June 2018 Running Challenge

2.5 miles today. 4.75 Total. 70.5 to go. I got this!

Some one shared this book on my FB feed, and I though y'all would enjoy it..



(Click to see on Amazon )

It's already the 2nd June, and we are only at page 7? The heat must be slowing this thread down

The heat for sure slowed me down the last couple of days. Yesterday I started the run by an unplanned early afternoon run. Usually I'd still be sitting at my desk at 15:00, but there was a problem with my computing account, and I couldn't do anything. Good thing I keep running clothes in my office for "emergencies" , so I could head out for an hour and hope that the problem would be fixed during that time. It wasn't. And I got to enjoy the full glory of the sun - hot and humid. Maybe next time I stare longingly out the window during a meeting, I will remind myself that early afternoon is the hottest time of the day and not the ideal running time. Although even humid runs are better than some meetings

Today I overslept my alarm and missed the chance to run while it's cool. So I went with plan B: a short easy run in the mountains (*mostly* parallel to them, not up), where it's a bit cooler, and part of the way is shaded by trees. And the path I picked is super muddy, so I had to go nice and slow anyway. Gave me more time to enjoy the lovely view!

So far I'm at 14km for June. But I'm not setting a distance goal this month. Next Friday my brother is getting married, so I'll fly there on Thursday, and after that three weeks of summer vacation start! Camping / round trip through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania I'll try to go running at least twice per week, but most runs are probably going to be short, 6km max, since I'm traveling with my sister and that's the longest distance she ran in the past year. So I'm not sure if I will get past 50km or 60km this month.

6/1 14miles
6/2 6miles (walk)

My legs and right hip were still feeling a bit banged up from yesterday’s 14 miler so I decided to take a rest by walking my scheduled run. So 6 miles. My hip complained a little bit, but hopefully by Monday when I run again it will feel normal.

On a happy note I dropped some serious dough at the running store this afternoon. They are having their anniversary sale so everything is 20% off including already discounted stuff! I got my Brooks Glycerin last year’s model (discounted) and this year’s new model! Plus, 2 pair of Belaga socks which are my favorite!

6/1 = 4 miles
6/2 = 5.5 miles

Blech on hot and humid runs.

Oh, I won a Strava contest! I never win anything- surprised the hell out of me. I entered the Runderwear challenge thing on a lark. Running specific underwear sounds a bit weird but i figured what the hell. Allegedly they are sending me free pairs. We will see... lol

150 goal miles / 9.5 miles complete

Upcoming Races (so far):
6/23/2018 -Fit Foodie 5k
10/10/2018 -Tough Mudder Half
10/27/2018 -Hill Country Halloween Half Marathon
1/26/2019 -Fitbit Topical 5k
1/27/2019 -Miami Marathon

Goal for June:
Continue PT for Plantar fasciitis
50 miles for June – run/walk depending on foot
Incorporate speed work on Tuesdays each week (also dependent upon foot is feeling)

06/01 Rest Day
06/02 - 2.80 - AKA 5K Race

Total: 2.80/50

This morning race we will call the 5K that really wasn’t a 5K. Partly my fault because we have to cross an overpass bridge on the route and run two blocks. People were turning around at the first block instead of second block. I followed the people in front of me and realized too late that it would be short the 5K distance. I didn’t think it was going to be 0.30 short and I ran until my Garmin said 2.80 after the finish line. Strava recorded a 2.70 run. Not sure why discrepancy. And it was 83 F at start with a feel like of 87 F, humidity 90%, dew point 76. I did have to run/walk the race.

Medal bling in photos.

@PastorVincent - good luck at your races tonight

Upcoming races (Question marks are races not yet registered for):
Louisiana Marathon Quarter Marathon - 01/13/2018 - Done
Mardi Gras Mambo 10K - 02/17/2018 - Done
Q50 Races Sunset Gulf - 6.5 miles 3/24/2018 -DNS
Fat Boy 5K - 04/14/2018 - Cancelled due to Tornado Warning
Active for Autism 5K - 05/05/2018 - Done - Walked
AKA CANN 5K - 06/02/2018 - Done - Run/Walk
BIG EASY BIG HEART 5K 7/21/2018 - ?
August Race - ?
Saints Kick Off Run - 09/08/2018 -?
WHOA Racing Cane Field Classic 2018 (Machete 7 – 1 mile/4 mile/2mile) 10/13/2018- ?
Cajun Cup OR Middendorf's Manchac Run - 11/10/2018 - ?
St Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend 10K - 12/01/2018

In contrast to all the tales of running in the heat, I had 90 minutes of wet, wild and chilly weather this morning. Gale force winds and torrential showers and a rather cool 13 degrees C. On top of this, I’m still feeling the effects of skipping (jumping rope) for 10 minutes on Thursday - my calves are still protesting! Time to get the foam roller out and do some stretching (and possibly have a nap!).

