January 2018 Running Challenge

I finally made it back from Key West, about 1 am Friday (over 25 hours delayed). And I immediately regretted coming back. If only I could afford it, I would be a snowbird for sure.

Although I ran twice after my race in Key West, because I couldn't stand not to run given the weather and the ocean right there, I am taking some more rest time after the HM so I don't burn out physically or mentally. I had set my alarm this morning to go to the long run and when it went off, I was brought to my senses and said "no, thanks, plan calls for rest for the week after HM" and turned it off. Plus the dog wanted to sleep in, and in the rare event that happens, I want to seize the opportunity!

In a moment of insanity this morning though, I signed up for the NYC marathon lottery. If I get in, this would be my sign that I am training for a marathon I guess!

@_nikkiwolf_ Good luck at your races today! Hope you figured out a good solution for clothes, it does sound miserable to stand around cold and wet between races. I would have signed up too - such value!

@HRKinchen Great job on your first nonstop 5k! Tremendous achievement.

@hjeppley good luck on your night half! 6 pm is an interesting start time. I think your eating plan seems like a good approach.

@BruinsGal_91 good luck to you tomorrow on your 10k!

Good luck to @LaurenFOB2301 as well! I didn't go back far enough to see what your event is but saw some other good luck wishes, so I'll add mine!

Great job pacing @Orphia!! So impressed. I would have totally run with you as my pacer - I'm still looking to crack 30 minutes for a 5k. I think I've done it in a 5k split in a longer race but every 5k I've done recently something happens and I don't get it. Anyway, so happy for you in your expanding roles with your parkrun group and all your success!

Congrats to @MNLittleFinn and @JessicaMcB on getting into your crazy person epic races.

@zdyb23456 awesome job on your great time for a HM distance - with ice and snow!

Sorry for the cold weather in the south where it is not expected. I felt the pain of all the problems it caused in Atlanta. Not the best time to fly Delta through their hub. Fortunately I actually didn't spend much time physically there - just a quick run between flights once I actually got there. (PS, thank goodness I'm in shape to do that kind of run now - I would not have made it a couple of years ago).

@HonuNui love your snorkeling pic - this one especially! I love turtles so much. I went on a sailing, snorkeling and kayaking excursion in Key West but it was so cold everyone chickened out of the snorkeling. I was tempted and would have done it if anyone else did, but it was very cold and choppy too, so the visibility would not have been great. I did get to do the kayaking and we saw a lot of birds of different varities and one of these:

A spotted sea hare!

Have a great weekend everyone! Good luck with races to anyone I missed.
Edited to add congrats to @polskagirl01 on your race and congrats to your son too!

Apologies for double-posting, but my previous post was so long I didn't want to add to it again. I just wanted to comment about how much fun I had doing a destination race vacation. I travel solo 90% of the time when I do travel, and this was one of the best trips I've had. The camaraderie of runners was amazing. I met runners everywhere I went (it's a small island ) and immediately had things to talk about. I stayed at a guest house type of hotel and had the most fun sitting by the pool and in the whirlpool chit-chatting with other runners. One couple in particular almost convinced me to sign up for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on the spot. Lol.

I am just blown away by the fact that I can do this (run) and enjoy so many benefits, the biggest of which has to be all the friends and acquaintances I've made along the way - including all of you invisible friends here! /end mushy feelings post.

1/1 - 5.0 km
1/2 - 5.1 km
1/3 - strength + walk
1/4 - 5.7 km
1/5 - walk
1/6 - 8.1 km
1/7 - rest
1/8 - strength plus core
1/9 - 5.8 km
1/10 - strength plus core
1/11 - 5.5 km
1/12 - rest
1/13 - 10.4 km
1/14 - rest
1/15 - rest
1/16 - 5.8 km
1/17 - 3.2 km
1/18 - 5.4 km
1/19 - strength
1/20 - 6.3km

66.3/80 km (stretch goal 100 km)

Frosty and foggy out this morning. I was a bit underdressed, I think because of the fog - it made it feel a few degrees cooler than it was.




