March 2017 Running Challenge

Options
1…6869717374…88

Replies

  • BeeerRunner
    BeeerRunner Posts: 728 Member
    Options
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    BeeerRunner wrote: »

    I have to say this is the first week where I am finally feeling back to my old self while running. Yay! Did a really great trail run today with 834’ in elevation gain. I was wore out by the end. The weather was absolutely perfect. It was sunny, in the low 50s at the start and warmed up to mid 60's by the end. There was a nice cool breeze too. Most of the trees have sprouted their leaves for the spring so it's much prettier (and shadier) again.

    After reading how some of you try to do long runs without fuel, I decided that's something I want to start doing. I did read that you should gradually wean yourself down. So, I did bring a gel with me, but wanted to hold off on taking it as long as possible. In a normal training long run, I take them about every 45 minutes. If it's a shorter long run like today, Well, I lasted about 1 hr 20 minutes. Then, I started to get a bit light headed so I ate my gel and all was good.

    Also, I booked my flight to Milwaukee for the Lakefront Marathon!! I had airline miles to use, so I only paid $11.20 for the ticket. Yay!! It's also my birthday weekend which kind of stinks because I won't be able to go out and enjoy beers with my friends back home. Oh well, hoping I can BQ for my birthday instead! Lol!

    Steal on the ticket!!! And good luck with the BQ. We have a race here in the spring (tomorrow), I had no idea it was a BQ. I was talking to the race director today and last year they had 18 runners qualify. Probably 100-150 marathoners.

    I ran the OKC Memorial Marathon (half) last year. It was a high energy race, it's a BQ too. Both races are spring and driving distance.

    @Elise4270 There's no way I can be marathon ready again by this spring, but we should try to race it together next year...maybe a shorter distance than the marathon, depending if I do the Cowtown again. Also, it'll be easier to BQ if I wait until fall because it will be for the 2019 Boston Marathon, and I'll be in the next age bracket, and that time is well within my grasp. ;)
  • dpwellman
    dpwellman Posts: 3,271 Member
    Options
    Skipped group run yesterday due to lack or transportation (I did get a call last night saying it was ready). Still got solo miles in. Wind was ridiculous.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    Options
    KatieJane83 wrote: »
    I can't believe I have 9-mile long weekday runs now, lol. And omg, this is the worst I've ever screwed up weather conditions and attire. I accidentally packed my non-waterproof jacket instead of my waterproof one. The rain started just about 1 mile into my run. So for 8 of my 9 miles, I got absolutely soaked through, wearing just my non-waterproof jacket with a t-shirt underneath, in 42°F temps, with a damn headwind on the way back. At least I had my hat to keep the water out of my eyes. This was truly one of those mind over matter runs. Everything on me was cold, and it took me forever to change afterwards because my hands were literally stiff from being cold. I still have my coat on at my desk at work, lol. BUT, the miles got done!!! Victory!!!

    Everything in this post screams bad @$$. Awesome!!!
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    edited March 2017
    Options
    skippygirlsmom wrote: »
    @HonuNui thanks for checking on me. I'm still having pain on and off in my hip but my biggest issue is I'm just so busy at work that I haven't had time to breathe.

    @skippygirlsmom
    Missing you on here. I hope for a healed hip and less stress at work.


    9voice9 wrote: »
    Just gonna drop this here....
    "The Real History of the Dreadmill"

    OMG That was so hilarious.
  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    Options
    March Running Totals (miles)
    3/1 – 7.32 easy with hills
    3/2 – 13.10 long intervals
    3/3 – rest day
    3/4 – 16.09 paced run
    3/5 – 12.67 easy with hills
    3/6 – rest day
    3/7 – 10.20 warm up, speed work, cool down
    3/8 – 7.02 easy
    3/9 – 14.25 easy with MP finish
    3/10 – rest day
    3/11 – 10.10 warm up + race
    3/12 – 9.65 easy with hills
    3/13 – 5.01 easy + 4 strides
    3/14 – snow day
    3/15 – snow day
    3/16 – 8.05 easy
    3/17 – travel day
    3/18 – 6.40 commutes + race
    3/19 – 11.18 MP interval
    3/20 – rest day
    3/21 – 15.01 tempo intervals
    3/22 – 5.58 easy
    3/23 – 9.16 warm up, speed work, cool down
    3/24 – rest day
    3/25 – 21.70 paced run + solo miles
    3/26 – 3.86 easy

    March total to date – 186.35

    Nominal Challenge Goal – 225 miles
    Real Goals: Stay healthy. Train well toward Boston. Run well at the USATF Masters 8K Championship in Virginia Beach.

