February 2019 Monthly Running Challenge
Replies
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Crafty_camper123 wrote: »@noblsheep 5.5 mph is plenty fast. I started out on the road running 10 min/km (4mph). Running slow helps build cardio fitness so you can run further.
I will try to slow my pace a bit and see if I can go further before I have to walk. 4mph is my "power walk" pace, so I'm not sure I can get a jog on at that pace. I will try out 5.0 tomorrow (If I'm not trying to get sick that is) and see how I fair. Woke up this morning with a bit of a sore throat and cruddy nose. I'm hoping it's just an effect of snoring and allergies.
I'm sort of curious to see when (at what pace) I get that "skippy" have to jog feel now...
Seriously, when I started running I (after following advice here) ran slower than I could walk. There's nothing wrong with that and once the idea sinks it it's a bit of a revelation that you can go a lot longer than you thought when you slow right down. Speed comes later without you even trying, but to begin with endurance is what you have to build up and that means go sloooooooow.13 -
February goal: 75 miles
2/2: 13.11 miles
2/5: 5.16 miles
2/6: 5.10 miles
23.37/75 miles completed
I had a nice 5.10 mile run this morning. Yesterday the forecast was calling for rain in the morning but by bedtime it look like it might not be raining after all so I set the alarm and decided I would see how it looked in the morning. I woke up a little before the alarm and it was not raining and weather app showed it was not raining and the rain was moving out. I looked out the window and saw we had had some rain but none at the moment. Started getting dressed looked at the weather again and now it showed light rain. Looked outside again and it seemed a little misty but not bad so I decided that since I was already up and dressed I would go ahead and run. The temperature being 66F helped and it wasn't pouring rain or particularly windy just a nice light rain that kind of came and went. I ended up enjoying running in the light rain. I did see a skunk again today (quite possible the same one from yesterday). I guess he is enjoying the springlike weather too.
@ContraryMaryMary Wow! Those pictures are beautiful. I've never run on sand, but it sure looks like a lovely place to run.
@ddmon0811 That looks like a fun place for a race. Good luck on it!
@amymoreorless I've been thinking about your question on whether it is easier to create a deficit through diet or exercise. I think it kind of depends on where you are in your fitness journey. In my experience, when I was heavy and inactive it was easier for me to eat less. Exercise really intimidated me and I didn't really enjoy it. When my youngest went to college I needed something to do so I started walking. I enjoyed it and decided that I also needed to start watching what I ate and I came on mfp with a goal to lose 60 pounds. I was walking for exercise but mostly I was creating a deficit in my diet. I also started doing yoga and I really loved it. I had always done aerobics when trying to lose weight and I had tried riding a stationary bike for a while, but honestly I never enjoyed it and never stuck with it. Once I hit my original goal I decided I needed a new goal so I thought I would do the C25K app. I was still walking a lot and kind of had the urge to run so I thought I would give it a shot. I really thought I would do the C25K app and then find something else after I finished that, but surprisingly (to me) I fell in love with running. I had switched to "maintenance" about the time I started running, but after I started running I lost about 20 more pounds. So the first 60 pounds I lost I lost by creating a deficit with my diet but the last 20 pounds I lost by creating a deficit with exercise. But I don't think I would have been able to exercise as easily when I started. So I guess long story short, I think that for overweight, inactive people it is easier to create a deficit with diet, but for someone who is already is fairly good shape and already active it can be easier to create the deficit with exercise.
2019 Races:
2/2/19: Catch the Groundhog Half Marathon - PR 2:15:1710 -
Another beautiful springtime-y day. I went out around 9:30 am and it was ~50F and sunny with only a tiny breeze. Just a recovery run on the agenda today, and boy did it feel good. My legs felt fatigued but not beat down (if that makes sense), and every mile just flew by. Even with some moderate rolling hills, I kept my average HR below 140 which is usually my goal for mid-training cycle recovery runs. Kept my mind busy with a podcast and before I knew it I was done!
