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
1/14 3.14 — have to say, those compression socks rock! first time user, wow! Did s half hour of elliptical too!
1/15 cross training—elliptical training for 90 minutes. That was good!
1/16 6.08 —
1/17 4.32 — coldest miles ever. It was 0 degrees and -20 with windchill. I forgot who mentioned this a couple of days ago, but it is really true: most of what we think we’re unable to do (not everything of course and I recognize different people have different abilities), but most of what we think we cannot do has to do with the mental games we play in our own heads. I would have never imagined walking, let alone running, in a windchill weather like this one!
1/18 — rest day.
1/19 6.3 — nice run, in new shoes, in the dark and cold. Ah, so relaxing. I do think I am becoming a runner because I came home without a plan to run, work was really busy, but I just could not sit still before I running. I not only missed it, but actually needed it to relax!
1/20 4.22 — nice easy run (11 minute/mile), cold but bearable, and clear sidewalks. it was a really good run.
1/21—rest
1/22 4.20 — great run in the cold and snow! beautiful.
1/23 cross training—elliptical for today
1/24 6 miles. 3.5 with my neighborhood group and 2.5 by myself! Okay, now I am over my monthly run, I did decide from the very beginning to make up for the lost miles in December, so, that’s good!

75.72/70

DATE...............MILES...............TOTAL
1/1....................REST...................0.00
1/2.....................16.00.................16.00
1/3.......................5.00.................21.00
1/4.....................REST................21.00
1/5.......................7.00.................28.00
1/6.......................5.00.................33.00
1/7.......................7.00.................40.00
1/8...................WEIGHTS...........40.00
1/9......................16.50................56.50
1/10......................5.00................61.50
1/11....................REST...............61.50
1/12......................6.00................67.50
1/13......................4.25................71.75
1/14......................5.25................77.00
1/15....................REST...............77.00
1/16.....................14.00...............91.00
1/17.......................6.00...............97.00
1/18....................REST...............97.00
1/19.....................10.00.............107.00
1/20.......................5.00.............112.00
1/21.......................7.75.............119.75
1/22....................REST.............119.75
1/23.....................18.00.............137.75
1/24.......................4.50.............142.25








Upcoming races:
May 14, 2016 Glacier Ridge Trail Ultra 50K (Portersville, PA)
June 4, 2106 38 Mile NIght Fun Run (Kettle Moraine State Forest, WI)
October 1, 2016 Cloudsplitter 100K (Pine Mountain, KY)

whatang wrote: »

@snha : Congrats on making your target!

As I said yesterday morning I went past my 60 mile target with a 5k at parkrun... meaning that the motivation just wasn't there when I went out for my usual Sunday "long" run today. I usually do about 5-7 miles, with 8.1 being my furthest so far. I knew I could just coast for the remaining week and I'd make my 75 mile stretch goal.

So. The first 2 miles were an absolute slog: everything hurt - everything - , I was tired, I felt particularly chunky, and my inner monologue seemed to be channelling my 5 year old self. I swear I was having a proper temper tantrum. I wonder if I was doing it out loud? I probably sounded like Mutley

But somewhere around 5k I convinced myself that as I was knackered already I might as well do one more time round the block to get up to 5ish miles... and then at 10k deciding to just squeeze in the extra loop to get to my 8.1 record was pure stubbornness... and at 8.1 miles the final little loop to get to 10 miles seemed like a brilliant idea! Ended up with 10.1 miles, my longest run yet by a 2 mile margin. I don't really know where that came from, except I guess I genuinely enjoy running now. Weird.

THAT is how you run! Excellent!

whatang wrote: »

@snha : Congrats on making your target!

As I said yesterday morning I went past my 60 mile target with a 5k at parkrun... meaning that the motivation just wasn't there when I went out for my usual Sunday "long" run today. I usually do about 5-7 miles, with 8.1 being my furthest so far. I knew I could just coast for the remaining week and I'd make my 75 mile stretch goal.

So. The first 2 miles were an absolute slog: everything hurt - everything - , I was tired, I felt particularly chunky, and my inner monologue seemed to be channelling my 5 year old self. I swear I was having a proper temper tantrum. I wonder if I was doing it out loud? I probably sounded like Mutley

But somewhere around 5k I convinced myself that as I was knackered already I might as well do one more time round the block to get up to 5ish miles... and then at 10k deciding to just squeeze in the extra loop to get to my 8.1 record was pure stubbornness... and at 8.1 miles the final little loop to get to 10 miles seemed like a brilliant idea! Ended up with 10.1 miles, my longest run yet by a 2 mile margin. I don't really know where that came from, except I guess I genuinely enjoy running now. Weird.

Thanks, but that 10.1 mile run seems to have been awesome. Way to go. Thanks for describing it in detail, that was fun to read! Congrats.

You absolutely rock! I'll have to follow you for motivation!! Keep up the good work!

17 miles today in 3:01:29, for an average pace of 10:40 per mile. That's a new distance PR for me! Will update total monthly mileage later, as I don't feel like searching for my previous post on my phone.

Kind of a split run today. It was super windy (15-20 gusts) so I took a break at 6 miles for water and figs. Was then engaged in conversation with other runners. Actually, someone I met through PT and was invited to run with the girls Saturday mornings and have coffee after. So happy! She qualified for Boston but didn't get a spot, so I'm in good hands.


