December 2016 Running Challenge

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  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    12/1- 7.04

    Total: 7.04

    Monthly Mileage goal: 100 miles
    Actual Month goal: Have a successful start to marathon training and not lose too much ground over the holidays.

    Today's notes: 7.04 miles at 10:10 pace. Assignment was 7 miles at 10:15, but, well, it ended up how it ended up. My whole body is hurting from the strentgh/core/cardio I added in, so I must be doing something right with that....

    Speaking as someone who paces long runs to a nominal pace of 8:00 or 8:30: Bringing 7 miles in at a 10:10 average when your target is 10:15 is effectively right on target. You got this.

  • HeatherMN
    HeatherMN Posts: 3,821 Member
    edited December 2016
    @katharmonic I also have never tried cross country skiing, which is shameful considering I live in Minnesota. It's on my to-do list this winter.

    @ddmom0811 I read that story about the abducted California runner, too. These stories are why I have anxiety about running alone and pretty much never do it. So scary!

    @girlinahat Stay safe out there! I have a similar path I run (along with river, behind the halfway house), but I only do so with a group. We've had a group of guys pop out of the trees unexpectedly in front of us in the dark, but thankfully they were just walking up from the river bank after smoking some weed.

    @skippygirlsmom I lose my mind after about three miles on the treadmill. I can't even imagine 50, though I'm sure the weather will probably force me to do some long runs indoors this winter; I'm not looking forward to that!

    @greenolivetree Love the pants!

    Tonight I ran 2.81 miles on the treadmill (my plan calls for 30 minutes), again with the help of Netflix. I'm finally watching Fuller House and I love that I remember every word of the opening song! Also, hubby signed us up for Warrior Dash again (#7 for us). Thankfully, it's after my marathon because I'm refusing to do any trail running or mud runs until after that so I minimize the risk of injury. I'm accident prone off-road. The week after my marathon, I'll start running trails to train for Ragnar Trail. I have a feeling 2017 is going to be a high mileage year!

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  • Redhouse6758
    Redhouse6758 Posts: 30 Member
    edited December 2016
    This is my first time running since June but I am committed because I want to do Broad Street Run. My Goal 40 miles. exercise.png
  • RespectTheKitty
    RespectTheKitty Posts: 1,667 Member
    First run of December: 4.1 miles.

    This makes seven straight days of running. My longest streak yet. Unfortunately I will not be able to run tomorrow due to family obligations, so it will have to do. :smile: I do need the rest day, though. My legs are quite tired and my knees were aching a bit today.
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    December Running Totals (miles)
    12/1 – 8.08 warmup + speed work

    December total to date – 8.08

    Nominal Challenge Goal – 150 miles
    Real Goals: Finish transition to healthy running. Use Club Nationals as a learning experience on managing air travel to a race. Build a base toward Boston training. Avoid re-injury

    Today's notes – I'm a wimp. After a bunch of unseasonably warm weather, getting out to run at 39° F (4° C) with 13-15 mph wind felt chilly. Of course, it felt a lot better after I got moving. At least I didn't overdress and drown in my sweath.

    2 miles of warmup felt pretty good, I brought it in at an 8:00 pace. The assigned workout was a continual run:
    10 minutes E
    10 minutes T
    10 minutes E
    5 minutes T
    10 minutes E

    My target for E is anywhere between 8:00 and 8:30. My target for T is 6:40. I brought the intervals in at paces of 8:03, 6:38, 7:54, 6:49, and 7:59. Some of the variability is where the inclines and declines landed, time-wise; paces are obviously faster downhill than uphill. I planned it well enough to finish the last interval of E on the track, where my recovering Achilles informed me I was right about at the limit of my running range for the day.

    That's okay. Being range limited to 8 miles is nowhere near as frustrating as being range limited to 2 miles or less was. And tomorrow was going to be a rest day anyway; I confidently expect the legs to feel healthy Saturday morning when I go out to run Freezeroo #1. I expect I'll have the range to follow my custom of running the entire 5K course for a warmup before racing it; I ran RwG a week ago without a real warmup because I didn't think I had much over 10K in the legs then.

