July (2016) Running Challenge

MNLittleFinn wrote: »

@greenolivetree nice run today!

Thanks! Last time uphill I took 2 seconds off my previous PR on that hill. 2:46 for .3 mile and 39ft gain - 8:55 pace. Woohoo! The others were much slower though

Date      Miles      MTD
-------   -----    -------
July  2     6.5      6.5 
July  3     5.0     11.5 
July  4     4.3     15.8 
July  6     4.3     20.1 
July  9    13.2     33.3 
July 11     5.5     38.8
July 13     7.0     45.8
July 15     5.3     51.1
July 19     4.3     55.4
July 20     5.1     60.5
July 22     6.2     66.7

7/1 - Baseball tournament...no chance to run.
7/2 - More baseball!
7/3 - Family day. Not starting the month so well.
7/4 - 3.82 miles on a beautiful, cool morning.
7/5 - Bodypump class, followed by 1.5 miles on indoor track.
7/6 - 4.01 miles through the soupy air...HOLY HUMIDITY!
7/7 - Bodypump class, then 1.5 miles on indoor track.
7/8 - Spin Class. Not sure of mileage. ~50 minutes.
7/9 - Rest Day. Moved a lot of furniture.
7/10 - Bodypump class, then 2.0 miles on treadmill
7/11 - Unplanned rest day.
7/12 - Bodypump class, then 30 minute abs/core class (ouch)
7/13 - 3.8 miles on hotel treadmill. Even the fitness center is hot and humid in Orlando.
7/14 - 3.35 miles on hotel treadmill, then weights.
7/15 - 4 miles on hotel treadmill.
7/16 - Travel day...gotta get home.
7/17 - Bodypump class.
7/18 - Unplanned rest day. Woke up feeling ill...ugh
7/19 - Bodypump class, then 30 minute abs / core class...I so need it, because I suck at it!
7/20 - 4 miles in the thick, wet air. Temperature wasn't too bad, thank goodness.
7/21 - 4.5 miles treadmill / Trek class. Hardest effort run I've had in ~2 months. Then upper body weights.
7/22 - Spin Class. ~50 minutes.

July 1-7.3 +1.1 with the puppy
July 2-12 miles
July 3-8 miles
July 4-rest day
July 5-6 miles + 1.1 with the puppy
July 6- 5 miles
July 7- 4.6 miles easy + 0.4 miles with puppy (we ran into a doggie friend and she decided that play>running!)
July 8- 4.4 miles speed intervals
July 9-9.3 miles with Mojo group +1.3 miles with Stella
July 10-6.1 miles
July 11- rest
July 12- 6.2 miles AM+4 miles PM
July 13- 3.9 miles+1.1 with the pup
July 14- 5 miles AM
July 15- 4.1 miles hill repeats
July 16- 12.2 miles
July 17- 4.9 miles
July 18-rest day
July 19- 6.1 miles easy
July 20- 7 miles fast finish (AM)+3.4 (PM)
July 21- AM yoga + 5 miles solo+ 1 mile with the puppy-Super hot and humid!
July 22-4.2 miles AM hill repeats

It took everything I had this morning to make myself do my hill repeats in the 72 degree/88% humidity morning, but they are done. Considering the alternative of 92 degrees this evening, I am feeling so glad to get them in early. Once again, I didn't sprint up the hills but just pushed for a fast run. Sprinting was not needed to get my heart rate up this morning.

I don't know about you all, but I definitely feel this heat and humidity taking its toll. As runners, we all know that there is a fine line between training hard and training too hard. I have definitely been riding that line these past two weeks. Unfortunately, sometimes our plans don't account for weather. It's up to us to make those adjustments. Run smart guys and be safe out there...I know for many of us, it's been brutal! Happy Friday and Happy Running!

@Somebody_Loved Hopefully the doctor or the PT can give you some exercises to make sure your knees get better and stay that way.

@lps1dragonfly Great job on progressing with the C25K app!

@skippygirlsmom A little late maybe to comment on the pace question, but I didn't get around to posting earlier. My TomTom reports the pace after each lap; and I can adjust the lap distance. That way, I can get feedback every 400m for example. (It also has a "current pace" display, but that's either jumping around wildly or lagging behind, so I gave up on using that).

Running by feel doesn't work so well for me most of the time. In races, I always start out much too fast, even if I feel like I'm keeping it slow. Or the opposite example: this Wednesday, I actually thought I pushed really hard, and when I got home and looked at the run stats I realised it was a very easy pace instead. Guess "estimated effort" is not very reliable in a freaking hot and humid night after an evening of beer and pizza.

@RespectTheKitty The only virtual race I did was the Zombies Run! VR this spring. It was awesome, and I'm already signed up for their next VR in fall; but I guess that's might be less interesting for people not using app. Since I love the app and the story and the characters, there's no way I'd miss it!
And if it didn't collide with the Geneva (half)marathon, I would probably do the virtual version of the wings for life run - but that's only next May, so far in the future. It's for charity, and people run at the same time all over the world against a "chase car" that's slowly increasing it's speed - so no fixed distance, you run until the car catches you.
Other than that, I haven't been tempted to sign up for any virtual races yet. For me, there has to be something special about them, or I might just as well go for a run without paying a fee.

