August 2019 Monthly Running Challenge
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Well, I haven’t had great luck with goals this year, but might as well just keep on keeping on. I am going to try to run 55-60 miles in August, which I hope will get me to a place where I’ll feel comfortable running a half at the beginning on September. I’m also going to aim for at least 15 minutes a day of moderate cardio, 15 minutes of mobility (yoga/stretching), and 2x/week weight lifting. I’m hoping that setting my other health goals lower will help keep running on the front-burner, but we will see.
Compare yourself now to 10, 20 and 30 years ago. What improvements do you love? What do you look forward too? What do you miss and how do you deal with that? Follow up with what would your 15 year old self think of you today.
30 years ago I was a skinny, active six-year-old living in California about to start elementary school in a new town. 20 years ago I was a healthy weight, moderately active 16-year-old just starting a year living in Switzerland and pulling out of a period of major mental health issues. 10 years ago I was a slightly overweight, moderately active 26-year-old living in Minnesota and getting ready to go to law school, not knowing that another period of major mental health crisis was coming up in a year or two. And now I’m an overweight, fairly active 36-year-old lawyer, still in Minnesota, a couple of years down the road of pulling myself out of the previously mentioned mental and physical health crisis.
My main source of exercise at 16 and 26 was just getting myself around - I walked, rode public transportation, or biked everywhere. At 26 I’d started dipping my toes into running, but that would stop during law school and wouldn’t come back into my life until two years ago. I was generally fairly healthy at those ages - I didn’t worry about my weight or physical health much at all, because I’d never really needed to before.
I don’t know what I miss from being 6 - probably not being old enough to know what “social anxiety” meant - but I know that I miss all the creative writing I did when I was 16 and was still doing when I was 26 - that really dried up with law school. That said, I love being a lawyer, even if it took longer than anticipated to land on my feet. I think I’ve learned something from every crisis, and while sometimes I wish I could go back ten years and warn myself about the *kitten*-show of a jobs market I was about to take on a huge amount of debt to join, I guess I’m happy enough with where I ended up to say it was worth it anyhow.
Looking forward, I'm hoping we can add a kid or two to our family over the next few years, that I will continue to shape my current job into something that balances flexibility and more responsibility, that my husband and I both keep learning and growing and changing together, and that I will keep improving my health whatever that looks like. I'd like to run a marathon at some point just to know that I could, and it sure would be nice to get down to a healthy BMI and finally quit smoking for good.
I doubt that my 15-year-old self would believe how much of my free time I spend running and lifting weights - especially the latter. She probably wouldn’t be surprised at the lawyer thing, though I think she expected to have kids a little younger. Honestly, life could still be rocky enough at 15 that she might just be surprised that I'd made it this long.6 -
@MegaMooseEsq May many baby blessings come your way ASAP. You are kinda one of my heros here. You've got chutzpah.4
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ContraryMaryMary wrote: »100 mile club again for me, although it could be tricky as we’re in Fiji for a week...
Can I come!5 -
@Teresa502 and anyone else that isn't keen on getting too deep, I get it. I find moving forward helps me look forward.
How about another monthly question...
Um.. since its lunch time and I'm waiting in line for burgers...
what the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
That's a bit of a leading question isn't it bahahaha.
The best dish I ever had was a roast garlic soup. I can still remember how good it was over 10 years later. The best meal I ever had was on a dinner cruise in Paris. The food was spectacular, the atmosphere incredible, and I actually convinced my husband to dance in the moonlight under the Eiffel tower. It was magical, the stuff of movies.
My show size, 9.5 wide US - extremely hard to find good running shoes in that size when you are a female. I think im a 8.5 dress or walking shoe. I've been wearing old running shoes as walking shoes and they are just a touch lose in the toe box, even though they are perfect for running.5 -
PastorVincent wrote: »mollymom07 wrote: »Can I join but not set a goal? I am recovering from a chest infection and a bad back so I don't want to set a goal and fail. Thanks
Sure! Some people do. But I would suggest you think of some goal, like "run three times a week" or "run 1 more time than last month" or "walk to the ice cream shop and get pistachio ice cream every day"
Having a specific and reasonable target helps focus and having focus helps you accomplish your overall goals.