    Current forecast calls for an overnight low Friday nigh of 34° F (1° C) and a high on Saturday of 40° F (4°C). That may jiggle a bit, but we're close enough to Saturday that it shouldn't jiggle much. I don't expect the conditions at Freezeroo #1 to live up to the series name.

    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) finished in 3:23:01
    April 24, 2016 Flower City Challenge Half Marathon (Rochester, NY) finished in 1:36:50, targeting MP
    May 15, 2016 Highland Hospital Lilac Run 10K (Rochester, NY) DNS - injury
    June 19, 2016 Medved 5K to Cure ALS (Rochester, NY) DNS - recovering from face plant
    July 16, 2016 Shoreline Half Marathon (Hamlin, NY) finished in 1:31:11
    August 13, 2016 Bergen Road Race 5K (Bergen, NY) finished in 19:07 (5K PR)
    September 4, 2016 Oak Tree Half Marathon (Geneseo, NY) finished in 1:31:37
    September 18, 2016 Rochester Marathon (Rochester, NY) DNF a mile from finish
    October 15, 2016 Finish Strong 15K (Hilton, NY) DNS – Achilles tendonitis
    October 22, 2016 Scare Brain Cancer Away 5K (East Rochester, NY) DNS – Achilles tendonitis
    November 24, 2016 Race with Grace 10K (Hilton, NY) finished in 42:38, First Senior (60+) Male
    December 3, 2016 Freezeroo #1 (Don Curran Memorial 5K) (Gates, NY)
    December 10, 2016 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships 8K (Tallahassee, FL)

    2017 races:
    January 1, 2017 Freezeroo #2 (Resolution Run 7.5 mile) (Mendon, NY)
    January 7, 2017 Winter Warrior Half Marathon (Gates, NY)
    January 14, 2017 Freezeroo #3 (Pineway Ponds Park 5 mile) (Spencerport, NY)
    January 28, 2017 Freezeroo #4 (Hearnish 5 mile) (Victor, NY)
    February 11, 2017 Freezeroo #5 (Valentines Run "In Memory of Tom Brannon" 8 Mile) (Greece, NY)
    February 25, 2017 Freezeroo #6 (White House Challenge 10K) (Webster, NY)
    April 17, 2017 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    12/1: 6 miles with Pacers crew

    Day 2 of lifting in the gym tonight! Deadlifts (which I am fairly certain I am not doing totally right, will have to enlist help next time) and dumbbell presses & lunges and lat pulls and swiss ball crunches... oh my! I was still a bit sore from Tuesday's inaugural weight lifting sesh, but I actually felt better/less sore after today's session + my evening group run. The run was much slower than I was last week pre-lifting by about a min/mile. This may be the new normal for the next couple weeks while my poor, fairly weak hamstrings get used to this new routine! I thought my glute bridges helped build up my hammies but this lifting is proving that this is totally untrue.

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    ^^Chose the presents because my last name is Gift, so it seems quite fitting for the season!

    Winter/Spring 2017 Races:
    1/8/17: NYCRUNS Cocoa Classic 10 mile
    2/18/17: FebApple Frozen 50 - 10 mile option
    3/12/17: E. Murray Todd HM
    3/18/17: Looney Leprechaun 10k (trail)
    3/26/17: Philly Love Run HM
    4/1/17: NJ Ultra Fest HM (trail, maybe)
    4/9/17: Rutgers UNITE HM (maybe)
    5/14/17: Delaware Marathon Running Festival HM
    5/21 or 5/28: Cleveland or Vermont City Marathons (maybe)
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    I'm feeling left out....

    1---2 hours on YouTube, and a massage.

    I'm opting for a weekly massage since I'm so tight and knotted up. Hoping PT will be slightly more productive, allowing her to focus on the surgical side.

    0/5 running miles
    0/50+ walking miles


    12/11/16 BMW Dallas Marathon, Half (registered)
    Run the year 2016  898.42/ 2016 (DNF)

    Advisable races:
    March 19th 2017 RNR Half Dallas, TX
    March 26th 2017 A2A 5k Ardmore, OK
    April 30th 2017 OKC Memorial Marathon, Half

    @skippygirlsmom Good luck with the brother.

