December 2016 Running Challenge

@shanaber - how fun that you got to meet a fellow MFPer! Great pictures!

12/1 - 3.2 miles
12/2 - 1.5 miles
12/3 - 45 miles biking + 1 mile run
12/4 - 27 miles biking + 1 mile run
12/5 - 4 miles
12/6 - 4 miles
12/7 - 1 mile on treadmill for streak (after strength training)
12/8 - 4.47 miles
12/9 - 1 mile on treadmill for streak (after strength training)
12/10 - 77 miles bike and 1 mile run for streak!
12/11 - 27 miles biking and 1 mile run for streak
12/12 - 4 miles
12/13 - 5 miles
12/14 - 2.1 miles - day 21 streak + strength training
12/15 - 4.5 miles
12/16 - 1.5 miles
12/17 = 44 miles biking + 1 mile run
12/18 - 27 miles biking + 1 mile run
12/19 - 4 miles

Upcoming races
2/5/17 - Daytona Beach HM
2/26/17 - Disney Princess HM Orlando

Dec. 1 - Cross training.
Dec. 2 - Rest/cross training.
Dec. 3 - Cross training/strength training.
Dec. 4 - 3.32 miles
Dec. 5 - Cross training.
Dec. 6 - 4.86 miles
Dec. 7 - Cross training/strength training.
Dec. 8 - Rest.
Dec. 9 - 6.11 miles
Dec. 10 - 4.08 miles
Dec. 11 - 14.07 miles
Dec. 12 - 35 mins. elliptical.
Dec. 13 - 5.60 miles
Dec. 14 - Core De Force/strength training.
Dec. 15 - 6.02 miles
Dec. 16 - Rest.
Dec. 17 - 5.34 miles
Dec. 18 - 13.2 miles + 20 mins. elliptical.


Starting to think a full marathon is not in the cards for me, keep injuring myself.

instantmartian wrote: »

I've been (kind of) keeping up with the boards, but not contributing much. Right now, my life is in chaos. I am currently having my only full bathroom renovated. I have a half bath, as well, but this means no shower. So...I have been spending more time at the gym these days (to use their shower), but I still haven't been doing much running. I'm going to spin class more frequently, and I'm getting a few miles in here and there. I just feel like my entire life is a mess. Not having a shower has completely thrown me off! They started the bathroom last Tuesday. I was hoping to have a new bathroom for Christmas, but it looks like it might be just afterwards. The thing was completely gutted (aside from the small closet in there) - new tub/shower, new sink, new toilet, new floor, new electrical, more lighting, an exhaust fan, new pluming, new walls, the works. What I am most excited about the the heated floor!! Anyway, tomorrow, the flooring guy will be in all day to set things up, Thursday he'll be back to grout, so I'm assuming the bathroom guys won't be back until after Christmas to put the finishing touches on things, which I guess is nice that I have an extended weekend to paint and such. Good thing I host Thanksgiving at my house and not Christmas. This has been quite the pain in the rear, but it is so totally going to be worth it in the end.

A friend of mine convinced me that doing a full marathon with her might not be all that terrible of an idea. Secretly, I'm hoping she completely forgets about our conversation. A full had never been on my radar before, because, to be honest, I think you're all insane. But, on the other hand, I guess it could be cool to look back say I ran (I use that term loosely) a marathon. I am all about life experiences, and I tend to do a lot of things just to say I did/can (SCUBA license, sky diving, master's degree, temporarily live in Australia, etc.) On that first hand, though, holy training miles and time I do not entirely have in a day. I think I might be crazy for simply entertaining this idea.

I'm sure you'll love the new bathroom and it'll have been worth the wait.

A marathon? Ya, that's just crazy talk! Wait til the bathroom is done before you commit!

@louubelle16 it's awesome to see you running already after that MASSIVE PR on Saturday. Great job!

Hi! Yesterday was 10 hours in the car. We made 4 quick bathroom/gas stops. My sciatic nerve was screaming the whole way and then immediate relief when I'd step out of the car. Minnesota welcomed us with a temp of -10F and windchill of -25F.

We were up early and walked 8000 steps around the Mayo Clinic and skyway connected buildings and shops. My husband didn't want to go outside at all. Once we stepped outside for 1/4 mile and my ears started to hurt.

