April 2017 Running Challenge
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@garygse - That's an amazing PR smash!! Well done!
To everyone running Boston (or any other race) have a fab time! Talk here of Boston plus seeing my mates in the pub this afternoon after a decent run has inspired me to do a marathon this year in advance of London next year.
Not sure which yet but one of the pub-goers is planning to do Beachy Head (aka Seven Sisters). It's both off-road and very hilly but very tempting as it's not until the end of October, (and also means someone to share hotel/travel costs with!)
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As for me today was 15k over 3 legs. Few (i.e. Lots of) beers since then so no report. Will just say I'm really pleased that although slightly behind I may actually make my goal this month for first time since December!
2-Apr: 19k easy
5-Apr: 5k very easy
6-Apr: 12k easy
7-Apr: 5k PR attempt + 2.4k cooldown [5K PR @ 24:28]
10-Apr: 4.3k + 4.1k easy
11-Apr: 11.9k + 5k easy
13-Apr: 13.7k MP
15-Apr: 5.2k + 10.1k easy6 -
4/1-6.05
4/3-3.45
4/12-3.32
4/13-1.02
4/14-3.01
4/15-6.26
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MNLittleFinn wrote: »I just had an intervention with myself and came to a realization..... I now have accepted that I'll almost certainly never be fast enough to BQ, and I now realize that my relentless push toward ultra is a way for me to compensate for that...... I may always be slow, but if I can go slow for a LONG way, I can be OK with it........
........LOL, Saturday morning thoughts...... this is the problem with getting my LR done on Friday, and not getting a run in yet today.
Just as an aside, and absolutely not a negative as to those running Boston, but here in the U.K. We get asked all the time if you're aiming for a marathon 'oh, are you training for the London marathon?' And for me the answer will always be No. I'm a trail girl, so roads and tarmac races don't interest me. Talk to me about UTMB or the Spine Race or a Bob Graham Round and I might want to talk, but talk a famous road race and I'm not that bothered.
Being fast enough for a BQ may be important for some, but does it affect your overall running urge? If the attempt to BQ means you hold back on something else, then I would suggest that the urge to BQ is not the thing for you. Seek out something deeper and better. You will find the answer in some unexpected places.7 -
@WhatMeRunning and @MNLittleFinn - do it like me: count on getting older! In a little more than thirty years, my current marathon time will be good enough to qualify, and I'll even be retired and have time to travel to Boston and run the marathonWhatMeRunning wrote: »@MNLittleFinn - That's the spirit! I like the way you think.
I'm never running Boston either. Heck, I may never even be as fast as you! 
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@girlinahat - May not be hardcore enough for you but this is the one I got talked into this afternoon if you fancy joining: http://www.beachyheadmarathon.co.uk/
EDIT: p.s. I'd still love to do London next year. Not for running reasons but for social reasons - think it's just be an amazing experience to run with those sorts of crowds/support - that's also why I want to do a marathon before then so that I know (all being well) that I can finish so when it comes to London I can just relax and soak up the atmosphere.2 -
Goal - 40 miles
4/3 - 2 miles (gotta start somewhere)
4/5 - 2.5 miles
4/7 - 5 miles
4/8 - 1 mile then crosstrained
4/10 - 2 miles and strength train
4/14 - 5 miles
4/15 - 2.5 miles
Total Miles - 20 miles3 -
@lporter229 and @MobyCarp All the best for Boston!
@garygse That's a huge PR. Congratulations!
@katharmonic Awesome race! Sounds like it was a brilliant idea to sign up.
@girlinahat UTMB?! Wow, now that would be something... If you ever run it, let me now, Chamonix is just 90min away from me by car. I'll come and cheer you on!
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Today was the last very long run in my training plan. I used the chance to try out new sunscreen and a new hydration vest that I saw on sale and couldn't resist.
The sunscreen was a complete failure. Especially in the face, it felt really oily and sticky during most of the run, yuck!
The vest (Nathan Firecatcher Race Vest) was great. It leave more of the back uncovered that my hydration pack, so it felt lighter. Unlike my backpack, it doesn't have a whistle included, I need to remember to add that before taking it out on some mountain trails.
And I need to fix some spare hair ties to the straps as well. Today, I lost the one I was wearing after ~27km. I guess it took a moment for my braid to unravel, because when I noticed and looked around, I couldn't find it. Which ment 6km of running without. You know how in movies you sometimes see women with running with long hair flowing behind them, and it looks wild and free and sexy? That ain't me
I was sweating, and kept getting strands of hair in my face, and then they stuck to the oily mess that was the new sunscreen. I took a selfie at the end of the run, because I wanted to show off the new vest, but the I decided that nobody wants to see me after a 33km run with oily face and hair from hell, so I'll spare you that 
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girlinahat wrote: »Being fast enough for a BQ may be important for some, but does it affect your overall running urge? If the attempt to BQ means you hold back on something else, then I would suggest that the urge to BQ is not the thing for you. Seek out something deeper and better. You will find the answer in some unexpected places.