In other news: I finished the book Running is my Therapy by Scott Douglas last night, which is about how running can help alleviate symptoms of depression/anxiety especially when paired with other therapies (talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, etc.). I know there are other people on here who struggle with depression and/or anxiety, and I'd say it's worth a read. It gives you a good sense of how running gives you a boost but in no way insinuates that all you need for good mental health is running.
Part of the book discusses running and self-medication (i.e. drinking), and I was musing during my run today about how I've feel far less anxious so far in 2019. I think it's mostly because I've been running a lot more but probably also because I did a "dry January" and can count on one hand how many drinks I've had so far this year. I had a major anxiety spiral in December, and I think part of what exacerbated it was that I was drinking fairly regularly. Without alcohol in my diet, I'm finding my HR/BP is lower and I sleep better on average. I'm more eager now than I was in early January to keep to a "no alcohol in the house" rule both to keep me feeling in tip-top shape for training but also to keep anxieties at bay.
February miles:
2/1: 10.5 miles
2/2: 8 miles
2/3: 16.2 miles
2/4: 3.3 miles
2/5: 10 miles
2/6: 7 miles
February total: 55 miles
2019 Races
March 24: Caesar Rodney Half Marathon (Goal: PR)
April 7: Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (Goal: Sub-75)
April 28: New Jersey Marathon (Goal: BQ)
July 6: Finger Lake Fifties 50k (Goal: Finish)
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eleanorhawkins wrote: »Crafty_camper123 wrote: »@noblsheep 5.5 mph is plenty fast. I started out on the road running 10 min/km (4mph). Running slow helps build cardio fitness so you can run further.
I will try to slow my pace a bit and see if I can go further before I have to walk. 4mph is my "power walk" pace, so I'm not sure I can get a jog on at that pace. I will try out 5.0 tomorrow (If I'm not trying to get sick that is) and see how I fair. Woke up this morning with a bit of a sore throat and cruddy nose. I'm hoping it's just an effect of snoring and allergies.
I'm sort of curious to see when (at what pace) I get that "skippy" have to jog feel now...
Seriously, when I started running I (after following advice here) ran slower than I could walk. There's nothing wrong with that and once the idea sinks it it's a bit of a revelation that you can go a lot longer than you thought when you slow right down. Speed comes later without you even trying, but to begin with endurance is what you have to build up and that means go sloooooooow.
It really hurt my pride but I've been doing this. I'm running 3.5mph whereas when I first got my treadmill I was setting it on 4.5 to 5.5mph. I also have asthma and my heart rate was so high. It's been a few weeks and I'm having no problem progressing in duration and I'm seeing improvements in my heart rate. I do look forward to running faster again 10 -
Crafty_camper123 wrote: »@noblsheep 5.5 mph is plenty fast. I started out on the road running 10 min/km (4mph). Running slow helps build cardio fitness so you can run further.
I will try to slow my pace a bit and see if I can go further before I have to walk. 4mph is my "power walk" pace, so I'm not sure I can get a jog on at that pace. I will try out 5.0 tomorrow (If I'm not trying to get sick that is) and see how I fair. Woke up this morning with a bit of a sore throat and cruddy nose. I'm hoping it's just an effect of snoring and allergies.
I'm sort of curious to see when (at what pace) I get that "skippy" have to jog feel now...
Power walking is a very effective way to build fitness and endurance. When I first decided to take control of my health I started with power walking and hiking. My goal was to get my HR up as much as I could while I walked. I still hated running at that time so I didn't do any of that.
After two months of only power walking I was pressured into running a 5k by my brother-in-law. To my amazement, I was able to run the entire route (but we had to stop for traffic lights a couple). It took nearly 40 minutes, but I did it!
That's what got me into running.14 -
A guy's recount of his first marathon, and the hard lessons learned:
https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/8btnzd/first_marathon_lessons_learned_painfully/
I especially loved the ending:
"She finished looking like she had stopped for a quick game of rugby and a boxing match. Respect."
This poor guy! Possibly my favorite thing is grabbing a quick breakfast at McD's when he never does that. He seems to have escaped any consequences, but this is not a good plan!
