June 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

polskagirl01 wrote: »

June goal 100 miles



Got a new PR today at the half marathon! Strava says PRs at 20k, 10 mile & 15k as well, and the second half supposedly included my 3rd best 10k! So needless to say, the rail-trail proved to be an excellent course. It was such a small race though, I was running alone for most of it. After the turnaround, I realized I wasn't going to podium or change positions with anyone, either, so focused on my pacing plan, and it went really well. At one point I got caught running between a mother deer in front of me, and baby deer behind me. My yelling, clapping & moving over didn't help reunite them, so we all ran together like that for a while until mama deer went off the trail (baby of course went off the other way, but at least I wasn't between them anymore).

The other runners were standing around afterwards kinda snotty-like in a circle, and I overheard them talking about an upcoming 50k and "oh that one will be easy"... So I laughed to myself, talked to one guy who wasn't in their little group, then loaded up on the cookies and left

This was before the race, but empty trail like this was pretty much my view for the morning.

shanaber wrote: »

Maybe that is a good mid-month question... What is your favorite running song assuming you run with music?

Elise4270 wrote: »

Definitely not running related....

"Mama I got snake bit."
The swelling is down so it not super noticable. He's on pain meds so he not acting like he's snake bit. I did enjoy him before the pain meds, when he's hurt and super lovey.

He was chasing a leopard frog this morning in the bushes and found a pygmy rattlesnake. It took me a minute to figure out that rattling wasn't him laying on a frog. I thought he got away unscathed, but it was obvious hours later that it got him in the throat. We never "caught" the snake. So I'm going to trim the bushes where the frogs can't get to comfy and invite the snakes for a bush party.
http://www.oksnakes.org/western-pygmy-rattlesnake.html

Really glad we don't have to bury Beary.

quilteryoyo wrote: »

I have been absent from here for a while, so am 24 pages behind. Catching up is NOT going to happen, so I'll just say congratulations to all those who have raced well and had excellent training runs, as most of you do, for the last couple of weeks. If there are new injuries, I hope you are healing quickly. I'll try to be more active here, since I do love the encouragement you all give to each other and the side discussions.

Yesterday, I managed my longest run in years - 4 miles. It was intentionally slow, so I could go the longer distance without giving out. I was pleased. I have been "training" for an 8K on Aug 3, but my step-daughter has decided to come up Aug 1 - 4, so, even though she told me to not change my plans, I hate to be gone while she is here. If it was just the race, I'd go ahead and do it, but it is a midnight run at a town about 1.5 hours away, so I'd be gone all night. I'll just try to find something else the next weekend or later.

I did just read about your cat getting bit by the rattlesnake, @Elise4270 . I'm glad he is going to be okay. That's scary. My dog, Tippy, will bark at the snakes we have around here, but so far has had the sense to stay far enough away to not get bitten. I hope that trend continues.

zeesparrow wrote: »

@MobyCarp thank you for your insight and experience. You make a lot of sense. There was a 5k near me yesterday but unfortunately I found it after it was already full. So... virtual 5k it is!

June goal - 50 miles

June Miles - 38.65, walk 10.13
06/01 - walk 0.79
06/02 - walk 1.8
06/03 - walk 1.85
06/04 - 3.32
06/05 - 2.3 knee pain; Myrtl
06/06 - rest
06/07 - walk 1.14
06/08 - rest
06/09 - 5.3
06/10 - walk 2.4
06/11 - 4.02 ; yoga, Myrtl
06/12 - 0.36
06/13 - 4.04 ; yoga, Myrtl
06/14 - walk 0.69
06/15 - walk 1.46
06/16 - 6.01
06/17 - walk 1? (didn't record; Bike 20m; yoga; Myrtl))
06/18 - 4.03 tough... 80F feels so much hotter than 60F
06/19 - 2.03 ; yoga; Myrtl
06/20 - 4.13
06/21 - walk 1.15
06/22 - walk 1.8
06/23 - 3.11 (virtual 5k race); walk 1? (didn't record walk)

The last couple days were rest days, so I just took the dogs for a couple sniffy walks. This morning was another walk with the dogs, then my virtual 5k race/training run. I was getting hungry before I left so ate a couple Gu chews. I waited 30-45 minutes before leaving but that was not the best idea of the day.

For this run, I set my Garmin to provide an alert if I was over 11 min/mile, which would not be fast enough for my goal, but I didn't want it to remind me too much if I was struggling. I started out faster than I planned, at under 10 min/mile, but I just went with it. It was breezy, 60F with winds of 13mph and gusts over 20mph. And of course, it didn't seem to matter which direction I ran, I felt like I was running into the wind. At least it helped keep me cool, and when I wasn't running into the wind, it felt so much faster and easier!

My first mile came in at a record 9:39! Each successive mile was slower... so much for negative splits. But those Gu chews I ate? I got stomach cramps at about halfway and they didn't go away. The second mile was still faster than my goal, though I was struggling. At about 2.25 miles there is a slight incline, my stomach was upset, the wind was gusting and I slowed down... then walked quickly up the rest of that hill for 15-20 seconds. Garmin reminded me I was over my pace, but I needed the break to evaluate things and catch my breath a little. I started running again as I reached the top and kept pushing. With about a quarter mile to go, I started thinking about my first 10k race and the volunteers who cheered you on. They weren't there today, so I cheered myself on. "You're almost there!" "Looking good!" "Keep it up!" Then I told myself, c'mon you can do this. Just two more minutes if you push. You can do anything for two minutes! And I said, please Garmin, tell me it's been 3 miles.

I turned the corner and Garmin buzzed. I looked down and it said 3.02 miles. I kept running. At 3.05 miles I picked up the pace to bring it in strong, until it buzzed again at 3.1. I kept going a little farther to make sure it would record 5k... stopped running... and then got a little sick

Previous PR: 35:05 (during my 12k race 7 weeks ago)
Goal: <33 minutes
Result: 30:58 minutes

I CRUSHED IT!