October 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

PastorVincent · October 2019

@ContraryMaryMary well done! I find races tend to go better when you forget to watch the clock.

PastorVincent · October 2019

So last night was the formal homecoming dance for my son's school. All the ladies were in fancy dresses and guys in button-down shirts, suits, and the like. He is in 10th grade and he showed up at his date house dressed like this for homecoming:

She was like "OMG I'm gonna die" and he said "What? I am wearing a tie."

(he had formal clothes on under the costume.)

Scott6255 · October 2019

@katharmonic great job getting through the first HM with your 2nd fastest time. Good luck with your 2nd HM today!!

@ContraryMaryMary awesome HM for you too! Despite being tired and late you showed your toughness and got that PR!!

TheMrWobbly · October 2019

Great running everyone

polskagirl01 · October 2019

@Scott6255 @katharmonic and @ContraryMaryMary Great racing!

@T1DCarnivoreRunner I can identify with wondering why I'm not faster. Is there something wrong with my form? Too many miles? Too few? Am I too tall? I don't think I need to lose any more weight... I've been doing one speedwork session per week (track, fartlek, fast hills, race, etc) all year and have seen some improvements, but we're talking seconds in 5k, minutes in the marathon, and meanwhile people who hardly train are going out and doing it faster. But there's always someone faster, unless you're Eliud Kipchoge. My friend who started running with me, and then quickly got faster than me, is frustrated because her husband did the exact same thing to her

So I come back to contentment (it was conveniently the topic of today's sermon, lol) and doing my best and being grateful for all that I can do, and comparing myself to me, and all that other stuff you already know, but sometimes we all just need to vent, and then be reminded, and recenter our thinking. I immediately thought about your blood sugar issues and agree with @rheddmobile and her husband. You're doing great. Keep it up!

Camaramandy648 · October 2019

Well yesterday I completed my third run of the week! I ran Monday and Tuesday - 1 outside, 1 inside, and yesterday was inside. So i went above my goal of 1 indoor 1 outdoor run per week. October is going well!

I REALLY did not believe I’d be able to finish yesterday. I’m using the C25K plan for now and I will incrementally work my way up to marathon plan. So this far, I haven’t actually run great distances. I’ve just been retraining my lungs and back and arms and legs and hips, etc. i can’t believe how this used to be so easy for me and how much work it is to get back to where I was. The lifting helps with endurance, I am sure.

I tried a new breathing technique I found on YouTube and I only felt like my lungs were closing maybe twice. Also! I remembered I have a Qvar daily inhaler AND the albuterol so I think those helped quite a bit too.

The advice and community I have found on this site is amazing. I’m considering joining a running club locally as well. I’m not sure about that though.

Also another super cool thing - I asked one of my coworker’s wives if she’d like to run the marathon with me. I knew it was a long shot because she’s overweight and a new mom and not very active but we get along and I don’t have a ton of people in this area so it’d be nice to have a friend. Also as it happens, the marathon is on her baby’s first birthday. Well. I guess my ask / invite was really motivating for her and after work Friday her husband thanked me profusely and said he’s never seen her so inspired. THIS made me feel amazing!!!!

So now - I need to figure out how long / far is a “long” run if I’ve only been running a couple of miles at a time? Five miles? Six? Seven? And how much time should I plan for this to take? I have two kids - one with autism and Tourette’s- so I have to plan carefully.

Tramboman · October 2019

10-1 7k slow
10-2 7k easy
10-3 rest
10-4 rest
10-5 7k moderate
10-6 7k easy
10-7 rest
10-8 7k moderate
10-9 7k easy
10-10 rest
10-11 4k easy
10-12 rest
10-13 5k race
10-14 rest
10-15 4k slow
10-16 7k slow
10-17 rest
10-18 7k slow
10-19 7k slow
10-20 7k easy

October Total: 83k
October Goal: 135k

January Total: 131k
February Total: 159.5k
March Total: 183k
April Total: 126k
May Total: 128k
June Total: 161.5k
July Total: 151k
August Total: 133k
September Total: 135k

2019 total: 1,308k / 811m

Monthly average: 145.3k

Next year when you pop in here claiming your December 2019 mileage, what accomplishments will you have made?
Run at least 4 5k races. Completed 8-31
Get under 30:00 and a PR for 5k. Nope...
Average at least 135k per month, which would put me over 1,000 miles for the year.