Currently on the heating pad because I woke up with a horrible crick in my neck/upper back. Hoping to hit the treadmill later!

louubelle16 wrote: »

Even felt proud that I ran today. I've never been able to run with only one rest day after a HM before, but I feel completely fine and my legs loved it. Just goes to show how much stronger my body is, as well as faster. 2 years ago, almost to the day, I was told I should never run again, and look what I did?! That's a story for another day because I'm welling up and getting all emotional, but seriously, running has saved me and I don't think I would have done it without you. This high is just not going away

This is awesome! Congrats!

December Running Totals (miles)
12/1 – 8.08 warmup + speed work
12/2 – rest day
12/3 – 10.13 warmup + 5K race + easy 30 minutes
12/4 – 8.07 easy
12/5 – rest day
12/6 – 5.96 warmup, speed work, cool down
12/7 – 6.00 easy
12/8 – 3.78 easy
12/9 – 3.80 course preview
12/10 – 5.01 USATF Club Nationals Masters 8K
12/11 – 2.57 easy
12/12 – 10.15 easy
12/13 – 6.21 hills
12/14 – rest day
12/15 – 5.25 with wind and snow
12/16 – 6.27 easy
12/17 – 6.40 warmup + Reindeer Run 5K
12/18 – rest day
12/19 – 12.00 easy

December total to date – 99.67

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 – The original plan was to do a long run on Sunday, because I only got 6 miles in on Saturday due to a short race and the weather. Sunday arrived, and I melted down emotionally. A bunch of life maintenance tasks needed attention, and they wouldn't get attention if I ran Sunday afternoon. So in spite of the decent weather and being physically capable of running, I spent the afternoon at home doing sedentary stuff. Ended the day with barely over 6K steps, but cleared some stuff off my to do list and made a couple of decisions that had been pending.

This evening I have volunteer tax prep training in the evening. So the plan, given Sunday's emotionally necessary inactivity, was to get out and run in the morning. Well, it was morning when I started. Got out the door, found GPS signal, checked my gear, and realized I'd failed to put on my heart rate monitor. Back inside, get it on, re-assemble the winter clothing, and actually got running at 10:39 AM per Garmin.

It was a beautiful sunny winter day with blue skies, which are very rare in winter here. SSW winds 12 mph were enough to be felt, but not enough to be an issue. Garmin says the temperature was 19° F, but my porch thermometer said 21° F and rose to 25° F by the time I got done. (That's -6° C to -4° C). Set out on a 10 mile loop with the option to add more distance at the end, thinking I'd like to run 12 miles. Miles 2 through 7 were mostly into the wind, and over some familiar rolling hills. Mile 8 of this route is the hardest geographically, but didn't seem so bad with the wind at my back. By then I knew I wanted the full 12 miles. Went exploring in a residential section I'd never run before, and hadn't looked at on the map in a while. Got turned around and went the wrong way on the street leading out; by the time I realized my error and came back, I'd added almost enough distance to the route. Only had to run about 200 m past my driveway to get to 12 miles.

I did wear my trail shoes. I needed them in a couple of long stretches, and they gave me confidence to go to the crunchy snow shoulder instead of daring traffic to move over in a few other places. The run felt very familiar. It's weather like I learned to train in for distance running, January to March 2014. The recovering Achilles quietly mentioned it was there a few times, but Garmin reported a good right-left balance for the entire run.

Finished the run and got to thinking, I probably have a decent ice beard by now. Turns out it wasn't that impressive, but I was struck by the difference in mood between selfies facing the sun and with the sun at my back, immediately after the run:



That blue background when I'm facing the sun is very, very rare in the winter here. I love winds from the south, even when they're cold, because they mean I'm not getting snow blown in off Lake Ontario.

It was just a very pleasant winter day for a run. I'm grateful I'm retired, so I could run in this gorgeous weather instead of being stuck inside looking at a computer screen until the weather and traffic are both worse for running. I'm feeling pretty good about being able to pace 13 miles at 8:00 or 8:30 on Saturday, and about being able to run a half marathon on January 7.

The run gave me some time to think about the one decision I'd left hanging yesterday. After stretching, shower, and lunch, I went online and booked the flights. I will be running the USATF Cross Country National Championships in Bend, Oregon on February 4. I think it will be 8K for the old geezers, same as Club Nationals. Travel will suck, and it will cost a bit more than I like; but as someone at church told me yesterday, "Why not? That's why you retired."

Then I edited my race list. Hmm. January and February look pretty busy. I think I'll hold it to just 2 races in March, and probably only 1 in April. The trick will be surviving that April race without injuring myself.

