March 2016 Running Challenge

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Replies

  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    @WhatMeRunning The knitting comment made me laugh.

    I really just run because I love being active. I still enjoy a walk. Strength train 3 times a week. And add in other odd workouts here and there. I love accomplishing new distance or new speed in running just like I love finding out I can lift a heavier weight strength training. People say I'm addicted to exercise and okay, yeah, so I am. So I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing :-D

    I would say that you are just addicted to life.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    edited March 2016
    Double post. Nothing to see here. Move along!
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    @WhatMeRunning The knitting comment made me laugh.

    I really just run because I love being active. I still enjoy a walk. Strength train 3 times a week. And add in other odd workouts here and there. I love accomplishing new distance or new speed in running just like I love finding out I can lift a heavier weight strength training. People say I'm addicted to exercise and okay, yeah, so I am. So I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing :-D

    I would say that you are just addicted to life.

    Thank you, I love this comment :-D
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    I'm not training for a race, have never ran a race, and don't intend to ever run a race. So it's a little hard for me to figure out what I'm doing and why. I honestly just started running because it was the next thing after walking so much to lose weight and doing other indoor aerobics. I still just run as part of a well-rounded active lifestyle. I had originally thought that I'd probably max out at 6 miles/1 hour long runs this spring but since I've slowed down and quit killing myself with running so fast, I can now kinda think of 5 miles as not a big deal, which leaves me wondering how far to take the long run? Do I even NEED a long run if I'm not training for anything? I kinda think I want to run 10 miles but not for any reason. I just like being challenged. Just rambling here.....

    @greenolivetree - Not everyone wants to run a race, and not everyone who wants to run a race wants to run it as fast as they possibly can. However, most of the research is motivated by the goal of running a race as fast as possible. When that's not your goal, you need to be aware of the backdrop to the discussion and be prepared to discard the parts that aren't helpful to you.

    The part of the discussion that is most applicable to someone who just wants to run and wants to avoid injury is the stuff dealing with lactate threshold, keeping the long run slow, and keeping most of the running easy. The more miles you run, the more important this stuff is, even if you never run a race.

    When I was a newbie runner, I ran myself into injury with a long run of less than 10 miles and total weekly volume of less than 25 miles. I increased mileage too quickly, and I ran everything at what I now perceive to be my lactate threshold. That's a very natural pace to run, and I might have got away with it if I never ran more than 5 miles at a time or more than 4 days a week. But Mr. Testosterone was always urging me to do more, go faster. The people who program running apps listen to Mr. Testosterone, and set all the goals for faster, harder, and longer.

    My number one goal is to avoid injury and keep running at least 3 days a week. If I want to do that, I need to run slower than I can most of the time. Running slower is also vital if I want to run for over an hour at a time. Every once in a while, I need to stop and remind myself that avoiding injury so I can keep running regularly is top priority. I can get caught up in targeting a finish at Boston that will re-qualify for Boston and get me into Chicago without having to go through the lottery . . . but that is lower priority than avoiding injury. If I need to run Boston slow to avoid injury, that's what I should do.

    To answer your (possibly rhetorical) question, no, you don't need a long run if all you want to do is run regularly. You may want to have a long run, and that's okay. I like long runs. I find them pleasant, and would continue to run them even if I had no races on the horizon. If you feel the same way, the long run is worth running for its own sake. OTOH, if you find that after you've been running an hour you're looking forward to when you can quit, the long run is probably not your cup of tea.

    There are many kinds of runners. I am a distance runner, by which I mean a 5K is a short race to me. A couple years ago, I met a guy at a 5K who was running a 5K every weekend. He wasn't interested in any longer distance. Some people do walk/run intervals for whatever distances they enter races. Some enter races as social events, to run and chat with their friends while making no attempt to be as fast as possible. And some just like to run and don't want to bother with the organizational hassle of races. It's all good, and it's okay for your to take some time to figure out what kind of runner you are.
  • greenolivetree
    greenolivetree Posts: 1,282 Member
    @MobyCarp I did the same thing last year and had my 5k time down 8:08 pace. I always ran as hard and fast as I could. And got injured. This year I have slowed it down and allowed myself to be okay with 10 min miles.
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    So, y'all. I made a running blog a while ago, and now I have a few posts on it so I've deemed it shareable. My latest post is about setting goals for races and how I'm bad at it but trying to get better. Take a look if you want to/have some time/want to procrastinate! https://shesagift.wordpress.com/
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    @ROBOTFOOD Did I read that right? 60 miles per hour winds?!?! That's gonna make me reconsider the "Woe is me!" sentiment regarding my 20-30 mph wind forecast for my race on Sunday!

