The January 2016 Running Challenge

runner_girl83 wrote: »

Definitely looking for a water bottle I can hold while running or a belt that holds a bottle today...

I have been happy with these 32oz water bottles. They have grippy textures on the sides and are flexible so I can grip them with no issues and not require an extra strap to the hand or anything. I've never dropped one. It's quite a bit of water, and if I need more I can usually refill somewhere along the way. Make sure you get your hands on any product before buying to make sure it will suit you. My first one gave out after about 700 miles, so I'm now on my second one. Not sure that they all give out after that much use, but it's a point of reference.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0053RW7SS/ref=twister_B00DHA5SWK

I'm interested, but I'm just starting C25k... How would I know many miles I've ran?

lindsayjcode wrote: »

I'm interested, but I'm just starting C25k... How would I know many miles I've ran?

Most use some sort of app, like Strava, map my run or a GPS device. I know there are more apps, sure others will have suggestions too.

Welcome!

Lots of posts here already - nice to see so many familiar names, and welcome to the new people! :-)

@Stoshew71 thanks for setting up the challenge again!

@runner_girl83 I still haven't managed to buy any "proper running nutrition". For runs longer than 90 minutes, I try to remember to take little packages of wine gums with me. Every now and then I think I should look into gels or the like, but haven't really gotten around to that yet (somehow "gel" doesn't sound very appealing)...
Sometimes I just eat a bit of chocolate before heading out to run, which always feels a little unprofessional to me, but on the other hand, it seems to work well enough and gives me an excuse to eat chocolate ;-)
For water, I have a belt where a larger water bottle sits on my back (that one) - it's large anough to hold enough water unless the weather is really hot, and carrying a bottle of the same size in my hands would start annoying me really quick.
On short runs I carry my phone in my hands, on long runs I take the water belt and stuff the phone in the front pocket.

runner_girl83 wrote: »

Got it! I'll try having some carbs 1 hr before my run instead of taking anything with me.. See how I go with that instead. I will try and get a little water bottle still as it's so hot over here and bit worried about dehydration. I read the other day that if I mix a tiny bit of salt in my water (I think that's the mixture?) and take small sips on my run it helps in much the same way as Gatorade? Can't find where I read it now though.

There are some recipies for mixing your own sports drinks here: http://blog.walkjogrun.net/2012/06/28/how-to-make-your-own-energy-drinks/ - maybe you'll find a recipie which works for you there.


@WhatMeRunning Kudos on making your target pace today - great start into 2016!

@7lenny7 the snowy trail is absolutely breathtaking!

@skippygirlsmom I hope your ITB gets better soon!

@Katiebear_81 Yay for the Zombies 5k :-p I recently started using the Zombies, run-app, and like it a lot so far. Though I have to admit I decided to only switch on the chases for one out of three runs, thanks to one too many times when the evil zombies decide to chase me up a hill - trying to stay ahead of the mob in those cases was killing me, I can't do that on all of my runs, so I'll only use the chase mode as a little speed training every now and then, and just enjoy the mission stories as entertainment the rest of the time.

--

I'm in the middle of looking at HM-training programmes right now. If I follow the plan I'm leaning towards at the moment, I should be running roughly 108km this month, so I'll set a goal of 110km.
Although, weather allowing, I'll spend the Saturdays trying to learn cross-country skiing. I hope that won't interfere with running too much, but I might have to move the long runs towards the middle of the week somehow.

Today was a regularly scheduled rest day and, though it was tempting to mix things up in my New Years excitement, I am sticking to my plan.

_nikkiwolf_ wrote: »

Lots of posts here already - nice to see so many familiar names, and welcome to the new people! :-)

@Stoshew71 thanks for setting up the challenge again!

@runner_girl83 I still haven't managed to buy any "proper running nutrition". For runs longer than 90 minutes, I try to remember to take little packages of wine gums with me. Every now and then I think I should look into gels or the like, but haven't really gotten around to that yet (somehow "gel" doesn't sound very appealing)...
Sometimes I just eat a bit of chocolate before heading out to run, which always feels a little unprofessional to me, but on the other hand, it seems to work well enough and gives me an excuse to eat chocolate ;-)
For water, I have a belt where a larger water bottle sits on my back (that one) - it's large anough to hold enough water unless the weather is really hot, and carrying a bottle of the same size in my hands would start annoying me really quick.
On short runs I carry my phone in my hands, on long runs I take the water belt and stuff the phone in the front pocket.

runner_girl83 wrote: »

Got it! I'll try having some carbs 1 hr before my run instead of taking anything with me.. See how I go with that instead. I will try and get a little water bottle still as it's so hot over here and bit worried about dehydration. I read the other day that if I mix a tiny bit of salt in my water (I think that's the mixture?) and take small sips on my run it helps in much the same way as Gatorade? Can't find where I read it now though.

There are some recipies for mixing your own sports drinks here: http://blog.walkjogrun.net/2012/06/28/how-to-make-your-own-energy-drinks/ - maybe you'll find a recipie which works for you there.


@WhatMeRunning Kudos on making your target pace today - great start into 2016!

@7lenny7 the snowy trail is absolutely breathtaking!

@skippygirlsmom I hope your ITB gets better soon!

