The January 2016 Running Challenge

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!
1/10 crosstraining—elliptical
1/11 4.31 — 6 degree weather @10:50
1/12 crosstraining—elliptical
1/13 5.08

41.44/70

MorningGhost14 wrote: »

Ok... I have been toying with this for a while and would be interested in some feedback. In the ultra community, there has been growing discussion/debate about smoking pot before and during ultra races. Pot's ability to reduce pain, prevent nausea and enhance relaxation hits on three things key to running extra long distances.

I am aware of quite a few ultra runners who smoke regularly during races, but there are some who argue that it is a performance enhancing drug and gives an unfair advantage over those not smoking and should not be used during races, but only to assist in long training runs.

I have run the 50k distance a couple of times and am doing another one in May and I don't see any reason to use anything for only 31 miles, but I am planning on either a 50 mile or 100k race in the fall and one of my training gurus thinks I should incorporate a "pot routine" in to the later stages of training (30+ mile training runs) and the race itself... primarily for nausea issues and secondly to help stay chill when running alone all night in the woods.

Having had to take a DNF at mile 38 in a 50 mile race because of nausea, I am giving it some thought, but not entirely sold on the idea yet. At least not for pre-race and during the race purposes.

I mean, there's got to be some runner specific strain, because normally pot makes me paranoid and gives me hella munchies. So you'd find me hiding in the bushes from other runners and raiding the aid/food tables. So IDK if I buy it for the ultrarunning types, but I honestly don't know anyone personally who has tried it. If you do, give us a report please!

@kristinegift LOL on the pot smokin' runners. You'd have to offer more dubage at the hydrating stations to get them to move from one to another and through the course. Mile 13 pizza man, 18 Twinkies! 22, Doritos and ice cream!

I could always tell when my youngest son was high. If I suspected, I'd just say "boobies" and he'd laugh himself silly. It was so cute...

January Running Totals (miles)
1/1 - 10.17 warm up + 7.5 mile race
1/2 - 12.29 long slow run
1/3 - 5.16 easy with fast finish
1/4 - 6.01 easy
1/5 - 11.09 warmup, speed work, cool down
1/6 - 5.95 group run
1/7 - 8.04 warmup, speed work, cool down
1/8 - scheduled rest day
1/9 - 16.48 warm up + Winter Warrior Half
1/10 - 7.46 easy
1/11 - 10.07 easy
1/12 - 8.39 warmup, speed work, cool down
1/13 - 8.02 easy and snowy

January to date total - 109.13

Goal - 51 to 62 miles per week, per training plan
expected January total - 245 to 251 miles

Today's notes - Needed 8 miles, so I got out at 19° with 10 mph W wind and light lake effect snow falling. Large portions of the run were clear asphalt, but I really appreciated the Peregrines when I needed to run on snowy shoulders. Total time was 1:04:03 for an average pace of 8:01 per mile, toward the fast end of my easy range; if I'd realized that was the pace, I would have stopped a few feet earlier just to have a run of 8.01 miles at a pace of 8:01. Oh, well. I only see those opportunities in hindsight.

In light of the discussions here on cold weather running, I took a selfie. It's not the most impressive ice beard I've had, but it's appropriate to the running conditions this evening:




Upcoming races:
March 12, 2016 Johnny's Runnin' of the Green 5 mile (Rochester, NY - need to register)
March 26, 2016 Spring Foward Distance Run 15K (Mendon, NY - need to register)
April 18, 2016 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)

1/2 6.5 miles
1/3 3.5 miles
1/7 4.0 miles
1/10 4.0 miles
1/13 5.0 miles
23 miles done out of a goal of 55.

skippygirlsmom wrote: »

kristinegift wrote: »

lporter229 wrote: »

@kristinegift Thanks for the heads up on the Amazon sale. I just ordered two Saucony shirts, 6 pairs of socks, a pair of shorts and a pair of leggings for $46. I should be ordering chemical standards for work, but, you know, priorities.

@lporter229 It's the least I could do to spread the joy Saucony keeps having ridiculous sales on Amazon lately. I don't know how they're even making money on this stuff. But they're my favorite brand, so I am not gonna complain!

ha ha I'm out on Amazon shopping too, thanks!

It could be good or bad that I have been too busy at work to read these but now I am going to have to check these sales out too. I wonder if anything will be left or if you all have bought it all now How is the fit on the Saucony shirts? I have never had one.

Stoshew71 wrote: »

Kentucky: The Bourbon Chase - Distance: 200 miles (relay) - Month: October

Mississippi: Mississippi Blues Marathon - Distance: Marathon, marathon relay, half marathon, 10K - Month: January

Missouri: The MO’ Cowbell Marathon - Distance: Marathon, half marathon, 5K - Month: October

Tennessee: St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Nashville Marathon and Half Marathon - Month: April
^^^^^ by the way, if you never heard of the Honky Tonks in Nashville, Oh my! This would be the most awesome after party.

Indiana: OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon - Distance: Half marathon, 5K - Month: May

Kentucky: Kentucky Derby Marathon and Half Classic. - Month: May

Tennesee: Oak Barrel Half Marathon in Lynchburg, TN - Month: April
^^^^ BTW, HTC (my local official running organization) puts on a picnic every year since we bring a big contigient with us. This 2016 race also sold out within hours, it's that popular (and small). So, this is a bucket list for 2017.

Tennessee: Race 13.1 Memphis Half Marathon & 8K - Memphis, TN - Month: April

Tennessee: Go Commando Half Marathon, 10K & 5K - Clarksville, TN - Month: October

Georgia: AJC Peachtree Road race 10K - Month: July

Tennessee: Franklin Half Marathon - Franklin, TN (just outside of Nashville) - Month: June

If anyone ever thinks about coming to Alabama to race, our 2 biggest races up here in the north is the Cotton Row Run 10K and 5K (every Memorial Day weekend) & the Rocket City Marathon (every December).

I'm already planning on the Peachtree Road Race (10K) - would love to meet up with some MFP folks!

Shins hurting (Must have jinxed myself yesterday when I said I had NO shin pain!) Grr.. Was toying with the idea of dropping back down to 3 days a week, rather than 4 of running but I would really hate to do this So I'll see how I feel on Sat morning (my next run) and if they are still tender, I'll wait until Sunday and see how I go then Worse case scenario, I may just do 3 days of running every 2nd week to give my legs an extra day of rest then, if needed.

3/1 6.7 miles
6/1 6.5 miles
9/1 3.1 miles
10/1 8.7 miles - longest run so far!
13/1 4.6 miles



Upcoming races
29/5 Edinburgh HM

@Elise4270 @kristinegift I am laughing so hard about the aid stations!

@runner_girl83 - Probably best to rest now for a few days than push the shins even on a reduced 3 days/week schedule if they are really bugging you.