Run the Year Team: Five for Nineteen - Completed 9-28

Partly cloudy and cool this morning. Finally recovered enough from last week's race to be able to run easy instead of slow.

Well done to all our racers!!!!!

2019 Races:

4-13 Shine the Light 5K - 31:12 chip time; First Place male 65 and older
6-30 Strides for Starfish 5K - 31:34 chip time; 31/77 overall; second male 65 and older (no official category)
7-27 Solon Home Days 5K - 31:11 chip time; 95/141 overall; 4/6 age group (male)
8-31 Race for Freedom 5k - 31:39 chip time; 32:00 Garmin time; Third Place male 60 and older
9-14 Gift of Life 5k - off the schedule; insufficient recovery time
10-13 Haunted Hustle 5k - 31:22 chip time; 47/74 overall; First Place male 60 and older

RunsOnEspresso · October 2019

I came across this article this morning. Basically, the lady has been running for years. She runs 6 miles a day for 6 days a week, weight lifts, and makes a half marathon her longest run while marathon training. She also does strength training. It's an interesting take on a training plan. It worked for her and as the article said would probably work for those that have been running a while, has done many marathons, and put in the right effort for each run.

https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a29033623/run-marathon-with-less-training/?utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=socialflowTWRW&utm_source=twitter

BeverlyW1108 · October 2019

Happy Sunday! I haven't had a chance to read all the posts recently but I plan to catch up tomorrow. I did want to share my thougths though !

After a couple days of cooking for company & going out to eat I am finally understanding what effects food has on my whole body, not just weight. It seems after I eat processed sugar which I try not to do on a regular basis, I am getting headaches. And it seems after I eat more carbs than usual I am feeling tired. I know I've read about these side effects but I guess I had to experience it to understand it! I am looking forward to eating better now. Salad sounds better than sandwhich & banana sounds better than bundt cake! I hope everyone enjoys their day! Today is a rest day for running, darn.

TheMrWobbly · October 2019

I don't know how long I need to plan for a half marathon. Literally no exercise before June. Followed C25K and did my first 5k at the start of the month. Now running 5ks twice a week and did a 10k earlier this week. Todays run was 5k to McDonalds, stop 10 minutes for a latte, 5k back again and I was ready to stop at the end.

Running fairly consistent miles between 9:55 and 10:15. The 10k wasn't pushing it though I don't want to cause any damage and I still have 2 stone more to lose. So I was looking at around March for a half. Any thoughts?

Camaramandy648 · October 2019

TheMrWobbly wrote: »

I don't know how long I need to plan for a half marathon. Literally no exercise before June. Followed C25K and did my first 5k at the start of the month. Now running 5ks twice a week and did a 10k earlier this week. Todays run was 5k to McDonalds, stop 10 minutes for a latte, 5k back again and I was ready to stop at the end.

Running fairly consistent miles between 9:55 and 10:15. The 10k wasn't pushing it though I don't want to cause any damage and I still have 2 stone more to lose. So I was looking at around March for a half. Any thoughts?

My thought is that you’re amazing. You inspire me to do more.

shanaber · October 2019

RunsOnEspresso wrote: »

I came across this article this morning. Basically, the lady has been running for years. She runs 6 miles a day for 6 days a week, weight lifts, and makes a half marathon her longest run while marathon training. She also does strength training. It's an interesting take on a training plan. It worked for her and as the article said would probably work for those that have been running a while, has done many marathons, and put in the right effort for each run.

https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a29033623/run-marathon-with-less-training/?utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=socialflowTWRW&utm_source=twitter

Interesting article @RunsOnEspresso. I think one of the key lines though is this from one of the coaches: “It helps that you’ve had miles on your feet before,” Movold says. “You’re conditioned to run. You know what it’s been like mentally more than anything. You know what a three-hour run is going to feel like.”
As @mobycarp would have said she is keeping herself marathon ready.

shanaber · October 2019

@Scott6255 - sounds like it was a good race! Well other than the rain the entire time! Congratulations on the AG place!!
Congratulations @ContraryMaryMary!
@katharmonic - good luck today!! Congratulations on your great HM run on Saturday too!!