1/1......3.68
2/1......5.20 walk
3/1......5.70
4/1......0.5
5/1......2.17
6/1......rest
7/1......5.10
8/1......rest
9/1......4.3 treadmill walk.
10/1....9.47
11/1.....Travel Dr appt
12/1.....lazy
13/1.....5.51
14/1.....3.31
15/1.....6.28
16/1.....rest
17/1.....6.05
18-19/1....I didn't run? No idea where those days went.
20/1.... Steroid shot #2
21/1......5.78
22,23.....Nada
24/1......11.21

74.16/100+ Miles

Upcoming races:

02/06/16 Hot Chocolate 15K Dallas
03/19/16 Rock N Roll 5K Dallas
03/20/16 Rock N Roll Half Dallas
04/24/16 OKC Memorial undecided distance
Run the year 2016  74.26/2016

In regards to the running while ill (neck and above category of illness that is) I am becoming pretty indifferent about it really. It does help to clear the sinuses and sometimes I feel better because of it. But some times not even that makes me feel better and the runs are real slogs due to being ill and having less energy. If only I could tell what kind of run I would have, that would be great. Usually I just run anyway. There was once that I did a monster long run with a head cold and wound up even more sick for a full week after. That sucked. So not sure how to advise since my results are all over the place in regards to it. I suppose the best suggestion might be that if you need to get those miles in then do it. If you can take the day off, do that instead.

@whatang - Congrats on the distance PR!! There comes a point where you can do things like that on a whim while out running and surprise yourself with a new distance, and it looks like you are there. The funny thing is when my training plan suggests putting in higher mileage sometimes they are really hard. But then come those days like that where you set out for something not that aggressive but have the ability to crank out something incredible! I really prefer those days.

Today was the first back to back long run I have done since last summer. I actually felt better today than yesterday and had a much better pace today. That seems a bit strange to have more energy on tired legs, but it might be due to coming off a head cold. Yesterday was the first day I felt normal again but may not have been back to 100% energy perhaps. That's my theory anyway.

1/1 - 2.25 miles
1/3 - 4.1 miles
1/5 - 6.5 miles
1/7 - 4 miles
1/9 - 4 miles
1/12 - 3.25 miles
1/14 - 4.6 miles
1/16 - 11.5 miles
1/18 - 2.1 miles
1/20 - 3.1 miles
1/23 - 12.6 miles
1/24 - 8.1 miles

66.1 of 50 miles



Upcoming races:
4/9 - Rock the Parkway half marathon (Kansas City, MO)
4/16 - Garmin half marathon (Olathe, KS)
4/30 - BattleFrog 8k obstacle course run (Kansas City, MO)
5/14 - Running with the Cows half marathon (Bucyrus, KS)

@whatang Great job on your 10 (+) mile PR distance! It always feels so good to just go out and smash it, especially when you're not feeling it to begin with!

@WhatMeRunning I'm training for a marathon. The A2A Marathon in Ardmore, OK, on March 20th! Running it with my sister. It'll be the first marathon for both of us!

Wow congratulations to @whatang ! And @ceciliaslater!

January goal 70 miles


1/1 3.69
1/2 4.15
1/3 3.12
1/4 rest
1/5 3.31
1/6 5.59
1/7 rest
1/8 3.00
1/9 heavy duty yard work
1/10 3.27
1/11 3.38
1/12 snorkel 3 hours
1/13 6.39
1/14 rest
1/15 3.12 (and some more heavy duty yard work)
1/16 4.25
1/17 3.05
1/18 rest
1/19 3.00
1/20 5.51
1/21 rest
1/22 3.20
1/23 the last of eight long work days and I just came home and sat......
1/24 6.25. On the treadmill. On the lanai. Overlooking the ocean. Watching football. Life is good....

Total 64.28

Upcoming races:
3/20 Big Island International 1/2 marathon
6/26 SHEPower Virtual 1/2 marathon
11/13 Las Vegas Rock n Roll 1/2 marathon

Ticker is my goal for 2016 and accumulation to date:

11 km Run along the River. The first 3km was plowed, the next 5 was a loose-unstable Boot Pack by all the Walkers/Runners and the last 3km was plowed. What you might call a Tough Slog in the middle. That 5km felt like a Hill Run.

01/01 –0.0 Km – 140 km – 0.0 Km
01/01 –6.0 Km – 134 km – 6.0 Km
01/02 –7.0 Km – 127 km – 13.0 Km
01/03 –5.0 Km – 122 km – 18.0 Km
01/04 –10.0 Km – 112 km – 28.0 Km
01/06 –7.0 Km – 105 km – 35.0 Km
01/09 –7.0 Km – 98 km – 42.0 Km
01/10 –5.0 Km – 93 km – 47.0 Km
01/11 –18.0 Km – 75 km – 65.0 Km
01/13 –10.0 Km – 65 km – 75.0 Km
01/16 –8.5 Km – 56.5 km – 83.5 Km
01/17 –6.5 Km – 50.0 km – 90.0 Km
01/20 –10.8 Km – 39.2 km – 100.8 Km
01/24 –11.0 Km – 28.2 km – 111.8 Km

@shanaber beautiful pics! Thanks for posting