March 2018 Running Challenge

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  • Teresa502
    Teresa502 Posts: 1,858 Member
    juliet3455 wrote: »
    sarahthes wrote: »
    Teresa502 wrote: »
    sarahthes wrote: »
    @juliet3455 Third Winter almost makes me want to move back to BC.
    Plus once the road bans are on work gets deader than a doornail.

    What are road bans? People can't drive on the roads?

    Basically during spring thaw heavy trucks are banned from the gravel/dirt road system to keep them from getting torn up (because they will get churned to mud).
    A lot (but not all) of our work comes in from those remote sites so things get pretty slow.

    @Teresa502 To add to @sarathes - to save the roads from damage the Transportation department will impose a maximum load weight restriction on transportation trucks. 50 to 75% depending on the road. So if your truck could haul 200,000 lbs/kgs during normal conditions you would be restricted to 100,000.
    If a load must get through companies will then add extra wheels to the truck/trailer combination to spread the weight out over more tires. An example image below where they have 3 extra load carrying axles at the front on a removal-able pony and a tri-axle trailer with a 2 axle jeep trailer added onto the back end. With 5 extra axles and so many extra tires they are real nasty to drive, need lots of room to turn because of the length and extra pivot point.
    yaydytvpvy39.jpg
    Oh my - that's a long trailer!! I'm impressed by the skill it takes to drive a normal tractor-trailer (especially backing). Can not even imagine how hard it would be to navigate that!
  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    RespectTheKitty wrote: »
    I have been unable to run since starting yet another new medication about a month ago. Side effects of this medication include back and leg pain, and I have been experiencing both, as well as really bad pain in both hips. I feel stiff and sore all the time.

    It's easier to fight through the pain when I'm walking, so I've been doing a lot of that. I'm looking into getting a bicycle for the warmer months, assuming I'm going to be staying on this drug. I have an appointment with my doctor this weekend where I plan to discuss my issues. We'll see what happens. In the meantime, it really stinks not being able to run like I want to. Not to mention all the weight I've gained in the last month. It's super depressing, the exact opposite of what this stupid drug is supposed to be doing for me.

    I'm beginning to think there's not a medication out there that will work for me. I've tried seemingly everything in the past 20 years. Yet another thing to discuss with the doctor.

    In the meantime, I cry every time I see someone running. I want to, so badly, but I just can't.

    Aw, hon, I feel for you. I hope you get this worked out. It definitely does not sound like that is the right medication for you though. Nothing should make you feel worse than you already do.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    BruinsGal_91 wrote: »
    lporter229 wrote: »
    @alphahowls- Kudos to you. I love that philosophy. Please don't ever lose sight of it. As you may have noticed if you have read my recent posts, I am currently struggling with the dilemma of forgetting about speed in order to embrace the joy of running.

    My story is kind of ironic actually because what you wrote above used to be me. For years and years I ran just to run and because I enjoyed it. I did not care about speed and I rarely ever ran in organized races. Somewhere along the way I ran a few races and then a friend of mine convinced me to run a marathon with her. After all of that training, I naturally got faster and the next time I ran a race I realized that, by virtue of getting older and being a long time runner, I was actually competitive in my age group.

    Well, let me tell you, that adrenaline rush of giving it all you've got and finishing at the top of the pack is kind of addictive. So much so that I find it hard to not run all out in races, even if that is not what I had planned. But the truth is, I know that this is not what is best for me and that it actually hurts me as a runner. My goal is to be able to run, not win races or anything, just run, as long as I am able to walk. In order to do this, I know that I need to adapt that philosophy that I once had, your philosophy. I just need to run for the joy of running.

    I am looking forward to doing more trail running because I know that trail running embodies everything I love about running, the serenity and peace it brings, along with the sense of community rather than competition. I really wish that running trails was as convenient as running on the roads, because that is what is holding me back. My commitment to myself this summer is not to let that hold me back. I just need to make it happen then same way I make a run happen when it doesn't fit neatly into my schedule.

    Sorry for the rambles here. If you haven't noticed, I have been going through a bit of soul searching lately...

    Hah! This could be me. I started running in my late 30s. Wasn't particularly fast, but enjoyed it. Enjoyed it enough to keep doing it and even enter a few races. By then I was in my 40s and the 40-49 age-group is very competitive so I was never in danger of placing. Then I started training for a handful of half marathons and found I was getting faster. Next thing I knew, I was in my 50s and suddenly started placing in my races. It's a great feeling, but I'm also concerned I'm getting away from that whole running for the fun of it thing. I'm hoping the parkrun which has been set up near my home is going to help me get back to that.

    See, I am very competitive - I was a high level jumper rider when I was younger. For me, competing IS the fun part. But I am not very fast so I had resigned myself to competing against my own PRs thinking that even an age group placing was hopelessly out of my each. But now, unexpectedly, I checked my 5k time yesterday against the finish of last year's St Jude Marathon Weekend 5k in the age group I'm about to enter (turning 50), and find if I did that speed last year I would have been second. So now it's on. Especially since I know I've got more in me, assuming I can avoid injury and continue to improve my conditioning.