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) finished in 20:06
December 10, 2016 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships 8K (Tallahassee, FL) finished in 33:38
December 17, 2016 Reindeer Run 5K (Rochester, NY) finished in 23:27 in the snow

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 4, 2017 USATF Cross Country National Championship 8K (Bend, OR)
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)

December Goal: Trim my Thanksgiving turkey thighs and mashed potato/pumpkin pie paunch

12/1 rest
12/2 4.25
12/3 3.05
12/4 2.40 + strength/core training
12/5 rest
12/6 3.80
12/7 6.42
12/8 2.20 + core/strength training
12/9 snorkel 2 hours
12/10 rest
12/11 6.17
12/12 4.10
12/13 lazy
12/14 snorkel 15 MINUTES!
12/15 3.60
12/16 1.25 + core/strength training
12/17 3.80
12/18 rest
12/19 6.40 (1/10th mile for each birthday....)

Total: 46.44

Upcoming Races:
12/7/16: Races For Awareness Virtual 10k for Outrun The Sun Skin Cancer Awareness

Ticker is my goal for 2016 and total to date:

12/1 - 4.2 miles
12/2 - 35 min elliptical (hills), weight machines
12/3 - rest (too busy with kids' bday party!)
12/4 - 4.32 miles
12/5 - 35 min elliptical (hills), weight machines
12/6 - 4.21 miles
12/7-12/11 - unable to exercise due to migraine
12/12 - 35 min elliptical (hills), weight machines
12/13 - 4.27 miles
12/14 - 35 elliptical (hills), weight machines
12/15 - 20 min circuit training
12/16 - 20 min circuit training, 2.3 mile walk/run
12/17 - rest
12/18 - rest
12/19 - 1.4 miles

Conpleted: 20.7 miles/ 40 miles (50%)

Took a week off from running or doing ANYTHING after my little car incident, but felt better enough to go out for a short run on Sunday. I’m struggling with getting over 7miles, and think I might have a psychological barrier against it. So I’m going to keep my regular runs short (3-5miles) for a while, to get used to that regular run, and then try just running for the hell of it, without focusing on distance. If I give myself 20 minute ‘laps’ and see how many of those I can do, on a nice day in the woods that will hopefully get me through the barrier. I so want to feel comfortable signing up for a half in April.

Trying to plan in runs when there’s lots of festive things and drinks with friends doesn’t help either. Am off to see my folks over Christmas, at least I have my sister’s dog as an excuse to get out for a walk (he expects it from me each time he sees me now), and it will be good to see the sea. I’m dropping my goal target down to 30 miles – so only 10 miles to go.

@shanaber - SF HM sounds nice! My daughter and I are trying to plan another HM for later in the year so maybe I'll talk to her about that one. I was looking for some type of dog Christmas shirt on Amazon (like I really need that!) and saw a Merry Vizmas Vizsla Ugly Christmas Sweater Tee and thought of you and Hobbes.

Since I did some unintentional "brownie/Christmas cookie carb loading" yesterday I thought I should try to go a little longer this morning, but the bottom of one foot was bugging me, so went for 6. Need to get some longer ones in at some point. HM is not very far off ... afraid to look at calendar and count the weeks! My Garmin Fenix3 doesn't seem to want to sync this morning, so looking into that.


12/1 - 3.2 miles
12/2 - 1.5 miles
12/3 - 45 miles biking + 1 mile run
12/4 - 27 miles biking + 1 mile run
12/5 - 4 miles
12/6 - 4 miles
12/7 - 1 mile on treadmill for streak (after strength training)
12/8 - 4.47 miles
12/9 - 1 mile on treadmill for streak (after strength training)
12/10 - 77 miles bike and 1 mile run for streak!
12/11 - 27 miles biking and 1 mile run for streak
12/12 - 4 miles
12/13 - 5 miles
12/14 - 2.1 miles - day 21 streak + strength training
12/15 - 4.5 miles
12/16 - 1.5 miles
12/17 = 44 miles biking + 1 mile run
12/18 - 27 miles biking + 1 mile run
12/19 - 4 miles
12/20 - 6.07 miles

Upcoming races
2/5/17 - Daytona Beach HM
2/26/17 - Disney Princess HM Orlando

@BeeerRunner awesome job!

@BeeerRunner - that's fantastic! The Dallas half was my first big race, too. Didn't do quite as well as you, though.