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!