January 2020 Monthly Running Challenge
Replies
-
1/1 - Skipped
1/2 - 4 miles
1/3 - Weights
1/4 - 5.5 miles
1/5 - 11.32 miles
23.82 miles for the week (20.82 in January)
1/6 - Rest
1/7 - 3.15 miles
1/8 - Skipped
1/9 - 5 miles
1/10 - Weights
1/11 - 13.27 miles
1/12 - 4 miles
25.42 miles for the week
1/13 - Rest
1/14 - 2.59 miles
1/15 - Skipped
1/16 - 6.42 miles
1/17 - Core work
1/18 - 11.08 miles
1/19 - 4 miles
24.09 miles for the week
1/20 - Weights
1/21 - 4 miles (35:50, 8:58/mile)
4 miles for the week so far.
Another four in the bank.
January To-Date / Goal = 74.33 / 10510 -
rheddmobile wrote: »In the past running up to 8 mile long runs seems to be a sweet spot for me which makes my fitness and health improve. Even training for a half causes more damage to my body than it can keep up with. I don’t need or enjoy stress injuries! I have no intention of ever running a marathon just because of the expectation that “real runners run marathons.” It’s not something that would be good for my tendons or my joints, or useful for my goals.
By the way, if a shorter distance doesn’t seem challenging, you can always try running it faster. There’s a kid locally who runs 15 minute 5Ks. When I beat him, I will have earned the right to be bored by 5Ks.
Yes, I've done marathons and they're really hard, but I think putting in the training to do a 15 minute 5k would be incredibly difficult. Training for speed is a challenge too.
There are all sorts of ways to challenge yourself with running!
1/1: 1.5m
1/2: 3m
1/3: 2m
1/4: 3m
1/5: 3.5m
1/6: 2.5m
1/7: 3.25m
1/8: 4m
1/9: 3m
1/10: 2.25m
1/11: 3m
1/12: 5.75m
1/13: .75m
1/16: 3.5m
1/17: 3.5m
1/18: 5m
1/19: 6m
1/20: 2.25m
1/21: 3.5m
I really told myself I was going to run outside today, but when I got up and looked outside . . . nah, it was another treadmill day. It's supposed to warm up tomorrow/Thursday, so I'm thinking maybe then.9 -
I'm 500 posts behind and don't know where to find my last post but I don't have much to report so I'll just retype what I've done. LOL
Jan 1 - 4.25 mile run
Jan 4 - 2.33 mile run
Jan 10 - 5k run
Jan 12 - 1.75 mile (treadmill) run
So I haven't ran in 8 days and I haven't really done any other "official" exercise either. My fitbit weekly steps from last week were lowest I've had in over 6 months I'm sure. I have not been lazy however. I just got really wrapped up into a huge reorganizing my house project and painting a room to be my home office. So I got lots of activity emptying a room and painting and sorting through stuff and emptying and refilling closets..... I've climbed up and down my step ladder 1000 times I'm sure. But I really need to get back running before this turns into a huge setback where I can't run a mile again :-/ It has also been too cold to walk my dogs and too cold for my husband to want to take walks so it's kinda been a good time I guess for me to just work around the house. Spring will be here soon enough and my whole schedule will change with working from home. But again, I'm not interesting in starting over running so I need to at least get on the treadmill.
11 -
No run for me today. My feet were so tired and achy after Sunday's long run that I decided to give them an extra day of rest. My left ankle was still feeling a little cranky yesterday which is what really prompted this rest day, but so far today it is feeling good. I have ordered new shoes. They should be here tomorrow. I haven't decided if I should run tomorrow morning in an older pair (I have a retired pair with only 307 miles on them, my current pair has 460) or just take another rest day and wait until I get my new shoes. I would just run after the shoes get here, but my mail doesn't come before lunch and in the afternoon I have bell choir at 5 and I missed it last week so I don't know what I will do. I usually run on Sunday, Tues, Wed, and Thurs, but maybe this week I'll just skip Tuesday and run Sun, Thurs and Fri. I should still be on track to hit my goal if I do that.