    @greenolivetree love the cadence. I have a pair in the same color!
  • alipsie19
    alipsie19 Posts: 705 Member
    Goal: 50 miles (only running counts)

    Dec 1: 2 miles@8:00min pace on the treadmill
    Total: 2 miles

    OMG! I love reading y'alls messages. Reminds me of a time so long ago :smile:
    Not to worry though, I'll be back there soon enough.
  • 9voice9
    9voice9 Posts: 693 Member
    @Stoshew71 and @skippygirlsmom - were the recent spate of storms anywhere near y'all? Huntsville, right? Y'all okay?
  • dkabambe
    dkabambe Posts: 544 Member
    5°C, cloudy and still today so pretty perfect for my planned 10k tempo run. Plan was to negative split the run and finish sub-1hour. My previous best was 57:46 so had half an eye on beating that time. All went pretty well and despite not having the best nights sleep it came together for a 10K time of 56:31, with the second 5K about 90s faster than the first. Along the way I also shaved 3 seconds off my 5K PR (27:17 -> 27:14). December is another distance building month for me so unlikely to be setting many PRs, so really happy with that - especially as it's come on Day 10 of a running streak for me (I'd never previously ran more than 3 days in a row!).

    exercise.png
    1-Dec: 6.2k easy run
    2-Dec: 11.5k - 10k tempo plus warm up/cool down
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    edited December 2016
    @MobyCarp Thanks for the comment/encouragement on my pacing. I can obsess over things sometimes...hhhmmm...I must be a runner.

    12/1- 7.04
    12/2- 4.01

    Total: 11.05

    Nominal mileage goal: 100 miles
    Real goal, get into the swing of Marathon training, and get used to doing 3 days a week of some strength/core while running 35+ MPW

    Today's notes- Dreadmill run, because it was also a strength/core day, and at just 4 miles, it made sense to get the run in at the gym so I was right where I needed to be for the rest of my workout. Run came in at a 9:53 pace, and average HR of 147, so I'm definitely helping build my cardio.

    Other exercises were:
    1 min wall sit
    15 push ups
    30 jumping jacks
    30 squats
    25 high knees
    30 lunges
    30 second plank

    The squats and lunges are killing my legs, despite the relatively low volume, really reminding me that I had neglected strength in my quest for more mileage. Hoping this added strength/core work will pay off at my marathon.....LOL....don't want to be torturing myself for no reason.
  • _nikkiwolf_
    _nikkiwolf_ Posts: 1,380 Member
    -

    @Azercord For cold weather pants: I've got some Under Armour pants with "Storm"&"Coldgear" technology. Fancy names, but I really love them in cold, rain, snow and storm. Sadly, after a few years of running they've become quite threadbare on the inside of the thighs. I ordered two new pairs, but both of them are too short! As in, even with ankle-high running socks there's some exposed skin when I'm running, which is really annoying. Since I still like the material, I'm currently considering to buy the men's version and see if those are longer.

    @Redhouse6758 Welcome!

    @RespectTheKitty Seven days in a row is a lot. Enjoy your rest day, you've earned it :smile:

    @dkabambe Awesome streak, and congrats on the PR!

    @MNLittleFinn @kristinegift (+everyone else that I'm forgetting right now) I'm impressed by your new strength training routines!
    I really need to find some strength training programme that I don't hate and give up after a few weeks...
  • garygse
    garygse Posts: 896 Member
    I think this time, I'm going to try for 125 miles...whether I achieve that goal or not, what with the coming holiday season, is anyone's guess, but then it's not called a running challenge for nothing. I think it's time to start putting in some smaller weekend runs. :smile:

    02 - 11.77 miles

    Total: 11.77 / 125
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    @MNLittleFinn @kristinegift (+everyone else that I'm forgetting right now) I'm impressed by your new strength training routines!
    I really need to find some strength training programme that I don't hate and give up after a few weeks...
    Thanks! My "routine" or, what passes for one, is whatever my aunt/coach gives me as prep for my marathon. She's really big into having full body fitness for marathons, especially core, so she's "forcing" me to get in better all around shape.... Right now I really love it, but after the Burpee Death Drop next Wednesday, I may feel differently...
  • karllundy
    karllundy Posts: 1,490 Member
    12/1 - 5.35 miles on treadmill (Trek class)
    12/2 - 5 miles. Pleasant for December, about 35°

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  • Getfitat54
    Getfitat54 Posts: 526 Member
    2016 Holiday Streak is still alive. Felt good this morning. Nice and slow... and chilly... 36 degrees.

    01-Dec 1.23
    02-Dec 2.19

    Total - 3.42
    Remaining Miles to Goal - 46.58

  • Getfitat54
    Getfitat54 Posts: 526 Member
    I'm doing the runners world streak through new years so I will be running at least 30 (minimum one mile per day). However the goal is to do more than the minimum lol. I'm going for 55.

    That is awesome. I'm doing the streak as well.

  • katharmonic
    katharmonic Posts: 5,720 Member
    Date:: :::: Miles :::: Dec total (goal = 80)
    12/01/16 :::: 0.0 :::: 0.0
    12/02/16 :::: 2.6 :::: 2.6

    Took yesterday as a rest day (guess I'm not doing the streak :p ). This morning's run through the woods with Stella was a nice start to a Friday that will be filled with too many treats. Cake with my lab group at lunch and then work holiday party tonight. I should have run longer!

    Tomorrow morning is the St. Nick Shuffle, so I need to go pick up my Santa hat and shirt today. Looks like the weather is going to get a bit chillier with possible snow showers just in time for this race.

  • 07KatieP13
    07KatieP13 Posts: 220 Member
    1/12 C210K W10 D2: 2.3
    2/12 Rest

    2.3 miles

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  • Azercord
    Azercord Posts: 573 Member
    Thanks for all the pants advice everyone, I'm going to have to look up a few of those brands and I'm making a trip to the running store this weekend so hopefully they will have something for me, if not I'm sure Amazon will.

    I got my first run in for December by doing sprint sets, I didn't not realize how horrible those were. Going to try doing them once a week my man do my legs hate me right now.
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    December is not starting out to well. During Wednesday's run I could feel a little "something" in my right calf/Achilles. I hoped it was one of those things that pops up then goes away since it was slightly lower than the pain I had last time it was an issue.

    Unfortunately I could feel it off and on most of yesterday so I skipped my run last night and instead massaged and rolled it. I'm debating whether I should go out tonight for 2 or 3 just to see how it responds.

    One thing's for certain, I will not be doing the 25K donut run Saturday. I have several options
    • Start out with the 25K crowd but take a shortcut between the 4th and 5th donut shop to drop it to 13 miles
    • Do the 10 mile/3 donut shop route
    • Do the 5 mile/2 donut shop route
    • Skip the donut run and hit the trails. I could run (or shuffle) slower being solo, I could bail out whenever I needed to, trails are easier on my joints, and I'd be able to run in my new trail shoes that are supposed to arrive today.

    And, for the time being, hill sprints and tempo runs are out.
  • 7lenny7
    7lenny7 Posts: 3,498 Member
    @alipsie19 & @Redhouse6758 there's nothing better for motivation than this group! I don't think I'd be where I'm at today without the fine folks here.

  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    edited December 2016
    12/1- 5.2 miles solo+ 0.8 miles with Stella
    12/2-4.4 AM miles (last 0.7 with Stella)

    Stella was not much of a running partner this morning. I planned on doing an even 5, but she wasn't having much of it, so we settled at 4.4. She was super high energy and almost pulled me down the hill, but then she had to stop and smell/eat everything in her path. Not her best run. Oh well. It's Friday.