@Katiebear_81 Yay for the Zombies 5k :-p I recently started using the Zombies, run-app, and like it a lot so far. Though I have to admit I decided to only switch on the chases for one out of three runs, thanks to one too many times when the evil zombies decide to chase me up a hill - trying to stay ahead of the mob in those cases was killing me, I can't do that on all of my runs, so I'll only use the chase mode as a little speed training every now and then, and just enjoy the mission stories as entertainment the rest of the time.

--

I'm in the middle of looking at HM-training programmes right now. If I follow the plan I'm leaning towards at the moment, I should be running roughly 108km this month, so I'll set a goal of 110km.
Although, weather allowing, I'll spend the Saturdays trying to learn cross-country skiing. I hope that won't interfere with running too much, but I might have to move the long runs towards the middle of the week somehow.

I've always used the Zombies, Run! app. I love it. I do not use the chases either. I only turn them on if I'm doing something specific, like sprint training. I've committed to using the training app until I'm up to a steady run for the half hour, then I'll switch back to the normal story mission app.

Nice job, @ekoth_09 !!

I would love to join: I hope to do 80 miles this month.
1/1/16: 3 miles

kristinegift wrote: »

My definition for a long run is anything that takes 90 minutes up to 2.5 hours in the aerobic range. Your body needs at least 90 minutes of aerobic intensity to stress the body to efficiently use fat stores which is the primary purpose of the long run.

Jinkies...I don't think I've done more than 1 "long run" by this definition. I'm thinking I might be looking at a SUMMER half..not a SPRING one.

lindsayjcode wrote: »

I'm interested, but I'm just starting C25k... How would I know many miles I've ran?

I track my run lengths in RunKeeper. But there are many apps that will do it. I'm REALLY cheap so I have only had a smart phone to do that for about a year (and it's a refurb!)

If you don't have a smart phone and you are truly coming from "I never run" as your beginning, then you can can probably assume that you will go 1 mile for every 15-16 minutes of "jog" interval.

GBrady43068 wrote: »

lindsayjcode wrote: »

I'm interested, but I'm just starting C25k... How would I know many miles I've ran?

I track my run lengths in RunKeeper. But there are many apps that will do it. I'm REALLY cheap so I have only had a smart phone to do that for about a year (and it's a refurb!)

If you don't have a smart phone and you are truly coming from "I never run" as your beginning, then you can can probably assume that you will go 1 mile for every 15-16 minutes of "jog" interval.

When I started running, I was too cheap to have a smart phone. I timed my running with my wristwatch, remembered where I ran, and mapped the route on any of several web sites to get distance. That gets old, but it's *free*.

If you have a smart phone anyway, there are several free GPS running apps. Try a few and see which one you like best.

Time enough to go shopping for a GPS watch when you start to notice the limits of the GPS apps. For me, the relevant limits were poor iPhone battery life in the winter; difficulty starting the app timely in a race environment; and better flexibility for speed interval workouts with the GPS watch. If you live in a warm climate and you're just beginning, maybe none of those things are on your radar screen yet.

@WhatMeRunning - lol, yes definitely didn't sound right.
@skippygirlsmom - So sorry about your pain. I'm sure your PT can get you back in. Poor Skip, worrying about mom.
@lindsayjcode - I use Endomondo app to track my mileage. What I like is that my friends can see where I am running live.

Today was supposed to be the last day of my Holiday Streak (Thanksgiving thru Jan 1), and I had a longer run planned. Then, last night got talked into riding bike this morning. It was a really long and hilly ride and I was so sore afterwards that running would not work. SO.... I decided to end the streak as of yesterday. Tomorrow is another bike ride and then I really need to rest since I haven't had a day off since Thanksgiving. So my first run won't be until the 5th! Yikes. I think I may have to roll my extra 10 miles from December into January.

Jan 1 - 41 mile bike ride with lots of hills; no run.
Jan 2 - 34 mile bike ride
Jan 3 - rest day
Jan 4 - rest day - back to work.

My sad little ticker:

ceciliaslater wrote: »

Aaaannnnddd...I fell off my horse. Landed square on my tailbone, so I'm on ibuprofen and a heating pad. Luckily tomorrow is a rest day. Hopefully, I'll be able to do my 14 miler on Sunday...

Youch!! Best wishes on the Sunday race.

So...I just got talked into a 39.3 half marathon series today by a friend looking to do their first HM (and series). Ok, talked into it might not be the right way to describe it. I may have volunteered more than anything.

Hand-held water bottles. .. check out Amphipod.... no competition

Wow! @7lenny7 that photo is gorgeous! How fun to get to run through that! Thanks for sharing.

ddmom0811 wrote: »

@WhatMeRunning - lol, yes definitely didn't sound right.
@skippygirlsmom - So sorry about your pain. I'm sure your PT can get you back in. Poor Skip, worrying about mom.
@lindsayjcode - I use Endomondo app to track my mileage. What I like is that my friends can see where I am running live.

Today was supposed to be the last day of my Holiday Streak (Thanksgiving thru Jan 1), and I had a longer run planned. Then, last night got talked into riding bike this morning. It was a really long and hilly ride and I was so sore afterwards that running would not work. SO.... I decided to end the streak as of yesterday. Tomorrow is another bike ride and then I really need to rest since I haven't had a day off since Thanksgiving. So my first run won't be until the 5th! Yikes. I think I may have to roll my extra 10 miles from December into January.

Jan 1 - 41 mile bike ride with lots of hills; no run.
Jan 2 - 34 mile bike ride
Jan 3 - rest day
Jan 4 - rest day - back to work.

My sad little ticker:

thank you!