Re: Running a marathon as the ultimate goal of a "real" runner. I'm in the "not ever planning to run a marathon" camp. I don't think that one has to run a marathon to be a runner. I'm not planning to run one and honestly I don't really want to run one. Sure there is a part of me that would like to be able to say I had run one, but not enough to want to actually train for it. I like running half marathons. They are challenging, but not overwhelming. Currently I run 3 weekday mornings for about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. That will usually get me around 6-ish miles. On Sunday I do a long run. I usually have about 2 hours for it and I usually run between 8-12 miles and most often just run 10 miles which takes me about an hour and 50 minutes. I have on occasion run a little over 13 and that will take a little longer. I don't really want to run any longer than that because as much as I love running, I also have other things to do. But the fact that I run about 28-30 miles per week and spend 5-5.5 hours a week running is what makes me a runner. I would consider myself a runner if I ran less hours and less miles. Just getting out the door and running consistently is what makes me a runner. At this point in my life my goal is to run as much as I enjoy it and to always be in Half Marathon shape. I may not be a marathoner, but that is ok with me. I am a runner and I am a half marathoner because as they say, "I'm only half crazy." I hope that no one feels like they aren't a real runner if they don't run marathons or ultras or halfs or any races. Get out the door and run (or stay in and hit the treadmill), and you will be a runner.11 -
2 runs
saturday i had to spend shoveling the heavy icy snow. so i considered it a cross training day
sunday, the temperature dropped per usual for this race, and i ran at the zoo with my late husband's friends. it was cold, there was still some ice. it was very crowded with people who don't normally run/race. there was a new course and there were more hills than usual. Garmin said only 63ft of elevation change. i call bs. the first mile was trying to get out of the crowd. the next 2 never felt good. i knew i wasn't going to break any PRs so i tried not to push too hard. the polar bears were out. penguins too. finished slow at 34:56. last year was nearly 2 min faster. i decided to join my friends at the local diner instead of poking around the zoo.
yesterday. i put it off. from sunday's rough run i was nervous. i was getting in my head. at first, i considered going to the track to make it easy but i really didn't want to. then i considered going to a gym and doing the treadmill...it's starting to get icy and unsafe out. but meh, people.
then i considered all the different trails. went with my normal trail. i was told they usually plow.
speed demon needed to be tricked into the car. she kept trying to hide under the furniture. but once we got to the trailhead, she again ripped the fabric of the car door. sigh. i had my yaktrax on just in case. the trail started off plowed. and then it wasn't. it was up to my shins. lost my traxs. managed to get them back on. passed the plow. they were working on getting gates open. lost my traxs again. stopped to tie my shoes and the plow caught up to me. one plow guy had a trax in his hand and asked if i wanted it. the other one said he had accidentally plowed the other one away. i told him to toss em. no reason to keep them if they won't stay on. crossed county lines and they had already plowed. it was a bit icy. speed demon slipped a few times and learned to listen when i told her to slow down. we managed to stay upright. there were walking breaks. we didn't break any land speed records. there were dogs off leash
but overall it was a nice quiet run. on the way back the trail was plowed too which was nice. so 8 miles done.
11 -
Went away for the weekend and am so behind in posts! Congrats and hugs to all for races, injuries.
Biltmore was fantastic! The NC mountains are something else. We hiked in Pisgah National Forest and on the Biltmore Estate itself. Breathtaking. And Downton Abbey was quite impressive
Didn't run but did get those couple hikes in.
Back at it today. Debated on going outside vs the dreadmill as it was 25F/Windchill 18F. For us that is cold. And if anyone knows me I don't do cold.
However running in cold is different. I told myself, the coldest you have run in has been 30F feels 25F. So this is doable. Right? And besides I wanted to feel like a bada$$ for running in the teens! LOL
I layered up and was dressed perfectly, Felt great, and did 10K.
Re; Marathon running. I currently do not have a desire. HM yes, and for me that was the challenge and I did it. Now I want to do another and for me the challenge will be to beat my last time.
I still do 5K and 10K and races in between, and all of them are challenging. My last 5 miler course was tough because of the hills and that was for sure worth it, to be able to finish it. Finishing any distance race is awesome.
Anyone who runs is a runner. Totally. Any distance. Any time.
Cheers!
10 -
I do have a question about races for those that do them..
Do you usually do the same races each year, or do you try to different ones? And based on what...
Just curious as I'm planning my schedule.5 -
hamsterwheel6 wrote: »I do have a question about races for those that do them..
Do you usually do the same races each year, or do you try to different ones? And based on what...
Just curious as I'm planning my schedule.
Yes...
I tend to do the same few major races because they give me fixed points to compare my progress and condition. For example if I know last year I ran RACE and did TIME and this year I was like TIME+MUCH_MORE then I can say I did poorly and investigate why. Is my fitness less? Was it conditions? Something else? If I did it in around the same time or better, than I can probably be sure I am still on a good fitness track.