    @MNLittleFinn I used to run a Sun/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sat plan. And my dad still does, diligently, to this day. I've found that a different rotation works best for me, but S/T/W/T/S is a great place to start. The best way to do it is to just do it and see if it works. Make a schedule for April -- which will help you pick a goal for next month's challenge! -- and if it needs to be tweaked, tweak it.

    How long have you been running for? You got way more miles in this month than you expected, but I just want to warn you to take it slow! Right now, adding a mile to your midweek runs PLUS adding another run... just be cautious. If your body tells you to stop or back off, do it. You don't want to get this excited about running only to get injured a few weeks or months down the line because you tried to do too much too fast!

    @greenolivetree If you wanna run 10 miles, work up to 10 miles and go for it! It doesn't need to be for a race if you just want to set your own challenges. I admire the people who can run without a race dangling like a carrot out in front of them. Without races, I'd never push myself this hard! Or at all!!
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    edited March 2016
    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. :smile: 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. :wink: 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. :smile: 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. :smile: 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
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    edited March 2016
    @Stoshew71 Your paragraph about running community in Huntsville sounds so much like my experience in Princeton! My first year here I hated it because I didn't have any friends (my grad department is super fragmented), but now I am about to graduate and don't want to leave because I have made so many friends through our Run Around Princeton group and the Pacers Princeton group runs! When you have Running People, it makes it so much more rewarding because there's so much support and encouragement there.
  • 9voice9
    9voice9 Posts: 693 Member
    I hate spider webs.

    Mostly because spiders live in them.

    But even more so because I feel like spiders are on me all day when web is clinging to me, or feels like it's clinging to me.

    And trail runners aren't supposed to be bothered by spyder webz.:scream:

    And I'm not scared....

    I just dislike it to the highest power.
    Had to LOL at this. I need to arrange to sit around you with an adult beverage and bask in your wit sometime. :smile:
  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    @kristinegift Ya. 60mph gusts (70 yesterday). I'd say 35-45mph sustained. Wind sucks, but for a (flat?) race it shouldn't be that bad. Throw in big verticals though and you will be questioning continuing every 1/10mi lol. Good luck on you're race!
  • KWKirkbride
    KWKirkbride Posts: 119 Member
    1500 unread haha

    Hello everyone. Hope you all have had a productive and healthy March. Finish strong!

    A few of you may know from the Strava group feed that I went head first over the hood of a car three weeks ago while out on a long bike ride. The road rash has finally healed. The broken clavicle is on the mend. My bike has been to the bike shop and is confirmed to have come away relatively unscathed.

    During the last three weeks I've been eating so bad to aid the healing. I've gained 8 pounds and I'm not even upset about it! That said, 10 pounds is too much. I'll be hopping on the bike (via trainer) tonight and getting back to keeping things in order.

    As for running, which is what I really want to do, the doc says I'm still a few weeks away. I'm going to start looking into some stuff I can do with the rest of my body (other than biking) to keep as fit as possible for my return.

    Thinking my April goal will be 1 mile. Can't wait to get back. Keep up the great work!
  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    The most interesting wildlife I encountered on a run was a porcupine who decided to meander across the trail in front of me. I knew porcupine were in the area, as I could smell them while out running, sometimes, but that was the first and only time I saw one.
    I guess I am loving the wildlife discussion today!:lol:

    That reminded me of a very recent encounter on the same paved park trails I ran this morning. I don't recall if I mentioned it here or not, but I was running back from the same 5 mile route I took this morning along the stream in the wooded part of the park and a beaver popped out from the brush onto the trail about 100 feet ahead of me. I was very surprised to see a beaver there as this park is surrounded by residential on all sides. Just a couple miles away are prime beaver areas though, so this one meandered in close to civilization I guess.

    Anyway, as I kept running (towards it) it got scared and started running away from me right down the trail the same way I was going. It would stop every 12-15 feet or so to look back and see if I was still coming right at him, and then he kept going right down the trail. I was laughing about it because the brush and stream were right there next to him on the side to dart into. But no, we chased each other until the trail veered away from the stream at which point he finally decided to head back to the stream.

