The January 2016 Running Challenge

January 2016
02/1…13.02…easy…8’27 pace – 1:50:10
03/1…rest
04/1…5.06…pram…8’40 pace – 43:52
05/1…rest
06/1…5.01…easy…7’24 pace – 37:07
07/1…6.01…fast…5’47 pace – 34:46
08/1…rest
09/1…10.02…New Yr 10K…7’10 pace…1:11:58
10/1…rest
11/1…5.01…pram…9’02 pace – 45:17

TOT: 44.13 km / 90 km

Pram runs are hard work! I always feel like I have run 10K rather than 5 pushing the pram (stroller).. and my legs certainly feel it too! No time to catch up right now.. Heading to the park with the little one and his scooter for a playdate! Hope you are all well and smashing it out!


PB Times:
1K – 5:31 (7/1/16)
5K – 37:07 (6/1/16), 28:46 (7/1/16)
10K – 1:06:44 (24/10/15)

@Ohhim - 98% humidity is brutal! I ran a half last summer in 98% humidity, starting at 82° I was on track for a 1:30 finish through 8 miles, then I fell apart. Ended up running a 1:36 and felt like a total failure till I saw that everyone else was affected the same or worse. On the bright side, when I had similar weather for a 12K later on, I kept thinking that 8 miles would get me to the finish line in that one!

@rune1990 - I learned to run as the seasons cycled to winter in 2011, and trained through the hard winters of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 . . . and I *still* look at the weather and think it's too cold. Then I pull out the clothing that worked for similar weather last winter, go out and run, and I'm fine. But getting out the door can be a mental challenge, even when I know I've done this a lot of times. What really helps is putting on the running clothes and then stepping outside. I'm not as cold as wearing non-running clothes, because my body trusts that I'm going to start running and be warm. It's a mental thing.

snha wrote: »

@_nikkiwolf_ i think buying a new pair of shoes is a foregone conclusion by now
@Becky_44 keeping within calorie goals for a year is very impressive. well done.
@runner_girl83 that picture is so funny. i will need to get myself a garmin. haven’t played with those gadgets yet. on the horizon though!
@JohnLang2013 good luck training for the marathon. sounds great.
@runner_girl83 CONGRATS on your race and FIRST MEDAL. Excellent!
@moremonica you’re doing awesome.


1/1 5.6 miles—street run given the snow and ice on sidewalks. excellent run at 25 F.
1/2 elliptical day, no run
1/3 10.2 — excellent run, slow pace 11:45. But pain in the heels and achilles afterwards. got better with ice treatment!
1/4 elliptical day, no run
1/5 rest day
1/6 6.5 — ran in 28 degree weather. starting to feel 30 degree weather might be pushing it too warm for comfort My heels, which bothered me after my last run (stretched, iced, and rested) held up quite nicely during today’s run. i guess i should just recognize that every time i push myself a bit more on distance or on speed, i should expect some pain if not planned well enough and if not done in a gradual way.
1/7 3.64 — the run was okay at 10:30 per mile, but the roads were slippery because of some freezing rain. icing helps a great deal with the pain. I still have some pain in my achilles, but doing much better everyday. I took it easy though.
1/9 6.11 —nice group run while snowing lightly!

32.05/70

@snha Thanks for your response! Sorry I wasn't very clear, I was just referring to 2016. Lmao! I'm just pleased to be back to feeling like I'm on track, logging isn't overwhelming, and I wake up wanting to get out there and run, clearly my mind is ahead of my legs but it's good to be "back in the game" and I feel like I will continue to move forward and progress. It's been a real struggle this past year.

@Ohhim - Holy crap I can't imagine that effort for that long and still finishing that last 8 miles. That is amazing! Congrats on the hard earned finish!

@skippygirlsmom - Congrats to Skip in that PR and qualifying for States!