That being said, everyone is different, so you do what works for you.
Brilliant! I didn't realise you could put a goal like that! I'll have a think and post what my goal is tomorrow! Thanks @PastorVincent for your reply! x8 -
Compare yourself now to 10, 20 and 30 years ago. What improvements do you love? What do you look forward too? What do you miss and how do you deal with that? Follow up with what would your 15 year old self think of you today.
Right now at age 50, I'm easily in the best shape I've ever been in my life. I'm braver and more confident. I've had some bad spots for sure, but I'll take now over 10, 20, or 30 years ago (and certainly over age 15) for the most part. If the people who are no longer here were still with me, it would be no contest. None of my former selves would believe the bad@ss I've become
What the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
My memory for this kind of thing is terrible and I never can pick "favorites" of anything. It's not the "best" but the most fun meal I've had might have been one at a tapas restaurant in Chicago several years ago with a bunch of girlfriends. The food was excellent, the sangria was powerful, and we laughed so hard we were in tears. I remember that one and we reminisce about it and laugh all the time.
I'm a 10 to 10.5 regular width in US women's sizes. It's pretty proportional to my height but I always wished they were smaller and shoes looked cuter.
So, goals? I'll have get back to you on that. August is busy, and I have two Spartan races, a possible bike ride, and some travel, plus I start back at work on a regular non-summer schedule (boo). I really do need to outline a training plan and make sure I follow it.8 -
@Teresa502 and anyone else that isn't keen on getting too deep, I get it. I find moving forward helps me look forward.
How about another monthly question...
Um.. since its lunch time and I'm waiting in line for burgers...
what the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
I think the best meal I ever had was at the French Officer's Club in what was then West Berlin in 1975. However, since I rarely meet a food I don't like, that's a tough call.
I'm a 10 1/2 narrow. Finding shoes I can wear is easy.4 -
@MegaMooseEsq May many baby blessings come your way ASAP. You are kinda one of my heros here. You've got chutzpah.
Aww, thank you! I will remember that on the days when I feel like all I do is complain. *hugs4 -
Hi all, I'd love to join you. I just read through the whole July thread (wow, you guys are prolific!), and am amazed by what a great support group you all are to each other, especially though the loss of your friend. He sounds like an inspirational guy and I'm sorry I didn't know him.
A bit about me: I'm British, 35, live in Spain and Romania, and started running about 8 years ago. I'm never consistant, so have done C25K a few times, and occasionally reach a 10k here and there. I'm currently running 5km 2 or 3 times a week, but am hoping to improve on that in August, as I'm on holiday (teacher, so long hols) and hae time to run and recover! Ultimate aim is to run a half marathon at Christmas. We will see!
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So excited that I found this board as I am working on getting back into running! My goal for the month of August is...65 miles which averages about 15 miles a week.
What the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
Hmm... well, I
food! There are two which I still dream of and would love another go around: First is a place in wine country where I swear the pasta was hand made, it was so perfect and doughy. The other was my experience with Fondue where we woke up the next morning and were still thinking of it and how amazing it was! Both are not the healthiest options but where my mind immediately went as far as my best meals.
My every day shoe size is a 10.5 wide but my running shoes are 11.5 wide; which I agree with someone else saying it makes it almost impossible to find cute running shoes.
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What the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
Not sure what the restaurant was, but the meal was steak and lobster. Both melted in my mouth 😋
Shoe size: well I am only 5'4", but where a size 12 shoe....you do the math! 😆
ETA: just kidding. I wear a 9.5 US running shoe.6 -
Compare yourself now to 10, 20 and 30 years ago. What improvements do you love? What do you look forward too? What do you miss and how do you deal with that? Follow up with what would your 15 year old self think of you today.
