March 2016 Running Challenge

MNLittleFinn wrote: »

Thanks for the advice guys...now to throw a wrench into it, because I really jive with the rule of no more than 30% weekly distance for a long run. I was looking at the hal Higdon half marathon Novice 1 and 2 plans, and at the end, the long runs are 40-50% of the weekly total. Is this because it's specifically leading up to a race? I was always kind of curious as to how those could break that rule.

Funny you mentioned that...

http://therunningstan.blogspot.com/2016/02/my-gripes-on-training-plans.html

Double post. Nothing to see here. Move along!

WhatMeRunning wrote: »

Truth be told, it is only as complicated as you allow it to be when comparing so many training options and various advice from various sources. The trick is to figure out what your goals are (even if it is just run to lose weight) and find the method/plan you think will best match up to your goals, and get some second and third opinions perhaps just to see if other feedback helps persuade or dissuade you from your plan. It would probably not make sense for @greenolivetree to do a bunch of base building to run crazy miles each week if that is not the goal. And the amount required to be qualified as "crazy miles" is purely subjective. Likewise, many people, myself included, have run their first half marathon with something like the Hal Higdon program. I guess I was only rambling (I posted too much looking back) because in hindsight I would have rather done things differently starting out than how I did. But my goals may not match up with others so that experience may not apply.

Oddly enough, I only started running because walking was no longer a challenge and I only wanted to lose weight. I only signed up for a 10k because I was had converted my regular 6 mile walks to a combo of walking and running. It was only after running that full 10k with no walking (to my surprise) that I figured I would tackle a half. And it was only after that first half, recovering to run again the way I had before, and running slower/easier as described a few posts up that I ever considered a full. At this point, I have no idea where running is taking me, but I do have plans for this year that I hope to complete. There was a point building up to all that where the time and money invested in running helped me commit to it more than originally planned. Plus, I feel great!

Next year...who knows? Maybe try an ultra? Maybe do more of the same? Maybe give it all up and start knitting? I have no idea.

I also think this (the bolded stuff including the knitting comment) is all funny. because that is kind of where I am (believe it or not). When i first started, i was also lifting. Some how lifting went to the way side and running became more important. sort of like my experiences in the past where I was excited to lift for like... maybe 8 months. Then back to the couch. Running stuck for some reason. The running challnges I started here and the other runners I met here. Then the races and finally my local running group (actual humans as opposed to message boards). When I decided to run a marathon, it was supposed to be a one and done. Then I will go back to lifting. I remember asking someone, (If running burns a lot of calories and you need calories to get big from lifting then how do you mix the 2?) The response: You pick one or the other. So my compromise was, run this marathon then go back to lifting. Well, then came this weird obsession to make it to Boston one day and... well here I am. I have no clue what I will do once I actually BQ and run Boston. I am certainly not making it to the Olympic Qualifying Trials. And running changed my whole social life.

I moved here to Alabama from NJ like 4 and a half years ago. I had no friends really. I didn't hang out with anyone from work. And I work with some really great people, it's just that once 5:00 hits, everyone is off doing their own thing. People in church are nice. We did "small groups". But... well, it's not the social life we wanted. Then came running. After running my first half marathon and I got curious about running a full. I found the We Run Huntsville facebook site. It's basically the FB page that is all about running in our community. We are up to 5,161 members right now. They advertise all the local races and all the local running groups and... everything related to running. Sort of like this thread on steroids but for people that live near Huntsville, AL. On there I found my first group run. It was the Tuesday group run that met at Brueggers Bagels at OMG 5:15 in the morning? I was so nervous going there. OMG these people are going to embarass me as a runner. To my surprise, they were friendly and I stayed with the lead pack. it was pretty cool, and fun. They invited me to the Thursday morning run that met a Panera Bread. OK! Cool! Who knew that these people would become so close and were actually cool to hang out with. They had a saying. We are a drinking club that has a running problem. The group announced meets at various restaurants and bars (the Huntsville area had a spring up of local microbrewry pubs in the past 4 years) and off course we met as a group to many of them. We just had a thing Thursday night last week at Rocket Republic. We have an annual Christmas Party. Every summer, the leader of our Thursday run invites us over for a pool party. And our group sponsors aid runs at many of the local races. So yeah, running changed my social life. Literally like almost over night. No wonder it was the thing that stuck for me.

^^^^ I may have just half written my next blog. LOL