March 2016 Running Challenge

ROBOTFOOD wrote: »

Looks like I have a 46.4 miler tomorrow! JK. Not quite up to that level. YET. Training got derailed due to a Mexican cruise. So worth it! Next month(s) will be on point though. Dozen races coming up. Time to grind.
March total: 103.6/150mi
Longest run of the month: 20.0mi

Even with your cruise, you whooped my mileage, Great job!

March Running Totals (miles)
[2/28 – 7.78 easy]
[2/29 – 7.22 easy + 4 strides]
3/1 – 9.31 warm up + 8 x Yasso 800s
3/2 – 6.02 easy
3/3 – 15.05 easy
3/4 – scheduled rest day
3/5 – 17.01 2 easy, 13 MP, 2 easy
Weekly total 62.39 vs. target 62

3/6 – 7.70 easy
3/7 – 8.17 easy + 4 strides
3/8 – 11.67 warm up, speed work, cool down
3/9 – 11.03 easy
3/10 – 8.92 warm up, speed work, cool down
3/11 – scheduled rest day
3/12 – 15.10 easy 2 solo, pace 8, race 5
Weekly total 62.59 vs. target 62

3/13 – 11.00 – 4 easy, 3 MP, 4 easy
3/14 – 5.74 easy + 4 strides
3/15 – 7.96 easy
3/16 – 9.41 easy
3/17 – 9.79 easy
3/18 – scheduled rest day 2.38 easy
3/19 – 22.03 (14 with 8:00 pace group + 8 solo)
Weekly total 68.31 vs. target 68

3/20 – 7.39 easy with stride at end
3/21 – 8.24 easy + 4 strides
3/22 – 11.46 easy, speed work, easy
3/23 – 7.76 easy
3/24 – 12.13 aborted long workout, cool down
3/25 – scheduled rest day
3/26 – 15.10 warm up, 15K race, cool down
Weekly total 62.08 vs. target 62

3/27 – 7.60 easy
3/28 – 7.55 easy + 4 strides
3/29 – 10.83 warm up, speed work, cool down
3/30 – 6.75 easy
3/31 –
[Target for week ending 4/2 is 56]

March total to date – 273.10

Goal – 56, 62, or 68 miles per week, per training plan
Expected March total - ~282 miles

Today's notes – Great weather, in the low 60s with clear skies and the temperature falling just a bit as I ran, negligible wind. But I was a little short on sleep last night, and my legs felt heavy. I was surprised when I looked at the stats afterward that my pace averaged 7:57, right around where easy averages when I'm feeling great; and I kept my heart rate in Zone 2 92% of the time. Normally on an easy run it stays in Zone 2 60% to 80% of the time. Okay, so maybe I avoided some hills; but I didn't avoid them all.

Speed work tomorrow to end the month, then a rest day on Friday. Taper starts in earnest next week, and today I'm feeling like it's about time for taper.

2016 races:
January 1, 2016 Resolution Run 7.5 mile (Mendon, NY) finished in 53:58
January 9, 2016 Winter Warrior Half Marathon (Gates, NY) finished in 1:30:59
March 12, 2016 Johnny's Runnin' of the Green 5 mile (Rochester, NY) finished in 32:32
March 26, 2016 Spring Forward Distance Run 15K (Mendon, NY) finished in 1:05:24
April 18, 2016 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)
April 24, 2016 Flower City Challenge Half Marathon (Rochester, NY)
July 16, 2016 Shoreline Half Marathon (Hilton, NY)
September 18, 2016 Rochester Marathon (Rochester, NY)

I surpassed my March goal! Tomorrow is a rest day, so I plan to end the month with 59.5 miles (my goal was 55). I also PR-ed my 5K time today with my 33:08 finish (no, it wasn't a race, but my last race finish was 38:56, so I'm totally counting this in my mental book of "GO ME!")

Elise4270 wrote: »

It helps me break that stereotype of what runners look like. It helps me see the runner in me.

Love this! I sometimes ... struggle is not the right word, but I can't think of a better one ... with my self-image (my legs look pretty good, I think, but still have a bit of a "beer belly" - used to be 260 pounds, so...).