Thirty years ago was about when things started to go wrong with my health. I was a teenager and developed hypothyroidism. The resulting weight gain had my brother nickname me Fatso, which my parents, for some unknown reason, didn't quash (in fact, my dad would call me it too). So, more importantly than being a few kilos overweight, I started thinking I was fat (I wasn't. I was at the upper end of the healthy weight range for my height but surrounded by skinny siblings). I was seriously unfit too - I couldn't run to the letterbox (100m) without stopping. There's so much I didn't even attempt because I thought I'd get puffed or hot and sweaty.
When I was in my 20s I took up running in a bid to keep my weight down, and it worked - I'd lose the necessary 2-3kg and then promptly stop exercising and watch it all come back. I never really got fit in the way I understand fitness to be now. For years my weight fluctuated between 72 and 76kg, sometimes a little higher, occasionally a little lower.
In my 30s I leased office space to an elite runner and she started "coaching" me. I had entered a few 5km and 10km events and was keen to break the half and full hour for each. She told me she could take 10 minutes off my 10k in a matter of months. I did what she told me to - added a long run and a track session each week. And sure enough, within 10 weeks I ran my first sub-60 minute 10k. By then I was hooked. I soon signed up for my first and second half marathons and started to love running for running's sake.
I joined MFP about six years ago in an effort to get to my goal weight of 68kg. I had managed to stay between 70-72kg for a few years but had always wanted to be leaner to look better and run faster. Dropping that couple of kilos was so easy, and I soon hit my dream goal of 65kg within a few months of my second daughter being born. I never thought I could ever be that lean. I was a big-boned girl, right?
Well, I've been maintaining at around 61kg for five years now. Apparently there was a thin woman inside me all along. Who knew? And I'm still recording PBs!
I don't miss anything about being bigger. Life is great but I am very aware things can change so I am appreciating my good health and good fortune every day. I'm looking forward to one day winning my age group category in a race - I'm thinking 80+ should do it.
My 15 year old self would be very impressed with me now - looks, fitness, family and career (all in question at some stage along the line), and no doubt greatly relieved.9 -
What the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
Not sure what the restaurant was, but the meal was steak and lobster. Both melted in my mouth 😋
Shoe size: well I am only 5'4", but where a size 12 shoe....you do the math! 😆
ETA: just kidding. I wear a 9.5 US running shoe.
Haha wow! That was funny!!!!
What the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
We didn't eat out growing up so I think it was reflective of the times i first went out. Both meals were at the same age, I was 17 ish. One was fajita's at Chili's for the first time with friends the other was a Thai place and I had hot and sour soup for the first time. I love Indian food too. Few weeks back I had shrimp korma and it was stupid good.
My running shoe size is 8-8.5. I just learned this past year that dress shoes aren't sized the same, I think those are 7- 7.5 my feet are narrow so I don't wear dress shoes. How dumb. Guys dress shoes are the same.1 -
Compare yourself now to 10, 20 and 30 years ago. What improvements do you love? What do you look forward too? What do you miss and how do you deal with that? Follow up with what would your 15 year old self think of you today.
30 years ago, I was 4 years old. At the time I was being raised by my grandparents who were the awesomest people in the world.
20 years ago I was was an awkward middle schooler without a clue. I was fairly good at sports but utter *kitten* at running - who would've thunk...
10 years ago was pretty bad time in my life. I was broke, at the heaviest in my life, and not eating healthy at all. Getting a better relationship with food and becoming active, that didn't happen until later.
15-year-old me was a hopeless romantic who wanted to write obscure literature and die young. She'd be pretty disappointed with me.
What the best meal you've ever had? And what's your shoe size?
Best meal would have to be the first time I went to Astuta Horaiken in Nagoya, Japan. Their Hitsumabushi, grilled eel on rice in a wooden tub, is the stuff of legends. More info here.
I am a size 39 wide, but since we don't get wide shoes in Eastern Asia, I go with a size 39.5 or 40 in men's, which are wider than the women's. Meh.@noblsheep – I too will be in Scotland in August. Some friends and I will be there the last week of August and first week of September. One of my running friends is going so we will definitely be doing some running and lots of walking.