Obviously injury, weather, and such need to be accounted for.
Also, I have done poorly run races and they suck, so I like to go to races I know are run well. 2 -
hamsterwheel6 wrote: »Back at it today. Debated on going outside vs the dreadmill as it was 25F/Windchill 18F. For us that is cold. And if anyone knows me I don't do cold.
However running in cold is different. I told myself, the coldest you have run in has been 30F feels 25F. So this is doable. Right? And besides I wanted to feel like a bada$$ for running in the teens! LOL
I layered up and was dressed perfectly, Felt great, and did 10K.
Well done!1 -
2 runs
saturday i had to spend shoveling the heavy icy snow. so i considered it a cross training day
sunday, the temperature dropped per usual for this race, and i ran at the zoo with my late husband's friends. it was cold, there was still some ice. it was very crowded with people who don't normally run/race. there was a new course and there were more hills than usual. Garmin said only 63ft of elevation change. i call bs. the first mile was trying to get out of the crowd. the next 2 never felt good. i knew i wasn't going to break any PRs so i tried not to push too hard. the polar bears were out. penguins too. finished slow at 34:56. last year was nearly 2 min faster. i decided to join my friends at the local diner instead of poking around the zoo.
yesterday. i put it off. from sunday's rough run i was nervous. i was getting in my head. at first, i considered going to the track to make it easy but i really didn't want to. then i considered going to a gym and doing the treadmill...it's starting to get icy and unsafe out. but meh, people.
then i considered all the different trails. went with my normal trail. i was told they usually plow.
speed demon needed to be tricked into the car. she kept trying to hide under the furniture. but once we got to the trailhead, she again ripped the fabric of the car door. sigh. i had my yaktrax on just in case. the trail started off plowed. and then it wasn't. it was up to my shins. lost my traxs. managed to get them back on. passed the plow. they were working on getting gates open. lost my traxs again. stopped to tie my shoes and the plow caught up to me. one plow guy had a trax in his hand and asked if i wanted it. the other one said he had accidentally plowed the other one away. i told him to toss em. no reason to keep them if they won't stay on. crossed county lines and they had already plowed. it was a bit icy. speed demon slipped a few times and learned to listen when i told her to slow down. we managed to stay upright. there were walking breaks. we didn't break any land speed records. there were dogs off leash but overall it was a nice quiet run. on the way back the trail was plowed too which was nice. so 8 miles done.
I have YakTracks but have yet to use them. I usually use my trailshoes and fine. Your story makes me think I am making a good call. Hmmm.1 -
hamsterwheel6 wrote: »I do have a question about races for those that do them..
Do you usually do the same races each year, or do you try to different ones? And based on what...
Just curious as I'm planning my schedule.
My answer is kind of "yes" as well.
If I liked the race before and it's convenient and well-organized (and fun!) then I'll do it again. But I also like to try new things and look for new challenges. There's the trail series that I just love, so I try to make that a priority each year. Mostly it's a question of fitting my schedule and training.2 -
@PastorVincent Thanks. I channeled your last run in 9F, and thought well this is much warmer than that! As for the races.. makes complete sense to be able to compare times, fitness etc.
@polskagirl01 For convenience yes, totally. Why I'm debating doing some of the same ones this year with one or two added ones - like that 5 miler, and they are all local. Never had done the course so it was new. And they are all local.
There is one HM that I want to do, but it's a big race ($$) I've never really done a big one (and it's in SC) - the biggest I did was the HM last year which was "only" 700 or so racers.
Good thoughts...0 -
hamsterwheel6 wrote: »I do have a question about races for those that do them..
Do you usually do the same races each year, or do you try to different ones? And based on what...
Just curious as I'm planning my schedule.
I have some races that I do year-after-year, because I really enjoy them. If I do a race and just kind of enjoy it, I typically won't do it again and I try to try some new races every year.1 -
hamsterwheel6 wrote: »I do have a question about races for those that do them..
Do you usually do the same races each year, or do you try to different ones? And based on what...
Just curious as I'm planning my schedule.