    I got to tell my wife I was chasing beaver. She was pleased.
    There's not much other than few birds and a squirrel or two here or there on my usual loop that goes through the local cemetery. I do, however, look for zombies during every run. The cemetery has different sections with different names (including Faithful Friends pet section). One of these parts of the cemetery is called Resurrection Garden. It is at the very back of the cemetery. The way the named bench is placed, it makes it look like that section is behind a large gate (that leads into the woods) and very tall fence. Zombies are wildlife, right? :smile:
    Well, now you know to also look out for vampires too!
    Huh, I didn't have vampires on my list yet, either! I used to watch out for serial killers (too many episodes of Criminal Minds). Since I've been running with the "zombies! run" app for a few month now, I've been watching out for zoms instead. ;-)
    At night, I get ocassionally startled by dogs, birds and deer - none of these scare me during the day, but sudden unexpected appearances in the dark are a different thing. The wildlife which is giving me most heart attacks on bright and sunny days are lizards. You never see them, you just hear the rustle of leaves as they disappear in the underbush. At least I tell myself it's lizards whenever that happens ^^

    I am so, so happy I don't have any poisonous animals or large predators around. I think the only animals around which might hurt a runner are wild boars, and I haven't ever met one yet *knocks-on-wood*.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    1500 unread haha

    Hello everyone. Hope you all have had a productive and healthy March. Finish strong!

    A few of you may know from the Strava group feed that I went head first over the hood of a car three weeks ago while out on a long bike ride. The road rash has finally healed. The broken clavicle is on the mend. My bike has been to the bike shop and is confirmed to have come away relatively unscathed.

    During the last three weeks I've been eating so bad to aid the healing. I've gained 8 pounds and I'm not even upset about it! That said, 10 pounds is too much. I'll be hopping on the bike (via trainer) tonight and getting back to keeping things in order.

    As for running, which is what I really want to do, the doc says I'm still a few weeks away. I'm going to start looking into some stuff I can do with the rest of my body (other than biking) to keep as fit as possible for my return.

    Thinking my April goal will be 1 mile. Can't wait to get back. Keep up the great work!

    Welcome back dude. Glad you are OK now.

  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    1500 unread haha

    Hello everyone. Hope you all have had a productive and healthy March. Finish strong!

    A few of you may know from the Strava group feed that I went head first over the hood of a car three weeks ago while out on a long bike ride. The road rash has finally healed. The broken clavicle is on the mend. My bike has been to the bike shop and is confirmed to have come away relatively unscathed.

    During the last three weeks I've been eating so bad to aid the healing. I've gained 8 pounds and I'm not even upset about it! That said, 10 pounds is too much. I'll be hopping on the bike (via trainer) tonight and getting back to keeping things in order.

    As for running, which is what I really want to do, the doc says I'm still a few weeks away. I'm going to start looking into some stuff I can do with the rest of my body (other than biking) to keep as fit as possible for my return.

    Thinking my April goal will be 1 mile. Can't wait to get back. Keep up the great work!

    Glad you checked in! I was thinking about how you were doing today!
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited March 2016
    1---3.57 walk
    2---7.06
    3---3.55
    4---7.47 walk
    5---5.75
    6---3.03
    7--- work late, DOMS, rain
    8---work late, headache, rain
    9---6.61cramps
    10---5.05 cramps
    11---5.41
    12---7.33
    13---worked, slept
    14---2.3 walk, biked 9
    15---7.23 easy
    16,17---eat days
    18---travel/crazy day
    19---5k turned out to be 2.85miles, about 0.5k short. So no PR. 
    20---13.4 RNR half 2:20:47
    21---5.01 recovery run/walk
    22---DOMs
    23---3.16
    24---druged
    25---5.28
    26---5.74 fast group run
    27---3.3 park walk
    28---7.00
    29---5.00 Easier than yesterday's hot run!

     115.12miles/150 (181.5 month including work cheat walk miles)

    Upcoming races:

    04/24/16 OKC Memorial undecided
    10/16/16 THAT dam half, Lewisville TX
    11/05/16 Jenks Half Jenks OK
    Run the year 2016  476/ 2016
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    1500 unread haha

    Hello everyone. Hope you all have had a productive and healthy March. Finish strong!

