May 2017 Running Challenge

Hi!
I am new to this group. My goal is to get back up to running 5+ miles at a time, but my hip has been bothering me the last month or so. I am also tracking other workouts for accountability. Total goal for May = 50 miles.

5/2 = 1 mile + HIIT
5/3 = HIIT
5/4 = 3 miles
5/5 = 1 mile +HIIT

5/8 = HIIT

@lporter229 Stella looks awesome in her medal. If I show Macy she'll want one too!

Outside of puking and the pick up full of guys on the highway to Wilmore who tried to get me to get in their truck (apparently shaking a 6 pack of Coors out the passenger side is some sort of amazing come on now- who knew all the things I missed out on! -_- ) @jessicamcb I think this is the mating call of the American Redneck isn't it?

@ereck44 sorry you didn't PR but still a great race. I can't imagine running with that many people. ugh

@kgirlhart re: cemetery

Cemeteries were developed by the Victorians as leisure parks. The idea was very much that they be places to wander through and contemplate life or death. Plenty of runners run through cemeteries here, and as long as you are respectful I see no reason not to. I'd probably keep away from the newer burials as those are the ones most likely to have mourners nearby.

I actively seek out cemeteries and churchyard burials to walk through and look at historical graves. Better that than the deceased remain forgotten and only attended by a relative.

April was 170 miles so I will set my goal for May at 180 miles. I've logged 43 so far this month.

5/1 - rest
5/2 - 6 miles
5/3 - 4.15 miles (track workout)
5/4 - 3 miles recovery
5/5 - rest
5/6 - 6 mile easy run
5/7 - 10 mile taper week long run
5/8 - rest

May Total: 29.15/170

519.15 miles/2,017 miles - goal for the year

So, somehow, I am in my final taper week before the Tinkerbell Half. Totally crept up on me! Went for a rest day on Friday, 6 mile recovery run on Saturday, after my really intense zumba class, and my last long run before the reace yesterday. Went well, although my legs were a little beat up after Saturday.

Creepy running experience of the weekend: On my long run yesterday, while running against traffic, as I always do, there was a guy driving, and he might have been taking pics/filming me As we passed each other I noticed he had his phone held up and out in front of him. Not only did his head turn to follow me, but his phone did as well. I was pretty weirded out for a bit after that. So strange.

In happier news, I was successfully able to sew a string of rice lights into my Tinkerbell tutu yesterday, and today I got my Tinkerbell manicure, so my outfit is officially ready to go! Gonna probably try the whole thing on tonight, and will try to post a pic

Finally -.

Race report. Sorry for the length, the images, and my bra.

The event was a bit of a weekend thing – I arrived lunchtime ish on the Saturday, as really there was no point just hanging around, put up my tent and went to offer to help the organisers. I ended up being put on the finish line, and as there were in theory 5 races going on at once, it was a bit of a challenge. The race was a 12 hour lapped race – you could do as many laps as you like, solo, or in teams of 2, 3 or 4. And then there were the people gunning for the 50 miler. So a runner comes in, looking like they have had enough, and once they’ve made the final decision, off comes the timing chip, their name is marked off and they get the relevant medal – a giant of a thing, shaped like an ox’s face, beautifully coloured, and with dangly skulls denoting whether they were in a team or solo. The 50 miler was a whopper of a medal, and they got a t-shirt as well. I think I ended up helping for about 6 hours before I finally had to stop for food and a sit down!!

Following the 12 hour race was a night-time 10k. dressing up was quite a thing so many people were wrapped in lights, which was a sight coming through the fields!! I had to head for bed before the final finishers came in.

A COLD night in the tent. Not sure if it was that, general hard ground or me worrying about the HM but I slept badly. Got ready and headed to the start where the morning 10k race was taking place. Some entrants were doing all FOUR races over the weekend. There is only one word for them – nutters.

And then we were off. I kept near the back, knowing that’s pretty much where I’d stay. Happy with a slow start. The first couple of miles were a killer, even on a gentle downhill, my legs did NOT want to work and I vaguely worried that I wouldn’t make it to the end. But then I remembered that I ALWAYS struggle the first couple of miles on any run, so stopped worrying. We hit the first of several evil hills at about mile 2, but that was good in a way, as it meant a change to hiking muscles and a walk up it. I’d told myself to walk up all of the hills during this race. I don’t think I saw anyone running at this point. Then there was a mad dash down to the bottom, I passed several people at this point, mostly I was waving my arms and shrieking like a small child. And bouncing my tutu.

There was an aid station at about mile 4, but I didn’t want anything – I had a vest with electrolytes and that was enough for now. But I did change my top. By that I mean I took my top off and did the rest in my sports bra. I mean, I was wearing a tutu and skull leggings, I couldn’t lose any MORE dignity!.

Looked at my watch at mile 6 and realised we’d been out over an hour and a half. But mile six was possibly the worst of the hills. 360ft of elevation in under a mile. Seriously, NO ONE was running these…..The presence of paragliders in front of us should have been dire warning enough.






The next three miles were fairly flat and I was actually feeling quite good by this point. I was enjoying myself, taking some photos, and settling into a good running gait (I won’t say pace, pace and me don’t really go together). The sun had come out too, which I wasn’t expecting. Sun puts such a shine on sheep, and sweat.

Mile 9 saw us reach the Promised Land, the infamous Lovestation, where I got a lipstick laden kiss on the cheek, and a shot of cherry vodka. I KID YOU NOT. It was that or the cider. Water tastes boring after that. Stocked up on chocolate brownie pieces, cocktail sausages and slices of orange, but managed to tear myself away from staying too long – was still feeling good and didn’t want to waste it.



Miles 9-11 were nothingness. I found myself looking for a suitable tree for a bladder moment, but it was all a bit exposed. It was relatively flat track here and I actually found myself hoping for another hill. Am I mad? Beautiful woodlands distracted me, full of bluebells and more wild garlic that the eye could see. Does the smell of garlic help you be a faster runner?


Then I started to flag. I think I was bored with the flat, but there were some stern conversations with my legs which went something on the lines of ‘MOVE!’

‘I don’t want to’

‘MOVE and you’ll get to the end quicker’

‘grumble grumble’

I had a brief moment where I toyed with the idea of trying to get under 3 hours, but then realised that 2 plus miles in less than 20 minutes wasn’t realistic. Plod on from this point on. No more nasty hills, just a gentle plod upwards. And then I saw it – what I thought was the finish tent. And from nowhere came my sprint finish. Except it WASN’T the finish line, but the car park, somewhat further away than the finish. And now I was approaching the finish line, looking like a sprint finish but my legs were spent. Rather than lose ALL dignity by slowing to a walk, I skipped. Yes, me and my tutu SKIPPED towards the end. 3hours and 7 sweaty minutes or something. A giant medal and a t-shirt greeted me. All I wanted was a beer and my bed. But first I had to give my specially picked posy of flowers to the Race Director. Pretty pretty pretty and smelly wild garlic. He didn’t want them……







I am never running again.