I read an article recently about an elite marathon trainer running his first marathon at the age of 50 something, he came into training from being a middle distance runner and had just never done it, even though he had trained people at the highest level. So you would think he knew how to prepare. And HE bonked at the 20 mile mark.4 -
girlinahat wrote: »Now as for this s morning, it's our national holiday here today, think 4th July with out the fireworks (well literal ones, we get a lot of political ones. A few years ago a politician had a *kitten* thrown at him in protest. Because he was being a dick. Get it?). So day off work midweek! Yay!
sometimes I just don't get MFP and its dislike of certain cuss words. Whatever was thrown at the politician becomes a kitten (poor kitty) but you can call him a dick?
Or is it just the contrast with British English - I mean we wouldn't really use the word fanny (because it references the 'front-bottom') but fanny-packs are sold in department stores across the US.
Oh for petes sake, I hadn't even noticed. The "kitten" was an dick shaped object beginning with d that is used during sex. Can I say sex?
And who says D i l d o as a cuss word? And for that, in weird language things. We dont use the word cuss here, it's a swear word.4 -
girlinahat wrote: »Now as for this s morning, it's our national holiday here today, think 4th July with out the fireworks (well literal ones, we get a lot of political ones. A few years ago a politician had a *kitten* thrown at him in protest. Because he was being a dick. Get it?). So day off work midweek! Yay!
sometimes I just don't get MFP and its dislike of certain cuss words. Whatever was thrown at the politician becomes a kitten (poor kitty) but you can call him a dick?
Or is it just the contrast with British English - I mean we wouldn't really use the word fanny (because it references the 'front-bottom') but fanny-packs are sold in department stores across the US.
And fanny here means back bottom. Parents tell their little kids that the fanny is gonna get spanked... well, least where spanking still happens. Although, unfortunately I’ve heard parents say some horrible thing to their kids in public, nothing any one should ever say to another being.
We always giggled at "the nanny" when in the intro song "she was out on her fanny" because fanny to us is vagina. And its also an old English name2 -
A guy's recount of his first marathon, and the hard lessons learned:
https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/8btnzd/first_marathon_lessons_learned_painfully/
I especially loved the ending:
"She finished looking like she had stopped for a quick game of rugby and a boxing match. Respect."
That was great! Having not done a marathon, nothing in that entire story made me want to try it. And then he sums up with thinking about the next one and having "caught the bug". Crazy guy!!6 -
@simcon1 - I forgot to mention to you a while back that there are a lot of really fun races in and around Seattle.
Some that I am aware of or have run are the Beat the Blerch HM in Carnation, The My Better Half Marathon around Valentine's Day, the Oiselle Tenacious Ten and Top Pot Doughnut Dash 5K, the Seattle Run series (5 and 10Ks) that are at Seward Park and there are also 5 and 10Ks around Green Lake but I don't remember what they are called. There was just a Tunnel to Viaduct 8K last weekend. Just so many races and running groups there!4 -
3/10 miles. Cutting down on biking from 20 miles a day to half that and giving myself 2 days of rest between runs has helped. Actually ran today for 16 minutes straight and it was over a mile. Started walking to cool down, but was too giddy and ran for 10 more minutes at a slightly faster pace. Yay for itty bitty progress! LOL7
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@lporter229 My race is this Saturday...the Phoenix Arizona Marathon. I'd like to get a BQ (3:20), which means I'm aiming for around a 3:10-3:15 or better.
@rheddmobile I think I read that same article...may have been in Runner's World.
@martaindale You'd be surprised at how many people claim 'never again' when crossing the finish line, only to be picking out another marathon the next day.
This morning, it was 70F. At 3am. In February. I'm glad I only had 6 miles to do.
Tonight, I'll be getting everything packed ready for tomorrow's flight. After that, I'll double check that I have everything. And then I'll re-check everything again a few more times just to be sure. I made a to-do list ages ago listing everything that I will need for the race, right down to remembering to fully charge my watch. And now you just watch me go and forget to pack my running shoes.