    A few of you may know from the Strava group feed that I went head first over the hood of a car three weeks ago while out on a long bike ride. The road rash has finally healed. The broken clavicle is on the mend. My bike has been to the bike shop and is confirmed to have come away relatively unscathed.

    During the last three weeks I've been eating so bad to aid the healing. I've gained 8 pounds and I'm not even upset about it! That said, 10 pounds is too much. I'll be hopping on the bike (via trainer) tonight and getting back to keeping things in order.

    As for running, which is what I really want to do, the doc says I'm still a few weeks away. I'm going to start looking into some stuff I can do with the rest of my body (other than biking) to keep as fit as possible for my return.

    Thinking my April goal will be 1 mile. Can't wait to get back. Keep up the great work!
    Whoa! I missed this on Strava! :grimace: Sounds terrible, yet at the same time there is so much good news in there! :smile: Glad to hear you are well on the mend. Looking forward to any miles in April (partial or even zero). Glad you checked in.
  • ceckhardt369
    ceckhardt369 Posts: 115 Member
    @WhatMeRunning The knitting comment made me laugh.

    I really just run because I love being active. I still enjoy a walk. Strength train 3 times a week. And add in other odd workouts here and there. I love accomplishing new distance or new speed in running just like I love finding out I can lift a heavier weight strength training. People say I'm addicted to exercise and okay, yeah, so I am. So I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing :-D

    I totally get this. I have friends who will ask me why I've started running now. They don't understand how yoga, lifting, teaching classes, and general gym stuff isn't enough. I always say I can't give up the high of a new accomplishment; whether that is a new pose in yoga, lifting a heavier weight, or helping a student to reach a new level. It also could be a little bit of an addiction.... :smiley:
  • Becky71_cm
    Becky71_cm Posts: 24 Member
    edited March 2016
    Went out for a 6 mile walk today down to the river front and across the bridge (rest day from running, probably not a good idea to walk this much but it's been awhile and the weather is perfect and I needed the vitamin D) .On my way through the grade school down the street I saw a guy who had been out ranting and raving naked on the side of the school, get taken down by the police. Made for an unusual walk but does not help my case with my husband worrying about me being out there alone. Ha!

    Let me add, I'm really bored with the whole C25k/10k trainer. But I'm at a loss as to how to plan what I should be doing. I've done these schedules based on time, and I'm tired of that too. I want to look at the mileage instead. So much of the info shared here goes straight over my head.
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    edited March 2016
    So, y'all. I made a running blog a while ago, and now I have a few posts on it so I've deemed it shareable. My latest post is about setting goals for races and how I'm bad at it but trying to get better. Take a look if you want to/have some time/want to procrastinate! https://shesagift.wordpress.com/
    I'm guilty of this too.

    I actually typed out a lot of examples but then realized I am not ready to share how stupid I actually am. :blush:

    I will though, since you shared.

    I just need to go kick myself first.

    A few times.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    @WhatMeRunning The knitting comment made me laugh.

    I really just run because I love being active. I still enjoy a walk. Strength train 3 times a week. And add in other odd workouts here and there. I love accomplishing new distance or new speed in running just like I love finding out I can lift a heavier weight strength training. People say I'm addicted to exercise and okay, yeah, so I am. So I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing :-D

    I totally get this. I have friends who will ask me why I've started running now. They don't understand how yoga, lifting, teaching classes, and general gym stuff isn't enough. I always say I can't give up the high of a new accomplishment; whether that is a new pose in yoga, lifting a heavier weight, or helping a student to reach a new level. It also could be a little bit of an addiction.... :smiley:

    Or a bit of a calling!

    @kristinegift Loving the blog! I did the same thing the last race with both the 5k and the HM. I talked a lot of trash, thought I could do sub 25 5k (which I prob can, 7 minute pr). And was sure I was 2:10 on the HM- maybe on a flatter course... Then mile 9 I thought I could get sub 2 on the half. Idk why I try to do math while running :expressionless:
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    So, y'all. I made a running blog a while ago, and now I have a few posts on it so I've deemed it shareable. My latest post is about setting goals for races and how I'm bad at it but trying to get better. Take a look if you want to/have some time/want to procrastinate! https://shesagift.wordpress.com/
    I'm guilty of this too.

    I actually typed out a lot of examples but then realized I am not ready to share how stupid I actually am. :blush:

    I will though, since you shared.

