The February 2016 Running Challenge

Rainy day here... Today was actually the first time ever I let the weather shoo me back inside before I finished my planned distance! After two days of snow, today was warmer and rainy instead. It didn't stop raining all day, so in the afternoon I decided to suck it up and head out for my long run, rather than lurking at the window, checking out the clouds.
First thing I noticed was that the little forest trail I wanted to run turned into a muddy mess - I kinda figured that out after 1km when I stuck my left foot ankledeep into a mud hole that had looked like an okay bit of trail beforehand. Running with one wet and one (semi-dry) shoe was a little awkward, so I evened that out by sticking my other foot into an equally deep puddle of barely molten snow - ugh, cold!
During the second kilometer, the rain turned into a torrential downpour. Around 2.5km, my headphones decided they had had enough and died. That was about when I decided to turn back home, swap the freezing-water-soaked shoes for a dry pair and continue my run on paved roads instead. Only that when I was half a km from home, it started hailing. Bad enough to sting even through my jacket. Seriuously?! I would have stared accusingly at the sky, if I hadn't been trying to protect my face from the hailstones...
When I had stumbled back to my apartment, I just dumped the entire sodden mess (formerly known as my running clothes) into the bathtub and admitted to myself I'm not badass enough to go back out into that epic deluge. I rather decided to curl up on the couch with hot chocolate and blankets.

It took a while for the weather to turn back to "normal" rain, and a little longer still for me to feel warmed up enough that I was up for another battle with the elements. Good thing I have more than one set of running clothes
Just in case the weather would go crazy on me again, I outfitted my phone with a second ziplop back on top of the first. Luckily, that wouldn't have been necessary - just regular rain, which slowed to a drizzle after 8km. And at the 12km mark, it even stopped completely! That was around when I got back to the village, with all the street and shop lights, making sparkling reflections in the puddles. After my first disastrous run in the afternoon, this one was awesome! I felt so great in the end, like I could have gone on forever
Since I had already done another short run today, I dediced to resist that temptation and only went a tiny km further than my training plan suggested.

So now that that is done, I can go back and read the last ten pages (10 pages! It's not that long ago that I last looked in here!) in this thread without feeling jealous of everyone who went for a long run today :-)

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This week's runs
09.02.2016 - 5.4 km
11.02.2016 - 10.1 km (rather slow, that's when the first snow of the week started falling and made the roads a slippery mess - I've just not had any luck with the weather this week!)
13.02.2016 - 4.6 km + 15.7 km
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67.3 km of 120 km done

Elise4270 wrote: »

I'm going to be a cry baby here- my knee was doing fine this morning (at work). I grabbed the knee brace, thought it'd be a good idea to wear it. I'm on the mend and might as well since I'd like to run tomorrow, extra support. The knee brace was a mistake. I don't understand, I'm back to no bending, its throbbing (iced), warm and red around the abrasion. I did have an X-ray last Sunday. Have a beer and wait it out another week?

Oh no. I don't have any advice/expertise on this but hoping it will be okay.
Sorry.

@shanaber - what is the cute VW van you are in front of?

michable wrote: »

@Elise4270 your poor knee! Warm, red and throbbing doesn't sound good at all! Could it be infected?

@_nikkiwolf_ that was a stellar effort in the weather! I can't believe it hailed on you! Well done for getting out again after all that, and so glad it was a great run!

I thought that too.I'll reevaluate.

@ddmom0811 thanks, for the thought.

@_nikkiwolf_ sorry scout the weather you are a beast for doing it. I hate to admit your post made me chuckle.

@Elise4270 take care of that knee

February goal 80 miles

2/1 3.8
2/2 4.17
2/3 bad life day
2/4 4.00
2/5 3.82
2/6 preparing a Superbowl Luau
2/7 hosting a Superbowl Luau
2/8 sick
2/9 4.02
2/10 10.00
2/11 rest
2/12 snorkel 3 hours


2/13 3.25

Total 33.06

@Elise4270 hope your knee recovers soon....
@skippygirlsmom and I hope Skip feels better soon


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:

@Elise4270 A throbbing and hot knee is probably NOT a sign that everything is alright. So sorry to hear that!