Date      Miles      MTD
------    -----    -----
Jan 01      6.5      6.5
Jan 02      5.1     11.6
Jan 03      5.6     17.2
Jan 05      3.3T    20.5
Jan 07      3.4T    23.9
Jan 09      8.2     32.1
Jan 10      6.2T    38.3

Wow guys, such a simple tip to run a few laps outside but all I could think of was warming up on the treadmill then heading out! I will keep a clothing journal as well. Will be helpful to override those moments when i SWEAR it's going to be too cold..cause it will be @MobyCarp , I just know it!

@_nikkiwolf_ I haven't singed up yet, but I will be. It will be my first race, virtual or otherwise! And I love the new sauconys, great color. I need another pair of shoes to swap out on wet days too! BTW is that a road or a path in your photo?!

1/2 6.5 miles
1/3 3.5 miles
1/7 4.0 miles
1/10 4.0 miles
It was chilly out and windier than usual. Brrr.
That's a total of 18 miles out of a 55 mile goal.

Elise4270 wrote: »

@WhatMeRunning Have you done the Garmin half before? I tried to talk my husband into doing it last year. He figured there wouldn't be anything else to do in Kansas. I have no races planned in April and was still considering it. Should be a flat fast course?

@Elise4270 there is LOTS to do in KC! Number for me, is eating barbecue! Maybe catch a Royals game, visit Country Club Plaza, the Hallmark visitors center, the farmers market at the City Market (one of the best I've been to), Union Station, catch some blues music. I used to live there and there is a lot about it that I miss.

@moremonica I had my knee scoped out to remove half of my meniscus and when I started running I thought that would be my limiting factor but running has slowly improved my knee to the point I rarely even think about it. One thing that REALLY helped me is glucosamine tablets. I not much for pills or supplements, but my experimenting with it has proven to me that it works very well for knee pain. Three times I've decided to quit taking it and each time, about a month or two later, my knee starts hurting again and starts swelling a bit. I get back on it and a month or two later all pain and swelling goes away. It does take some time to have an affect (a month or two). I get whatever is cheapest at Costco and it's not too expensive.

@ceciliaslater @kateparry84 awesome distance PRs!
@runner_girl83 great job on the 10K!
@MobyCarp great job on the 1st place AG finish! I'd have to find a really small race to have a chance at that.
@juliet3455 love the photo!
@ohhim, sorry you didn't make your goal but congrats on the finish. Those weather conditions would kick my butt on marathon.
@_nikkiwolf_ love the photo!
@skippygirlsmom congrats to Skip!!!
@rune1990 warming up on the treadmill is a great idea!

I was really looking forward to today's run because of the arctic air that moved down from Canada When I went out after 11am it was still just -7F with a -23F windchill. I've always loved cold weather and was eager to experience running in this.

Since I had never experienced a run this cold, the plan was to run short loops near my house so I could add/subtract layers or bailout quickly if I had to.

I tell you what, I must have been quite a sight. I had worn a balaclava with a buff around my neck. The wind was right at my face to start and my brow and eyeballs felt like they were freezing from the wind (and it HURTS when your eyeballs feel like they're freezing!). In a moment of inspiration I pulled the thin buff up and completely over my face to cover what the balaclava didn't and it worked great to block the wind but I could still see well enough to see where I was going. I wish I would have taken a selfie! Once I was warmed up I was able to pull down the buff.

After two laps I had to stop at the house to shed a layer. Off came my wind jacket, outer running pants and a pair of glommits and hand warmers. I was left with a pair of SmartWool PhD tights, three layers on top, and a thin pair of running gloves, and a thick fleece balaclava. That was plenty warm for the next 4 laps.

Total run was 8.2 miles and the temperature had only risen 1 degree while I was out. The only thing that was cold when I finished were my big toes. I had forgotten to cover my shoes in duct tape to block the wind or that would not have been an issue. I wanted to run farther but decided to not to push it due to my recent calf injury.

Yesterday I ran 3.3 miles on an indoor track yesterday. I was supposed to meet my wife there but she got tied up. She was going to walk while I was going to walk & run so we could spend time together and I could get some running in. I tried to run faster than normal but that beer I had a bit earlier in the day wasn't conducive to running. Still, 3.3 is better than 0.0

Just 33 out of 135 miles so far so I'm not sure if I'll make my goal.