Ditto, we're planning on lots (and lots) of walking. We will be in Edinburgh and I plan on doing a parkrun on the 24th, any chance of a meetup?5 -
Hi all, I'd love to join you. I just read through the whole July thread (wow, you guys are prolific!), and am amazed by what a great support group you all are to each other, especially though the loss of your friend. He sounds like an inspirational guy and I'm sorry I didn't know him.
A bit about me: I'm British, 35, live in Spain and Romania, and started running about 8 years ago. I'm never consistant, so have done C25K a few times, and occasionally reach a 10k here and there. I'm currently running 5km 2 or 3 times a week, but am hoping to improve on that in August, as I'm on holiday (teacher, so long hols) and hae time to run and recover! Ultimate aim is to run a half marathon at Christmas. We will see!
@JMNagain welcome! Another Brit in Spain here :-)
Welcome to the other new faces 4 -
Jumping back on the Wagon this month.
Been doing miles just not consistantly so setting a target to aim at.
Joining the AUGUST 100 MILE CLUB.
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Welcome to the group @mollymom07 ! You certainly do not have to set a goal if you don't want, but I agree with @PastorVincent that some type of goal is very helpful. It doesn't have to be a mileage goal though. It can just be to run X days per week, or what ever gets you out there.
Hi @kgirlhart and thank you for the warm welcome!
I am just thinking of how many times I can get out to run!
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What the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
I have had too many great meals to pick just one... The best food memory I have though is camping in the wilderness with my family and my mom cooking breakfast over an open fire - toast, eggs, bacon or maybe fresh trout. I can still smell and taste it in my memory... (note my dad was a geologist for the government and we would camp all summer in some remote area of ID, MT, WY. OR near his work, for the entire summer).
Shoes - I have pretty tiny feet. In regular shoes (US) I wear a 6-6.5 wide but in running shoes I wear a 7.5.3 -
100 miles for August 4
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Compare yourself now to 10, 20 and 30 years ago. What improvements do you love? What do you look forward too? What do you miss and how do you deal with that? Follow up with what would your 15 year old self think of you today.
30 years ago, I was 18... fresh out of high school and living with my boyfriend. I remember going to donate plasma for money and being denied because I didn't weigh enough. Shortly thereafter, I found out I was pregnant. I stopped smoking (!) and started college but dropped out to have that child and go to work. Exercise was not even on my radar.
20 years ago, I was married with two kids and back in college. I had gained enough weight that I could donate plasma if I wanted, but I never did. My husband and I had finished the local 12k race once (without training-ouch), but his focus was weightlifting and mine was doing just enough to justify paying for our gym membership. (We paid for that for much longer than we used it.) I was smoking again.
10 years ago, I was working for my current employer in the field I studied at school. Most of my free time was spent playing World of Warcraft with my husband and kids. We ate dinner in front of our computers practically every night, and by May of that year, I not surprisingly found myself at my highest weight ever. I started dieting and exercise and dropped down to my lowest adult weight since having kids. I stopped smoking using a program provided by my employer. If asked, I would have said I enjoyed lifting weights (meh) and tolerated running (ugh). Since then, I've gained and lost the same 25 pounds countless times.
My 15 year old self might be somewhat surprised at my career choice, and would be absolutely amazed I still live in the same town and have been married for almost 30 years. She would be overjoyed I no longer smoked because she always told mom how gross it was, and then would likely berate me for how much I drink. She'd probably beat me in a one mile race but I'd kick her *kitten* at any distance beyond that, and lift more weight/do more reps than she could in anything... and we would both be impressed.
Thank you @Elise4270. I wasn't too sure about these questions at first, but thinking back on this has made me realize just how far I've come, and how grateful I am for each of the experiences since. I'm incredibly proud of who I am now, especially the focus, consistency and resulting improvements I am making to my health and relationships.
What the best meal you've ever had? And what's your shoe size?
While the dish wasn't the best ever, I still remember a meal at Olive Garden because it was the first time I chose a wine that was supposed to pair with the main dish. That wine was horrible when I first tasted it, but paired with the dish it was heavenly. (The worst meal ever is probably the day I took chicken out of the fridge and was preparing to cook it until my family told me to throw it away outside! They could smell it from the other room... my smeller is broken. My boys will never let me forget that day.)
