January 2017 Running Challenge

Date :::: Miles:::: Jan MTD (goal = 70)
01/01/17 :::: 4.3 :::: 4.3
01/02/17 :::: 2.9 :::: 7.1

Not the best run today, but got one in before the potential of freezing rain a little later. Which means I wimped out on going to my group workout tonight but I am NOT up for a repeat of last week's running in the cold rain. Stella was a mess of energy when I got home from work so I figured the best option was for both of us to go out for a bit of a run. She was all over the place during the run but we got it done.

I have zero motivation to run right now could be the dreary weather.

@kristinegift - 50K!
@shanaber - love that little chart. It's not like we can't figure it out but it just a numbers thing that's fun to study!

Feeling a lot better today so went for a bike ride with just my husband. OMG it was so windy! We slept in and didn't start until 10am, which was a mistake - it was over 80 when we finished. But the worst was the wind. Where we would normally be going about 19mph, we were going 13 mph. I think we are both still a little weak. I still don't feel like eating much.

So, not a very exciting ticker so far, lol. Planning on running in the morning and facing the first day back to school.

1/1 - rest day (recovering from stomach virus)
1/2 - 40 mile bike ride
1/3 -


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

Just jetting back in to things again. I'll keep it at a modest 30 miles.

1/2/2017 1.5 Miles

Happy new year everyone!

I'm in again for 200km this month.

Yesterday I was busy travelling; today I'm back home and did the first run of the year. I got the book "Run Fast" by Hal Higdon for Christmas, and after reading it on the plane yesterday, I decided to do a run with 3x800m intervals. I even figured out how to set up my watch for "5min warmup - 3x(800m run, 400m rest) - 10 min cool-down". My plan was to run the intervals at 5:00min/km.
Sadly, I screwed up the first interval - I wasn't paying attention and didn't hear my watch beeping, and only noticed almost 400m into the first interval that I was supposed to be speeding up, so I didn't hit the goal pace for that one, but at least I managed exactly 5:00min/km for the second 400m. The second interval was a bit too fast with 4:54, the third one a tiny bit too slow with 5:01. I'm actually surprised I came that close, since the current-pace display of my watch isn't terribly accurate and sometimes really slow to update. And one thing I learned is that next time I'll use the "lap mode" and set it to 400m instead of using the "interval mode" - that way I can still do 800m/400m intervals, and if I miss the start again, I can just wait for the next lap without worrying about messing up the entire fancy program I configured.


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@kristinegift A 50k race? Wow, that's a huge thing!

@Orphia Congratulations on the course PR

@BeeerRunner Great run! Too bad about the headphones. Was the battery just empty, or are they dead for good? My old ones broke the first time I attempted to run more than 20km - I got caught in an apocalyptic rainstorm 2km in, and they didn't survive falling in a puddle. I ended up turning back, waiting for the end of the storm and trying again with dry clothes and music via my phones speakers a few hours later. The headphones I bought after that have so far survived everything I did to them, I hope it stays that way.

@OSUbuckeye906 I've just started a new Hal Higdon plan today too! Well, a mix of the Intermediate 2 and Advanced 1 training plans. I used the Intermediate 2 for my first marathon and was quite happy with it. Now I started looking at the Advanced plans because I'd like to add some speed training this time. But I want to have at least a little cycling in the mix too, rather than running six days... The solution I came up with is to keep the crosstraining day from intermediate 2 but doing the speedwork from advanced 1 instead of one of the short midweek runs. Apart from the speedtraining day instead of a crosstraining day, the two plans look identical to me.
And on another note: I love your new shoes

@ddmom0811 A 40 mile ride in windy weather sounds really tough, kudos on doing that, especially when you are still recovering. Hope you'll be back to 100% tomorrow!

Jan 1 - Nap
Jan 2 - Nap/4 mile run/.8 walk/ 20 min strength

Goal: Run 50 miles I guess?

Strength later, after dinner. First, shower.

I fell out of the running habit a couple of years ago, but am going to give it another go. I do a lot of weightlifting these days but need to improve my cardio fitness!! So I'll set a conservative goal of 25 miles to start and see how things go....

9voice9 wrote: »

Setting goal for 155 again, but I'm not sure how the HM in 2 weeks is gonna affect that.

Actually - gonna have to up my monthly goals to 168.08/avg to make the 2017 I want to set as a yearly goal.

So 169 for the month.

