February 2018 Running Challenge

Yesterday was this month's 5k race. I had a hard time with it, and was really struck with how completely "different hard" it was from the marathon. You would think that if you can run 27k comfortably at marathon pace, plus another 15k uncomfortably but determined, that you should be able to speed that up and knock out a fast 5k no problem. Nope! I'm currently trained to run long and slow. The good news is that it seemed like it was over very quickly, and I did have just enough left in the tank to finish fast and strong. Was a bit confused when my friend's husband called out, meters from the finish line, that she was right behind me. I wasn't even thinking about her-she was supposed to be at least a minute behind me... except her training for months has been 5k specific, so she has improved a lot! She didn't catch me, but did beat me by 4 seconds on chip time and met her time goal. I kept my streak going - was within my goal time, but a minute slower than I wanted to be, and was somewhat frustrated. But then I tried to put it into perspective. Last year at this time I was dreaming but doubtful about whether I could even complete a marathon, and would have been absolutely thrilled to run a 5k on a snowy, uneven trail in under 30 minutes.

So then in the evening I put the screw shoes back on and went out to see how fast I could do a mile. Wasn't thrilled with the results, but it does line up on the charts as comparable to today's 5k time. Clearly I have some speedwork to do if running faster is a priority for me. I think for this month anyway, it is.





My daughter decided she wanted to run today, too... everything went wrong and we were running late, so I had to run just to get her signed up, minutes before her age group started. She's in the baby-group, but started in the front this time and enjoyed herself. And we think my son placed 3rd or 4th... husband was at the finish and thought daughter's group was coming first, so wasn't looking for him.

Yesterday I logged on to Facebook while out of town and found out that the coach for our running program for the YMCA (across all Y's in the metro area) has been let go effective immediately. Seems to be a financial decision, they are going to make the triathlon coach the head of both the running and tri programs. I feel devastated. He built the running program, it's his method of training, he inspired all of us. I know there are meetings happening, and protests, and letter writing. I hope somehow it gets reversed or some other position is found. I would not be a runner without this program, and there is no program without our coach as far as we the runners are concerned. Just shocked and sad and angry.

Grrr...two attempts to run today thwarted by ice. First attempt in the park (that I thought would be better than the road but wasn't), second on the roads (which were mostly OK and then I'd hit a sheet of ice that was indistinguishable from the wet). Off to attempt to cobble together some facsimile of part or all of my 20 miler in the gym.

Hugs to @katharmonic -that so frustrating to lose such a good person!

2/1 Run 10.31 miles
2/2 Run 13.12 miles
2/3 Run 27.01 miles
2/4 Run 6.55 miles
2/5 Run 10.26 miles
2/6 Run 10.28 miles
2/7 Run 6.61 miles
2/8 Run 10.23 miles
2/9 Run 10.32 miles
2/10 Run 13.07 miles
2/11 Run 7.03 miles

2/1 - 3 miles
2/2 - 0 miles
2/3 - 3.1 Mardi Gras 5K
2/4 - 0 miles family stuff
2/5 - 8 miles
2/6 - 3 miles
2/7 - 0 miles
2/8 - 6 miles
2/9 - 3 miles
2/10 - 4 miles 5K and some extra
2/11 - 8 miles

38 of 110 miles



Skip and I ran together today, it was about 62F/16C but drizzly, rainy/drizzle most of the run, but it was warm so it didn't matter. Didn't want to wear my new shoes because I didn't want them to get wet ha ha. So pretty my new shoes.




@katharmonic I’m sorry to hear about your coach. It’s awful when you find someone you are comfortable with and like and have that happen.
@AlphaHowls your mileage amazes me, just awesome

sarahthes wrote: »

Teresa502 wrote: »

sarahthes wrote: »

Possibly for my upcoming race it's because of the elk...

http://www.jaspernationalpark.com/jnpwbios.html

I would not want to run across one of those - or those big horn sheep!

Not gonna lie, I saw someone try to pet one of the sheep once (yes, really...). It headbutted him and he flew back several feet to land in a very undignified position. Fourteen year old me thought it was hilarious...

Too funny!

No running for me this weekend -- all cycling.
Ready to do more strength training tomorrow, and run! Oops - I see I missed a rest day last week. OK, I will work that in somewhere. Or maybe the one for 2/3 can count for the next week.

2/1 - Strength Training - S3-A
2/2 - Rest
2/3 - Rest
2/4 - Daytona Beach HM 13.1
2/5 - strength training S3-A (repeating it)
2/6 - strength training S3-B + 2.89 miles treadmill
2/7 - 4 miles + Strength training S3-C (arms)
2/8 - 3.5 miles
2/9 - Strength training S3-D Glutes
2/10 - 44 miles cycling
2/11 - 51 brutal miles cycling

polskagirl01 wrote: »

Yesterday was this month's 5k race. I had a hard time with it, and was really struck with how completely "different hard" it was from the marathon. You would think that if you can run 27k comfortably at marathon pace, plus another 15k uncomfortably but determined, that you should be able to speed that up and knock out a fast 5k no problem.

Once you become a distance runner, you need to approach the "shorter" races WAY differently. In all likelihood, you were not even really fully warmed up by the end of the race. To run a 5k, you really should consider a couple miles of warm up before the race starts. It makes a big difference. Some people even say run the entire 5k course as a warm-up. It really does help.

02/01/2018 - 7.2 MPH for 7.2 Miles @ 4% grade
02/02/2018 - Shoe Shopping
02/03/2018 - 17 miles @ 9:50
02/04/2018 - Family trip to DQ instead
02/05/2018 - 10 miles at 10:04 pace
02/06/2018 - Meetings and such
02/07/2018 - 7.5 MPH for 10 miles @ 4% grade
02/08/2018 - Meetings
02/09/2018 - 7.5 MPH for 10 miles @ 4% grade
02/10/2018 - Shoe shopping - again
02/11/2017 - 10 miles @ 9:01 pace

Big Hairy Audacious Goal: Sub 4 hours in Pittsburgh 2018!

