The January 2016 Running Challenge

@michable I agree with @WhatMeRunning . I like sport beans (vitiman B, electrolytes). I like the GU too, but I always stopped and had some water with it (race use only). Sports drinks might be ideal, like he said.I buy powder so I can mix it as I like. My husband likes VFuel gel better than GU.

If you have a running store near you, they usually carry a variety and you might be able to try a few things. You could always make your own, or do raisins, jolly ranchers, honey packets, ect... I like sprees pre run.. But in the heat I'm more concerned with electrolyte replacement than carbs. Which is why I do sport beans, and G2. I bought some NUUN tabs, but haven't tried them yet. I know @skippygirlsmom has had some experience with them.

Good luck! Finding run fuel is like a runners milestone! Be sure to update us on what works for you.

2/1 - 5k
3/1 - 7k
5/1 - 1k walk
6/1 - 3k
7/1 - 2.5k
9/1 - 7k
10/1 - 5k intervals
12/1 - 2k walk
13/1 - 1k
14/1 - 5k
16/1 - 7k
17/1 - 5k
18/1 - 1k
21/1 - 6k
23/1 - 8k
24/1 -6k
25/1 - 1k fastest ever
26/1 - 2k not as fast as 1k but fastish
27/1 - 4k
30/1 - 7k
31/1 - 6.5k


92/80

Outside today - defo better mentally if a bit harder physically. Don't know whether to join in for February as I have a couple of social things planned that means I will only get in about 6 runs in the first 2 weeks and then am away on holiday for 2 weeks - I PLAN on trying to get 2 short runs in each week I am away but I don't have a great track record and won't have data so can't measure the distances on any I do. (Also wouldn't be able to keep up with all the posts on hotel wifi). I also have to choose between continuing outside in very humid heat or withdraw to the air conditioned gym. How much harder is running on sand?

whatang wrote: »

dominichoran wrote: »

January done, 31 days, 44hrs, 350 miles - <phew>

Holy moly!

6.8 miles today, finishing off at 88 for the month. First time I've done 10k at sub 9 minute miles. Nice way to round off the month.

@dominichoran - Holy moly is right! That is a lot of running!!
@whatang - Congrats on the fast 10k!! That is awesome!
@michable - I use ShotBloks (Clif) and gummy bears. I have found not chewing them but sucking on them and letting them dissolve works best for me and doesn't upset my stomach. I cannot tolerate gels and GUs, they make me so very thirsty.

Congratulations everyone to a fantastic month!! See you next month!!

No running for me as I am off to the airport but here are my totals for the month (made my goal earlier this week) and year to date. I wanted to go with 1600 for the year but with everything going on I don't think it will be manageable so I am setting it to 1400 with 1600 as my stretch goal

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!
1/28 5.64
1/29 4.07
1/31 5.64 — Completed the miles for January and made up for not finishing up the December miles. All despite the fact that I have been so busy! Yes!

91.07/70

Amandajs232 wrote: »

won't have data so can't measure the distances on any I do.

What do you use for tracking your runs? When I've been away somewhere without data I've downloaded the maps for the area I'll be in for off line use in Google maps, often before travelling. The running Apps on my phone seem to work fine with that.

@runner_girl83 - love the shorts.

@_nikkiwolf_ - what a view

@Amandajs232 - wow. I want to be there.

I was supposed to run yesterday but we had a winter storm. The roads were in terrible condition and it doesn't help I live in the country. The roads aren't wide enough when there is snow to avoid cars. The highway nearby is usually much better, they plow it really wide and there is a wide shoulder, it's usually pretty clear. I opted to wait an extra hoping they would be clearer out here. They weren't. There was another group going in another part of town so I decided to join up with them. Roads were a little better than here but not much. Running with the group helped. It was just below freezing so overall pretty pleasant temperature wise.

11.5 on snow covered roads takes me to 79 km for the month.

@michable @WhatMeRunning @Elise4270 Last summer when I was had such a negative experience the first time I broke 10k, @Stoshew71 recommended, among other things, electrolyte replacement. I tried NUUN and fell in love. The taste of all the ones I've tried (non-caffeine ones) has been very good. No aftertaste and in the heat of Denver (10% humidity) in the summer (read bitchin' hot) at noon (when I was doing my lunch run) I could keep going and not feel like I was going to collapse. They can be expensive, but as soon as I tried it and found out how well it worked for me, I went back and bought every flavor, (non-caffeinated). Definitely worth a try!

@Amandajs232 If I was on that treadmill looking at that view...I swear I would break thru the glass to be on the outside! Go a little slower, take it a little easier, and make the memories that @WhatMeRunning knows you'll treasure. So beautiful!!

@skippygirlsmom I'm right there with you! I'm working very hard to get out of my pity party mode. It's not easy. But I'm trying to remember that, for me, when this kind of thing happens, in the end I wind up being better, stronger, and healthier because of it. It gets better. I posted the lastest fml issue yesterday on my home page and @7lenny7 promised it would get better. He promised. And I am choosing to believe him. Lock arms with me and we'll get thru this. 7lenny7 said so!

Congratulations to all of you that met your goal. And to the injured who didn't, you will be back!

Jan 1 -41 mile bike ride
Jan 2 - 34 mile bike ride
Jan 3 - rest day
Jan 4 - rest day
Jan 5 - 5.25 miles
Jan 6 - 3.3 miles
Jan 7-11 - Sick 5 sick days.
Jan 12 - 4.1 miles — finally!!! Felt so great.
Jan 13 - strength training + 1 mile on treadmill
Jan 14 - 5.2 miles
Jan 15 - 5.1 miles; trainer cancelled
Jan 16 - 4.2 miles
Jan 17 - 6.02 miles
Jan 18 - Rest Day
Jan 19 - 7.4
Jan 20 - strength training
Jan 21 - 5.02 miles
jan 22 - strength training
Jan 23 - 4.5 miles
Jan 24 - 10.68 miles
Jan 25 - recovery and repairing muscles day
Jan 26 - 5.2 miles - in the humid afternoon.
Jan 27 - strength training
Jan 28 - 5 miles - back to mornings!
Jan 29 - Strength training
Jan 30 - 34 mile bike ride
Jan 31 - 34 mile bike ride





2/7 HM Daytona Beach