I think too often about what I must look like to the folks in the neighborhood who see me out pounding the miles, but then I think about how proud I am of the "large mammal" folks I sometimes see out walking or whatever, and think, "Maybe I can provoke some positive feelings in some folks seeing me."

Or something.

9voice9 wrote: »

Elise4270 wrote: »

It helps me break that stereotype of what runners look like. It helps me see the runner in me.

Love this! I sometimes ... struggle is not the right word, but I can't think of a better one ... with my self-image (my legs look pretty good, I think, but still have a bit of a "beer belly" - used to be 260 pounds, so...).

I think too often about what I must look like to the folks in the neighborhood who see me out pounding the miles, but then I think about how proud I am of the "large mammal" folks I sometimes see out walking or whatever, and think, "Maybe I can provoke some positive feelings in some folks seeing me."

Or something.

Finally! Caught up...and this is the last, beautiful post!

I am a large mammal. Even now, 100 lbs or so down, I'm still large for a runner. When I see folks like me--and bigger than me--running, I want to hug them. To tell them how awesome they are. To high-five them waaaaay up in the air. Running is hard! It's even harder when you're lugging around an actual spare tire or two. But it will get you where you need to be, in more ways than one!

3/01: 3 miles, easy (am)
3/01: 6 miles, 2x1 mile at LTP (7:30) then 800m @ 5K pace (pm)
3/02: 6 miles, easy
3/03: 5 miles, 5x800m @ 6:45 pace with 400m recovery jog between
3/04: 5 miles, easy
3/05: 6 miles, easy
3/06: 13.1 miles, long and easy
3/07: Off, have the flu
3/08: 4.25 miles, easy
3/09: 5 miles, easy (am)
3/09: 5 miles, easy (pm)
3/10: 4.75 miles, 3x800m @ 6:45 pace + 2x400m @ 6:30 pace with 400m recovery jog between
3/11: 5 miles, super easy
3/12: 2 miles, warm up
3/12: 5K race, 23:27
3/13: 9 miles, easy with strong finish
3/14: 5 miles, easy
3/15: 5 miles, 1.5 miles at LT pace (7:40)
3/16: 5 miles, easy
3/17: 5 miles, 3x1/2 mile @ 7:00 pace with 1/2 mile recovery
3/18: Off, rest day
3/19: 3 miles, easy with quick finish
3/20: 10 mile race, 1:19:39
3/21: 4 miles, easy
3/22: 5 miles, easy
3/23: Off, rest day
3/24: 6 miles, easy (am)
3/24: 4.5 miles total, 2 miles @ 7:40 pace (pm)
3/25: 4 miles, easy
3/26: 6.55 mile race, 49:44 (7:36 pace) + 1 mile warm up
3/27: 12 miles, long and easy
3/28: 5 miles, easy
3/29: 6 miles, easy
3/30: 6 miles total, 3 miles @ 7:41 pace (am)
3/30: 4 miles, easy (pm)
Total: 180.04 miles

Overview:
An easy 4 miles this evening to shake out my legs after this morning’s hard run. Two more easy days, and then my next race!





Races I'm registered for:
03/20 - Excalibur 10 Miler 1:19:39 - PR and 2nd in my age group!
03/26 - Chicago Quarter Marathon 49:44 - 10K PR of 47:03 and 1st in my age group!
04/03 - Shamrock Shuffle (8K)
04/09 - Chi Town Half Marathon
04/24 - Ravenswood Run (5K)
05/22 - Chicago Spring 13.1
05/28 - Soldier Field Run (10 miles)
10/09 - Chicago Marathon
11/27 - Space Coast Half Marathon

I got my bandage off, stiches out and a new and improved much smaller cast on today!!

