The February 2016 Running Challenge

It was hard getting out the door yesterday. While it was a beautiful 40F during the day, by the time I had planned on running the temps were diving, the winds were gusting up to 30MPH, I had been out to eat with my wife, I had absentmindedly eaten a snack right before, I was really tired, and I had so much to do at home. In spite of all the reasons I could come up with for skipping it, I forced myself to go out, with a bit of encouragement from Kody.

I ended up with 4 miles. 1.5 miles easy, then 2.5 miles at tempo pace. Wind seem to be whipping the snow right into my face the whole time.

@kateparry84 congrats on having your best ever run! That feels so great!
@ddmom0811 awesome job, thanks for the report!
@shanaber, love the hardware! Great job on the HM in some very tough conditions.
@juliet3455, glad you had backup shoes! That would have been disaster. I never would have thought about that...that will now be added to my race checklist. Fantastic time!
@runner_girl83 glad you got your hardware! I think sometimes that tracking only works until the package leaves the originating country.




Upcoming Races (Registered & Tentative)

04/16/2016 - Trail Mix 25K - Lake Rebecca Park
05/14/2016 - Lake Wobegon Marathon - Holdingford, MN
06/25/2016 - Circle of Life Half Marathon - Lake City, MN (Tentative)
07/04/2016 - Red Wing July 4th 10K - Red Wing, MN (Tentative)
07/20/2016 - Torchlight 5K - Minneapolis
08/12/2016 - Ragnar Great River 200+ Relay (Looking for a team)
08/31/2016 - Salomon Autumn Trail Series (4 Mi) - Bloomington, MN
09/12/2016 - Watermelon Days 5K - Kellogg, MN (Tentative)
09/14/2016 - Salomon Autumn Trail Series (4 Mi) - Bloomington, MN
09/28/2016 - Salomon Autumn Trail Series (5.5k) - Bloomington, MN
10/12/2016 - Salomon Autumn Trail Series (5.5k) - Bloomington, MN

2/1-3 slow miles + lots of yoga
2/2-5.4 miles+ strength training
2/3-7 miles
2/4-rest day
2/5-3.6 miles hill sprints +strength training
2/6-6.3 miles
2/7-12.2 miles

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I rarely log onto the forums on the weekends, so keeping up with this thread is next to impossible. You all are a busy bunch!

DATE...............MILES...............TOTAL
2/1.....................REST..................0.00
2/2.......................6.50...................6.50
2/3.......................5.00.................11.50
2/4.......................5.00.................16.50
2/5.....................REST.................16.50
2/6...................... 7.50..................24.00
2/7.....................20.00..................44.00
2/8.....................REST..................44.00









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 100 Mile (Pine Mountain, KY)

01-Feb: 8.61 miles
02-Feb: 4.26 miles
03-Feb: 3.11 miles
04-Feb: 4.32 miles
05-Feb: 4.75 miles
06-Feb: 9.28 miles - Al Toll Memorial 15K
07-Feb: <Life Day>
08-Feb:
09-Feb:
10-Feb:
11-Feb:
12-Feb:
13-Feb:
14-Feb: <Life Day>
15-Feb:
16-Feb:
17-Feb:
18-Feb:
19-Feb:
20-Feb:
21-Feb: <Life Day>
22-Feb:
23-Feb:
24-Feb:
25-Feb:
26-Feb:
27-Feb:
28-Feb: <Life Day>
29-Feb:
00-Jan:
00-Jan:

Apparently I did quite the job at running the tangents on the Al Toll 15K, since Garmin posts it at 9.28 miles, and I know I did a good job of starting and stopping it. Wound up at 1:42:49 (11:06/minute), which is slower than I'd like, but the total ascent was 429 feet, so I'm claiming the hills as my excuse. The race itself was fun, I'm just disappointed with myself.



Upcoming Races:
19-Mar: Cherry Blossom 10K, Macon, GA
02-Apr: Run 2 End Alzheimer's 10.5K, Bonaire, GA
16-Apr: Running for Ronald 10K or 15K, Macon, GA
04-Jul: Peachtree Road Race 10K, Atlanta, GA

I can't keep up with all the comments - but I do read the thread! Having a not so great start to the month. I was feeling good and not so much now. I'll keep on keeping on though! All scheduled runs are done so far.

Stoshew71 wrote: »

@Elise4270 The way you wrote your race report I wanted to laugh so much even though I know it was no laughing matter. I don't want to see any holes in your story after you do your half.

Amen to that! You can laugh, it was just one of those runs. I wanted to share that so the next person that has a horrible run will know they are not alone.

My feet were numb from the cold the first few miles, then after I tripped my right foot fell asleep for a few miles. The whole expierience only lacked me having a GI/bladder emergency from being miserable. I just wonder if anyone from my newly joined running group had do dodge my sudded urge to bow to mecca. According to the results, one of them finished 3 minutes ahead of me... Soooo, I bet there's a fair chance she had to leap frog me. Oh well.

@kateparry84 I can almost always tell when I need to get my iron levels checked by the level of fatigue I'm experiencing (also know to just take the tablets whether I feel like it or not if I've had a particularly bad month with my cycle...which sadly happens more and more these days). I usually start to feel better within a couple of weeks of taking the supplements. Hopefully you'll be feeling better soon, too. I understand your partner's concern, although I think the mental health benefits of running probably out-weigh the physical toll--with all that you have on your plate, taking the time to do something just for yourself is really important!

@WhatMeRunning I am almost a full minute-per-mile slower on my trail runs, so I know that physically they're much harder, but they are mentally so much more exciting, the time just flies by, which makes them seem easier.