@HonuNui You always post the most fascinating photos! That turtle looks really cool :-)

@runner_girl83 Congrats on your 10k! I hope the knee won't be sore for too long. Enjoy your nice valentines present ;-)

@skippygirlsmom Sounds like a really nice 5k, glad that the knee help up!

@mobycarp So you ran one hundred seventy-seven times around that lap?! Wow, that's dedication to your training. I would have gone insane after a fraction of that.

Late to the party here but would like to join - if I may!

The goals for Feb are a stretch for me now but would have been modest a month ago. I intend to get back to running 3 days a week by the end of February to a revised HM training plan of running 4 days a week.

Back story: Mycroplasma pneumonia diagnosed this past Friday - had been struggling to keep on pace (no pun intended) with my Chester (UK) HM (in mid-May) training plan. It was a bump up to running 5 days a week which I'd been very excited about.

Feeling nervous about it in general - am focused on recuperating without a relapse. All/any advice welcome!

Hi all. Just reading some very inspirational posts, and also good to know its not just me obsessing over running

So, here is my month so far here in the UK. Plan is 1,000k in 2016 (YTD is now 252 so on schedule. I have been off work since Christmas but start a new job tomorrow, so will have a lot less time to run (.

Today's run was a joy. Cold but dry, blue sky, could have ran much further but schedule didn't allow



14/2- 12K
13/2- 5K Park Run
12/2 - 12K
10/2 - 21K
7/2 - 5K
6/2- 5K
4/2- 14K
3/2- 11K
2/2- 11K

Will be completing a half marathon in June, so any virtual training buddies very welcome

2/1: 6 miles with Joe to Go crew
2/2: 5 miles
2/3: 7.5 miles
2/4: 8.2 miles (am), 6 miles (pm) with the Thursday crew
2/5: Rest day (hallelujah!)
2/6: 9.5 miles with the Saturday crew
2/7: 18 miles LR
2/8: 6.1 miles with Joe to Go crew
2/9: Rest day
2/10: 7 miles speedwork (am), 10 miles (pm)
2/11: 6 miles (am), 6 miles (pm) with the Thursday crew
2/12: Rest day!
2/13: 14 miles with Saturday crew
2/14: 7 miles

Treadmill'd it today. Temps at noon were 14*, "feels like" temp of a balmy 0, and I just don't have gear suited for that kind of temperature. Jammed to the Hamilton soundtrack, mouthing along to all the lyrics despite the gym being totally full of people Did a progression run, from starting at 7.0 mph for the first mile, then working up to a half mile at 8.5 mph. Between the Hamilton tunes and kicking a** at all my progression paces, it was a killer workout, and dare I say it... even fun?? This kind of run used to leave me totally exhausted, so it's cool to feel energized instead.



Upcoming races:
4/3: Caesar Rodney Half Marathon
5/1: New Jersey Marathon

2/01: 3 miles, easy, 8:36 pace + 45 min x-training + core
2/02: 5 miles, tempo, 8:22 pace + 40 min x-training
2/03: 5 miles, speedwork (4x800m at 5K pace) + 45 min strength training + core
2/04: Off (bad head cold -_-), 45 min x-training
2/05: 4 miles, easy, 8:40 pace
2/06: 5 miles, 3 miles at race pace (averaged 7:43) with warm up/cool down + 55 min strength training + core
2/07: 8 miles, long and easy, 8:39 pace
2/08: 3 miles, easy, 8:40 pace + 45 min x-training + core
2/09: 5 miles, 6x2 minutes at 5K pace with 2 minutes recovery jog between plus warm up/cool down
2/10: 4 miles, easy, 8:54 pace + 45 min strength training + core
2/11: 1 mile, quick, 6:52 pace + 45 min x-training
2/12: 5 miles, easy, 8:45 pace
2/13: 5 miles, 1 mile/800m/2x400m at 5K pace with warm up/cool down + 55 min strength training
2/14: 9 miles, long and easy, 8:34 pace
Total: 62.34 miles

