October 2017 Running Challenge

LaurenFOB2301 wrote: »

garygse wrote: »

@LaurenFOB2301 Everyone's different, so it's going to be next to impossible to predict how much and how quickly you'll improve. Rest assured though that you're doing incredibly well, and you should continue to see improvements as long as you keep things sensible and don't try to do too much too soon.

As an anecdote, I started out about 15 months ago, and was running with a pace that was over 12:00 min/mi. Over the months, I've watched my pace slowly increase, along with my endurance, to the point where I ran a marathon earlier this month with an average pace of 8:03. While YMMV, lots of mileage will definitely help.

That's great to hear. Thanks for sharing your own personal experience -- how amazing you went from doing 12 minute miles to running a marathon. I'm thinking about signing up for a 5ks next month or 10ks (eventually).

I'm worried about being consistent as I head into colder months (I live in Chicago) and that my mileage will suffer. but I'm trying to stay positive and reminding myself that running in all types of weather conditions will only make me stronger.

Today, temps were near perfect, in the mid 50s, but it was raining hard all morning. I still managed to run a few miles at the high school track. I enjoy running in the rain. Not sure how I feel about running in the snow yet!

@LaurenFOB2301 – below are the best decisions I have made to help improve my overall pace and perhaps assist in your journey.

1) Keep running: I started with C25K last Dec, transitioned to 10K program in early spring and now wrapping up my 1st go at HM training. I too was slow in the beginning and as I have increased my weekly distances, implemented speed workouts, long runs, etc - my endurance and pace has increased. My primary goal remains to improve my overall health/fitness level which has provided me many more non-speed victories vs just being faster (yes, I do like the PR’s when they come too!)

2) Speed workouts: To be faster overall, I also believe you need to implement interval and tempo training as often as recommend by various training plans such as fast 30 sec strides, 4x200's, 8x200's to 400's to miles along with progressive paces as distance increases, etc.

3) Races: Incorporating as many as feasible as they are both fun and something to work for during training. Since I only have a few under my belt, I have been fortunate that my 2nd 10K was faster than my first and I can only hope that trend continues, however I am realistic that I am not an elite runner and the conditions of the day or those leading up to it will always be different so finishing the race is the ultimate reward regardless of time as every day is a gift and on that day I was able to run a race!

4) Support: This group and Strava is awesome from an online perspective. In addition, I also found a local running group via a Strava that meets regularly and showed up (bonus - membership for them is free). Note -I'm in NW suburbs of Chicago and being in the group should help me keep me more accountable during the cold winter months where I normally might stay inside on a cold day to support them as much as they help support me. What is great about a good group and a run when you are not having to run alone (this group normally has 40-50 runners of ALL paces from beginners running their first miles, to those training for all kinds of races on a Saturday morning) and whether you only want to run a few miles or run longer than the planned route you determine who, if, and how you want to run that morning – you are never far from someone that is on the same path. 70+ from the group ran in the Chicago Marathon this year and many not running organized a big cheer section to support them. Very cool and fun! FYI- since you are located in Chicago, check out “Three Run Two” that looks very similar in their philosophy…sure there are many more.

Good luck in your training and feel free to follow me on Strava at https://www.strava.com/athletes/22401471

10/01 - Rest
10/02 - 10 miles Z2
10/03 - 9 miles easy Z2 in the heat
10/04 - Strength + 7 miles Z3/4
10/05 - Strength + 6 miles Z2 in the rain
10/06 - 11 Miles Z2
10/07 - 16 Miles Z2
10/08 - Rest
10/09 - 9 Miles Z2
10/10 - 10.5 miles Z2
10/11 - Strength + 6.25 miles Z2
10/12 - Strength + 7 Miles
10/13 - 7 Miles
10/14 - Stop Drop and Run Race - 4.5 mile
10/15 - 11 miles
10/16 - Rest
10/17 - 7 Miles Easy
10/18 - Strength + 7 miles
10/19 - Strength + 8 miles
10/20 - 7 Miles
10/21 - Rest ( Funeral)
10/22 - Rest (Stuck doing non-running things)
10/23 - 9 Miles
10/24 - 11 Miles

Summer Goal: Get my marathon pace below 9 minutes.
Official Marathon PR: 4:11:28

Next Races (more as I find them):

Thanksgiving morning - Turkey Trot - Double Gobbler! (5K + 5 miles)
05/06/18 - Pittsburgh Marathon - aiming for sub four hours.
05/12/18 - Glacier Ridge 50k Trail Ultra (or maybe 30K Still debating)


It was sunny AND raining AND cold AND 10-20mph winds - but I did 11 miles.

OCTOBER
@ctlaws, great run and that race bling is off the chain! (but, no, i did NOT need to see 'cheeseguy')
@Runningmischka, great race and that trophy you're holding at the end is precious!
@seanevan10, hope you're feeling better, and that the medal serves as some consolation!

Oct 1 - 7.6m Bridge2Bridge race
Oct 6 - 7.3m Harvest Moon run
Oct 9 - 7.8m bad air run
Oct 12- 7.6m bad air run
Oct 15- 3.2m Breakin in a new pair of shoes
Oct 19- 7.1m LuluLemon Ghostrace (course was 5.2 but I couldn't just couldn't stop)
Oct 21- 3.3m
Oct 24- 7.2m


51.1mi | 50mi goal =


Thanks everyone..keep them Zombies at your 6!

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
10/01/17 :::: 13.1 :::: 13.1
10/02/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 13.1
10/03/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 13.1
10/04/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 13.1
10/05/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 13.1
10/06/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 13.1
10/07/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 13.1
10/08/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 13.1
10/09/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 13.1
10/10/17 :::: 1.7 :::: 14.8
10/11/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 14.8
10/12/17 :::: 2.4 :::: 17.2
10/13/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 17.2
10/14/17 :::: 3.3 :::: 20.5
10/15/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 20.5
10/16/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 20.5
10/17/17 :::: 5.3 :::: 25.8
10/18/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 25.8
10/19/17 :::: 2.8 :::: 28.6
10/20/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 28.6
10/21/17 :::: 6.2 :::: 34.7
10/22/17 :::: 5.4 :::: 40.2
10/23/17 :::: 0.0 :::: 40.2
10/24/17 :::: 6.0 :::: 46.2

Tonight's speedwork was my favorite - I pretty much complain about/dread all the workouts but I mind this one the least . So it was 60-60s, which is 60 seconds hard, 60 seconds easy times 14. With warm-up, sprints and cool-down it came to 6 miles on the dot (I had to go a few extra steps to get it to that of course).

Just a week left in the month and it's going to be one of my lowest mileage months in the last two years since I've been keeping track. More rest days than running days. It's all right though because I'm going to meet the only goals I set for the month, which were to PR my half marathon (done on Oct 1) and to not quit running after that.