December 2015 Running Challenge

December Running Totals (miles)
12/1- 6.58 (warmup, speed work, cool down)
12/2- extra rest day
12/3- 6.40 easy
12/4- 8.12 easy
12/5-15.00 long slow run
12/6-9.15 easy with hills
12/7- planned rest day
12/8- 8.29 easy
12/9- 6.00 easy
12/10- unscheduled rest day (plan was 6 miles)
12/11- 6.04 easy (instead of planned rest day)
12/12- 16.00 long slow run
12/13- 10.05 easy
12/14- 6.07 easy
12/15- 8.21 hills
12/16- scheduled rest day
12/17- 8.18 easy with fast finish
12/18- scheduled rest day
12/19- 15.77 (3.45 warmup; 3.13 Reindeer Run 5K in 20:16, 1st M 55-59; 9.19 easy)
12/20- 7.87 easy
12/21- scheduled rest day
12/22- 8.11 moderate

Total- 145.84
Goal- none stated

Today's notes - I had some confusion about speed work with the running club. Went to the indoor facility, and there was no one from the club there. Well, I was there and I paid for three months, so I ran 8 laps of the 200 m indoor track to warm up. Meanwhile, a Boston training buddy showed up. He had thought the club would be meeting there, but it was only the two of us. Plan B - he is on week 2 of an 18 week program he put together, and speed work on a track works for him. I'm just doing miles before I start a 16 week program next week. It was 54° out and the rain had stopped. I had my reflective gear with me. Put on the reflective harness and lights, dumped the rest of my stuff in the car, and set out to run a big loop from the field house parking lot, outside, on the shortest day of the year. The loop had some nice little hills on it, and I didn't work at controlling my pace; that came in at 7:47 per mile average, perhaps a bit faster than I should do for easy but certainly not speed work. Garmin tracked the loop as 7.19 miles, and gave me 0.92 miles for the warmup on the track. The track was probably very close to a mile even, as I wasn't running on the inside lane; but being a track, it was easier running than the road. I think Garmin was estimating from my cadence. I don't know how sophisticated the algorithm is, but Garmin has a lot of data from outdoor runs to work with. Of course, most of the data it has is from running on asphalt, not a nice soft track. *shrug* It's close enough that I'll count it as Garmin recorded it, but I'll have to think about what I'll do when I get to true speed work indoors without GPS signal.

Upcoming races:
Jan. 1, 2016 Resolution Run 7.5 mile (Mendon, NY)
Jan. 9, 2016 Winter Warrior Half Marathon (Rochester, NY)
April 18, 2016 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)

Kody & I got out for 8.25 miles tonight. First a short loop around the neighborhood then three loops around the pond. At the 6 mile mark the bone spur in my shoulder started to flare up and by the time I got home the tip of my thumb was tingling. I'm almost to the point of seeing a doctor about it. It flares up on about every third longer run but seems to be more frequent lately and it's never given me a tingly thumb or any other digit.

I picked up a Black Diamond Icon Polar Headlamp recently on clearance for only $42 (normally $100) and tried it out tonight. The light is fantastic! They advertise 200 lumen max and I can believe it with this one. It's also has a dimmer function, white or red LEDs, and 75 hour life on high (250 hour on low). I still need to tweak the straps on this and figure out how to best configure the remote battery pack but I think I'm going to like this, if not for night running, then certainly for deer hunting. Not only can I see the path or road much better, but I'm no longer relying on passive reflectors on my clothes...I now can point my beam at cars to give them a better chance of seeing me.

I recall last summer, when I was new to running, I use to think that I'd never be able to run with a consistent pace. I was up and down, up and down. Looking at tonights run my mile splits were 10:10, 9:51, 9:53, 10:01, 10:01, 9:58, 10:07, 9:53 and 10:11. Not to shabby.

Upcoming races (registered & tentative)

03/12/2016 - Get Lucky Half Marathon - St. Paul, MN
04/16/2016 - Trail Mix 25K - Lake Rebecca Park
05/14/2016 - Lake Wobegon Marathon - Holdingford, MN
06/25/2016 - Circle of Life Half Marathon - Lake City, MN
07/04/2016 - Red Wing July 4th 10K - Red Wing, MN
07/20/2016 - Torchlight 5K - Minneapolis

Got another 3 miles last night in the rain

kimlight2 wrote: »

runner_girl83 wrote: »

moyer566 wrote: »

runner_girl83 wrote: »

Just curious .. Has anyone ever done any virtual runs on the internet?

