October 2017 Running Challenge

unparalleledAF wrote: »

I would love to proclaim a lofty goal, but I've neglected physical fitness for too long. Since there are 25 days left in the month, I'm aiming to finish October at 50 miles.

If you are out of shape, as it sounds like, 50 is a pretty lofty goal!

KatieJane83 wrote: »

Once you mentioned "v. v. painful" and "already bruising!" I had to google ASTYM, because it sounded very similar to my first PT session on Wednesday, lol. And I'm pretty sure that's what my PT was doing too, or something similar. He used his hands but also this curved metal tool that he really worked into the ligament. Holy *kitten* was it painful and I, too, am bruising from it, but hopefully it really helps!

Thanks guys, and the internet, you learn something new every day!

I think what you had done was probably Graston if there were metal tools involved. That's even worse! I had that done about 15 years ago for a groin injury. Makes me wince just thinking about it! My PT was telling me yesterday that apparently there was some sort of schism in the community between the two people that developed the methods. Not sure if that is true or not, but it makes a good story.

@eponine1984 what kind of shoes are you wearing? My index toes are almost as long as my big toes, so if I buy shoes that are too "diagonal", they don'thave enough space. I'vefound that Saucony, Asics, Inov-8 and Altra work fine for me, Brooks sometimes depending on the model, Salming is always painful. And don'tnecessarilybuy tge same size as everyday shoes - I wear 39 in street shoes, but 40.5 in most running shoes. ... not sure if the shoes are the issue, just a guess.

10/1: 3.3
10/2: 4.2
10/5: 3.2
10/7: 4.2

Total: 14.9 / ???

juliet3455 wrote: »

@sarahthes If you are interested MEC runs a lot of good events and they are dirt cheap, $15.00 for a 5, 10 or 15k

@juliet3455 Yeah I have been eyeing a November sweater run they're doing here in Edmonton, didn't realize they put on more events since I'm such a newbie. Will check out the link, although I'm pretty solidly booked for October with work stuff and pre-travel errands.

100 mile goal
28.66 miles down

I wanted to get at least 25 miles down this first week. Don't know if I will have the time to get in any work tomorrow. If I do, that will be a bonus.

Hopefully, this challenge will get me back to the place where I will be able to complete in a half marathon this spring. It has been probably 5 years since my last half. So, I am just taking it slow and steady at this point.

Thank you for the challenge. It has really been a motivating factor in getting my butt in gear. I still have a long way to go to be where I want to be, but this is certainly helping.

October Running Totals (miles)
10/1 – rest day
10/2 – 5.07 easy
10/3 – 5.05 easy
10/4 – rest day
10/5 – 6.01 easy
10/6 – rest day
10/7 – 10.09 paced run

October running total to date – 26.22

Nominal challenge goal: 100 miles

Real goals: Get healthy enough to run 5 days a week. Avoid re-injury. Build base.

Today's notes – I was nominally assigned to pace 8:00 per mile for 6, 7, or 10 miles this morning. No one showed up needing an 8:00 pace, so I ran with the 8:30 pacer and one other runner who really ought to be in the 9:00 pace group. Chris wanted to hold strictly to 8:30 because he's in taper toward the Marine Corps Marathon.

We started out in a light rain, but at 62º F (17º C) it wasn't a big deal. Ran the first 6 miles, and Chris called for a pause to stretch his quads because something was wonky. Started again, and the Garmin was starting a new run. Oh, *kitten*. I didn't know whether it had saved the first part. (Turned out it had, so that's okay.) Got back to base, and Chris bailed at 7 because things didn't feel right. I continued on for the last 3 with the other runner, having to dial him back a few times.

Ended up with an average pace of 8:16 for the first 6 miles, 8:14 for the last 4. I probably should have been stricter about dialing it back during the last 4, because I know this is faster than that particular runner can sustain for 15 miles without issues; but of course he's fine with 10 miles at that pace.

My recovering ankle tolerated the run just fine. I stretched afterward, and iced it down when I got home. Still not 100%, and still not sure I'm brave enough for speed work, but at least I'm making progress on range.

In other news, I work my newish Hoka Cliftons today. After 10 miles in the rain, they won't look new any more; but I appreciated the cushion on the hard sidewalks and downhill stretches. I now have 24 miles on them, and I'm pretty sure they're keepers. I will likely run Boston 2018 either in this pair or shoes or in its replacement. And I'm going to wear this pair for all the paced runs, which tend to force me onto concrete (or worse, slate) sidewalks much of the time. I'll still want the Kinvaras for 5K and 10K road races where speed is everything.

