The January 2016 Running Challenge

^^Love the first one! Made me LOL.

I got in 8 (that's right, count 'em) miles over my lunch break today. That's what the training plan called for. Thank goodness I work on salary and can extend my lunches past the hour mark without anyone chastising me too much. It was about 35 degrees (F) and foggy--so humid af. Today was supposed to be a pace run, so I was aiming for around 9:30 per mile average.

Thanks to the humidity, it felt like I was breathing water the whole time, and I was sure my time would be slow because of it. However, I managed to push it out (without feeling like I was going to die). Fastest mile was 9:14, slowest was 9:48, and average was 9:25.

Now I really must get back to work...

79.8 of 145.1 miles completed for the month.

I'm back. I have 10 pages of unread posts and I don't know if I'll get to them but I'll try. I find that when I'm gone for a few days and there's a bunch of catching up to do that I keep putting off getting back on and of course that just makes it harder. Just have to jump back in I guess.

I took a 4 or 5 day break from running to give my calf time to heal (and take my daughter back to college) and I it seems to have worked. I had a 6 mile run Monday and a 8 mile run last night and didn't have any pain. YES!

Last night was a great run in perfect 20F temps. I left Kody behind (sorry pup!) so I could focus on myself and my running form, working to maintain a short but quick stride. I even listened to music, something I haven't done since June. I wandered about the neighborhood, taking new roads on a whim. I need to do that more often.

A new pair of trail shoes showed up yesterday, a pair of Merrell All Out Charge. I'll give them a short test run tomorrow then go for a 10 mile trail run Saturday. They fit great but have a lower drop and more arch support than I'm used to.

Just remember, the main purpose of a treadmill is to make it seem like you ran. So it only seemed like you went 8 miles. It's not fair to expect it to actually be "running 8 miles".

That's my theory anyways.

Elise4270 wrote: »

lporter229 wrote: »

Does anyone have any recommendations on gloves? I am good to go with all of my other winter running gear, but I still have problems with frozen fingers. I have 3 different pairs of gloves and none of them keeps my fingers as warm as I would like. Does anyone out there have any "supergloves" they would care to recommend?

I bought some mittens that, I believe are for skiing. The brand is Burke. I wear just the liner when its cooler. The liner is warmer than my North Face thin gloves and with the same thickness. I wore liner and all, in mid 20° windy conditions, and had to ditch them after 2 miles. The are wind proof too. Very toasty.

Er the brand is Burton.. Faulty memory.

WhatMeRunning wrote: »

Just remember, the main purpose of a treadmill is to make it seem like you ran. So it only seemed like you went 8 miles. It's not fair to expect it to actually be "running 8 miles".

That's my theory anyways.

So that means all this pain is just in my imagination, lol? I wish!

But really--I hate the cold more than I hate my imaginary treadmill miles. And with snowmageddon and 30 inches of snow in a place with approximately 2 plows bearing down on me, I'm going to make sure my rusty old hulk in the basement is working properly for the next 5-7 days I'm snowed in.

---

1/1 5 @ 10:36 on the treadmill
1/2 4.75 @ 10:42 on the park trail (20.75/20 miles for the week)

1/3 5.25 @ 11:14 (5.0 @ 10:51, .25 walking) on the trails near my house. It was a beautiful, blustery day!
1/4 10 @ 12:00 on the treadmill. While running from Indominus Rex.
1/5 3 @ 11:14 on the treadmill and strength training
1/6 Rest Day and feeling fairly sore from yesterday's PT (and maybe Monday's run?)
1/7 4.75 @ 11:53 on the park trail.
1/8 3.5 @ 10:07 (3 at 9:48 and .5 at 12:00) plus strength training
1/9 3.5 @ 12:22 (3 at 11:26, plus .5 at a walk) loping around the neighborhood with St. Woolos the Barbarian, aka The Poopinest Dog in the East, aka Woogie the Worst Running Partner Ever. It's a good thing he's cute!
(30/30 for the week)

1/10 Rest Day/Family Day
1/11 10.75 at 11:46 around the park trails. My heart was light, but my legs felt every centimeter of the last two miles. "Gently rolling terrain" feels a lot like "stinking big hills" after 100 minutes or so...
1/12 3.25 @ 11:27 on the treadmill. Plus strength training.
1/13 Rest Day due to dental work...revising the weekly goal down a little, since I won't have quite as much time on my "regular" rest day to make up for this one.
1/14 5.0 @ 12:47 around the lake trail with my dog, who may be toking behind my back--pokey puppy was slow, paranoid (that stroller--it tried to eat me! those loud lady joggers!--they tried to eat me! that nice old man with a cane!--he tried to beat me from 12 feet away!), and generally disinterested in actually *running*.
1/15 6.0 @ 11:00 (and .25 at a walk) on the treadmill...I didn't feel up to strength training since my head was hurting this morning (running seems to make headaches better, but not lifting; it's weird)
1/16 Rest Day
(25/25 for the week)