The BQ means different things to different people.
Some aren't particularly interested in Boston; the BQ is meaningless to them.
Some marathon runners are comfortable with the fact that they will never be fast enough to qualify for Boston even though they might like to experience it. Some subset of this group will raise funds for charity at least one year in order to run Boston because the BQ time is beyond their reach.
Some people try for years to BQ, and never get there. Other try for years to BQ before they ultimately succeed. The nasty thing is, while they're trying they never know which of these groups they are in.
Some people can BQ any year they want to put sufficient effort into training, if they pick a favorable marathon for the BQ attempt.
And some people will BQ pretty much any time they run a marathon.
Some people BQ and don't run Boston. I spoke with a woman at the expo yesterday who said she had many BQ marathons, but had to wait till she was retired to have the time to make the trip from California to Boston for the marathon. Other people may turn in BQ marathons, and not run Boston due to budgetary constraints. Visiting Boston on Patriots' Day Weekend is not cheap.
The perspectives on what the BQ means differ from one group of marathon runners to another. At the expo yesterday, I looked at medal racks. I ended up buying a Boston Marathon medal rack with 14 hooks. People asked me if I was going to fill it up with Boston medals. That's not likely; to do so I'd have to run Boston every year until I'm 73. But I expect to have 2 Boston medals to put on it, and I will pick which of my other medals I want to display.
If I hadn't bought the medal rack that turned out to be an inch an a half too long to fit in my suitcase, I could have bought a small 4-hook rack. The hooks on the left were labeled, "Qualifying." The idea is that people who worked very hard to BQ would hang the medal from their qualifying race on the left, and the medal from Boston on the right. But that wouldn't appeal to the woman I know who is running her 8th Boston this year, or the guy my sister knows who only runs Boston because he doesn't want to run more than one marathon a year.
It's a strange mix of attitude in Boston, from the people who are somewhat in awe of the fact that they actually got here, to the people who just casually say, "See you next year." And of course, there are grades of difference in between.6 -
@MobyCarp @lporter229 wishing you all the best at Boston!
Today I tried a little running (in 0.5 mile intervals) during my walk, and my hip only felt mildly stiff. It's been a couple hours now and it's still feeling only a little stiff. So, I am thinking I am over the hump. Tomorrow I'll rest the hip and try again on Monday.
Happy Easter everyone!2 -
@dkabambe @_nikkiwolf_ Thanks guys! After several hours of wearing the RY400s and a brisk walk this afternoon for a few miles, I'm actually starting to feel surprisingly normal again.4
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Don't have much time to check in tonight. Nor much to report, except that my knee finally feels normal again. Yay!
4/1: 1.3 (1.3)
4/2: 1.5 (2.8)
4/4: 1.5 (4.3)
4/5: 3.4 (7.7)
4/6: 1.3 (9.0)
4/9: Race Day - 3.3 (12.3)
4/10: 1.5 (13.8)
4/12: 0.5 (14.3)
4:15: 1.5 (15.8)
...
4/22: Race Day (5k)
Goal for the month: 305 -
4/1: 5.8 miles
4/2: 2.8 miles
4/3: X-train (elliptical)
4/4: 3.6 miles
4/5: 5 miles
4/6: rest
4/7: 3.6 miles
4/8: 6.3 miles
4/9: 3 miles
4/10: rest
4/11: 4 miles
4/12: 5 miles
4/13: 4 miles
4/14: rest
4/15: 8 miles
TOTAL: 51.1/100 miles
Today's 8 miler was a bit of a struggle. I could tell when I started that my energy level wasn't great but the first few miles were okay. I stopped about 3.5 miles in to use the bathroom and snap a few pics and after that I had a hard time getting back into a groove. My energy level really plummeted the last 2.5 miles. I'm not sure if it was the pizza and jellybeans I ate yesterday, waiting too long after breakfast to get going (I blame April the giraffe), or the slightly higher temps. Whatever it was, I did a lot of walking the 7th mile but still was able to bring the run in at 1:20:12 (10:01 min/mile). Hopefully next weekend's race (a marathon relay in which my leg is 6.9 miles) goes better.
At least I had nice scenery!
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2nd run after the Jasper HM, still struggling with tired legs.
I got in a short 5km on Wednesday night as my Recovery Run post Jasper HM and it was a mental/physical struggle from the first step. Between travel day on Sunday, travel on Monday & Tuesday for work, Adult Swim Club Tuesday my legs were squirrelly but tired on Wednesday night. Thursday was Swim Club, Friday travelling for work.