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) finished in 3:49:42
April 30, 2017 USATF Masters 10K Championship (James Joyce Ramble, Dedham, MA) finished in 39:54, PR for 10K
May 21, 2017 Lilac Run 10K (Rochester, NY) finished in 40:04
May 27, 2017 Canandaigua Classic Half Marathon (Canandaigua, NY) finished in 1:33:06
June 9, 2017 Charlie McMullen Mile (Fairport, NY) finished in 5:44.90, PR for mile
June 18, 2017 Medved 5K to Cure ALS (Rochester, NY) finished in 19:32
July 4, 2017 Firecracker Four Mile (Fairport, NY) finished in 25:42
July 15, 2017 Shoreline Half Marathon [1:40 pacer] (Hamlin, NY) finished in 1:39:05
July 28, 2017 Karknocker 5K (East Rochester, NY) finished in 19:28
August 9, 2017 Pound the Ground 10K (Mendon, NY) finished in 41:26
August 12, 2017 Bergen Road Race 5K (Bergen, NY) finished in 19:47
August 25, 2017 USATF Masters Mile (Hap Crim Michigan Mile, Flint, MI) DNS - injury
September 3, 2017 Oak Tree Half Marathon (Geneseo, NY) DNS - injury
September 17, 2017 MVP Rochester Marathon (Rochester, NY) DNS - injury
November 23, 2017 Race with Grace 10K (Hilton, NY)

2018 races:
April 16, 2018 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)

cameronheel wrote: »

Ran a practice HM this morning and for first time was able to do it in under 2 hours. Super stoked about that as that is my goal for my first official half on Nov. 18. Think this will be my last full distance run I start to taper back in a couple of weeks.

Dude, if you are doing that in training, you are going to crush it at the real thing! Well done!

10/2 2.7
10/7 2.25

Total 4.95/20

Started a C25K program this morning so I can regulate run/walk breaks. I think my issues are high blood pressure so I need to dial it back. I also am working to get my diet whipped back into shape.

There's a 5k fun run I need to sign up for. I've also got $345 worth of gear in my Brooks shopping cart but my BF would probably kill me if I ordered 3 new pairs of shoes for $345

Good luck to the racer this weekend! Go get 'em @garygse , @ariceroni , @BruinsGal_91 and anyone else I missed. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

@eponine1984 I also have some problems with toes going numb too. It usually is fixed by adjusting my shoe lacing. Sometimes it gets too tight toward the toe end of the shoe or across the high part of my foot so I even it out. The alternate lacing patterns mentioned previously would be good to try.

@seanevan10 congrats on the weight loss. That's fantastic. I lost 60 lbs over about 18 months or so, a lot of that from starting running. It's a lot of motivation to keep up with things because I feel so much better about myself now.

@skippygirlsmom - oh no! You didn't need to join me on the ouchy ribs couch! It's no fun here.

@shanaber welcome back from vacation - beautiful pics!

@MNLittleFinn congrats on your reaching your yearly mileage goal way early!

@cameronheel Wow - a practice HM in under 2 hours! You are going to tear it up at your HM in Nov.

@JessicaMcB beautiful pic. Enjoy your week before your race!

@Elise4270 great news that you are getting your PRs down again. Take care of that hip.


I'm just checking in from the non-running, previously referenced sore-ribs couch. I have to say I have enjoyed not running this week. No worrying about figuring out when to get a run in, or constant laundry and showers (lol, I still shower). I haven't missed running at all yet, but I think I'll be ready to get back to it again soon. I may take another week off depending how the ribs are feeling. I may take another week off because I don't want to keep aggravating them and end up extending the pain. I think they didn't really enjoy the fact that I immediately ran 13 miles after the fall and keep reminding me of that fact.

@skippygirlsmom -- oh yeah, I hear ya on the boob bruising. Glad you are taking a rest day and hope your ribs feel better soon. Maybe we both should invest in some bubble wrap so we can bounce right back next time.

10/1-6.2 miles 1270 Feet Elevation
10/2- REST
10/3- 9
10/4- 7
10//5- 9
10/6- 5
10/7- 15

Total Miles: 51.2
Total Elevation: 1270

October goal: Survive 100k training taper and Wild Duluth 100k
Nominal Mileage goal: 100 miles.
Elevation goal: 15000ft

Today's notes: Final "long" run of the cycle. Went out and hit the single track with my buddy and another guy who will be running the 50k when we're running the 100k. It was a glorious fall morning. We started in darkness and did two 7.5 mile loops, the first under a just past full moon and headlamps, and the second under a cloudy autumn sky.

We took it easy, even though it didn't feel easy. I was feeling the 30 miles I put in the last 3 days, and single track, even when it's flatter, is harder running than road or the ski hills, because you CAN run pretty much all of it, whereas the ski hills force walking.

All in all a great run. Looking at getting another 5 or so tomorrow morning to get me to 50 for the week, before starting some easier running for something of a taper before race day.

Have a runderful day everyone!

2017 Races Scheduled
6/16- William A Irvin 5k
6/17- Grandma's Marathon 4:24:06
7/15- Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon 7:22:23
8/12- UMTR FatAss "Not Quite" 50k DNF, too darn hot out
8/19- Rampage at the Ridge 5k OCR
9/23- Ely Marathon 6:24:36
10/21 Wild Duluth 100k
11/23- TBD 5k Turkey

katharmonic wrote: »

@skippygirlsmom -- oh yeah, I hear ya on the boob bruising. Glad you are taking a rest day and hope your ribs feel better soon. Maybe we both should invest in some bubble wrap so we can bounce right back next time.

@katharmonic ha ha great idea!