What was the first thing I did (after taking a picture) - well go for a celebration run, of course! It was cool, beautiful and threatening rain! Felt like the best thing ever!!
I probably won't get a run in tomorrow to make my new goal but I am ok with it. Onto April!!
Date..........Miles.........Total
03/01.......0.00..........0.00 - + Strength Training
03/02.......4.16..........4.16
03/03.......0.00..........4.16 - + Strength Training
03/04.......6.23........10.39
03/05.....12.13........22.52
03/06.......0.00........22.52
03/07.......6.40........28.92 - + Agility
03/08.......4.33........33.25 - + Strength Training
03/09.......0.00........33.25
03/10.......0.00........33.25 - + Strength Training
03/11.......4.14........37.39
03/12.......8.10........45.49
03/13.......2.00........47.49 - + Dog Beach run/walk
03/14.......0.00........47.49 - Surgery
03/15.......0.00........47.49
03/16.......0.00........47.49
03/17.......2.00........49.49 - Walk
03/18.......3.41........52.90 - Walk
03/19.......0.00........52.90
03/20.......3.42........56.32 - Walk
03/21.......0.00........56.32
03/22.......4.98........61.30 - Walk
03/23.......0.00........61.30
03/24.......5.16........66.46 - Walk
03/25.......0.00........66.46
03/26.......0.00........66.46
03/27.......5.53........71.99 - Walk and just a little run (shhh don't tell!)
03/28.......0.00........71.99 - + Agility
03/29.......0.00........71.99
03/30.......4.64........76.63 - Running Again!!
03/31.......0.0..........76.63 - + Strength Training



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Upcoming Races - Let me know if you will be running too!
06/25/16 - SHEPower Virtual Half Marathon
07/31/16 - San Francisco 2nd Half Marathon
xx/xx/xx - Nike Women's Half Marathon, Los Angeles
12/18/16 - San Diego Holiday Half Marathon

9voice9 wrote: »

Elise4270 wrote: »

It helps me break that stereotype of what runners look like. It helps me see the runner in me.

Love this! I sometimes ... struggle is not the right word, but I can't think of a better one ... with my self-image (my legs look pretty good, I think, but still have a bit of a "beer belly" - used to be 260 pounds, so...).

I think too often about what I must look like to the folks in the neighborhood who see me out pounding the miles, but then I think about how proud I am of the "large mammal" folks I sometimes see out walking or whatever, and think, "Maybe I can provoke some positive feelings in some folks seeing me."

Or something.

Exactly! My favorite example of this is seeing a couple of very overweight women climbing a sandhill at the beach. My husband and I challenged ourselves to it, it was not easy at all, very steep and very high. Half of that climb one of the women did it on her hands and knees! I was so inspired by her! The other woman cheering her on the whole way. ... once at the top it was like heaven. A cliff looking over the rocky shore of the oregon coast. It was amazing, we had no idea. I thought it was just more sand on the other side. Anyhow it's so important for people to be out there no matter size or shape! There just might be someone encouraged by it.

Stoshew71 wrote: »

Orphia wrote: »

And finally, it it just me who is wondering if @Stoshew71 and @skippygirlsmom are married?

Hahahaha Oh my! I got a chuckle out of this.

skippygirlsmom wrote: »

@orphia ha ha @stoshew71 is married to a wonderful lady name who I'm happy to call my friend. We all meet here on MFP and realized we lived only miles from each other. We see each other races, hockey games and around town.

Yup! Very well said. ^^^^^^^

Thanks guys! Thanks for being good sports, literally.

Elise4270 wrote: »

I'm loving the discussion with @MNLittleFinn and learning something. Thanks to both of you!

Ditto!

I'm pretty much at the same point and times as MNLittleFinn.

The calculator says I should run my long runs at 7 min 30 to 8 min 30 per km.

But I can't help doing them at 6 min 30 to 7 min per km.

My 5K PB is 30:10.

I don't know what my goals are either, besides "more running please".

Oops, nearly forgot my final tally.

1 Mar – 3 km
2 Mar – 4 km
5 Mar – 5 km
6 Mar – 10 km – first time ever!
8 Mar – 7.5 km
10 Mar – 5.1 km
12 Mar – 5 km – parkrun PB!
13 Mar – 10 km
15 Mar – 7.5 km
17 Mar – 5.4 km
19 Mar – 5 km
20 Mar – 13 km - furthest distance yet!
22 Mar – 7.2 km
24 Mar – 7.1 km
26 Mar – 5 km – parkrun PB!
27 Mar – 15 km – new distance PB!
29 Mar – 7 km
31 Mar – 6 km

Total: 127.8 km
Goal: 60 km

Totally rocked my goal this month!

It might look like I pushed myself too hard, but my goal was very conservative and allowed for plenty of injury down-time that I didn't end up needing, due to a month free of injuries. Yay!