12 km on what is know as the Reverse Peavey Mart Loop - I did the steep hill (1km) on the outbound as a downhill section and the shallow hill on the return (about 2km long) so not as hard on the legs at the end of the run. 4km of it was on rough roads that were nasty Muddy - Sloppy - Slippery mess due to the recent snow/sleet that we got hit with. Had to do 2 Run-Walk Breaks but I got through it.
04/01 0.0 km – 140. km – 0.0 km – YTD 300.05
04/02 6.5 km – 135.5km - 6.5km – YTD 306.55 Shorty down Tim’s Hill + Peavey Loop
04/05 5.2 km – 130.3km - 11.7km – YTD 311.75 Shorty along Riverbank Trails
04/08 21.3 km – 109.0km - 33.0km – YTD 333.05 Jasper HM
04/12 5.0 km – 104.0km - 38.0km – YTD 338.05 River Bank Recovery Run
04/15 12.1 km – 89.9km - 50.1km – YTD 350.1 Reverse Peavey Loop
Like many others wishing @MobyCarp and @lporter229 to have fun and enjoy the Boston experience.
Like @MobyCarp said
This can also be applied to Ultra's, HM and other distance events. I will never BQ unless I live to 100 and keep running, but I have a lot of fun being an average runner at HM's, Trail Runs and 10k course runs. Might have something to do with the local running crew and the Post Event Beer OlympicsThe BQ means different things to different people.
The perspectives on what the BQ means differ from one group of marathon runners to another. .
@RespectTheKitty glad to hear that you are recovering and moving forward.4 -
April goal: Stay healthy, get my runs in and increase my long run distance
Nominal mileage goal: 191 miles
4/1- 15.23
4/2- 3.14
4/3- 7.07
4/4- 3.69
4/5- 9
3/6- REST
4/7- 5.12
4/8- 17.58
4/9- 4.05
4/10- 7.13
4/11- 3.79
4/12- 9
4/13- REST
4/14- 17
4/15- 5.11
Total: 106.92
Today's notes: Ran yesterday's scheduled 5 mile run today. Well, this was an interesting one. After spending nearly 3 hours in cars today, visiting my sister and BIL, helping prep for Easter dinner and going for a walk, I finally set out for my run about 2000. I meant for this to be an easy run....Ha! Like that ever happens. So, here's how it looked, as broken down by mile splits:
Mile 1: To fast, but I was feeling good and antsy from not getting my run in earlier in the day. 9:24 pace
Mile 2: Hhmmm...is that lightening? I better go a little faster to avoid the storm. 9:00 exactly
Mile 3: That rain is getting pretty hard, and the lightening, wile pretty, probably isn't good for my health. 8:34
Mile 4: Is that HAIL I'm feeling? Better hurry this up! 8:13
Mile 5: Well, the hail is done, but this rain still sucks, and that wind blows. 8:16
Total: 5.11 miles in 44:19 for an average pace of 8:41. I officially beat my 5 mile PR, with a time of 43:25 at the 5 mile mark. I didn't set out to do that, but I did it nonetheless.
Now to relax so I can get up and get tomorrow's 4 miles in.... though that may have to wait until after the 3.5 hour drive home.
2017 Races
6/16- William A Irvin 5k
6/17- Grandma's Marathon (Full!)
8/19- Rampage at the Ridge 5k OCR
9/23- Ely Marathon (full)
10/21 Wild Duluth 50k??????
11/23- TBD 5k Turkey Trot3 -
I'm adding to this thread really late...
I recently started half marathon training. I'm really enjoying it because the last year I haven't really had a purpose to my running. I was just running for exercise and never ran more than 5 miles in a go because I feared injury.
Anyway, here is my log for April:
4/1 8mi 1:14:29min
4/2 rest
4/3 4mi 34:55min
4/4 4.55mi 43:06min
4/5 rest
4/6 5mi 46:47min
4/7 3mi 25:53min
4/8 9mi 1:24:34min
4/9 rest
4/10 5mi 45:44min
4/11 7mi 1:03:31min
4/12 rest
4/13 4mi 35:51min
4/14 3mi 26:07min
4/15 10mi 1:35:12min
Today's 10 miler was the longest run I've done in over 11 years. It felt pretty good. I do most of my long runs on trails at a local state park. I'm a bit faster on the roads but for long runs the roads are so boring!
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Had a busy week, so I'm just now catching up on comments
@WhatMeRunning Sorry to hear about that awful incident. Glad you were there to help but that's awful that the poor dog and woman were hurt.
@7lenny7 Great race report. Sounds like it was a great race!
@MobyCarp and @lporter229 Wishing you two all the best on Monday! We're all rooting for you!