@T1DCarnivoreRunner - I agree with @rheddmobile and her husband. Also I think our running tends to go in waves of some, maybe slight improvements, to stabilizing or even slowing down a bit, to improving again. When we are starting, out as you know, it seems we just improve and improve and get faster... and then it levels off... and if you are 'older' like me, you may even get slower and not see any improvements. I don't think I will ever get back to where I was with my PRs of a few years ago and while I would love to be competitive with other runners my age even, I know I am one of very few who even get up, out the door and attempt to run the way we do. I have also found my running joy simply because I love to run, love being outside, love the way my body moves and that it can move.

7lenny7 · October 2019

@polskagirl01 @katharmonic and @ContraryMaryMary excellent races and photos!
@Scott6255 congrats on the AG placement, and nice race in crappy conditions! Awesome to run with your brother.
@girlinahat how is that foot doing?
@emmamcgarity sometimes we need a push from someone else to realize our potential. Go with it and don't be afraid to push! I know someone who went from 50 pounds overweight and zero running to finishing a marathon in less than a year. Our biggest hurdle for progress is usually our own minds.
@Camaramandy648 how awesome that you inspired your coworker!! Your long run is simply the longest run you've had in the last few weeks. You can slowly stretch that out week by week. If you're longest run is 2 miles, then the next time make it 2.5, then 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and then you can try increasing it by a mile each time. As you increase your long run, your other runs should slowly increase in distance as well, but from week to week no more than a 10 to 12 % increase in total mileage each week. Based on what you're telling us, I would recommend finding a 10K training plan which looks like it will fit your schedule and use that at first. From there graduate to a half marathon training plan, but instead of starting from the beginning, start at the natural point from where your 10K plan peaked. At that point we can help you with that, but for now, I'd suggest a 10K plan. Many folks seem to like Hal Higdon's plans.

7lenny7 · October 2019

Yesterday morning Kody and I had a great 6 mile run with a couple of big hills the middle. It got pretty warm though and I had to slow it way down for Kody by the end.

Last night I was planning on pacing a woman friend of mine on her quest for her first 100 mile finish at the park just a couple miles from my home. She wanted me to join her on her 5th of 6 loops and figured it would be about 10PM, so I made sure I would be ready to go by 9pm, in case she was doing better than expected. At the beginning of her 4th loop she texted me to let me know her progresses. Half way through her loops she texted me again and I got ready to go.

Soon thereafter, however, she texted me once again to let me know she was pulling out. She was too cold, shivering uncontrollably and was sitting by the fire at the aid station. I offered to come out and get her, or bring her anything she might need but she said her boys were picking her up. I was bummed, not for missing my loop, but for her.

Since I was now all dressed up with no place to go, I decided to go to the race anyway to see if I could pick up a runner. After a half hour wait I saw another woman friend of mine come through the gate, solo. She's someone I met on our group runs in the park. I greeted her warmly, offered my services and she gladly accepted, but said her husband would be joining her half way through the loop.

She was in tough shape. She was very fatigued, getting dizzy, and was having a hard time following the course markings. After she fueled up at the aid station and I shed my pants and jacket we were off...slowly. The first part of the loop is a very hilly trail and we were hiking just 20:00 miles.

As my first time pacing, and only knowing her from a couple of runs, it was tough to know how to motivate her. My first strategy was to just keep up the small talk and try to make the time go by quicker for her. She was talkative for a while but soon I seem to be doing all most the talking and with only short responses from her. I know she's a quiet introverted person anyway, so I thought that's what she might prefer and the miles go quiet for a while. Next time I pace I'll ask up front what the runner wants, someone to chat away even with little response, or someone to just be that quite force that pushes them forward.

Quite often on the steep descents she'd have to stop and rest on her trekking poles. When she'd drop them I'd pick them up for her because she had a hard time even bending over. She continued to get dizzier and I thought it might be from the headlamp giving her tunnel vision and no depth perception so I took out my backup light, held it low and lit the path in front of her. That seemed to help a little bit. There were a couple of time she said she started hallucinating and thought she saw the aid station in the woods (hallucinating during a 100 mile race at night is not uncommon) They had mileage markers on this trail and that didn't help. It just served to remind her how slow we were going. At the first aid station 3 miles in she sat and rest for 10 minutes and one of the volunteers rubbed her back and gave her antacids and magnesium tablets.

Finally back on the trail to face some of the toughest hills she seemed to have renewed focus, and the dizziness was easing up, but always there. Towards the end of the worst part she said she wanted to pick up the pace so instead of hiking beside her I started hiking faster to push her, still holding my flashlight to light her way better. I checked in a couple of times to make sure I wasn't going too fast but she was fine. Now she was stopping from time to time because of shin pain. She was in pretty rough shape, but doing well considering.