Upcoming Races:
1/1/18 Resolution Run 5K ~38:00 (no official times)
3/4/18 MEC Road Race #1 10K
4/7/18 Jasper Half Marathon
4/22/18 MEC Trail Race #1 5K
5/20/18 MEC Trail Race #2 10K
6/24/18 MEC Trail Race #3 15K
8/18/18 Edmonton Marathon 10K
9/2/18 MEC Trail Race #4 10K
10/7/18 MEC Trail Race #5 15K

1/1 5.9miles
1/2 5miles
1/3 13.1miles!
1/4 5miles
1/5 8.4miles
1/6 4miles
1/7 rest
1/8 6.67miles
1/9 5miles
1/10 6miles
1/11 13.1miles!
1/12 8.09miles
1/13 4miles
1/14 rest
1/15 5.75miles
1/16 6.15miles
1/17 9.17miles
1/18 5miles
1/19 13.1miles!
1/20 5miles

Dragged myself out to run 5 miles and was glad I did. The weather was wonderful- sunny and mid 40ies. A huge swing from freezing snowy weather!

My mind is a bit stressed about the government shutdown. I’m hearing we won’t get paid, which makes me so upset. My husband is deployed overseas putting his life on the line and is now not getting paid for it.

It took me awhile to get caught up on this post. I missed my run on Thursday and did not run yesterday either. But everything went really well with my dad and his pacemaker yesterday. It was supposed to be a day surgery, but we were prepared that they might keep him overnight since so many people we have known who had them stayed overnight and he is 80 years old and had a triple bypass 4 years ago. When the doctor came to talk to us afterward he said he had originally planned to keep him overnight but after seeing him he did so well and was in great shape actually phenomenal shape thatbhe was going to release him. Daddy seemed really good afterward too and didn't seem groggy or anything. It was really a relief. And now the weather is beautiful it is 66°f and should be in the 70's this afternoon and again tomorrow. I am planning to run here in a bit. I am still working on my HM training plan and will probably try to get that all figured out this weekend.

Congrats on getting a spot at LAU and on your sponsorship! @jessicamcb

@katharmonic Glad you finally made it home!

@HonuNui I just love your snorkeling pictures.

To everyone else that I missed Good luck on your races! And feel better to all those with injuries and illnesses.

YTD Stats:
7,935’ gain
56.59 miles

Jan 20: Wolf River 5k

Ran 31:10 which is a PR! My goal of being sub 30 by June is starting to seem more doable.

This race was way more serious than our previous 3 races, which had an abundance of walkers. No walkers today! I guess if you're going to run at 7 am in January with ice on the ground you probably take it seriously, but also, this is the first of a series leading up to a half marathon, and the majority of racers were subscribed for the whole series. I looked up the lady who won my age category and she's a running coach who has run Boston. Considering the caliber of participants I feel like I placed respectably, 20 out of 40 in my age group and about halfway overall. I'm starting to get the hang of judging the crowd and figuring out where to start - we started about halfway back, were passed by a bunch of people, and then passed about the same number of people on the last mile who had gone out too fast and then crapped out.

This course heads down one lane of the road, then back along the Wolf River Greenline, which has four lengthy concrete foot bridges back and forth across the river and its branches. The asphalt trails were mostly clear, but all the bridges were still icy, which made me glad we had run the course last week when it was also icy and figured out how to handle the bridges. The first bridge we came to, everyone was walking it single file in two rows on either side of the bridge and clinging desperately to the handrails like a bunch of calves on ice. Because we had been there before, we knew that the slushy ice in the middle of the bridge, which looks the deepest, is actually the softest and most slushy and perfectly safe to run if you are careful to stomp downwards instead of pushing off forwards, unlike the sheets of glare ice next the handrails which are completely treacherous. I was leading and said to my husband, "We're gonna charge this bridge right up the middle," and he said, "Yep." And we did, stomp stomp stomp right between the two rows of struggling people, didn't even slow down. We did all four bridges the same way with no problems, and it probably shaved a minute or more off our time.