According to my friends and family, I have tiny feet. I can fit into a size 6.5 US but normally wear a 7 wide because of bunions. For running, my Altras are size 8.
As for my August goal? Let's say 55 miles with a real goal of finishing my first Half Marathon without injury, some time off, and then returning to running during our first family vacation in years.7 -
Hi everyone! I'd love to join the challenge. Can I set a goal of x times per week, though? I've just started running again after being out of the game for... a minute now (lol). I'd like to set a modest goal of three runs per week (using the C25K program to ease back into it). Enough to motivate me to get back into it but not so much that I'll feel overwhelmed.
If I can do more than that, great! But for now that seems reasonable. 14 -
zeesparrow wrote: »
Thank you @Elise4270. I wasn't too sure about these questions at first, but thinking back on this has made me realize just how far I've come, and how grateful I am for each of the experiences since. I'm incredibly proud of who I am now, especially the focus, consistency and resulting improvements I am making to my health and relationships.
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Anytime.🤗🥰
Welcome @myraluno! As you can see there's the chance to connect with so many wonderful people here! You can set your goal how you like. Just keep checking in for motivation and support!
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Hi everyone! I'd love to join the challenge. Can I set a goal of x times per week, though? I've just started running again after being out of the game for... a minute now (lol). I'd like to set a modest goal of three runs per week (using the C25K program to ease back into it). Enough to motivate me to get back into it but not so much that I'll feel overwhelmed.
If I can do more than that, great! But for now that seems reasonable.
Your goal is YOUR goal. Anything you want to strive for is perfectly fine!3 -
Hi there - I would like to join.
Likely won't be able to start until second week of August and aim is for 15km/week so goal of 45km/August.6 -
Goal is 200 miles6
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Compare yourself now to 10, 20 and 30 years ago. What improvements do you love? What do you look forward too? What do you miss and how do you deal with that? Follow up with what would your 15 year old self think of you today.
30 years ago I was 8 and a happy healthy little girl with not a care in the world. Into dance and gymnastics, playing outside until it got dark every day.
20 years ago I was 18 also happy mostly and healthy, active, into dance still. Didn't pay much attention to nutrition and fitness as I didn't "need" to.
10 years ago I was 28, married, new mother of 1 at the time, overweight and frankly not in a good place mentally. I was very homesick (having moved from Switzerland to the U.S.).
My 15 year old self would think of me today - what the heck! Lose some weight! hahaha... working on it. Otherwise my 15 year old self would be surprised what direction and how well things went professionally for me as I never pictured my self doing what I do today.
What the best meal you've ever had? and what's your shoe size?
I love seafood of any kind. I went on a business trip to Sweden some years back and we ate at a Casino by the Harbor in Sundsvall. It was some type of grilled fish with a sauce to die for!
I wear a 8.5 in U.S. size shoes.4 -
Hi all! I'm back in for this month; we'll see how long I can keep up
Goal for the month is 180 miles!
What the best meal you've ever had? And what's your shoe size?
Best meal is a terribly hard one! But I will say the best meal I had this year was probably an amazingly delicious kadhai paneer that I had last month. Either that, or the orange olive oil cake with rosemary caramel that I had in March (yum!). I wear a 10.5W in running shoes, though I often buy size 9 in mens shoes instead since it can be a hard size to find.3 -
My show size, 9.5 wide US - extremely hard to find good running shoes in that size when you are a female. I think im a 8.5 dress or walking shoe. I've been wearing old running shoes as walking shoes and they are just a touch lose in the toe box, even though they are perfect for running.
Me too! I like the Brooks Ghost shoe. Version 12 just came out so I need to see if I can find any 11s on sale and stock up!
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Ditto, we're planning on lots (and lots) of walking. We will be in Edinburgh and I plan on doing a parkrun on the 24th, any chance of a meetup?
We arrive in Glasgow on the 24th and won't be in Edinburgh until September 2 - will you still be there then? Are the park run's just on Saturday's? I need to do some research on those. We don't have them where I live.
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Let’s hope work slows down. I’m in for 80 miles.8
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