    I just need to go kick myself first.

    A few times.

    @WhatMeRunning Haha, please do share! I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this mentally self-destructive goal setting :/ Maybe we need some kind of Anonymous group for people with poor goal management.

    Elise4270 wrote: »
    @kristinegift Loving the blog! I did the same thing the last race with both the 5k and the HM. I talked a lot of trash, thought I could do sub 25 5k (which I prob can, 7 minute pr). And was sure I was 2:10 on the HM- maybe on a flatter course... Then mile 9 I thought I could get sub 2 on the half. Idk why I try to do math while running :expressionless:

    @Elise4270 I find myself doing that before/during a race, and I simultaneous think, "I could run so fast!" and then when I think of my actual goal pace, I question if I can even do that. My talent to both dream too big and doubt my abilities at the same time astounds me ;)

    As a side note though, I bet that if you trained specifically for a 5k over the summer, you could run a fast one!
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    edited March 2016

    @MNLittleFinn I used to run a Sun/Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sat plan. And my dad still does, diligently, to this day. I've found that a different rotation works best for me, but S/T/W/T/S is a great place to start. The best way to do it is to just do it and see if it works. Make a schedule for April -- which will help you pick a goal for next month's challenge! -- and if it needs to be tweaked, tweak it.

    How long have you been running for? You got way more miles in this month than you expected, but I just want to warn you to take it slow! Right now, adding a mile to your midweek runs PLUS adding another run... just be cautious. If your body tells you to stop or back off, do it. You don't want to get this excited about running only to get injured a few weeks or months down the line because you tried to do too much too fast!

    @kristinegift I've been running "for real" for 2 months now, before that it was 1-2 runs a week of 3-5 miles as a break from HIIT cardio and kettlebells...I fell in love with the runners high and didn't look back. I'm not looking at adding a mile AND another day right now, maybe in a month or so,,,. Today was the first 4 mile week day run (did it in 42:31, which is pretty god for me). Basically I'm looking longer term, with WAY too long of a time to gear up for my HM, I'm trying to look for ways to keep motivated for running, so adding mileage or another day are ways to do it and, yeah, I did kind of blow my mileage goal out of the water this month....and felt fine physically doing it, so I'm trying to look for ways to shake things up while keeping in shape for the HM, and try to figure out a reasonable time goal, I don't like the idea of "just finishing" I like gunning for something a little more, and gearing up for my 8k is July. Sorry, long answer.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited March 2016
    @kristinegift

    Ya, I thought about that today. Some folks can run long distance, some more sprint type fast short distance. I'd like to genetically be fast at long distance. But think short distance may be a lot of fun to train for (especially if I can win my AG). I think can run about a quarter mile sub 6 (when my husband pisses me off). Which I think is pretty good for my age and not having had much training. I'll be 46 in a few days. Guess I could look in to training this summer for the short distance.
    Thanks for mentioning that. I get so blinded by what I want to do. Forrest / trees kinda thing..

    The short 5k March 19th, I had an average pace of 8:06
  • WhatMeRunning
    WhatMeRunning Posts: 3,538 Member
    Ok, here are my worst examples of self-sabotaging my original goals.

    My first HM, the goal was just to finush within the 3 hour cutoff time. Easy, right? Except that due to parking issues I was among the hundred or so runners that started late. No worries, it was chip timed and they weren't going to cut anyone off. It had a good half mile hill up front that I was prepared for. I ran up that hill nice and easy, a great start. I found myself going faster than expected on the next few miles despite trying to sliw down, so I kept trying to continue the later miles at that pace too thinking I might catch up with the 2:50 pace group. :) I saw them up ahead. Never gave much thought to how I started about 10 minutes after that group. I had to start walking soon after and the last 3 miles sucked. I finished in 3:00:09. Not even within my original goal time...by 9 seconds.

    My next 3 halfs were part of a 39.3 series of 3 halfs over 5 weekends. The goal was "just finish them all". I finished the first one in 2:42, much to my surprise. That was my fastest pace over such a distance ever. The next half was the following weekend and I finished it in 2:39 feeling strong! I was invincible!!! I had 3 weeks to the next HM and I lined up with the 2:35 group confident I could do it. I walked the last mile due to a tender Achilles finishing around 2:50. I was so depressed. The achilles healed with a few days rest before I realized I had smashed my original goals, not failed in any way.