1/17 Rest Day
1/18 5.25 (8K race) at the lake @ 11:14 for the run part. A balmy 17F and 20 mph winds. Brrr. I've never run in conditions like that. I started out fearing hypothermia and wound up sweating *through* my stupid muppet-fur jacket. I was the last person in who didn't walk part of the way, but it wasn't a bad showing for a trail run for me. Certainly not a PR, but my asthma doesn't like these low temps and I didn't want to push it.
1/19 3.25 @ 10:44 on the treadmill and strength training
1/20 12.5 @ 11:45 on the treadmill. Sucker Punch. Bra chafe. Dying. Need painkillers. And food. Lots of food.
1/21 Rest day. Not on purpose, but I couldn't bear to put on a sports bra and feared putting out someone's eyes otherwise. Surprisingly, though, my legs feel great. I'm hoping to get 4 miles in tomorrow before the snow comes.
1/22
1/23
(21/25 for the week)

Upcoming Races:
February 14: Run Your Heart Out 5K, Fairfax, VA
February 21: Disney Princess HM, Orlando, FL
(Can't do my March races because I need to have surgery March 4. ).

5BeautifulDays wrote: »

1/21 Rest day. Not on purpose, but I couldn't bear to put on a sports bra and feared putting out someone's eyes otherwise. Surprisingly, though, my legs feel great. I'm hoping to get 4 miles in tomorrow before the snow comes.

Have you tried an anti-chafe balm? I use Body Glide, and it works really well, both for prevention and for protecting and comforting existing chafed areas.

ceciliaslater wrote: »

5BeautifulDays wrote: »

1/21 Rest day. Not on purpose, but I couldn't bear to put on a sports bra and feared putting out someone's eyes otherwise. Surprisingly, though, my legs feel great. I'm hoping to get 4 miles in tomorrow before the snow comes.

Have you tried an anti-chafe balm? I use Body Glide, and it works really well, both for prevention and for protecting and comforting existing chafed areas.

And Vaseline/ Petroleum Jelly (not sure what you call it over there!) Its all I use and its cheap

ceciliaslater wrote: »

Have you tried an anti-chafe balm? I use Body Glide, and it works really well, both for prevention and for protecting and comforting existing chafed areas.

runner_girl83 wrote: »

And Vaseline/ Petroleum Jelly (not sure what you call it over there!) Its all I use and its cheap

On my list! I've been using vaseline (ouch! it stings!) but need to get something preventative, so I'm going to try the body glide.

@5BeautifulDays I think I misread your post sorry.. Vaseline can sting if the skin is already irritated... sorry! I put it on my inner thighs, where my shorts finish, before each run to prevent any chaffing.. but you're right.. if the skin is already irritated it can sting!

runner_girl83 wrote: »

Okay... So I did a quick google and found this page.. http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/vo2max-calculator.aspx I used the resting heart rate option and it came up with my
VO2 Max = 45 ml/kg/min? (my RHR is 60 bpm)

I'm suspect about the accuracy of that calculator. I entered my data (49 years old, 53 RHR) and it calculated my VO2 Max at only 17 ml/kg/min.

If I use this calculator:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?http://www.runnersweb.com/running/vo2.shtml

based on my HM time in October my VO2 Max is 37.91

Interestingly, when I use that calculator but use the time from my first 5K, my VO2 Max was 22.37. I don't know much about what these numbers mean, but that seems like a huge jump.

7lenny7 wrote: »

runner_girl83 wrote: »

Okay... So I did a quick google and found this page.. http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/vo2max-calculator.aspx I used the resting heart rate option and it came up with my
VO2 Max = 45 ml/kg/min? (my RHR is 60 bpm)

I'm suspect about the accuracy of that calculator. I entered my data (49 years old, 53 RHR) and it calculated my VO2 Max at only 17 ml/kg/min.

If I use this calculator:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?http://www.runnersweb.com/running/vo2.shtml

based on my HM time in October my VO2 Max is 37.91

Interestingly, when I use that calculator but use the time from my first 5K, my VO2 Max was 22.37. I don't know much about what these numbers mean, but that seems like a huge jump.

Ive used that calculator, gave me a VO2 max of 46. I was stoked. Got a Garmin that calculates it from your efforts and it scored me a 32, was devastating. But, a year (or two?) later I'm up to 45, by Garmin.

I just use it as a basis of improvement, not an actual value.

runner_girl83 wrote: »

7lenny7 wrote: »

runner_girl83 wrote: »

Okay... So I did a quick google and found this page.. http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/vo2max-calculator.aspx I used the resting heart rate option and it came up with my
VO2 Max = 45 ml/kg/min? (my RHR is 60 bpm)

I'm suspect about the accuracy of that calculator. I entered my data (49 years old, 53 RHR) and it calculated my VO2 Max at only 17 ml/kg/min.