@ddmom0811 Congrats on your Daytona run! Your bling is awesome! It's crazy how cold you feel after a run--I'm the same way. I really can't get warm without a hot shower. I am a little worried about the half I'm running at Disney; I know it will be chilly in the dark but warm up quickly. If I drop my jacket as I get warm, I won't have anything to warm up with at the end and a long bus ride back to the hotel. I'm hoping I can just tie the jacket around my waist without being too hindered by it.

@KnordRW Welcome! I'm sure by the time September gets here you'll find a 6K easy-peasy!

@runner_girl83 Glad you got your medal! We had a big snowstorm that weekend on the east coast, so maybe the mail got held up a few days before it could get outbound. I'm sorry your ankles are giving you trouble now. You mention the pram--how old is your youngest? I had all sorts of hyper-mobility/tendinitis issues in my tendons after each of my pregnancies. Could you be experiencing something similar?

@shanaber Congrats on your Surf City 1/2! I can't imagine having salt on me after a race. The light was beautiful in the photo, though--looked like a great place to run!

@3dogsrunning All I can say is Wow! You're fast! I am very envious.

@9voice9 Good job on your 15K! I was surprised at the hills when I ran my first 10K. My time was about where I expected, but it was really "way slower on the uphill, way faster on the downhill" than I was used to! The downhills can be almost as challenging in their own way when you're not used to running on them. Most of the hills on my park trail are long slow grades, so bridge ramps are out of the norm for me.

---

1/31 Rest
2/1 6.25 @ 12.00 on the treadmill
2/2 3.5 (3 @ 11:50 and .5 walking) and strength training
2/3 Rest day--drove several hours to have coffee with a friend. Couldn't squeeze in a run, but the heart is happy!
2/4 10.25 @ 11:46 on the treadmill. Fast and Furious (not to be confused with The Fast and the Furious. Or 2 Fast 2 Furious. Or Tokyo Drift.)
2/5 Planned rest day--taking my daughter on her first college visit!
2/6 5 @ 10:35 on the treadmill
(25/25 for the week)

2/7 Rest
2/8 5 @ 11:23 on the treadmill. Knees were giving me a little trouble at the beginning but warmed up ok.
2/9
2/10
2/11
2/12
2/13
(5/25 for the week)

Upcoming Races:
Feb. 14 Run Your Heart Out 5K, Reston, VA
Feb. 21 Disney Princess Half Marathon, Orlando, FL

I'm aiming for 50 miles this month! My next race will be the More/Shape Womens Half Marathon in April.

Goal of 70 Miles for February

2/3 – 3.58 Mi
2/4 – 3.63 Mi
2/6 – 4.24 Mi
2/7 – 6.12 Mi

Progress toward Goal 17.57/ 70

I have today off from work and skipped a long run yesterday, so I decided to get that in today. It was windy today, 35mph with 50mph gusts. Luckily the temp was only down to 30F and I layered up just right so the wind was not cold. But a few points it was a battle against the headwind. On the way back a big gust came on as I was going downhill.

2/1 - 4 miles
2/2 - 4.3 miles
2/4 - 4 miles
2/6 - 11.1 miles
2/8 - 9.5 miles

32.9 of 100 miles



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

5BeautifulDays wrote: »

@runner_girl83 Glad you got your medal! We had a big snowstorm that weekend on the east coast, so maybe the mail got held up a few days before it could get outbound. I'm sorry your ankles are giving you trouble now. You mention the pram--how old is your youngest? I had all sorts of hyper-mobility/tendinitis issues in my tendons after each of my pregnancies. Could you be experiencing something similar?


Upcoming Races:
Feb. 14 Run Your Heart Out 5K, Reston, VA
Feb. 21 Disney Princess Half Marathon, Orlando, FL

It's quite possible iIhave hyper-mobility issues.. My phsio says he has never seen feet like mine.. I can literally stand on my tip-toes - he tells me off for doing it, tells me iIcan only do calf raises with shoes on as they stop me from going all the way up. It's something I've always done.. He called all of the other physios in for them to assess it. My toes also bend forward, towards my ankle a lot. My legs are bowed and I'm pigeon-toed.. Just to make it interesting. I wonder if my hip could be playing up again when it comes to my legs too - I had SPD, a disorder with my left hip during my last pregnancy where the ligaments become too loose and the hip bone is unstable and moves away from the other side. I had to wear a brace the entire pregnancy, the pain was awful and it took a bit of physio post birth to fix too. After a long run my hip is very noisy and makes a clicking noise when I walk. May have to get it looked at again! My youngest is 4 in May. I don't think i will run with him anymore as the stroller and he weigh over 20kg combined probably not helping matters.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the POD tomorrow to see what she suggests too!

I see your Half is fast approaching!! How exciting!!

Hi all, I am new to the group and new to running. I will be doing running/walking. I hope to finish 50 miles this month. Wish me luck. I have completed 5 so far so I have some catching up to do to meet my goal. Good luck everybody!

Started Week 3 today. Hard to get up and get out there this morning after having a little too much fun last night, but I did so as to stay with my schedule per this months goal. In the 60's and sunny this week, means getting up later makes for a tougher run. I love running in the cool crisp air.

Feb 1 - Run/ .9 miles, Walk/ 1.21 miles - C25k
Feb 3 - Run/ .9 miles, Walk/ 1.21 miles - C25k
Feb 5 - Run/ .9 miles, Walk/ 1.25 miles - C25k
Feb 8 - Run/ 1 mile, Walk/ 1.13 miles - C25k

Monthly Totals - Run/ 3.7, Walk/ 4.8

Defo hurt myself - inside my right leg more uncomfortable now and can't jog at all. Going to try a spin class then might just rest - gutted doesn't cover it.

Hello everyone, I feel a bit of a slacker looking at all your runs and training, but I did another 3.73 miles tonight at beginners running club so have a total of 11 miles for the month so now, getting there slowly. ☺