    @Kristinegift-I love that you are doing NROLFW too. It certainly does affect your speed though. Yesterday I was blaming my super sore legs on the uneven running surface the previous evening, but I then remembered that on Wed I increased my weights for lunges. That was more likely the culprit. My legs were still sore this morning. I think I will have to back off the weights, or even just ditch them entirely, since I am starting higher mileage training. This is the second time I gave the weight training/marathon training combo a try. I thought maybe I could get through the first few weeks before things got too intense with the mileage, but I think it's as much the psychological factor that has me thinking it's not a good idea. I can deal with running slow and on sore legs when I am not specifically training, but the combination begins to freak me out when I know I have an upcoming race. Kind of funny. Back to light weights/ body weight exercises, I guess.

    @_nikkiwolf_ -lovely photo of your village. Looks so peaceful.

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  • mloylo0182
    mloylo0182 Posts: 4 Member
    edited December 2016
    I'm in! I'm running my first postpartum half-marathon on December 18 (had my 2nd baby in January).
    I've ran 5 miles so far this month and will shoot for 60.


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  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    edited December 2016
    lporter229 wrote: »

    @Kristinegift-I love that you are doing NROLFW too. It certainly does affect your speed though. Yesterday I was blaming my super sore legs on the uneven running surface the previous evening, but I then remembered that on Wed I increased my weights for lunges. That was more likely the culprit. My legs were still sore this morning. I think I will have to back off the weights, or even just ditch them entirely, since I am starting higher mileage training. This is the second time I gave the weight training/marathon training combo a try. I thought maybe I could get through the first few weeks before things got too intense with the mileage, but I think it's as much the psychological factor that has me thinking it's not a good idea. I can deal with running slow and on sore legs when I am not specifically training, but the combination begins to freak me out when I know I have an upcoming race. Kind of funny. Back to light weights/ body weight exercises, I guess.

    @lporter229 I'm definitely glad I'm just focusing on weights right now and limiting myself to 30-35 miles per week (this week will be in the 25 range though as I'm still 26.2 recovering). I definitely won't be able to keep this up when training resumes in February. I'll have to drop to 1 or 2 lifting sessions a week. Like you say, it's fine to run through the soreness and fatigue in the off-season when you're just running sanity miles, but when training that's just begging for injury. Glad to see that you (and @Elise4270!) are both doing NROLFW too! I'm in good company! :)
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    Azercord wrote: »
    Thanks for all the pants advice everyone, I'm going to have to look up a few of those brands and I'm making a trip to the running store this weekend so hopefully they will have something for me, if not I'm sure Amazon will.

    I got my first run in for December by doing sprint sets, I didn't not realize how horrible those were. Going to try doing them once a week my man do my legs hate me right now.

    You are in Tucson, right? I'm in Phoenix and rarely wear full tights. I have two pair, one from Old Navy and one from Under Armour (outlet). I try not to spend a lot on cold weather gear since I might wear it in January and February. The rest of the year I wear shorts and capris.

    Check out Fleet Feet. I shop the one in Scottsdale and they are great people. I'd assume Tucson would be similar. The Fleet Feet brand really seems to try to create a community.

  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    edited December 2016
    Speaking of cold weather tights, my local Dick's had these Reebok tights on sale 2 weeks ago for 2 pairs for $40, so I picked up two pairs. So far, I am loving them. They are super warm, have a soft fleece like lining, and still keep me dry. Granted, the coldest temp I have tested them in so far has been 26F, but it was windy and I had no issues. Highly recommend for the price. The second pair I got is black with the heather grey stripe down the leg.

    http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=72554336&camp=CSE:GooglePLA:72554336:22295466-DSG:WOMENS-ATHLETIC-APPAREL_DSG_PB-COLD-COMPRESSION&gclid=CInbq8Pv1dACFc9MDQodaxICaA
  • Virkati
    Virkati Posts: 679 Member
    I'm checking in again. I have no goal. Well yes I do. The goal is to check in here at least once a week. More if possible. I miss you guys. I'm hoping things in my life settle down enough to get back on track and run again. At this point, running is a hit or miss thing. I set out for a walk and might find myself running some of it. Or I plan to run, and don't even walk enough to warm up and then just go home. So, the goal is to just keep checking in because I think doing that might help me find my way back. At least I hope so.
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