like Frankenstein but together. Peoples reactions are hilarious! Then stop an do the Frankenstein kicks to loosen up the hamstrings.

Non-Running people think you have just lost your mind!

I get the kicks to loosen up, I do those, but why the arms while you are running? I would think that take up more energy.

My understanding it is to strengthen and address unnecessary motion. You only do it 20-30 metres.

I have rotation in my run. My calves didn't like it. And my psoas' are sore today..


https://youtu.be/_CyOuoRp7Bg

WhatMeRunning wrote: »

(is secretly hoping there is not a really good reason for running around like Frankenstein because I really don't want to run around like Frankenstein)

(or maybe I do...)

(...and do we have to make Frankenstein sounds?)

You totally could groan. My calves were. It's nearly Halloween.. I mean, close enough. Christmas lights are already going up here.

8/3 4.02 miles
8/5 2.56
8/13 4.11 (got sick for a few days)
8/15 3.77
8/16 2.17
8/18 3.05
8/19. 3.2

22.9/50

Got in a 5k this morning...hoping I'm getting more back on track with my running. Up to 29.26 km for August. Still hoping to reach 50 km. Lungs still a tiny big congested.

Another hot 8 miles this afternoon, but having friends to do it with who can keep a good conversation going seems to always help. 12 days left with 61 miles to go, so feeling a bit better about the goal. Going to try some speed work tomorrow morning.

8/1 - 3 miles
8/2 - 6 miles
8/4 - 12 miles
8/5 - 5.5 miles
8/6 - 8 miles (w. 8x800s @ 6:22 pace)
8/8 - 3 miles (sprint triathlon 5k @ 7:03 pace)
8/10 - 9.5 miles
8/11 - 3 mile run
8/13 - 1 mile run
8/16 - 5 mile run
8/17 - 7 mile run
8/18 - 8 mile run
8/19 - 8 mile run

Total: 79 miles
Goal: 140 miles
Remaining: 61 miles

Couldn't resist, ventured into the mountains today.

+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Month to date:		117.90 km
Goal:			322 km / 200 miles (36% completed)
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Aug 18 14.10 km Mountain trail run
Aug 18 10.08 km Lake trail run
Aug 17 -----    Rest Day
Aug 16 16.87 km HR up 20bpm over normal for pace, drugs?
Aug 15 -----    Off for health
Aug 14 -----    Off for health
Aug 13 14.75 km Urine colour: Amber Ale bordering on Stout. Call 911.
Aug 12 13.70 km Up at 0530H to beat the heat
Aug 11 -----    Life Day
Aug 10 -----    Life Day
Aug 09 08.09 km Gentle welcome home date-run with Sue
Aug 08 12.27 km Great cool run along Lake Sammamish near Seattle
Aug 07 06.04 km Short run before really loooong driving day, bye bye Montana
Aug 06 -----    Rest Day / 10km hiking in Swan Range, Montana
Aug 05 08.09 km Easy trail in Bigfork Montana
Aug 04 -----    Rest Day
Aug 03 03.35 km Quick jaunt before long driving day, bye bye Alberta
Aug 02 -----    Cycling while visiting family
Aug 01 10.60 km Trails both wide + single track

A nice mountain trail run complete with four dips in the river for Kady, one for me.

6.3 miles this morning

Getting there Had a really tough run though, I'm not sure why but it felt really hard. I guess it was pretty humid, but still, ugh!

8/1: 5 miles
8/2: 11.5 miles
8/3: 4 miles
8/4: XT day: 42 min bike (12 miles) and 35 min walk (2 miles), AKA: 2 episodes of Gilmore Girls
8/5: 8 miles
8/6: 6.5 miles with the Thursday crew
8/7: 5 miles
8/8: 3 miles
8/9: 18 miles
8/10: 4 miles
8/11: REST DAY!!
8/12: 10 miles
8/13: 7 miles am, 6.4 miles pm with Thursday crew
8/14: REST DAY!!
8/15: 6 miles with the Saturday morning group
8/16: 14 miles
8/17: 5 miles
8/18: Rest
8/19: 9.2 miles
8/20: 8 miles -- SLOG SLOG SLOG. 77 degrees and 75% humidity at 6 am is not ideal when I'm running without anything to eat/drink beforehand (I took water with me though, I'm not crazy!). Hopefully we get some more rain today so we'll have some cooler mornings this weekend. Will have a 2nd run this evening with my running group. Hope my legs will be alive again and I can do ~6 at a decent pace! These last two mornings have been miserable.

130.6/200

All you veteran hill runners...how big of a hill do you look for? I ran one on last night that, according to my Garmin, rose 100ft in a quarter mile. Seems like it would do the trick when I start doing hill repeats. What's that...a 7.6% grade?

@mwyvr, @ddmom0811, & @5beautifuldays, What I did with my water bottle that worked well last night that worked well was to fill it 1/4 full and freeze it. Then last night I filled it the rest of the way up and went for a run. The water stayed cold until the end. The system I bought get's Kody's lick of approval too. I didn't buy one for earlier because my runs were all 6 miles or less at the time, but I should have bought one for carrying his water. It looks like I'll get used to this thing fairly quickly. Once I had the belt positioned right, I forget it's there. I've learned to make it loose enough so it's supported by my hips, not the small of my back. My only nit with it is that the pockets aren't big enough for my cell phone.
@unrelentingminx & @spangolin, you're nailing those goals! @Erin9607, way to make that goal early!
@WhatMeRunning, great to have you back on the road!
@mwyvr, beautiful trail!!
@JoRocka, I enjoyed your poop story! Sorry for you, but good humor for us. My log runs are on a trail with no facilities, but plenty of trees. I've started taking toilet paper in a ziplock bag with me...just in case.

Fitting in my runs just got harder...My youngest, an 8th grader, decided to try out for high school soccer and made the freshman team. Soccer every day except Sunday from now until October 8th. It would be so bad except that since he's still in middle school, getting him to games and practices are going to be a logistical challenge. I did get a running partner in the deal, though a reluctant one. In the introductory team meeting last night the coach really stressed fitness and said his teams would never lose because of lack of fitness. He told the boys he wanted them to run on their own, and that he'll be able to tell who's doing it and who's not. I turned to look at my son and rolled eyes and buried his face in his hands. I grinned.