Recap:
Today’s run was a lovely, easy 9 miles! I really didn’t feel like running this morning and procrastinated for about an hour before getting out the door, so I got a little snow for the last 3 miles. It was nice though because at least the wind had died down a little so the snow didn’t slow me down at all- final 2 miles were at 8:18 and 8:06 pace so I had a nice strong finish! A balmy 2 degrees F and 17 mph winds; gotta love winter running in Chicago... -_-





Upcoming races:
2/20 - Mardi Gras Chaser (5K)
3/12 - Leprechaun Leap (5K)
3/20 - Excalibur 10 Miler
3/26 - Chicago Quarter Marathon
4/09 - Chi Town Half Marathon
5/28 - Soldier Field Run (10 miles)

@elise4270 got my shirts yesterday thanks. I must really like Skip since I brought her two LOL They are awesome!

Did my long run today - 4 miles! Felt pretty good too.

date....distance.... Mtd......ytd
1/2........ 5k.............5k.........50k
3/2.........5k.............10k......55k
7/2.........5k.............15k.......60k
10/2.......5k.............20k.......65k
12/2.......5k.............25k.......70k
14/2.......5k.............30k.......75k

@Elise4270 Oh man! Stay safe! Must have been a violent incident! I'd stay away from there for a few days at least. Luckily my town's biggest crime problem is bike theft, so running is pretty darn safe!

February Running Totals (miles)
[1/31 – 14.01 easy with hills]
2/1 – 6.08 easy + 4 strides
2/2 – 9.73 warm up, speed work, cool down
2/3 – 6.30 group run
2/4 – 11.04 long speed work
2/5 – scheduled rest day
2/6 – 15.00 long speed work
Weekly total 62.16 vs. target 62

2/7 – 11.35 easy 1.5 hour
2/8 – 5.96 easy + 4 strides
2/9 – 11.08 warm up, speed work, cool down
2/10 – 6.01 easy
2/11 – 11.75 warm up, speed work, cool down
2/12 – scheduled rest day
2/13 – 22 on inside track
Weekly total 68.15 vs. target 68

2/14 – 12.64 easy 100 minutes

February total to date – 128.94

Goal – 62 or 68 miles per week, per training plan
Expected February total - 262 to 265 miles

Today's notes – Better weather today; I set out to run at 9° F (-13° C) and sunshine with wind not being much of a factor. The training assignment was 100 minutes easy. By mile 8 I realized that absent a training assignment, I would have declared victory at 10 miles. But I'm not a 10 minute miler, so I persevered along my planned route. Ended up watching my watch closely as I ran past my driveway and stopping it as soon as I saw 1:40 elapsed time. Total run, 1:40:03 for 12.64 miles, average pace 7:55 per mile. Started out feeling really good, but the last 2 to 3 miles were a mental challenge.

Yes, it was a little cold. Yes, the valve on my water bottle froze and I had to unscrew the cap to chase the last gel. Yes, my electrolyte drink turned to slush before the end of the run. Yes, I ran hills after yesterday's totally flat (track) long run. But mostly, I was running on tired legs after yesterday's 22 miles. I think that's what the training plan intends, and this was an exercise in mental toughness more than in physical toughness.

@_nikkiwolf_ - Yes, running 177 laps of a 200 meter track yesterday was a mental challenge. Running 100 minutes outside today was a different sort of mental challenge. I played various mind games both days in dealing with the challenges, but part of it is just knowing what I want and what I need to do to get it. It's a lot of miles to get to Boston.

Upcoming races:
March 12, 2016 Johnny's Runnin' of the Green 5 mile (Rochester, NY)
March 26, 2016 Spring Forward Distance Run 15K (Mendon, NY)
April 18, 2016 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)