    Today's notes – Yesterday was the third and final maximum distance run of the training plan. After the first two, Sunday's assignment was a moderately long run training me to run on tired legs. Today's assignment was 30 minutes easy.

    The mental games of taper have begun. Several times I told myself I could run 4 miles, it's not that much longer than 30 minutes. Or run 6 miles, because I feel so healthy. And so on. Then a fortunate thing happened.

    After church this morning, I stopped at Subway for lunch. Ran into a non-runner I knew from a church I attended for a while in 2014. He asked if I was still running, and I found myself explaining what was left of the training cycle to Boston. Today's assignment is 30 minutes. "That won't be much for you, huh?" "It's going to feel like I haven't done anything."

    Just explaining the concept of taper and why I restrict myself to fewer miles grounded me and quieted the testosterone voice in my head. I came home and saw that my porch thermometer said it was 56º F (13º C) out. I already knew the wind was not a major factor. Threw on a pair of shorts and my 2016 Boston Qualifier tee, and went out for my easy 30 minutes.

    It didn't quite feel like I hadn't done anything. I did have to keep slowing myself down as I saw my pace creeping toward MP, but I got it done. Got back to my driveway with 10 seconds left, ran past to 30 minutes, and stopped the watch while I slowed to a walk. I worked up a very light sweat and felt like I'd don't a warm up.

    Looked at the stats: 3.86 miles in 30:01, for an average pace of 7:47 per mile. Average HR 119, max HR 132. 2:12 in Zone 2, 21:56 in Zone 1, and by inference 5:53 in Zone Zero. Yep, it felt pretty easy. I'm pretty sure the 2 minutes in Zone 2 were on the small hill I put in the route.

    Near month-end goal assessment: I won't hit my nominal mileage goal. I don't care. Stay healthy, check. Train well toward Boston, I'm in better shape right now than I was at the same point of the training cycle last year. Run Virginia Beach well, turned in a PR more than half a minute faster than I thought possible and stayed healthy. I'm very happy with my performance versus real goals right now.

    2017 races:
    January 1, 2017 Freezeroo #2 (Resolution Run 7.5 mile) (Mendon, NY) Finished in 50:45
    January 7, 2017 Winter Warrior Half Marathon (Gates, NY) Finished in 1:32:40
    January 14, 2017 Freezeroo #3 (Pineway Ponds Park 5 mile) (Spencerport, NY) Finished in 33:42
    January 28, 2017 Freezeroo #4 (Hearnish 5 mile) (Victor, NY) short course, finished 4.88 miles in 32:50
    February 4, 2017 USATF Cross Country National Championship Masters 8K (Bend, OR) Finished in 35:39, team won the 60+ Men's cross country championship
    February 11, 2017 Freezeroo #5 (Valentines Run "In Memory of Tom Brannon" 8 Mile) (Greece, NY) sat out due to training schedule
    February 25, 2017 Freezeroo #6 (White House Challenge 4.4 mile) (Webster, NY) short course, finished 4.34 miles in 27:51
    March 11, 2017 Johnny's Runnin' of the Green 5 mile (Rochester, NY) finished in 33:25
    March 18, 2017 USATF Masters 8K Championship (Shamrock 8K, Virginia Beach, VA) finished in 30:59, PR for 8K
    April 17, 2017 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)

  • MobyCarp
    MobyCarp Posts: 2,927 Member
    edited March 2017
    Options
    Just lost a post. Don't see the one one nine spam number. Wonder if I ran into another one; a message flashed past that I couldn't read before it vanished. Anyway, 3.86 easy miles today, one eight six point three five for the month, don't feel like re-writing the notes.

