The January 2016 Running Challenge

Virkati wrote: »

I fly to Medford OR tomorrow to visit my daughter for a week and she has a new rescue dog. She's been working with him for the last couple of months getting him to trust people and she says she thinks he'd like to run with me! Yay! I've been wanting a run buddy for quite awhile so this will give me a chance to see if I really do want one or if I just think I want one.

Don't let just a few runs with an untrained pup make your mind up wholly on the running buddy thing. When we first adopted Woogie the Worst Running Partner Ever, he was leash trained but still pulling your arm out of the socket every 3 minutes (and he's a rather largish 70 pounder, so out of the socket it went!) He had to be trained to walk like a gentleman on a face collar first, and then we had to get him to socialize nicely with other dogs (still a work in progress, but so, so, much better). Now, I take him out for a run about once a week (he goes for a daily walk, but running is an entirely different skill) and he does very nicely if I don't count all the stops and starts! He stays at heel or just slightly ahead of me and to the side. I only get tripped once every 2-3 miles now. He actually does better on long runs (5 miles) at the park than through the neighborhood. I think he feels like it's his responsibility to leave his calling card around his turf, lol. Anyway, all that to say, it takes some time to make a good running partner, especially out of a rescue dog, but I've so enjoyed working with him. He was a major part of my moving from walking to running--just trying to keep up with him!

@MorningGhost14 I would except i have a small problem. I'm getting married on the 4th
the dirt devils sounds rather hard core too. i might stick with the hank aaron and the ice age trails this time around

Nevermind.... my mistake... the Ice Age Ultra is in LaGrange, WI in May... it's the Glacial Trail Ultra that's in Greenbush in October...

Worst 4 mile run in a long time. My right shin felt like it was on fire for the first two miles. Was taking it slow anyway, as that's what my training plan called for today. Still finished just shy of 11 min/mile (not counting the pause at the halfway mark to try to "stretch" my shin--this is why shin pain sucks. You can't just stretch it like a calf muscle or something. You have to just fiddle around for a few minutes and figure out what releases the pain. For me, that was standing on my right tip-toes for about 30 seconds, then bouncing up and down on my right foot. IDK...). It's funny how my horrible runs these days are as fast as, or faster than, my ok runs from 6 months ago. Guess my training is paying off at least a little.

I'm slowly chipping away at that 10 miles I missed last Sunday (when I cut my run short). Actually did an extra 0.1 miles today (4.1!!). So, I'm now at 42.6 miles/145.1 miles for the month. If I add a half mile here and there or maybe an extra super short run (think 1-2 miles), I may be able to make my target for the month.

2/1 - 5k
3/1 - 7k
5/1 - 1k walk ( well it all counts )
6/1 - 3k
7/1 - 2.5k
9/1 - 7k
10/1 5k intervals
12/1 - 2k walk

32.5/80




Also, is anyone able to help me with my speed question please?

Amandajs232 wrote: »

I am looking for some advice please from you lovely experts. If my standard pace that I can do for 7k is 7-7.5kph and I am trying to do 400m intervals to improve my speed:
What speed should I be doing these at for the "quick" part? (Tried 9kph today - struggled more than expected)
What speed should I be recovering at between quick intervals , a 6kph walk or 7-7.5kph?
How long should recovery be? 200m?

I am doing it on the treadmill so can control the distances and speeds easily. Thanks in advance

@moyer566 ... I think it makes sense, but I know nothing about working on speed...lol. I am such a basic neanderthal runner.... I only look at my Garmin to see how far I have run and to figure out how late I will be getting to work if I throw another mile or two in. You should probably ask some of the real runners here about speed stuff. When people ask me technical running questions, I am exposed as a running fraud... lol..

Elise4270 wrote: »

@Stoshew71 LOL!

Hmm, quite today... Where'd all our newbies go?

May have scared them with the nailing shoes topic... j/k
Love coming back here and having a laugh though.. This place is the best!

@MorningGhost14 i wouldn't worry about it. I need this shirt.

With all this discussion I had to do it. I put screws in my shoes. It doesn't seem to work too well, though. I cant' lift them off the floor now. I must have done something wrong.

Maybe a few of the screws are loose?