We finally got to the next aid station where her husband waited for her in a tent they had set up at the campground. She thanked me and quickly went to the tent, leaving me alone at the aid station.

I spent the next half hour at the AS snacking and chatting with the volunteers and some crew. I had decided to wait to see if I could find a solo runner to pace. In that half hour, only one runner came through and he didn't want a pacer so I decided to take the gravel road back to my truck. That gal was still in the tent and I'm not sure if she ever left it.

I ended up with a 6 mile hike and a 1.5 mile run and was very glad I was there for her as she struggled on that section.

This morning I found out that I'm now registered for an 8 hour race in 2 weeks. I had been on the wait list. If all goes well, that will be 3 ultras in 3 weeks.

2019 Races
02/23/2019 - Psycho Wyco 20M w/ Kody - Kansas City, KS - 5:39:36 (41/65 OA, Kody 4/9 Canine)
04/27/2019 - Tillamook Burn 50M - Tillamook Forest, OR DNF at 31.6 Miles
05/18/2019 - Superior Spring 50K - Lutsen, MN - 7:52:09 (171/204 OA, 15/18 M50-59)
07/13/2019 - Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon - Carlton, MN - 7:00:49 (236/308 OA, 29/37 M50-59)
09/14/2019 - Outrun Homelessness 5K - Savage, MN - 23:57 (7/72 OA, 6/24 M, 1/4 M50-59)
09/21/2019 - Surly Trail Loppet HM - Minneapolis, MN - 2:31:19 (318/514 OA, 229/313 M, 28/40 M50-59)
10/06/2019 - TC 10 Mile - Minneapolis to St. Paul, MN - 1:24:24 (2203/11044 OA, 1333/3883 M, 98/357 M50-54)
10/13/2019 - Loopet Loppet 12 HR Trail Race - Minneapolis, MN - 45M offical (10/68 OA, 5/38 M)
10/26/2019 - Glacier Hills 50K - Sioux Falls, SD
11/02/2019 - Icebox 480 8HR Trail Race - River Falls, WI
12/07/2019 - Alternate Chili Trail Run 10M w/ Kody - Kansas City, KS

2020 Races
St Croix Winter Ultra (Volunteer)
01/25/2020 - Securian Half Marathon - St. Paul, MN
02/22/2020 - Pyscho Wyco 50K - Kansas City, MO
03/28/2020 - Prairie Spirit Trail Race 100M - Ottawa, KS
07/11/2020 - Eugene Curnow Trail Marathon - Carlton, MN
09/05/2020 - Outrun Homelessness 5K - Savage, MN
09/12/2020 - Superior Fall Trail Marathon
09/19/2020 - Surly Loppet Trail HM (or In Yan Teopa)
09/26/2020 - Grand Traverse 27M - Duluth, MN
10/04/2020 - Medtronic TC 10 Mile - Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
10/10/2020 - Heartland 100M - Cassoday, KS
Registered
Tentative

Lazy_Bones_85 · October 2019

Like @Scott6255, I also ran the Peachtree City Classic 15K yesterday. I felt like I was well trained- if not overtrained for the race. The weather to me was perfect: light rain, and a cool 52 degrees. I debated wearing my rain coat over my tank, but didn't want to get hot either. So I ran in shorts and a tank top. I'm glad I did because the temps were fine.

I started the race with a a goal of 1:23 in mind for the simple fact it was my last 15K time but I was hoping to come in around 1:22:30 which was a 5:30K/8:50M pace. I usually run my races listening to my running app talk in KMs to get feedback more often (every .5K). My first 2 KMs were under 5:00 since I was heading downhill and I felt great. I also managed to get myself in-between the pack of the fast runners ahead, and the slower runners behind so I was solo for a while which I loved. I felt great thru mile 3 though I seemed to have slowed down a bit in mile 4 unless my GPS went wacko (9:11 pace vs 8:31 average). Saw the sign for the halfway mark at 4.67M and still felt good. There was a lady who would speed up and cut in front of me and then slow down to walk, I would pass her, then she would run again, pass me, walk, etc. She did that no fewer than 8 times between miles 4 and 7 and I was getting so irritated by it because the path was narrow and filled with puddles. Finally I stopped moving to the right when I heard her and just kept on running tight corners and such. The course got a bit hillier around the 6 mile mark but still felt good. But I was very happy to see the 8 mile marker and to hear my 13KM chime on my GPS. I picked up the pace, which I was surprised I could since my legs were starting to fatigue and my breathing was starting to get hard. From the 8.5M marker and beyond, I don't really remember too much since I was starting to feel overwhelmed with fatigue and just concentrating on breathing. I looked down and saw my timer said 1:17:47 and I was already a bit past the 9 mile marker and I figured I had a chance to break 1:20, so with everything I had, I tried to catch the two men just ahead of me. I caught one, then he took off passing me again, and then I caught the second man and passed him on the uphill .1M finish where the spectators were. I crossed at 1:19:30. Couldn't believe I ran that well. The killer? The girl right in front of me was in my age group. 11 seconds and I would have been 2nd instead of 3rd. She passed me around the 6 or 7 mile mark and then I didn't see her. So while I couldn't catch her, I think I gained on her since there were places I should have been able to see her only 11 seconds ahead.

