The February 2016 Running Challenge

Day 1 of week 2, Was perfect, couldn't have gone any better. I woke up knowing I would feel like crap after the weekend "festivities" but I'm determined to stay on schedule this month, and went out and from beginning to end it was all mind and breathing. My body cooperated perfectly, and it was at a 10 min mile pace.

Just to share a bit... 2014 I was running, for the first time in my life, (literally 20 years of not even running around with my kids as they grew) I was running 5k 4 or 5 times a week, and got my pace up to 10 min miles and started to increase my mileage. August of 2014 was my first injury (not due to running) so clear up to May of 2015 I struggled with running. I had nerve pain from the injury, gout flare ups in a toe on the other foot, and apparently my body is retaining extra fluid and wreaking havoc on my calves. So trying to get this all sorted out, I was continuously trying to get through c25k for a second time. I could NOT get past 4 of the 8 runs on the first day. Doing 15 min mile pace. By May I gave up, and decided to just focus on walking miles. By the end of May my dad was diagnosed with Cancer and Passed a month later. July and August I was a mess. By September, I had decided that I need to live the life he would want me to live, and I turned back to my dream. I had figured out that I need to be more strict with the junk food, to help with the gout and fluid retention. It worked and I got through the first week of c25k. By Thanksgiving I ran my first 5k race. This is all at that 15 min mile pace... So the other day, when I was bummed about restarting c25k for a third time after setting my running back in January, I was ecstatic to find myself running the 10 min mile pace. And did so again today. Today's run really cemented that this is definitely something I can do. It takes patience, and it takes dedication to my diet. My run was amazing today, I haven't felt that way running in nearly 2 years. After my run today life came at me, and essentially ruined my mood ha!. But I am so determined to get my healthy, worth loving life back and to get my running back, I won't let life stop me again. I have seen what I can conquer and bounce back from, when I had so many doubts about running. February is going to be a great month! I will make it happen!!

2/1 - .9 Run and 1.21 walk - W2d1

Hi Everyone! I'm at a beginner runner level these days, and my primary goal is to finish my first half-marathon on March 26, to celebrate turning 40. Notice I said "finish," not "run." Lol. I'm quite slow, but gradually improving each week. I just bought some new running shoes, so that is helping a lot! I'm doing weekly goals right now of training four days a week (Sun, Tues, Thurs, Sat), for the following weekly mileage minimums this month:

Week 1 - 9 miles (started with 2 yesterday)
Week 2 - 10 miles
Week 3 - 11 miles
Week 4 - 12 miles

I guess that makes my February goal 42 miles.

Glad to have found this group!

In the words of Shaun Cassidy..
We do run run run, we do run run
(with apoligies for the earworm)

Leap year, one more day to run, so I'll up the ante
February
In it for 60
Valentines Relay Race this month (whoo hoo)

• 01 - 5.3mi SuperBowl run around the Embarccadero Festivities
• 14 - 3.2 *prelogged: Valentines Couples Relay
• 29 -
  

Year Totals - 2016 (Goal:600miles)

In for 70 Miles in February.

Back from PT and he says roughly two weeks to start up a run/walk program is what he's thinking right now. From the way I presented last Thursday to today, he called it a best case scenario and has removed tendinopathy as a possibility. The improvement was truly that remarkable. I have a serious strength imbalance between my left and right glute that needs to be addressed. He added a few more exercises to my routine so hopefully when I see him on Thursday the improvements will have continued. All to say...I can see the light! I will be running again THIS month!

Virkati wrote: »

I will be running again THIS month!

Love the determination, but keep listening to the nice PT person. They are there for you!

I'm not a good model for anyone (including myself!), but if you want, I'm on Garmin Connect too, with the same screen name. And I'll be happy to friend most anyone on MFP, so....

@MobyCarp: In your excellent (and appreciated) reply to my question about speed work, you mentioned "I found a scientific coach last year". How did you look for that coach? Online resource, word of mouth, happy accident, or what?

Also appreciated the advice from you and from @Stoshew71 about easy runs and avoiding injury. I do find that too many long runs in a row, even at an easy pace, can make little aches and pains bigger in a hurry, so I work in days off as needed.

@Alex729 welcome! Sounds like you are off to a good start!


1---6.10. I think my shot is wearing off. Really getting to the point that I'm looking forward to seeing what surgery can do.



6.10/Goal 110+ 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  106.14/2016

9voice9 wrote: »

I'm a terrible person, but I wanted to post what might be the ONLY time I'm ahead of @Stoshew71 on a leaderboard...

Nah, he's a good sport. its such a rare moment to be ahead of some of these folks.

Hi all, I've been on and off running for about a year, really trying to focus on endurance. Based on a silly facebook post I made NYE, my friends have challenged me to 75 miles by March 31st. Since I only did 12 in January, my goal for February is 30 miles.

Cold and rainy here, but I got 1 mile in. My knees have been hurting so I've been doing 1 mile the past few days to work up to more after a week.

Also, I have an 80s themed 5k in April, so I want to be able to run the whole thing. My team is going as 80s female rock stars. Im going as either Joan Jett or Siouxsie (which may mean dyeing my hair black again, reliving my goth heyday!).

Anyway, thanks for the motivation and accountability!

@ddmom0811 - Yup, started at 55 and got faster. Then there were several guys in the 55-59 age group who were happier about my 60th birthday than I was. And I was pretty happy, because it saved me 2 days of stress in Boston registration week.

@vandinem - Finding my coach was a happy accident from my point of view, and good marketing from the club's point of view. The Genesee Valley Harriers first caught my attention at the 2015 Johnny's Runnin' of the Green, where most of the field wears St. Patrick's Day themed green, but most of the runners ahead of me were wearing maroon and white. Then they had a booth at the 2015 Lilac 10K, and gave me a coupon for 3 free training sessions. (It turned out the coupon was a gimmick, they welcome visitors any time.) I got some free advice on how to run the Buffalo Marathon, and along about mile 14-16 I ran with a guy who remembered me from visiting practice and reminded me that Coach would say to run tangents in Delaware Park. Near the end of the race, I easily passed 3 runners at Niagara Square when I was almost out of gas . . . by running a good tangent when they didn't. The reminder helped. By the time I got to my third visit at practice, I figured I'd got enough free advice to be worth the annual dues. At that point, I had no clue how valuable the coaching would be. I've paid my second year of membership dues, and I've already got more than my money's worth with 11 months left in the year.

Garmin watchband is glued back together.. Apparently the glue will last a long time.. hmm Will have to wait and see! Otherwise I'll have to order a replacement band, which is pretty affordable.. but the wait for it in the post will be a killer lol

Meanwhile... I worked out how to set up a goal on Garmin Connect!

I skimmed the thread and sent add requests on Garmin Connect. Im new to the thread, but have been running for awhile. You can also add me - Garmin Name is JohnONE29

I bought these puppies tonight.


And logged the first miles of the year. First miles in a long while really.
3 miles.