01 - 15.35
04 - 10.30
05 - 8.06
06 - 6.03
Total: 39.74 / 120 miles16 -
February Running Totals (miles)
2/1 –5.16 course preview
2/2 – 7.29 warmup, commute, 8K XC race
2/3 – 10.81 easy
2/4 – rest day
2/5 – 10.52 warmup, speed work, cool down
February running total to date – 33.78
Nominal February mileage goal: 190 miles
Real Goals: Train well toward Boston. Work the February races into the training plan smoothly. Remain uninjured, even if it means cutting back on planned mileage or races.
Today's Yesterday's notes – Took a rest day on Monday, with near perfect running weather in town. Can't complain too much, I had pretty good running weather for 4 days in Tallahassee.
Yesterday I went off to club practice. Wanted to talk to Coach about the appropriate workout, but he didn't show up. I think he took a couple extra days in Florida. So I ended up doing the workout from the marathon training plan:
2 x (1000, 1200, 1000) at interval pace with same time recovery
4 x 200 at rep pace with 200 recovery
Took the recovery as easy run after the first 1000 and 1200; then I took 4 minutes standing around (traditional between sets recovery), and took walking recovery after the intervals in the second set. After that, 4 x 200 at R felt pretty dang good.
Observations: I hate workouts with same time recovery. That generally means I need that much recovery. I spent some time standing on the track dreading this workout. Absent the peer pressure of being with other club members, I think my chance of getting the workout done would have been well under 50%.
Throw in a 2 mile warmup and a 1.5 mile cool down, and the total run was clearly over 10 miles. Maybe a half mile of it was the walking part of recovery, but that's not really significant in the grand scheme of things.
Today, I'm thinking I should have scaled back that workout. However, I have no clue as to how much I needed to scale it back. Sigh. I may just skip speed work Thursday entirely in favor of an easy run. It's an open question how far I'll run today; it's raining and 35°F (2°C) right now. Forecast is for more rain, I'll probably wimp out and run on the indoor track this evening.
2019 Races:
January 1, 2019 Freezeroo #2 (Resolution Run 7.5 mile) (Mendon, NY) finished in 50:55
January 5, 2019 Winter Warrior Half Marathon (Gates, NY) finished in 1:30:48
January 12, 2019 Freezeroo #3 (Pineway Ponds 5 Mile) (Spencerport, NY) finished in 33:10
January 26, 2019 Freezeroo #4 (Hearnish 5 mile) (Victor, NY) 4.9 miles, finished in 32:28
February 2, 2019 USATF XC Championship, Masters 8K (Tallahassee, FL) finished in 32:53
February 9, 2019 Freezeroo #5 (Tom Brannon 8 mile) (Greece, NY)
February 23, 2019 Freezeroo #6 (White House Challenge 4.4 mile) (Webster, NY)
March 16, 2019 USATF Masters 8K Championship (Shamrock 8K) (Virginia Beach, VA) finished in 32:53
April 13, 2019 BAA 5K (Boston, MA)
April 15, 2019 Boston Marathon (Hopkinton, MA to Boston, MA)
November 3, 2019 TCS New York City Marathon (New York, NY)9 -
Today, Higdon’s novice 1 half training plan called for a quick 2 miles, so a quick 2 miles I did! Weather dropped from 65 degrees F to 40 today, which is sad, but better than the -10 degrees F we had last week, so I’ll keep my complaining to a minimum.
February runs:
2/1: 3.5 miles
2/2: 5 miles
2/5: 4.3 miles
2/6: 2.2 miles
Cumulative total for February: 15/55 or 63.5 miles11 -
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Feburary Goal: Just keep trying
2/1: Lots of
2/2: party
2/3: prep
2/4: and recovery
2/5: 4.00
2/6 1.25
Total: 5.25
Ticker is my goal for 2019 and progress to date:
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February Running
02/01: 3.50 mile easy run
02/03: 6.05 mile long run
02/04: 3.01 mile recovery run
02/06: 5.05 mile run- 4x(400/200E/200/400E)
Total: 17.60 miles
Run notes:
"Workout Wednesday" run today was 4 repeats of 400m fast, 200 recovery, 200 faster, 400 recovery. I didn't really have a time/pace goal for the 400s or 200s since I'm still getting back into the swing of things after 10+ weeks off. The goal was to run the repeats "comfortably hard", and fairly consistently. I was very pleased with how they went- 1:46 to 1:50 for the 400s and 45 to 50s for the 200s. I'm glad my speed isn't completely gone!