Once again, we were beaten by a lady with stroller. Same lady who beat us last time. I looked her up too, and it turns out she's also a running coach who teaches a class about running with strollers. Huh. Still, my new ambition is to run a 5k where I am not passed by anyone too young to walk!

One of the most fun parts of the day was walking afterwards. I wanted to get in about two more miles, and so we headed into the trails which weren't being used for the race, where we discovered we had entered the elite land of "I just finished a 5k so now I'm starting my real run." Everyone out there was all smiles and knowing nods of recognition and even though we were just walking, it felt good to be smiled at by the elite.

Definitely a good day!

1/1 - 4 miles
1/2 - 5 miles
1/3 - 5 miles
1/4 - rest day
1/5 - 6 miles
1/6 - Skip's indoor track and field meet
1/7 - 6 miles
1/8 - 0 had long work day
1/9 - 7 miles
1/10 - 6 miles
1/11 - 6 miles
1/12 - 0 miles rest day
1/13 - 0 miles life got in the way day
1/14 - 8 miles
1/15 - 0 miles - Skip had a meet
1/16 - 5 snowy miles with Skip
1/17 - 4 miles
1/18 - 0 had to get to work early and worked late
1/19 - 0 same as above
1/20 - 10 miles

72 of 110 miles



I've been so busy the last few days but I did lots of likes, hugs and some woos on posts. I did my best to make up 16 hours of works plus work. Now the government shut down ugh....come kids play nice this girl doesn't want to take vacation time while you *kitten* are getting paid to be *kitten*.

Such a pretty morning for a run 50F/10C at start slight wind out of the South, mostly sunny. I happily got in a nice long 10 miler, though I gotta say I felt crappy pretty much the whole time. But I feel good I got it done and in a 12:44 pace so not bad.

I need to go read the thread.

January goal: Keep kicking at Zumbro training
Nominal mileage goal: Let's say 140? I really don't know. Real plan is to follow training and coach's advice well.

1/1- REST
1/2- 8.1
1/3- 6.4
1/4- REST
1/5- 4.8
1/6- 8.1
1/7- 5.4
1/8- REST
1/9- 8.5
1/10- 6.7
1/11- REST
1/12- 9.3
1/13- 10
1/14- 6.6
1/15- REST
1/16- 4.9
1/17- 6.8
1/18- REST
1/19- 6.2
1/20- 14

Total: 105.8

Today's notes: Today's assignment was 3:00:00 trail run. Got in exactly 14 miles. The snow on tje trails was turning into mashwd potatoes by the end, so there was some serious slowing going on. Temps were very warm at like 32f by the time i got done. Disappointed that i couldnt get 15 ot 16 miles in, but any run beats sitting on my rear getting fat, so I guess there's that.

Oh, the excitement and freak out of getting into Superior50 hit me this morning. My race calendar is full and its all awesome races, 3/4 of which promise to test my limits. Its going to be an epic 2018!

Have a Runderful day!

2018 races
3/28- END-SURE 50k
4/13- Zumbro Endurance Race 100 Mile
7/28- Minnesota Voyageur 50 (coach brought up this one)
9/8- Superior Trail 50 mile.

January Running Totals (miles)
1/1 – rest/injury
1/2 – rest/injury
1/3 – rest/injury
1/4 – rest/injury
1/5 – rest/injury
1/6 – 1.59 test run
1/7 – rest day
1/8 – 2.01 easy
1/9 – rest day
1/10 – 3.00 easy
1/11 – rest day
1/12 – rest day
1/13 – unplanned rest day
1/14 – 3.04 easy
1/15 – rest day
1/16 – 4.68 easy
1/17 – rest day
1/18 – 5.17 easy
1/19 – rest day
1/20 – 3.01 group run

January running total to date – 22.50

Nominal challenge goal: No specific distance

Real goals: Start January getting back to running regularly. Finish January in base building mode, giving myself a chance to start and complete Boston 2018.