1 June: 9.77
2 June: yoga
3 June: 15.11

Total, 24.88 of an ambitious 150km for the month


Upcoming events
17 June, Xterra Trail Run, 11km +/- 200m
8 July, Xterra Trail Run, 12.1km
29 July, Xterra Trail Run, 12.5km
19 August, Xterra Trail Run, 11km
25 August Mt Maunganui Half
9 September, Xterra Trail Run, 13.2km
29 October, either Auckland Half or Queenstown Half, can't decide!!!
17 November, Kerikeri Half or Xterra Trail Challenge Waihi 20.5km (undecided here too)

Finally posting. I've decided to stop worrying about how slow I am and focus on building mileage for now. I'll worry about speed later. It is much easier for me to say that than to actually do that because I can be a bit competitive.

Here's what I need to keep reminding myself: "Comparison is the thief of joy" - I don't recall where I heard that, but it is perfectly right for me at this moment. So I can't forget it.

In May, I fell a few miles short of my 100 mile goal. In June, as I want to build mileage, I'm going to push the goal a bit higher and still hope to achieve it.

So the June goal is 116 miles. I did a 20K today and Garmin came up with 12.7 miles. I understand this because the road was wide enough and I definitely did not have straight lines across the shortest points. I didn't focus as much on speed and tried to enjoy it, which I did. Unfortunately, my BG ran low - down to 38 mg/dl around mile 5. After treating, I stabilized in the 40's and continued treating, but never really got out of the 40's until after I had been finished for awhile. Being stable is good enough that they didn't have to come pick me up off the road, but I'm sure it impacted my time. In fact, Garmin shows almost 9 min. of non-moving time. Mostly that was the 3 times I stopped to test BG, treat the low, and talk to the medics along the course.

Anyway, I understand why Garmin came up with 12.7 miles as a result of the side-ways movement and taking wide turns and such. So I'm counting the 12.7 miles.



Tomorrow, I'm going to head out to run a few miles with Don Muchow. He is an ultrarunner who also has type 1 diabetes... so basically someone who struggles with some of the same medical issues as me, and he runs a ton of miles. He's doing the Relay Iowa route starting tomorrow (339 miles?), and is doing it solo. I have to say that this man is a real inspiration for me, so I'm quite excited to finally meet him in person. Shameless plug: His website is https://t1determined.org/ if you want more details.

RACE REPORT

So the first race of the night was a 1 miler. I was thinking I would like to PR it, and then break that PR at the big 1 mile race in the fall. So I line up as close to the front as I can, but it was already two did deep with little kids. Not a prime starting location.

Gun goes off and I try to take off, only to stop two strides in to prevent running over a kid or 6. The race started with a lap around the track, and pretty much the full lap I was fighting to get around people. As we finished the lap we pass the timing clock and it read 1:36. Was that good? I could not be sure, the math part of my brain was not responding to calls, so I just pressed on and through the gate to the rest of the course. The course turned uphill here and that really thinned out the crowd. I held my pace up the hill and flew past more people.

Two minutes click by and my Garmin announces a pace of 7:20. That can NOT be right. I was doing at least 6 if not faster. I was sure of it. So I decide that the Garmin must have a bad GPS lock and I push on.

At the 1/2 mile point, there was a flippen water station. Really? Well, thankfully I am well ahead of the crowds at this point and fly right through without slowing down. Up another slight incline and round a bend. I am picking people off pretty good now, and still holding what feels like a solid PR pace. I was pretty sure I was maxed out for a mile run.

Make the final turn and back on to the track for the last 1/4 mile. I switch to gazelle style running on the flat track and pass one more person. Come around the bend and see the timing clock. 6:50somthing as I finish. Ugh. Way slower than I expected.

As my tradition, I went back found my wife and finished a second time with her. Our friend also finished and we were all talking about how slow our times were verse how the run felt. So I pull out my phone and check the weather. The dew point was very high, meaning the air was nearly 100% saturated with water. UGH. No wonder it felt so hard.

I checked the standings right before I left. NINTH OVERALL!! My first ever top ten finish! Also won my AG. I guess the nice thing about bad running weather, is all racers run in the same weather. Most of the top 10 was made up of high school kids, so not really surprising to lose to them at my age.

Well after that was the 5k. I did not yet know about my place in the 1 mile, but I now knew about the weather and lowered my expectations for the 5k. My goal fell from PR to just a solid finish. The field was very crowded at the start again, so when the gun went off I was once again fighting for position. Cleared the track and hit the first hill before people started dropping off. Pushed through 1 mile and more people started walking. By a mile and a half I was clear of most of the slower runners that should have started at the back and I settled into what felt like a reasonable race pace.

As I crossed two miles I was finally feeling warmed up for the first time all night there had not been time to warm up before either race but now I was ready. I picked the person in front of me, passed them, and picked the next. I played that game all the way to the finish. Offical time was 23:55. Not a PR, but give the conditions overall not bad.

Earned me 25th overall (out of 225) and 4th in AG. I think if I had a better start I could have done a little better, but it was not a night for a PR.

Tough weather, but I think I performed well despite it. Tomorrow I hope to get a real training run in, but unless this humidity breaks I am doomed.