I did one with runkeeper. a 5k and then a 10k challenge

Thanks for this! You know I cannot find an virtual run online that is happy to ship a medal to Australia!? Grr

Did you look at US Road Running? They say they ship Internationally. As does Virtual Strides.

Thanks for posting that, @kimlight2 ! I might check out those sites as well and see if they ship to Europe. Though I'm still not sure how the whole virtual race thing works exacly - does everyone start at the same time? If that's early weekend mornings in the US, that might not be too bad.

@kristinegift Congratulations on conquering that hill! 8% grade is a lot. How long is the hill?

@shanaber welcome home! Sounds like you had an absolutely lovely vacation!

@Virkati Kudos on getting up early twice! I'm absolutely not a morning runner - I might manage to get up early to run once in a while, but two days in a row fills me with awe

@runner_girl83 The half-marathon training plan looks great. I've looked at HM-plans every now and then before, but the way the long-run mileage grows always intimindates me. Somehow, a plan which tells me to walk a good bit of the long runs looks much more doable. And tempting There is a HM on the 8th May 2016 - if I started the training plan right now, I should be able to complete it in time. Though I've never done a longer race than 5k...

@7lenny7 I wish you all the best for your shoulder! I'll keep my fingers crossed it's nothing serious. Oh, and I have to mention, I'm kind of jealous of your headlamp - it sounds really high-class. I'm still running with a flashlight held in my hands, and a really annoying strobe light clipped to my back (where I can't see it myself, otherwise I would have ditched it long ago)

DATE...............MILES...............TOTAL
12/1....................6.00....................6.00
12/2....................5.00..................11.00
12/3....................6.25..................17.25
12/4...................REST.................17.25
12/5....................14.00.................31.25
12/6...................REST.................31.25
12/7......................3.75.................35.00
12/8......................7.50.................42.50
12/9......................4.00.................46.50
12/10.................REST.................46.50
12/11....................5.25.................51.75
12/12....................5.50.................57.25
12/13..................12.50.................69.75
12/14.................REST.................69.75
12/15.....................6.25................76.00
12/16.....................4.00................80.00
12/17.....................4.25................84.25
12/18.................REST.................84.25
12/19...................14.00................98.25 (Cold one... 21F, windchill 12F)
12/20.....................6.00..............104.25
12/21.................REST................104.25
12/22.....................7.00...............111.25
12/23.....................5.00...............116.25

1-6.65mi build up run from 13:07-11:04
2-strength and yoga day
3-6.69mi fast run 11:40, technically. but reality is we have 5 min warm up and potty breaks for the dog
4-rest day, maybe yoga day. feeling poopy
5-13.17mi I was only scheduled for 11 but I was feeling so good at 9 miles I went on and decided to do a whole 13. I have to say a marathon isn't that scarey now.
6-3.18mi for recovery and to do the Runkeeper Global 5k
7-yoga
8-rest day. so tired i'm dizzy. not sure why
9-no sleep last night-rest. I'm calling it recovery week from the 18miles this weekend aerial yoga at night
10-3.12mi with hills, including two steep ones. top of quads and hips still feel extremely tight
11-planned on running but was too tired still. rest day
12-10.37 it went well. I was supposed to run the last three with my stepdaughter-to-be but typical teenager, she slept in. tried a new trail. it was nice and foggy. good run
13-meant to make up the other three. didn't happen
14-yoga day.
15-6.56mi They felt fast. I felt fast. runkeepers updates overall made me sound fast, but i was slow. 1 min off my pace.
16-yoga day. I did a video for the GOT challenge. not as satisfying as my asanas Great aerial yoga night though
17-6.48mi. I'm not sure if the distance is right because i ran the same route as the 15th. hard run but i feel good about finishing it
18-rest day. stretchng this morning. working on my splits for yoga. yoga tonight of some form or another
19-13.2mi it was hard. it didn't feel easy like my last 13
20-rest day
21-stomach bug
22-stomach bug
23-up late with a butt sick dog and still a little queasy @7lenny7 thanks for the well wishes. Hope your shoulder doesn't bother you too much. I have a small spur and inflammation in my right shoulder








upcoming race:
jan 17: Frosty 5K Run / Walk
feb 13: Steve Cullen Healthy Heart Run/Walk
(tenative) mar 14: The Great Pi Run 5k. I want to do it but SE vacation may get in the way.