    I had a very good trainer when I was riding - the sort of person who will matter of factly help you up off your rear when you just completely blew an expensive out of state competition and say, "Well, that was a learning experience." I plan to keep her in mind as I try to become more competitive as a runner. And in the case of running, it's all not just a learning experience but a health building experience and a pleasure to be in the out of doors and for some people a social experience. In my case it's an "I ate a whole stack of fries with ketchup and my blood glucose never topped 100" experience. The benefits go on and on! But I am still really hoping some day to be competitive in my age group.
  • Azercord
    Azercord Posts: 573 Member
    @PastorVincent The 3.0s are amazing but the 3.5s don't pull as tight across the mid foot and I have narrow feet. If you do not have this issue then I've found the Lone Peaks to be a great line of shoes.
  • hjeppley
    hjeppley Posts: 230 Member
    amymoreorless wrote: »
    Hello crazy runners! I have been running but not checking in here. I have been really struggling with my energy level, illness, allergies and motivation these past 2 months. I finally dragged myself to the doctor and found out what was wrong. My vitamin B12 levels are low causing a type of anemia. No wonder I was tired and getting sick all the time! The doctor told me it could take up to 3 months of supplementation to feel better but I can already feel the improvement after 2 weeks. Thank goodness - I was starting to hate running because every one was becoming a miserable struggle.

    In other news - I officially registered for the Miami marathon in January...and the 5K the day before - You know, for a warm up run ;)

    It is great that you got this figured this out. I wonder if B12 is a part of my low ferritin issue that I discovered recently. I've start supplementing B12 as well as the iron so I am hoping that it turns around! It is good to know there is a reason and the fatigue isn't just from getting old. :smile:

    Congrats on signing up for your marathon!
  • hjeppley
    hjeppley Posts: 230 Member
    MNLittleFinn wrote: »
    Tomorrow is sure to be interesting, with 6-9 inches (15-23cm) of snow falling on the race course between 1300 today and 0700 tomorrow. Glad it's a somewhat shorter race.

    Good luck to the END-SURE runners! Sounds like your run is going to be interesting too! 50K a "shorter" race. :lol: Plenty long enough for me right now.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,162 Member
    Thanks @HonuNui I think that my suncreen is maybe 2-2.5 years so it should work through the spring.

    @amymoreorless I have had B-12 anemia before, and I was surprised at how much better I felt taking the injections. Hopefully you'll be feeling better soon.

    @hjeppley Good luck on Saturday. I hope the weather isn't too bad.

    @zerlinna87 I feel you. Some miles are harder than others.

    I'm glad today is a rest day after yesterday's sucky run. I'll have another rest day tomorrow. Of course with all the yard work I'll be doing I doubt it will be very restful. Lol. Sunday I am planning to get up really early and do my long run before church. It is supposed to be 93F on Sunday afternoon, so I want to get it in early.
  • PastorVincent
    PastorVincent Posts: 6,668 Member
    Azercord wrote: »
    @PastorVincent The 3.0s are amazing but the 3.5s don't pull as tight across the mid foot and I have narrow feet. If you do not have this issue then I've found the Lone Peaks to be a great line of shoes.

    I have a wide foot, and the Altra peeps said that shoe would fit. I guess I will find out!
  • MNLittleFinn
    MNLittleFinn Posts: 4,271 Member
    hjeppley wrote: »
    MNLittleFinn wrote: »
    Tomorrow is sure to be interesting, with 6-9 inches (15-23cm) of snow falling on the race course between 1300 today and 0700 tomorrow. Glad it's a somewhat shorter race.

    Good luck to the END-SURE runners! Sounds like your run is going to be interesting too! 50K a "shorter" race. :lol: Plenty long enough for me right now.

    Thanks! I'm using it for one of my final long runs in training.
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    @PastorVincent I love mine! I also have wide feet. I did buy mine in-person so I got to try them on. They are very cushioned and I am loving the no drop--so much that when I replace my road shoes in the next few weeks, I'm going zero drop there, too.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    edited March 2018
    Date Miles today - Miles for March

    3/1 8 miles - 8
    3/2 3.1 miles - 11.1
    3/3 12 miles - 23.1
    3/4 REST DAY
    3/5 4 miles - 27.1
    3/6 8 miles - 35.1
    3/7 REST DAY
    3/8 8 miles - 43.1
    3/9 REST DAY
    3/10 10.25 - 53.35
    3/11 REST DAY
    3/12 5.1 - 58.45
    3/13 8 - 66.45
    3/14 REST DAY
    3/15 8 miles - 74.45
    3/16 4 miles - 78.45
    3/17 REST DAY
    3/18 13.1 miles - 91.55
    3/19 REST DAY
    3/20 8.25 miles - 99.8
    3/21 4 miles - 103.8
    3/22 8 miles - 111.8
    3/23 REST DAY

    Upcoming races:
    Oak Barrel Half Marathon - 4/7/18


    I am taking a rest day today.
  • Teresa502
    Teresa502 Posts: 1,858 Member
    Good luck to everyone racing this weekend. Can’t wait to hear the reports from the 50kers!!!
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Mar 23: 5 miles trails - That's goal for March!

    exercise.png


    Following yesterday's lifting, my bad knee is being annoying - calf is swollen and feels like the tendons on the back of my knee are getting stressed from being out of alignment. It's especially annoying because my knee popped slightly while I was doing side lunges and afterwards seemed to be in better alignment than before, but then apparently not. And of course I'm worried now in case I have a blood clot in my calf - but I think probably not since it doesn't hurt when my foot is flexed, it's not warm or red, I have obvious knee issues which preceded the problem, and my overall symptoms such as blood pressure and blood sugar don't indicate that I'm stressed on a systemwide level. If it keeps bothering me I'll have to see someone to rule out a clot.

