March 2016 Running Challenge

Looks like I missed a lot of conversation overnight. Rest day today and I'm fine with that. Drizzling rain today andI had to walk from the car dealership to work in it, so not feeling bad about not running in it. Speaking of goals and weekly mileage and such, I'm thinking, after I settle into my current routine of 4 miles 3 days a week, I'm going to make my Thursday run a long run, before adding another run day.....probably won't start that until May though, give myself time to get used to running 17-19 miles a week first.

MobyCarp wrote: »

greenolivetree wrote: »

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.....

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.

This and this.

I did exactly what @MobyCarp describes other than the "Mr. Testosterone" thing...my urging was always just from my drive to always outdo myself.

I wasn't really following a training plan when I first started running. I looked up a bunch of them, used them as a guide, figured I could figure it out myself, and I just started running. I don't even know what I was doing, but I was running about 5-6 days per week, with my "long runs" at about 8 miles when I managed to injure myself and had to skip my first half marathon.

Last year, I managed to injure myself, again, which I don't believe had to do with improper training. I honestly have no idea what I did last Spring to injure myself, but we'll see if recreate the injury in two weeks, as my running schedule will be exactly what it was over the week I injured my hip last year 15K on Saturday, followed by a 3-mile run mid-week, followed by an incredibly hilly 5K the following Saturday. My hip felt a little tight after the 15K, but it went away by the next day. I felt fine during my 3-mile mid-week run, and I felt fine during the 5K. I sat down on a wall after walking around at the finish and standing in lines for both beer and ice cream for a good half hour total, and when I stood up, I couldn't walk without massively severe pain in my left hip. I seriously limped around for the rest of the evening (and a few weeks after) before I went to get myself checked out. I figured I just needed a rest, but when the pain was the same after a few weeks, I

Based on my injuries, I have learned that I cannot run two days in a row...at least not right now. My PT suggested I run every other day at the most to allow myself and my injury-prone hips to rest. I have followed his advice for the past five months or so, and I ran my first half marathon (the third I trained for) in February. I went into it with absolutely no expectations, and if I would have stopped some 16 times for photos of things and myself along the course (it was a Disney run), I would have far exceeded any time goal I had in mind for my first half.

@greenolivetree: When I started running about six years ago, I had no intention on being competitive. In fact, I still have no intention on being competitive. I ran because I was getting fat. I never ate a ton to begin with, which was confirmed when I started logging my food with the LoseIt app a year or two before I started running. Besides, I liked food too much to cut back, and kickboxing twice per week wasn't cutting it as far as my overall health was concerned. Running just seemed like a natural thing for me to do to be more active, so I started running. Then I got this crazy idea to sign up for a half marathon, simply as a way to keep myself motivated because I quickly started to get bored. The half wasn't for a good 10 months after I started running, so I knew it was definitely an attainable goal (which wasn't attainable due to injury). Then I signed up for a 10K that summer, and then a 5K for that Spring before. The rest is history. I still do races, but races for me are motivation to keep myself active and running during the week. I don't want to go and completely embarrass myself, and I don't want to go (or not go) and feel like I wasted an entry fee. Races are also my way of staying competitive with myself - I have official times and distances I can compare to see how I'm progressing.

I was hem hawing on running the OKC memorial run the 24 the of April. My husband text me this morning saying his company is paying for 31 slots if I was interested. Pretty sweet if I can run it free!

ceckhardt369 wrote: »

Elise4270 wrote: »

ceckhardt369 wrote: »

greenolivetree 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....

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

I say it is absolutely possible to mix your two passions together, if you ever wanted to try such a thing. Check out Eruption Athletics! The two guys who started this company, Chris and Joe, are friends of mine...well, they are good friends with my boyfriend since high school (they all rowed together, though Joe and Chris were a year behind Dave), and since Dave and I will be together five years on Saturday, they have been assimilated as my friends, whether they like it or not.

That being said, they live in Pittsburgh, and I live in middle-of-nowhere Northeast PA, so I don't get to see them very frequently (a handful of times per year), but I do help them with Special Olympics when they come east for events, an I have been out to Pittsburgh and assisted with some of their classes. I can definitely tell you what they are doing is nothing short of amazing.

AdrianChr92 wrote: »

I need acknowledgement, Garmin connect got it but no one looks at it there

LOL, add me on Garmin, and I will shower praise upon you!

MNLittleFinn wrote: »

AdrianChr92 wrote: »

I need acknowledgement, Garmin connect got it but no one looks at it there

LOL, add me on Garmin, and I will shower praise upon you!

You join the mfp Strava group? I'm on Garmin connect, but always forget to check the leader board or feed.

Elise4270 wrote: »

MNLittleFinn wrote: »

You join the mfp Strava group? I'm on Garmin connect, but always forget to check the leader board or feed.

Thanks for the reminder. Just put in the request to join it. I'm rarely on Strava, but figure I should connect.

Inscription done!
Running the "Course de St-Laurent" 10k next April 10th. Wishing for a beautiful day!

@Stoshew71 yea I kinda forget about GC too. Only use to sync my watch in a blue moon.
@Becky71_cm I'm a nerd when it comes to this stuff. Some people told me I should be a coach cause I talk about programing and biomechanics a lot but I don't think I could stand people and their ingrained broscience. Sometimes I need to just tell myself that I'm over thinking things and I should just shut up and run

@kristinegift I bookmarked your blog Thanks for the encouragement on running 10 miles for no reason if I just want to. LOL

@ROBOTFOOD I wimp out at 25mph winds.

@5BeautifulDays Great job on passing your March goal

@4leighbee 100+ miles!

Still no running for me until Friday. I walked 3 miles last night and my feet hurt. What in the world? LOL I think my leg will be okay to run Friday but we'll see.

@Stoshew71 Thanks for the input. I've run several 7 mile runs and a bunch of 6 milers plus a daily double of 5 miles easy in the morning and 4 miles speed work in the afternoon last Sat, so I feel like a slow, 7.5 miler will not cause injury, and all my courses allow for me to cut short if need be. I'm working up to doing 5 miles 3 days a week, currently doing 4 miles 3 days a week. the 7.5 is "only" a mile farther than the mileage for 35% of the week.

Here is my tentative plan for April, to give some better context for my running. Sorry for all the questions, Just trying to learn as much as I can

Stoshew71 wrote: »

It's great that you want to learn as much as you can. I can certainly relate. Sorry if you answered this already, but what exactly are your goals right now? Is there a certain distance race you are looking at?

I want to run a half marathon. Currently, I'm actually signed up for one thats all the way in September. I'm also doing an 8k in July, but not planning on really competing in that one, since my brother is coming with and he's not a runner. Currently, my goals are kind of simplistic, increase mileage and not get injured. Other than that, running is stress relief for me, and I just like doing more of it.