@kristinegift - amazing to kill that hill and have a fast mile to boot!
@moyer566 - First you, and now your dog! Hope you are both better today!
@Elise4270 - lol on that training device. No way for me.
@7lenny7 - your running has been amazing - can't believe you just started this year. And to keep it up through that freezing Minn weather .. amazing!
@runner_girl83 - I run for wine too. And chocolate.
@MorningGhost14 - I didn't make the connection that you are the former Lone Wolf Runner - great writer guy. I was too busy all month to read everything if you mentioned it earlier. No point to that... just saying.
Anyway, I have your posts about shoes, mom and why you like running as favorites (or starred on here) so I can read them when I need inspiration!


Dec 1 - 2.64
Dec 2 - 5K
Dec 3 - 1.4 streak
Dec 4 - 5.16 miles
Dec 5 - 4.16 miles - Savannah! Wish I had more time because this was the best run ever.
Dec 6 - 5.5 miles
Dec 7 - 1.1
Dec 8 - 4 miles
Dec 9 - 1.4 miles - streak
Dec 10 - 3.75 miles
Dec 11 - 6 miles
Dec 12 - 35 mile bike ride, 1 mile run
Dec 13 - 32 mile bike ride, 1 mile run
Dec 14 - 3.5 miles
Dec 15 - 4.72
Dec 16 - 1.4 + strength training
Dec 17 - 4.75 miles
Dec 18 - 1.1 mile
Dec 19 - 35 miles Biking and 2 mile run
Dec 20 - 35 miles biking again and 1.1 mile run
Dec 21 - 7.04 miles
Dec 22 - 1.1 miles
Dec 23 - 2.5 miles + strength training





Was supposed to go to do an hour spinning class yesterday but my lower back was very tight/tender. Apparently I can run and bike for miles and miles, but should I sit on the floor wrapping present and make a weird stretch to reach for something... then I will injure myself. It's much better today, thank goodness.
Tomorrow is a group bike ride to Swamp House (it's a bar/restaurant in the area). Then I'll get my little streak mile in.

Are people running on Christmas day? I suppose I am since it's part of my streak and no kids at home. Last year I had a house of company so felt ridiculous running that day.

@_nikkiwolf_ the headlamp is overkill for the running I'm doing now but if I start doing some night time trail running, which I'm considering doing, this will definitely be a great lamp to have, particularly in winter.

@ddmom0811, thanks, my body has always been very resilient. I heal quickly and either I don't get much pain or my pain tolerance is high. Between that and learning about how to run properly (mostly from reading @Stoshew71's posts) I have been able me to push myself without incurring injury. When I run my first marathon in May it will be just 5 days past my 1 year running anniversary.

I won't be running on Christmas because we'll be just be too busy, but I am thinking about doing a 10 or 12 mile run tomorrow morning and another long one on Saturday.

So my mini morning streak got derailed today . Yesterday I was developing a migraine but was ignoring it, and medicating it HARD. At midnight I got up, doubled up on the meds, added a Benadryl and did my best to sleep. When the alarm went off at 5 I had to make a decision about working out or sleeping an extra hour to see if that would help. So I slept. I'm still hurting but it's a little lower on the pain scale. Decided if I'm still hurting at lunch, I'm bailing out of work and hitting the sack and I'll just add today's miles to the rest of the month. Next week I'm planning on 4 mornings straight (just remembered Friday I don't work)! I refuse to get up early on my days off lol.

ddmom0811 wrote: »

Are people running on Christmas day? I suppose I am since it's part of my streak and no kids at home. Last year I had a house of company so felt ridiculous running that day.

In years past, I have run on Christmas day and found it very pleasant. The roads are almost totally devoid of traffic, so I get to enjoy the weather and the scenery more than usual. This year, Christmas happens to fall on what should be a rest day in my schedule. But my Christmas Eve schedule is tight, and my run could be shorter than usual then. I'll see how many miles I have in for the week after Thursday, then make a decision. If I end up running on Christmas instead of honoring the rest day, it will be something very short - no more than 4 miles, perhaps only 3. If I have enough miles in that honoring the rest day makes more sense, I'll go out walking to enjoy the traffic-free roads.

Long answer made short - the fact that it's Christmas doesn't really make a difference in whether I run or not. How the day fits into the training plan matters.