I hear you on not wanting to get up early!
For long runs, I actually do set alarms in the summer on the weekend (I still can't believe I'm crazy enough to do that!) - not crazy early as some people, but aiming to be out and running by 8 am; because running between 12-15 (like I do in winter) would make me suffer even more. During the week, I usually wait until after dark on hot days, so that at least the direct sunlight is not an issue, and just slog though the too-warm and humid nights. Getting up at 5am would be much, much better temperature-wise - but I am not a morning person, getting up that early would make me suffer even more than the heat. Plus, given how hot it was for 1am/2am runs recently, I have a hard time believing that 4am would be that much better.


Yesterday, the radio promised thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. I actually spent most of the evening dressed in my running clothes, checking out the weather every few minutes. But the rain never came *sigh* When I finally gave up waiting and went out anyway, I had some lightning as illumination, but that did nothing to help with the heat.
But today the weather finally got worse! I was so happy when a torrential downpour started during the lunch break. Some of my colleagues didn't get my excitement - apparently, the fact that I came to work by bike, and that we want to have a barbecue tonight, are supposed to make me upset with the rain. I might be the only one around here who's been smiling all afternoon, since checking the weather forecast and reading that the weather is supposed to be horrible all weekend ^^ A rainy 20C/70F run sounds like heaven to me right now.

7/1 - 2 miles
7/2 - 5 miles
7/3 - 3 miles
7/4- hiking day with Skip
7/5 - 5 miles
7/6 - 5 miles
7/7 - rest day
7/8 - 5 miles
7/9 - 8 miles
7/10 - 4 miles
7/11 - 5 miles
7/12 - rest day - took Skip to airport
7/13 - 6 miles
7/14 - 6 miles
7/15 - 6 miles
7/16 - 4 miles
7/17 - 9 miles
7/18 - rest day
7/19 - 6 miles
7/20 - 6 miles
7/21 - 6 miles
7/22 - 4 miles

95 of 110 miles




My plan today was to run 3 or 4 miles this morning since I think I'll do my long run tomorrow. Got up 10 minutes late, then decided to fool around with the sprinkler and water the grass, we haven't had rain since I can't remember when. We're in a drought but I just can't let my grass die Anyway, finally got going and it was an okay run, but I felt like I was breathing just hot, wet ugly air the whole time. Perhaps it was the 75F with 95% humidity LOL

@_nikkiwolf_ thanks for the info on pacing. I'll have to check on the feedback by distance option. ha ha it's runny when you are excited for rain
@mobycarp I'm so happy to hear you are recovering well and things are all falling back in place for you
@ereck44 I think you can definitely over train, it's something you need to be aware of. If you are feeling lots of soreness in your calves and muscles I would invest in a good foam roller and do more stretching and roll those sore muscles. You'll scream like a baby but it feels so good. I just read an article that debunks the myth of running being bad for the knees, I'll have to find it and post it.
@greenolivetree and @lporter229 you are hill beasts today!!!
@mnlittlefinn I'd go for the get up early and run the scenic route and get home in time to take Mrs. Finn shopping or you'll be in trouble
@marissaxzxzxz I just saw your mention of Mont Ventoux wow that is so cool there.
@ddmom0811 enjoy your visit in New York and take pictures of your runs

Anyone racing this weekend???

ddmom0811 wrote: »

@skippygirlsmom - loved both shirts!
@ceciliaslater - no idea HOW you ran at all in those temps. OMG
@HonuNui - Loved the turtle pic and like @skippygirlsmom said cracked up at the mirror comment.

Ditto!

July
1-4.6mi with incline between 1-13. slow and steady
2-nope
3-nope
4-nope
5-hip and foot cramps, nope
6-flare. jog or yoga tonight. not sure which
7-4.11mi sprint intervals. it felt good.
8-2 hrs of aerial yoga
9-beat up from yoga
10-hungover. heartbeat hurt my head
11-still kinda hungover. too old to party
12-slept thru my alarms and my skin is on fire. i might sneak a run in tonight. maybe. depends if clothes feel comfortable
13-nothing-aerial yoga tonight
14-lazy and a few nagging foot and groin strain issues
15-nope
16-6.65 mi run and 1.5km walk for pokemon
17-nothing
18-slept thru my alarms
19-nothing
20-teaching 1 hour of aerial yoga and 1 hour of foam rolling this evening
21-nothing
22-3-4 hours of aerial yoga/lyra demo

@RespectTheKitty I'll be doing mine tomorrow before it gets stupid hot again. Like @MNLittleFinn said, you got this!

skippygirlsmom wrote: »

RespectTheKitty wrote: »

So last night we had a nice thunderstorm. This morning was not nearly as hot, and it actually felt like good running weather. Of course, I was already leaving for work so I couldn't go running; I'll do that at the gym later. But it got me thinking. Do I think I can try a morning run this weekend? I'm kind of tempted to see if I can. Not sure if it'll be Saturday or Sunday, but it might be worth a shot. I will keep you updated.

Come on now @respectthekitty I can even get my 16 year old up by 7 to run and heck she's a teenager they are programmed to sleep until noon. ha ha

Gotta agree here @RespectTheKitty - it sounds like you've already admitted defeat. Just do it! You will be amazed at how good it feels to be out there in the early morning watching the day come to life while others are in bed asleep. And then you will have a great day knowing the toughest part is behind you!

@TattooedDolphinGirl78 - Wow! Amazing job!!

@TattooedDolphinGirl78 - What fantastic progress you are making! You look terrific!

@RespectTheKitty - Once you try it you will be hooked. I was not a morning person, but I love getting up when it is still dark out and everything is relatively quiet and I can get a run in and just clear my head before the insanity of the day starts. Not saying I might not lay down later in the day if I get a chance and take a nap... but it all balances out.

@TattooedDolphinGirl78 - Great progress!