March 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

Avidkeo wrote: »

Morning all!

Yesterday was a non running day. Instead hubby and I took our girls to some lakes about an hr drive away. We had a blast swimming, kayaking and playing.

I also had to bake a cake with my new mixer (of course!) so made a banana cake - similar to banana bread but mister and more cake like than bread.

It's Sunday today and I'm taking another rest day. All the stretching and massage seems to have helped and my shin splints appear to have started to resolve. 8m going to have another rest today then next week start slowly building again. I have a 19k in a month I'm going to do, plenty of time to get back up there before then.

rheddmobile wrote: »

@Elise4270 Umbrella Academy? Also if you haven't seen it Santa Clarita Diet is definitely stupid, funny, dark and twisted.

shanaber wrote: »

@elise4270 - have you watched the new season of Grace and Frankie?

@HonuNui - the Ti Leaf lei is gorgeous!

Epic falls - my most embarrassing was coming through the gate at the parking lot end of the (paved) trail near me. I have no idea what happened, what I tripped on (apparently nothing or my own feet). Next thing I know I was flying ending on the ground with torn capris (my favorite), bloodied knees, hands and elbows and Hobbes licking my face with concern. Oh and I forgot to mention, the parking lot was full of cyclists all staring at me. Notably not a single one came to ask if I was ok. I hobbled to the bathroom to rinse my hands and elbows and then walked the mile home bleeding... no paper towels in the facilities, just air blowers and the toilet paper was useless.

Scott6255 wrote: »

@Elise4270 I was also going to suggest Umbrella Academy. It was surprisingly good.

zeesparrow wrote: »

@Elise4270 have you seen the haunting of hill house?

MegaMooseEsq wrote: »

Do you live in/near Switzerland? I don’t think I ever picked up on that (or if I had I forgot) - I lived in Zurich for a year in high school and loved it there. I got to know a few ex-pats while I was there and have day-dreamed about immigrating from time to time, especially as I’ve gotten older and started thinking about having kids. My profession (law) isn’t necessarily that easy to transplant given liscencing requirements, unfortunately, and I’ve lost a lot of my German over the years.

katharmonic wrote: »

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
03/01/19 :::: 2.9 :::: 2.9
03/02/19 :::: 5.5 :::: 8.4
03/03/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 8.4
03/04/19 :::: 3.1 :::: 11.4
03/05/19 :::: 2.0 :::: 13.5
03/06/19 :::: 3.3 :::: 16.8
03/07/19 :::: 0.0 :::: 16.8
03/08/19 :::: 3.1 :::: 19.9
03/09/19 :::: 4.1 :::: 24.0

OK, you guys, after all my worries the Spartan race today was seriously FUN. I can't even believe I did that.

My friend and I nearly bailed out before it started, we were so nervous. Fortunately the rest of our team arrived and we were committed. We got so lucky with the weather - it was sunny and in the 30s, but felt warmer as the sun reflected off the snow. I definitely could have lost a layer and been fine. We started out at the bottom of the ski hill and had to jump over a wall to get to the start line. The snow was soft and deep in a lot of places and it was like running through sand. Well, walking - because there was no way I was running up that whole hill.


Finally we made it to the highest point of the course and then had some trail running heading down, which was kind of treacherous. The running part was a lot slower and a lot more difficult than I anticipated overall. The obstacles were mostly not as bad as I feared, but I won't lie, they were hard. The first wall we came to was the highest and I had to have a bit of a boost to make it over, but all the rest I did myself - including the inverted wall. The first "fail" was the rig where you had to go across on the rings. I made it to ring 2 and immediately slipped off. The gloves were not good and I took them off for anything else requiring grip. I'm not sure I could have made it anyway, but that was a mistake. I also did not manage the rope climb (no surprise there) or the spear throw. I made it a little over half way across for the monkey bars and would have made it all the way but lost momentum at a part where the bars were spaced farther apart. That was the only one that made me mad, because I really thought I could have done it. There were heavy things to carry (a big rock, sandbags, and a bucket full of rocks), a heavy sled to pull, a weight to hoist up on a rope - all of which went fine. Thanks to strength training over the last few months! I really liked the A-frame cargo net climb and another a-frame wooden thing - those were the most fun to do.

We came around a corner and realized we were back close to the start by the ski lodge, but we were not done - which meant we were going back up and down that ski hill. The climb up was rough, then we headed down through the woods and the trail was tough! The snow was either deep and squishy or packed down and super slick. Some of it I slid on my butt and some of it I ran through the soft stuff. It felt very out of control. Finally we came out of the woods and the last part was down hill on an actual ski slope. Most people slid down it - some in full penguin on their bellies head first. I went down on my butt but really picked up some speed! It was pretty fun. Finally we were at the bottom and had to run up a slip wall - you ran halfway and grabbed a rope to pull yourself up the rest. I was pleased to make that on the first try. Then we jogged down to the finish where we had to jump over a line of fire (mostly a symbolic, easy jump - but it messed with your mind a little not wanting to wipe out in the fire). Then we were done!

The team had about 22 people and we ended mostly in two groups. I was in the front group of about 12 of us, and everyone was so supportive. There was quite a bit of time waiting for each other so we'd all catch up and go on to the next thing. I felt like I hung with the pack very well, if not being at the front for most of it (not that this was FAST by any means but I didn't fall back on the hills as much as some others and I powered through the heavy carries pretty well. I think I was the oldest person or close to it so I feel pretty good about that. Loved getting to know some of my team members and having so much fun in the process. It took us about 2 hours 15 minutes to finish with all the stopping and waiting, so the pace was terrible but it was exhausting and challenging the whole time.

After we finished, we waited around for the second group, which included a couple of the trainers who were helping people in the back. Then we changed and had our free beer. It was some local beer I don't remember, all I know is there were two choices of alcohol content and I said gimme all the alcohol so got the higher one. It was not great but it went down fine. If I didn't have to drive home I would have gone for a few more rounds of something (not that beer) but we had to head out as it was already a long day.

My Salomon trail shoes worked perfectly, and my feet were dry despite all that snow! No blisters or anything, but my feet were a bit sore overall. I've got various bruises and a slight sunburn but ended up pretty intact. I survived! I had a blast!

Bling and a few pics under spoilers

7lenny7 wrote: »

@Elise4270 if you don't mind subtitles check out Dark, a German series. Only one season I think. I love that show.