    Edit to add. I found it. The magic spam number was my average heart rate for today's run, and I didn't realize it until the post didn't post. Dang, that spam filter is annoying.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    Options

    1---Rest
    2---3.07 run/walk
    4---2.49 walk
    7---3.25 walk
    9---3.25 run/walk
    10---7.0 miles on da bike
    11---4.80 trails run
    15---4.21trails run
    17-20---Ft Benning Georgia trip
    21---4.69 walk, tried to run HOT!
    23---4.02 run
    25---2.92 walk

    32.70/31

    RACES!!!
    March 26th 2017 A2A 5k Ardmore, OK (registered)
    The Trail Run at Eagle Mt Park (2 mile trail hike) Apr 2 (registered)
    Color Me Crazy 5k Run April 15th (registered)
    I have to cancel these races. I could have possibly made today's... But I didn't risk it. Some of you know I'm I'm the process of joining the Catholic Church I'll be back to looking forward to races after Easter... Maybe.. I'm still not sure.


     XTERRA Rock Dallas Trail Run (HM at night) May 27 (Tentative)
    XTERRA Jurassic Trail Run (HM at night) Jul 8 (Tentative)
  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    edited March 2017
    Options
    Like @Stoshew71 I miss @skippygirlsmom and her words of wisdom/Skippy Updates, also miss @kristinegift who I haven't seen posting in some time.
    @KatieJane83 Yes you definitely qualify as BadAss - I find the runs where I mess-up clothes/attire are real confidence boosters = Look at what I can do even when I have made a mistake.

    20 km HM Training Run this morning with one of the ladies in our local club.
    Her HM Pb is 1:51, mine 2:12 so I had to work pretty hard today to keep pace, even though she did pull back some.
    In the last 4 km I started to kick rocks which meant that I was not lifting my feet on recovery. I actually feel more beat up than after my last HM where I set my PB which means today = a D@m Good Training Run. Net 154m Elevation with most of that in the last 4 km = why I started kicking rocks. The last 4 km of this was intentionally picked as part of the route as it closely match's up to the last 3-4 km of our next HM - where you drop into the Bottom of a River Valley, cross the River and then back uphill to the Rolling terrain along the Riverbank.

    exercise.png

    03/01 7.0 km –7.0 km –133.0 km – YTD 187.55
    03/02 5.0 km –12.0 km –128.0 km – YTD 192.55
    03/08 10.5 km – 22.5 km –117.5 km – YTD 203.05
    03/11 19.0 km – 41.5 km –98.5 km – YTD 222.05
    03/12 5.0 km – 46.5 km – 93.5 km – YTD 227.05
    03/15 7.0 km – 53.5 km – 86.5 km – YTD 234.05
    03/17 13.0 km – 66.5 km –73.5 km – YTD 247.05
    03/20 14.0 km – 80.5 km – 59.5 km – YTD 261.05
    03/22 7.0 km – 87.5 km – 52.5 km – YTD 268.05
    03/25 6.0 km – 93.5 km – 46.5 km – YTD 274.05
    03/26 20.0 km – 113.5 km – 26.5 km – YTD 294.05
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    Options
    Sorry - I've skimmed through the posts here but not properly read them so hope everyone is doing okay. @skippygirlsmom keep coming back with updates and @RespectTheKitty so glad you posted with a quick update on your outpatient clinic. We're all thinking of you (speaking for everyone else here in this challenge!)

    I've travelled down to see my
    Mum for Mother's Day (this is England, we go for a different day to others- it's a religious things, in one of the least religious countries in the world...) and am deeply regretting not bringing my running gear. I'm at the beach, the sun has been shining, the tide has been out. There's been SO MUCH BEACH for me to play with. Oh I want to run ten miles along this beach!!

    Home tomorrow. Let's hope the weather holds out so I can run as a kind of penance for my stupidity.

Categories