Official Marathon PR: 4:11:28

Next Races (more as I find them):

03/17/18 - Shamrock Shuffle Half Marathon + 5k + 1mile
04/07/18 - Achilles 9.3 Challange (10k and 5k back to back)
05/06/18 - Pittsburgh Marathon - aiming for sub four hours.
05/12/18 - Glacier Ridge 50k Trail Ultra (I must hate myself)

2020 - Disney World Dopey! (if can raise funds)


So was not the best running conditions. Okay, it was pretty bad. It was warm, 50 degrees, which would have been great if not for the wind and the clouds and the freezing cold rain... oh and the 4 inches of snow that was melting so fast under all that, that in places I was forced through ankle deep water.

BUT got 10 miles in, in my new Saucony's and my feet are not hurting, so that is good. Wanted to do a bonafide long run this weekend, but schedule is not allowing that.

Also, I have a new shoe dryer I bought, so get to try it out today! heh.

Logged a 10-mile walk with the dogs today - all in the rain. Was invigorating!

February Training:
02.01.18 - 10 m. 8:53 pace
02.03.18 - Run: 11.2 m. 8:28 pace; Bike Trainer: 88 minutes.
02.04.18 - run 1 m. Bike Trainer: 60 min. Chest congestion
02.05.18 - Run 1: 3 m @ 9:10 pace. Run 2: 7 m @ 8:45 pace.
02.06.18 - Run 3.5 m.
02.07.18 - Run 3.1 m.
02.08.18 - Run 1: 3.1 m. Run 2: 8 m. @ 8:26 pace
02.09.18 - Run 8 m. Hills @ 9:13 pace.
02.10.18. - Run 6.3 Bike 1 hour
02.11.18 - Run 9.6 miles (51.50 for the week) and Indoor Bike Trainer for 1 hour. (Ride 4 of month)

Upcoming Events:
3.04.18 - Little Rock Marathon
4.07.18 - Yakima River Marathon

February Goal:
Run: 200 miles, Bike: 10 rides, Swim: Start Program

February Running Totals (miles)
2/1 – 5.01 easy
2/2 – rest day
2/3 – 7.00 paced run
2/4 – 5.17 almost easy
2/5 – rest day
2/6 – unplanned rest day
2/7 – scheduled rest day
2/8 – 5.17 easy with fast finish
2/9 – rest day
2/10 – 6.17 partly paced run
2/11 – 6.52 at marathon pace

February running total to date – 35.04

Nominal challenge goal: 100 miles

Real goals: Transition from recovery to base building by end of month. Give myself a chance to start and complete Boston 2018.

Today's This weekend's notes – Didn't check in yesterday, so here's a two-day report.

Friday it snowed. I had to go drive through an active snow storm to get to and from my volunteer job. I hated it. More snow overnight. If I hadn't been committed to pace a training run, I would have slept in and run in the afternoon, which would have been much better running weather. But I got up at 4, ran the snowblower on the driveway, retired inside to have most of my normal Saturday breakfast and minor exercise routine, and made it to the store for the 7:30 paced run. There was snow on the sidewalks, snow on the shoulders, clear tire tracks, and slush between the tire tracks in the roads. Temp was about 30º F (-1º C), so traffic helped the snow melt on the roads; but the light snow still falling added to the depth everywhere there was snow on the ground.

There were no takers for an 8:00 pace, so I set out to run 8:30 with the regular 7:30 and 8:30 pacers and one guy tagging along for the company and pacing. The assignment was 7, 8, 12, or 13 miles. I figured after Thursday's wonderful, almost-normal run I'd be good for 8 miles at least, but 12 might be iffy.

Nope. Before we got to the 5 mile mark, my leg informed me that it did not want to run 7 miles. Notified the other pacers I was bailing, and headed back to the store by a shorter route. Slowed to a walk a bit short of the store when that seemed *really* advisable, and ended up with just short of 10K. Stretched, rolled, and felt like I was back where I'd been last Sunday. A real bummer. The snowy roads might have been fun if I'd been totally healthy, but I wasn't.

Today I didn't get out to run till 2:30 or so. By then it was 41º F (+5º C), and the sun came out from behind the clouds early in my run. I thought I'd see how 5 miles would go. Early on, I noticed what should be an easy run was coming in close to MP, and tried to slow myself down; but I spent a lot of time just running by feel, and every time I looked at my watch I was running close to MP. Got to 3.9 miles, and took the option to add distance. Ran around some familiar roads, and thought about 6, 7, or 8 miles. Ended up with 6.5 or so, feeling much better than after a shorter distance yesterday. Maybe I could have gone 8, but I was close to my driveway at 6.5 and didn't want to be excessively stupid.

So I sit here and ponder Boston. I'm getting better, but it's slow. I haven't run over an hour at a time since November. Hmm. There's a good chance I'll be able to run by Patriots' Day, but have no idea exactly how far I can run. That's not a good condition to be in when I have to decide whether to line up in Hopkinton. I'll have to think about what I do if that turns out to be the situation.

2018 races:
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)
March 17, 2018 USATF Masters 8K (Shamrock 8K, Virginia Beach, VA) – tentative
April 16, 2018 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA)

2/11 - 2km

Just came across this thread and it looks fun. I've been looking for a running challenge for awhile and am excited to get started. I'm coming in late and it's a short month so I'm going to put goal of 25 miles this month. Looking forward to sharing experiences and learning from everyone.