Added two new races to my calendar- both 5Ks. I've always enjoyed 5K races the most so while I was injured, I decided to focus on that race distance for the next year or two. My ultimate goal would be to run sub-20, but my goal for this year is to get below 21 min. This will require cutting a decent bit off my current PR (21:30), but I've never done dedicated 5K training before so I think I can do it! These races early in the year are just for benchmarking purposes, to see where I am after my injury and how much ground I have to make up. I'm moving to the DC area this summer, so the real training (and PR attempts) will take place in the summer/fall. Only thing is that it seems much hillier there than I'm used to (Chicago is pancake flat!) so I guess I'll finally have to add some hill training in to the mix
Upcoming race:
- Excalibur 10 Miler (3/17)
- Wintrust Lakefront 5K (4/13)
- Ravenswood Run 5K (4/28)10 -
Ug y'all, haven't run since Saturday due to being sick and it's doing a number on my brain. I'm probably well enough to push myself to the gym and the short run home this afternoon, but I also got really tired about 15 minutes ago (even though I slept until 11 and haven't been doing much at all the last couple of days) and I just want to nap. AND I got a special assignment from work yesterday that I said I'd try and finish today and I think I can but it's going to be tight and probably not possible to nap and workout and finish it. AND I probably won't have time to work out tomorrow because I'm signed up for a half-day seminar that I could skip but don't want to because I need legal education credits (we report credits every three years and I'm up in August). But I feel guilty about missing classes at the gym I only signed up for a month ago especially since I haven't even been running this week and I've been having a hard time making it to the gym more than twice a week since I signed up what with sick and polar vortexes and races and so on.
And on top of all that, my dad called this morning and not only are he and my step-mom not going to be able to make the family get-together I was trying to plan this summer, but he also thought it would be a fun time to ask if I've talked to my sister about trying to turn her health around (i.e. lose weight, because it's always about weight with him) the way I have. Too much history to get into there, but let's just say that there's a lot of baggage and I think I handled it okay and at least got him to promise that he doesn't intend to talk to her about it himself, but still, ARGGGG.
Sorry for the word barf, I needed to get that out and it was a least a little bit on topic, right? I mentioned running at least twice! I need to regroup and prioritize. I am not lazy because I am trying to take care of myself while sick. I am not wasting money by not going to the gym when I don't feel well. I almost never have deadlines at work so I need to step up when the rare one comes around. So if I can't focus enough to work right now then I need to rest, which means no gym or run today so I finish this project this afternoon. Tomorrow can worry about itself tomorrow.16 -
Yesterday was an interesting run for me. We had snow here in the Seattle area, very rare for this area, and in Seattle we don't do well with snow. So, my usual run which was supposed to be on Monday didn't happen because the roads were pretty bad and my gym closed early. Well, after being cooped up all day yesterday I said forget it I'm going out for a run. I thought the paths in the park would be at least somewhat treated, so I took the dog over there for a run. Well, I was half wrong and only some of the paths were in decent shape, but it wasn't too bad. Other than almost taking a fall in the parking lot, luckily I was holding my dogs leash and my dog is 75lbs and pretty low to the ground so she was able to anchor me, the run was really good. There is something great about running on crisp sunny winter days. Also, since I was more focused on making sure I didn't fall rather than the amount of time I was actually running the run went pretty fast.
2/1--W3D3
2/5--W4D1
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martaindale wrote: »A guy's recount of his first marathon, and the hard lessons learned:
https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/8btnzd/first_marathon_lessons_learned_painfully/
I especially loved the ending:
"She finished looking like she had stopped for a quick game of rugby and a boxing match. Respect."
That was great! Having not done a marathon, nothing in that entire story made me want to try it. And then he sums up with thinking about the next one and having "caught the bug". Crazy guy!!
Yes, this is totally a thing. I can't explain it, and I've done it. I think many of us have.0
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