If I use this calculator:
http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?http://www.runnersweb.com/running/vo2.shtml

based on my HM time in October my VO2 Max is 37.91

Interestingly, when I use that calculator but use the time from my first 5K, my VO2 Max was 22.37. I don't know much about what these numbers mean, but that seems like a huge jump.

From what I have read.. The higher the number, the better!

Now I'm just confused lol... I tried that link you added... I used a 5km run @ 28:46 mins (a really fast run for me) = 34.21 ml/kg/min

And my 10km run @ 1:11:58 = 25.97 ml/kg/min

hmm.. I'm going to have to find more info on these numbers now

I have finally decided, with a little bit of a two year old fit throwing, to just go back to the beginning of c25k. I think I'm just struggling because I have increased in my walking so much to get more time, steps, floors and mileage in my days when I can. SO I think my body isn't tolerating it all so well. SO If I just start from the beginning, and blend them better I should be fine with moving forward. I don't like feeling stuck. LOL! and I know the schedule works. I have a goal to reach 10 k this year, It's been 2 years of struggling to get to a 5k race which I did THanksgiving, and I know that getting to the 10 k would be a slow process too, I just need to be willing to give it the time my body needs to balance it all in order to make it happen. I also need to clean up my diet more, I'm doing good, and am losing weight but I need to cut out more of what makes my inflammation, and nerve pain worse.

Jan 1 - Run/ 1 mile, Walk/ 1 mile, Steps/ 6740, Floors/ 6, Daily miles/ 3.24
Jan 2 - Run/ 0 miles, Walk/ 1.5 miles, Steps/ 7761, Floors/ 6, Daily miles/ 3.56
Jan 3 - Run/ 1 mile, Walk/ 1 mile, Steps/ 7100, Floors/ 4, Daily miles/ 3.44
Jan 4 - Run/ 0 miles, Walk/ 2.25 miles, Steps/ 10,037, Floors/ 16, Daily miles/ 4.55
Jan 5 - Run/ 0 miles, Walk/ 0 miles, Steps/ 3788, Floors/ 7, Daily miles/ 1.53
Jan 6 - Run/ 0 miles, Walk/ 0 miles, Steps/ 1888, Floors/ 6, Daily miles/ .67
Jan 7 - Run/ 1 mile, Walk/ 3 miles, Steps/ 11,211, Floors/ 17, Daily miles/ 5.05
Jan 8 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 1.5 miles, Steps/ 5833, Floors/ 5, Daily miles/ 2.36
Jan 9 - Run/ 1 mile, Walk/ 3 miles, Steps/ 12,351, Floors/ 12, Daily miles/ 5.46
Jan 10 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 2.25 miles, Steps/ 10,000, Floors/ 4, Daily miles/ 3.4
Jan 11 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 0 miles, Steps/ 3017, Floors/ 8, Daily miles/ 1.22
Jan 12 - Run/ 1.4 mile, Walk/ 2.6 miles, Steps/ 11,425, Floors/ 4, Daily miles/ 5.07
Jan 13 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 0 mile, Steps/ 2186, Floors/ 5, Daily miles/ .88
Jan 14 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 2.25 miles, Steps/ 16,147, Floors/ 23, Daily miles/ 6.55
Jan 15 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 0 mile, Steps/ 10,030, Floors/ 18, Daily miles/ 4.1
Jan 16 - Run / 0 mile, Walk/ 2.06 mile, Steps/ 10,084, Floors/ 26, Daily miles/ 4.12
Jan 17 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 0 mile, Steps/3474, Floors/7, Daily miles/1.47
Jan 18 - Run/ 1.15 mile, Walk/ 3.9 mile, Steps/15,487, Floors/10, Daily miles/6.73
Jan 19 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 0 mile, Steps/ 6563, Floors/ 14, Daily miles/1.44
Jan 20 - Run/ 0 mile, Walk/ 0 mile, Steps/1582, Floors/ 1, Daily miles/ .64
Jan 21 - Run .28 mile, Walk/ 4.35 miles,


Monthly Totals/ Run = 6.83, Walk = 30.73, Steps = 134.203, Floors = 200, Daily miles = 65.57

Thank you for your feedback! It's definitely in line with what I was thinking and having you confirming that I looked over my days and I see after every time I pushed harder with steps and all, I had 2 or even 3 days off from running, my running isn't improving, (I had 2 weeks off from running over Christmas as I worked our store everyday open to close those days.) but should have been back to 5k's by now. I also know the increased walking and climbing up my steps has added to the nerve pain. Which caused the 5 days of no running. So maybe Ill scale it back, try to get my 10,000 steps in and not push beyond that, while I start over with c25k.

WhatMeRunning wrote: »

Way to go @Becky_44!! Keep at it, do what you can, and only push once in a while and not all of the time. All of those other activities, steps, floors, walking, add to the stress you put on your body and muscles from running. So while c25k works from the running aspect, if you add in too much other stuff you will struggle not only in c25k, but any running program. I'm not saying to stop those other things. Just that your body needs recovery be that from a rest day or a recovery workout day.