All in all, I am more proud of my performance in this race than ever before. I feel like I stuck to my training despite the super hot summer, which is sort of a cross between a Hal Higden 15K and 13.1 intermediate/advanced plan. And I've found that I really, REALLY like the 15K/10M distances. When I try to run faster than a 8:15ish mile, I get a lot of pain in my left hip flexor. So any shorter distance, I find myself in a lot of pain when I train and race faster than that. I do have a HM on March 1, but for the next 2-3 weeks, I'm just going to run 5 miles, 4 times a week with a 7 miler for a long run without any speedwork because I feel like I need a "training" break. I'm just going to run to maintain my fitness for now.

Today, I am sore, tried, achy, hungry, and cranky. I was going to run a very easy 3M and get back on the weight loss wagon, but I can't. I ate a bunch of cookies, don't feel like running, want to nap, and maybe I'll head out for a walk later.

I know this group is just an internet forum, but sometimes when I don't feel like running, I remember that I won't be able to post my distances, and I really hate writing "Skipped" without a valid reason (today's aches and fatigue are valid) so my accountability in the group makes me want to get out there when mentally I don't want to. So thank you to all of you here for that.

durhammfp · October 2019

PastorVincent wrote: »

Running by feel...Once you lock in a steady cycle of movements your body automatically optimizes the energy flows, the movements and so on....

I really do appreciate this group. Y'all are all such an inspiration. I'm a complete newbie...still working on C25K (and right on schedule)...but I've been thinking about cadence a lot, since I read somewhere that people should run at 180. Is that a hard-and-fast rule? What is a good way to find out what my cadence is? And how do I improve it?

Finished W5R3 of C25K yesterday. That's a psychological hump I'm glad to get over.

Scott6255 · October 2019

Wow @Lazy_Bones_85 great, awesome race! You were actually just 2 minutes behind me! I probably saw you at the finish while I was waiting for my niece and nephew to cross. Glad you enjoyed the weather 😆. Congrats on the AG place!
Give yourself a break today and just veg if you want. You deserve it!

ContraryMaryMary · October 2019

Great effort @Lazy_Bones_85. Sounds liked you raced well. Take it easy for a few days, definitely, and that goes for food too. Your body has worked hard and needs to be replenished.

chris_in_cal · October 2019

Lazy_Bones_85 wrote: »

There was a lady who would speed up and cut in front of me and then slow down to walk, I would pass her, then she would run again, pass me, walk, etc. She did that no fewer than 8 times between miles 4 and 7 and I was getting so irritated by it because the path was narrow and filled with puddles. Finally I stopped moving to the right when I heard her and just kept on running tight corners and such.

This is a thing. I want to quit the race when it has happen to me. I HATE the person when I am running and that isn't ever a good thing. I can argue that they just see me all consistent and comfortable and the want to use me for pace and motivation, A good thing right? a compliment.

My anxiety activates. I've been targeted with no say in the matter, they are running MY race, not their race. Narcissistic self-centered behavior...I get dark quick.

There is also the suck it up and run faster and beat them thought....Why should I have to throw my whole healthy race plan out the window because they decided their race plan on the fly to target me.

It has happen twice to me. Once I stopped (after about five cycles) and asked the man to stop. Why do I have to do that?

I am glad you raced....if anyone mid race decides to target/pace/use another runner, please don't mess up their race.

I have to go breath and calm down now 😊

October 2019 Monthly Running Challenge

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