    My 3 fulls last fall were supposed to be "just finish them". Somehow as I kept analyzing it ahead of the first full comments from people about never wishing a 5+ hour hell of running sank in. I was honestly hoping to finish in less than 6 hours and now this felt even more urgent!! Needless to say, trying to go faster in a full is bad and I finished each one much slower than just 6 hours....and at first I felt terrible about how slow I performed in all of them. After a while I realized I made my goal though, and actuallt did something rather amazing all things considered.

    I REALLY don't want any of that mindset in my goals this year! I just want to stick to the original goals. Time will tell...
  • 4leighbee
    4leighbee Posts: 1,275 Member

    exercise.png


    Best possible scenario: I went running with a friend who is just getting back into it and does not believe she can do what I know she can do. She doesn't respond well to my typical GO GO GO coaching style, so ...

    Me: I thought maybe we could try the four mile woods loop and we can walk the second two miles together.
    Friend: Okay, but I'm only running two miles.
    Me: Perfect.

    Well, she ran all four and was grinning from ear to ear!!! Her self-esteem is through the roof, and I got four miles in this afternoon, only leaving me 2.75 left to reach my March goal!!! Win Win (GO GO GO), lol. B)
  • skippygirlsmom
    skippygirlsmom Posts: 4,433 Member
    3/1 - 4 miles
    3/2 - 3.5 miles
    3/3 and 4 - travel days
    3/5 - 5 miles
    3/6 - 6.5 miles
    3/7 - rest day
    3/8 - 5 miles
    3/9 - 5.3 miles
    3/10 - rest day
    3/11 - 7.1 miles
    3/12 and 13 - life days
    3/14 - 6.5 miles
    3/15 - 5.1 miles
    3/16 - rest day
    3/17 - 4 miles Happy St. Patrick's Day
    3/18 - 4 miles with Skip and Macy
    3/19 - 21 life days
    3/22 - 6 miles
    3/23 - 24 - ITB
    3/25 - 2 miles
    3/26 – track meet day and day 9:30 am to 8:00 pm kinda day
    3/27 – 2 miles to check the ITB woohoo no pain
    3/28 - rest
    3/29 - 5 miles


    71 out of 100 miles

  • skippygirlsmom
    skippygirlsmom Posts: 4,433 Member
    Stoshew71 wrote: »


    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

    @stoshew71 and yeah you met me LOL We both were practically neighbors in NJ and had to move to AL for our families to meet. ha ha

    Though I do races, I think I'm more of the run just to run person. I was happy running an occasional 5K with Skip and then the challenge of a 10K sounded neat, then a half sounded insane. Part of the reason I continue to run is I like to eat and it is something Skip and I enjoy doing together. If I never entered another race I think I'd be fine with that and I would continue to run.
  • ceckhardt369
    ceckhardt369 Posts: 115 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    @WhatMeRunning The knitting comment made me laugh.

    I really just run because I love being active. I still enjoy a walk. Strength train 3 times a week. And add in other odd workouts here and there. I love accomplishing new distance or new speed in running just like I love finding out I can lift a heavier weight strength training. People say I'm addicted to exercise and okay, yeah, so I am. So I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing :-D

    I totally get this. I have friends who will ask me why I've started running now. They don't understand how yoga, lifting, teaching classes, and general gym stuff isn't enough. I always say I can't give up the high of a new accomplishment; whether that is a new pose in yoga, lifting a heavier weight, or helping a student to reach a new level. It also could be a little bit of an addiction.... :smiley:

    Or a bit of a calling!

    Hahaha or maybe that. My husband is always confused by my new desire. I spent over a year of my life and more money than I want to think about getting my yoga teacher certification, then the start of this year I decided I wanted to get my personal training certification. He just kept asking why as I looked for an affordable program to go through, hoping to have it done around July. I'm a social worker for people with developmental disabilities in my non fitness life so it's not like I have a bunch of extra time to pursue my fitness life, but I like it so I make time :blush:
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    @4leighbee Super! Wish I could run with you! I'm still running /walking. :disappointed:

    @WhatMeRunning love the share! It's hard to focus on the gains, PR's, and attained goal! For the longest time I had to stalk my Garmin data for very small gains so I wouldn't be discouraged. I still do. This challenge helps too.