@MNLittleFinn Way to go toughing out the wind on your long run. Unfortunately they can't all be great long runs, but that makes you appreciate the great ones even more. That being said, you still pulled out a great overall average pace.
@amberblade06 Wow, 20 miles on the treadmill?? I ran a few long distance on the treadmill back in 2014 while training for my first marathon during a particularly bad winter, but I don't think any of them were quite that long...and I definitely don't think I could do that now.
@RespectTheKitty Congrats on the NSV! Amazing!
@WhatMeRunning I'm sorry but I got a good chuckle out of the fact that you're already registered for those races and didn't even remember it. I'd LOVE it if I forgot I had already paid for some races that I was planning on registering for!
[quote="MNLittleFinn;39338284"]I just had an intervention with myself and came to a realization..... I now have accepted that I'll almost certainly never be fast enough to BQ, and I now realize that my relentless push toward ultra is a way for me to compensate for that...... I may always be slow, but if I can go slow for a LONG way, I can be OK with it........
........LOL, Saturday morning thoughts...... this is the problem with getting my LR done on Friday, and not getting a run in yet today.[/quote]
This is my sentiment almost exactly. I say "almost" because I haven't gotten crazy enough to sign up for an ultra yet I see an ultra on the horizon though...I'm considering 31 miles/50k for my 31st birthday September 2018. I'd like to focus on bettering my marathon PR for the moment, though I don't think I'll ever be fast to qualify for Boston (and if I do, it probably won't be for another 10-15 years when my time wouldn't need to be as fast). Boston is still on my bucket list though, so I'll probably bite the bullet and try to snag a charity spot at some point.
@garygse Congratulations on a great race and killing your PR!
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@garygse and @katharmonic Wow, great races, both of you!
In a minute I'll be off to find out how I can watch Boston from here in Australia. @lporter229 and @MobyCarp's bib numbers duly made note of.
@runmipapo Welcome, and thanks for a great program!
I did a 3 hour / 26 km run this morning.
I loved how Runalyze showed my Marathon Shape jump from 70% to 78%.
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Work and travel for work has been kicking my *kitten*... No time for anything even sleep. I had a terrible run in the hotel gym primarily because I was so tired. To my body it felt like 2:30am instead of 5:30. There was no time to run until I got back home and that Friday run felt wonderful and I was SO happy to be home!! Today's run was ok... I went out for 8 and took a different route that was a bit longer than I thought it was going to be so I ended up with 10 instead. I did have to walk some of it - I am still worn out from the travel schedule. Also trying to undo the bad habits my DH allowed Hobbes the Vizsla to pick up in just hose few days that I was away. We have an agility trial tomorrow afternoon so will be trying to get in a short run beforehand to prevent the zoomies during his events.
I am slowly working my way through all the pages... so much to get caught up on but it looks like there has been a lot of great running and racing going on and I love all the pictures!
I can't wait to watch the Boston Marathon on Monday and track @MobyCarp and @lporter229 at the race. We have some other friends and coworkers running it and my boss will be volunteering at the aid station closest to the start. So exciting!
Date........Miles.......Total
04/01....12.19......12.19
04/02......0.00......12.19
04/03......5.60......17.79 - + Agility
04/04......4.67......22.46 - + Strength Training
04/05......0.00......22.46
04/06......5.01......27.47 - + Strength Training and Rally
04/07......5.79......33.26
04/08......5.27......38.53
04/09......3.00......41.53 - Dog Beach!
04/10......0.00......41.53 - To Atlanta
04/11......4.10......45.63 - Hotel dreadmill
04/12......0.00......45.63
04/13......0.00......45.63
04/14......5.50......51.13 - Back Home
04/15....10.27......61.40
My completed and upcoming Races - Let me know if you will be running too!
02/05/17 - Surf City Half Marathon
07/23/17 - San Francisco 1st Half Marathon6 -
16/04 - 13.16 miles - Easter Bunny support run
- bowel-cramp enhanced final leg of the Easter Bunny support run, needed 2 "different (bowel) movement" breaks, totaling 5 minutes, during which I left my watch running, and still finished just under 2 hrs, so my target should be possible even if *kitten* hits the fan - but this would be my worst nightmare come true
Completed
• 11/03 - 10K Run The Solar System (thanks for the tip) - 52:01
• 12/03 - TM Half Marathon (plugged in the MK HM route - attempt 1 ) - 1:54:02
• 25/03 - TM Half Marathon (plugged in the MK HM route - attempt 2 ) - 1:53:53
• 15/04 - TM Easter Bunny support run (plugged in the MK HM route - attempt 3 ) - 1:59:03
Coming up:
• 01/05 - Milton Keynes HM
• 18/06 - Run-Bedford-Run - 10K
• 02/09 - Bedford HM
• 24/09 - Windsor HM
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