Today's notes – Today there was a "meet the staff" run from Fleet Feet Ridgeway. We are between training sessions, so I wasn't pacing; instead they had various staff members pacing and were marketing the training session that starts next Tuesday.

Weather was pretty nice, 39º F (+4º C) with 22 mph W wind. I set out with the 8:00 pace group, "led" by a staffer who has never paced a group run; but the two of us following him have both paced 8:00 or 8:30 for the program. There was no new snow, but the route forced us onto poorly plowed sidewalks for quite a way. This would have been no big deal if I'd been health, and I was wearing trail shoes; but with the hurt quad, every little thing that shouldn't matter seems to swell up in importance.

I was doing okay when we got to streets we could run on, but then came a second stretch of the poorly plowed sidewalks. I made the executive decision to wimp out at 3 miles instead of continuing for the full 5 miles offered. Average pace was 8:35, which was reasonable for the footing, my quad, and the fact that the other regular pacer is recovering from running the Houston Marathon.

Afterwards I stretched, borrowed the demo Addaday roller, and my quad felt great. Doesn't bother me at all right now; but it was a royal nuisance while running. The other regular pacer even noticed that my gait was uneven.

On the plus side, I've managed to run on alternate days for a full week. On the minus side, I still can't count on being able to run a real distance. Maybe I'll do a short run tomorrow, 2 or 3 miles, to set myself up for Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday running next week. It depends on how I'm feeling tomorrow afternoon.

At this point I'm undecided whether I'll run Freezeroo #4 next Saturday (certainly not at a real race pace) or attempt to pace 5 or 8 miles for the training program. That might turn out to be a late Friday decision.

Getting old is not for sissies. And neither is recovery from running injuries.

2018 races:
January 27, 2018 Freezeroo #4 (Hearnish 5 mile) (Victor, NY)
February 17, 2018 Freezeroo #5 (Valentines Run "In Memory of Tom Brannon" 8 Mile) (Greece, NY)
February 24, 2018 Freezeroo #6 (White House Challenge 4.4 mile) (Webster, NY)
April 16, 2018 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)

While i dont usually post long updates, this one is such an accomplishment i just had to share. Today i completed my first 5k and did so much better than i had planned for. I decided to walk to the race so i wouldnt have to deal with parking and i wanted to be able to do a sluggish jog around the course so i could get a better feel for it. Turns out they changed the course, probably due to all the softball games at one end of park. I could have sworn they told people who decided to walk, had dogs or strollers to keep to the right of the path but either i was wrong or people cant read directions. So for the first half mile i was weaving thru people, which is annoying. Luckily there was a group of military (not sure of the branch) so i tried my best to keep pace with them, kept up with them until about 2.5mi and so i just had to slow for cuz my HR was through the roof. So i walked for about 10 seconds to regroup and noticed that my rabbit and walking slow so as i passed her i mentioned that she was going great and by knowing shes ahead of me it was giving me the motivation to keep going. So we finished the rest of the 5K together. Ive never been able to hold a conversation with someone while running long distances (i also prefer to run alone lol) so it was awesome to be able to do that.
As i came around that last turn and saw that the clock was almost at 38 minutes so i sprinted as fast as i could cuz i wanted to beat my last PR of 37:59. I crossed the line at 37:55 and was super please but was even happier when i got the email with the official times....i had forgot that my time didnt start/end until i crossed the line. So my official time was 36:37 with an 11:47/mi pace. I placed 14/38 for my age division which i was at the tail end of my age group. There were 10 other females the exact same age as me and i was 3rd. 88/315 for all females and overall i placed 181/515. Now im not exactly how that all breaks down with percentage wise but i do did a freaking awesome job, especially since i literally started running on Nov.19 and i smoke like a chimney. now its time to sleep. lol