Here are a couple things I wrote when I was on here before..
Why I Love To Run
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1439225/why-i-love-to-run/p1

Love My Running Shoes
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10100340/love-my-running-shoes/p1

@virkati... zero-drop shoes have no drop from heel to mid-foot... they are essentially flat shoes. Many traditional running shoes have 10-20 mm drops which, in my opinion, encourages a heel strike which causes me all kinds of ankle, knee, hip and back pain. If there is no drop (or very little, say 4mm), your body will not want to heel strike because it hurts...lol... and you will naturally move to a fore-foot strike. The best way to test this is to run barefoot. Your bare foot is zero-drop and when you run barefoot, you will go to a fore-foot strike, which I believe is how we are made to run.

Certain companies focus on making zero-drop shoes... Merrell, Altra and the Minimus line by New Balance. The best way to check is to look at the specifications of the shoes... it will tell you what the drop is.

I found out that I needed zero-drop shoes because all my pain went away when I switched to them. I still run a certain number of miles every year barefoot just to keep my stride where i want it.

@HonuNui I just caught that you parked on the roadside instead of going home! Thats awesome!
I can relate! I'm sitting at the park with my bike (no running shoes) and its windy. Just debating on weather or not I'll brave the wind. I know if I go home to get my shoes I'll just take a nap, also, I just devoured a large hamburger.

@ddmom0811 I plan on running on Christmas too. I think we have the potential for bad weather. No family plans here.

12/1 - 4 miles on indoor track + 4.5 miles on stationary bike
12/2 - Took my rest day early. Weather is supposed to be way better this weekend, so planning to run long(er) than usual both days.
12/3 - 5.09 miles on treadmill (Trek class)
12/4 - 4 miles on indoor track + weights/abs
12/5 - 5.5 miles (I think)...my phone / GPS crashed after about 4, so I lost my distance and time
12/6 - 3.1 miles on small indoor track
12/7 - unplanned rest day
12/8 - 4 miles on indoor track + weight/abs
12/9 - 5.25 beautiful miles...40° F at 5:00 a.m. in December! Ran a route that I used a lot last spring/summer, but had been a while. Fun, relaxing, almost perfect!
12/10 - 5.25 miles on treadmill (Trek class)
12/11 - 3.1 miles on indoor track + weights/abs
12/12 - 6 chilly miles
12/13 - rest day
12/14 - life day
12/15 - 4 miles on indoor track + weights
12/16 - 5 wind-blown miles. Can't complain about 42° F at 5 a.m. on December 16 though!
12/17 - 5.05 miles on treadmill (Trek class)
12/18 - 4.1 miles on indoor track + weights/abs
12/19 - rest day
12/20 - 4.75 miles around my 'hood
12/21 - unplanned rest day; up half the night sneezing/coughing/blowing nose. It seems someone has gifted me a cold for Christimas.
12/22 - 4 miles on indoor track + weights. Cold seems to not have grabbed on (another benefit of losing weight and regular exercise...I don't get sick nearly as often or as bad as before)
12/23 - 4.75 misty miles. Wet, but pleasant.

Looks to be nice rainy x-mas eve and x-mas day here Nice running weather!

@MorningGhost14 Loved reading your write-ups! How is your arthritis these days? Your mum was amazing.. Love how she understood your love for running and wanted to help with buying the shoes. Really lovely!

@Stoshew71 How is the body feeling at the moment? Do you have any upcoming races in the new year?

@Virkati I run in Nike Pegasus and from my understanding (please, anyone correct me if i'm wrong!) They have a big drop from heel to toe and I try and concentrate on landing mid-foot.. I like how my toes are lower to the ground, it means I don't scuff the toe of the shoe and makes it easier for me to roll my foot through. The more cushioning I have in a shoe, the harder my legs have to work at bringing the shoe up higher in the air to swing my leg through I find (Might sound a bit strange?) I have little legs and feet - I just feel rediculous wearing big cushioned shoes BUT.. I did try the Brooks Pureflow recently and nothing against them but for me personally, they were too low in the heel for me .. I'm not sure if they would be classed as minimalist, though it felt like I was pretty much running barefoot. They might have been fine in the long term and I probably could have gotten used to them, though I found the fact that I had just started getting used to striking mid-foot really difficult to run in these shoes as I think they were meant for more fore-foot striking... I was all over the place and in a lot of pain!!! If you do decide to try a more minimalist shoe - Let us know what you go with

@ddmom0811 I hope to get a little run or walk in on Christmas morning.. I am trying to keep my streak up and the shortest distance I'll do is 2km so even if that's all I can manage I'll walk up and down my street if I have to

@moyer566 Hope you and your puppy are feeling better!!

@MobyCarp Love your photo! What race were you running with the reindeer antlers?