    In the meantime I strapped on my brace and ran five miles on trails. Very tired legs today! Park maintenance responded to the trail erosion following the flooding last month by dumping a ton on sand on the trails. So now there are long stretches of deep, loose sand, which is exhausting to run in!
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    Stoshew71 wrote: »
    Orphia wrote: »
    I'm doing an online course from the University of Kent called, "The Science of Endurance Training and Performance".

    In Week 3, we look at the "Psychological determinants of endurance performance" and we have an exercise where we look at critical situations we might come across. We then create a plan for each situation so we know what to do when we face that situation. Thought you might appreciate their list.

    kln19jdj0r7z.jpg


    This is my list:


    My goal this year is to do a 50 km run. I have been training for this since Jan. In the next month I will do my final long run/s and start to taper.

    On my long run/s:
    • If I start to feel tired then I will look at my form and breathing and adjust them to feel more comfortable.
    • If my shoulders get sore I will rotate my arms to ease the ache.
    • If I get breathless, I will run at a pace that feels like I can run forever.
    • If I think negative thoughts, then I will visualise completing my goal and remember my friend Aga's comment about my determination.
    • If I'm staring at the ground, then I will look up to try and find a nice photo opportunity.
    • If I start wanting to stop early, then I will focus on completing a mini-goal / route section so I feel hopeful.
    • If I worry about my time or pace, I will remember my year's goal is just completion of the 50 km run, so I don't need to worry.

    During fast / interval sessions, I will "Embrace the suck", and remember that this is how performance is improved so I try my best.

    The past week have been hell for me again due to some things in my personal life and have been MIA here. I'm trying to catch up on the posts and came upon this one. What really stood out was the "If my shoulders cramp...."

    If your shoulders are cramping, this is usually because you're running too stressed and your tightening up in the wrong places. Your shoulders should be relaxed and hanging low. When stressed we tend to let your arms ride up and your shoulders rise as well and tense up. This requires you to divert energy and steals it which causes needless cramping and makes you tire faster. Shoulders should always be relaxed. You can't move any faster forward by tensing up your shoulders. When your arms swing, they should just brush pass your hips (with arms loosely bent at about 90 degrees). If you catch them rising up it's usually because your arms are swinging about at your ribs level.

    Your hands should be cupped but loose. Imagine running with raw eggs (or someone else said potato chips) in your hands and you don't want them to break. Let them swing naturally in synch with your feet. You don't have to force them to swing.

    Also, all of your body parts in your left hemisphere should stay in the left and the body parts in your right hemisphere. What this means is if you draw a line down the middle of your head between your 2 eyes and down the middle of your torso and between your 2 legs to the ground, nothing on the left side of the line crosses over your body to the right, and vise versa. Many people allow their arms to swing forward and across to the other side which also wastes energy. No twisting of your hips either (even if Chubby Checker is playing in your earbuds) and your feet does not cross over either.

    Another thing with cramping shoulders is the hunching of your back. Back stays straight and stand tall, hips pressed forward. Not only will this rob energy and make your back sore, but you loose power because you are no longer running with butt power. You are forcing yourself to run with your thighs and hamstrings in inefficient ways which not only makes your run harder, but can cause injury. There is a youtube video about the clam exercise to help running with proper hip motion. Running with butt power means you are using your most power muscles (which are your glutes) when it comes to running. You want to engage them. Not only a straight back and hips forward, but squeeze them glutes together. This sounds weird, but imagine running and trying to keep a quarter pinned between your butt cheeks.

    One more thing with your feet and I notice this a lot in myself when I get tired. Sometimes our toes start to swing out to the side and we end up just hurling our leg forward. Not only are you getting robbed of energy and using the wrong muscles, but your landing will be off and could cause injury. Trying to force your toes straight doesn't usually go well for me, but instead, I try to twist my heel out. The heel doesn't really twist out to the side all the way, but enough effort is there to make my toes forward facing through out the swing phase and on the landing.

    And if you are ever too tired that it's almost impossible to continue running with good form, then that's usually a good sign that your done. Don't force your body to go further with bad technique. If anything, finish up with a walk. Or at least take a walk break until you can continue with good form.

    @Stoshew71 Good advice.


    I started a thread on the Mental Self-Talk tips I posted, and it's onto the second page of replies which include others' tips and tricks.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10651431/the-psychology-of-endurance/p1

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