Nice 17miles yesterday, was so quite and no one around, plus I tried some hand warmers and they worked for a bit

I struggle to have my bpm in zone 4, whatever I do it looks like I'm always below 135-130bpm

It's a wonderful feeling being outside working out when the rest of the world is in bed!

Today I rode for about 25 miles, and tomorrow I plan my usual "late" recovery run. Not looking for Wednesday, when I'll wear both clip shoes for the first time

I'm going to Japan for 2 weeks - anyone knows if running there is ok?

heartsomething wrote: »

Goal: 20 miles a week

back to the C25K for me! I used to run, and then got really into cycling, and then I got hit by a car, and then it was a year of recovery, and now its been about 6 months of not taking care of myself.. Happy New Year!

Welcome! Taking care of yourself is a good thing. And this group is here to help push you, and console you, and encourage you as you do that.

patrikc333 wrote: »

I'm going to Japan for 2 weeks - anyone knows if running there is ok?

Just came back from visiting my son - he's in Miyada (Nagano Prefecture), but we spent most of our time in Kyoto and Tokyo. Saw a LOT of runners in both places, especially around the downtown area and around monuments and things like the Imperial Palace grounds. But my runs were on in-town "side" streets, and I wasn't alone in doing it. There were also a fairly large number of group runs that I saw.

Looks like the typical outfit is a track suit in polyester, and a backpack - prob about 75%+ were like that. But on my couple of short runs in my mismatched shorts and tights with long-sleeved shirt under a short-sleeved tee, with hat and gloves and headphones, I didn't see anyone that was laughing at my outfit. But then again, they're Japanese and that would've been unthinkable for them, culturally-speaking.

davetheperson wrote: »

Just jetting back in to things again. I'll keep it at a modest 30 miles.

1/2/2017 1.5 Miles

Awesome. Welcome to the best group of runners I've ever met. There are some truly phenomenal runners here., and they give out advice very willingly. I've learned a lot. Again, welcome!

Limeycat wrote: »

I fell out of the running habit a couple of years ago, but am going to give it another go. I do a lot of weightlifting these days but need to improve my cardio fitness!! So I'll set a conservative goal of 25 miles to start and see how things go....

welcome! Good choice setting a conservative goal. When you smash it, you'll feel great!

Looks like tomorrow will be a rest day. My right hamstring is complaining big time. Blah.

So not looking forward to going to the gym on Wednesday since it is now New Year's resolution time.

Hello everyone! I'm fairly new to running and quite out of shape but I'm determined! My goal is minimum of 1000 miles this year walk/run with the high end being 2017miles! I've never made this many miles before but I'm working on a 10k program to help my endurance (length of running stretches before I have to walk for a bit). My avg. pace is around 16.5 and I want to get that well under 15. The running club I'm in starts back up in June/July so that will help me stay on track as well.

I have a question for more experienced runners though... What is the best way to deal with, or stretches to do before/after a run for tight calves, shin pain, arch aches, and hip joint pain? These are my biggest struggles and without these I would feel like I'm flying! I know a lot of it is that I need to get my weight down. I'm currently around 220 and my goal is to get down to 170 at least. I do a lot of calf raises/stretches prior and after running, but I often still have to stop a couple times during a run to loosen them up further. The back of my neck also gets quite tight during a run... Maybe my posture isn't correct? I try to keep my arms bent but relaxed and shoulders back.

Very open to feedback! Glad to be in this journey with you all! Feel free to add me.

Welcome to all the newcomers! Feel free to add me as a friend

@_nikkiwolf_ Good luck with your HH plan! I used his plans for my first few half and full marathons but then just kinda started making mine on my own. I wasn't very happy with my running in 2016 and looking back, I can see that I just wasn't putting the right miles/training into my races...which is probably why I didn't run that many to begin with. I'm determined 2017 is going to be different if I can help it and that starts by sticking to a HH training plan.


@RunsOnEspresso So sorry you're not feeling good this close to the race, but I think that being a little under 2 weeks out still gives you plenty of time to get better. I know it's probably not the best thing for your mental state of mind to miss some runs, but missing some of your taper runs will not mean you won't be able to complete the marathon. You've put your time in and done your long runs, so I would say the best thing you can do for yourself right now is to make sure you're 100% healthy for race day. I had a sinus infection for my first marathon and was just recovering from walking pneumonia for my second and ever since then, I immediately go see the doctor if I even have so much as a sniffle within a week of my race haha. Drink lots of EmergenC, take lots of vitamin C, and get lots of rest! You've got this!