I typically do new marathons because I am trying to complete 50 states. Exception: I will do Chicago again because my race lottery luck is the worst ever. I ran Chicago for charity in 2019 and still put in for the 2020 lottery because I never get drawn for anything ever anyway. Miraculously, I got drawn for Chicago 2020. I still have never been drawn for anything else ever and likely never will, but keep putting in for lotteries on world majors (except Boston has no lottery), Leadville 100, and a few others. Anyway, I will run Chicago for a 2nd time this year. Otherwise, no repeats.5 -
@janejellyroll Yes. I really did enjoy my last HM, so maybe I will just do that one again. But then again there are some others here locally I want to try. I can't do them all, haha. I wish.
@T1DCarnivoreRunner I'll say it again. You are amazing. BTW, have you done one in NC yet? If so which did you do?1 -
hamsterwheel6 wrote: »I do have a question about races for those that do them..
Do you usually do the same races each year, or do you try to different ones? And based on what...
Just curious as I'm planning my schedule.
I tend to panic in crowds and in unfamiliar places so I tend to stick to the same races. I may try a new one if I am comfortable in the location or if I know the crowd will be small but that may only be once a year.2 -
hamsterwheel6 wrote: »I do have a question about races for those that do them..
Do you usually do the same races each year, or do you try to different ones? And based on what...
Just curious as I'm planning my schedule.
I tend to panic in crowds and in unfamiliar places so I tend to stick to the same races. I may try a new one if I am comfortable in the location or if I know the crowd will be small but that may only be once a year.
It can get stressful for sure and probably something I should think about too! Thanks1 -
Not complaining, I love my boy. However, I was looking forward to a good, hard long run tonight by myself after hubby got home from work. Now hubby informs me that he is buried in work and won't be home until much later, which means if I want to run, I need to suck it up and clean us both up for a run, get the stroller out of the garage, little guy in it and just be grateful to get 3.2 in today (which I will be). If I get lucky, he'll fall asleep and I can run longer. I have pent up energy from no run/no exercise yesterday. Oh well, it is what it is... I'm irritated, not with hubby, not really with anyone actually...just irritated and I need to run it off, I guess.9
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hamsterwheel6 wrote: »I do have a question about races for those that do them..
Do you usually do the same races each year, or do you try to different ones? And based on what...
Just curious as I'm planning my schedule.
both.
i have ones that mean something or are well run and i try to do every year
this year i am trying to do more of the canicross races because it's good for me and speed demon.
and my schedule. i work saturdays so i try to race sundays. one of my race buddies also works saturdays. if it's a new race, it's nice to race with someone. but....if i get up to the ultra, which is what i'm going for....that i took one of the earlier races in the year to train for. so if something happens i still have all year to keep training.PastorVincent wrote: »2 runs
saturday i had to spend shoveling the heavy icy snow. so i considered it a cross training day
sunday, the temperature dropped per usual for this race, and i ran at the zoo with my late husband's friends. it was cold, there was still some ice. it was very crowded with people who don't normally run/race. there was a new course and there were more hills than usual. Garmin said only 63ft of elevation change. i call bs. the first mile was trying to get out of the crowd. the next 2 never felt good. i knew i wasn't going to break any PRs so i tried not to push too hard. the polar bears were out. penguins too. finished slow at 34:56. last year was nearly 2 min faster. i decided to join my friends at the local diner instead of poking around the zoo.
yesterday. i put it off. from sunday's rough run i was nervous. i was getting in my head. at first, i considered going to the track to make it easy but i really didn't want to. then i considered going to a gym and doing the treadmill...it's starting to get icy and unsafe out. but meh, people.
then i considered all the different trails. went with my normal trail. i was told they usually plow.
speed demon needed to be tricked into the car. she kept trying to hide under the furniture. but once we got to the trailhead, she again ripped the fabric of the car door. sigh. i had my yaktrax on just in case. the trail started off plowed. and then it wasn't. it was up to my shins. lost my traxs. managed to get them back on. passed the plow. they were working on getting gates open. lost my traxs again. stopped to tie my shoes and the plow caught up to me. one plow guy had a trax in his hand and asked if i wanted it. the other one said he had accidentally plowed the other one away. i told him to toss em. no reason to keep them if they won't stay on. crossed county lines and they had already plowed. it was a bit icy. speed demon slipped a few times and learned to listen when i told her to slow down. we managed to stay upright. there were walking breaks. we didn't break any land speed records. there were dogs off leash but overall it was a nice quiet run. on the way back the trail was plowed too which was nice. so 8 miles done.
I have YakTracks but have yet to use them. I usually use my trailshoes and fine. Your story makes me think I am making a good call. Hmmm.
mine didn't have a strap across the top. this seems like it might have been useful. these just fit snugged around the bottom edge of the shoe.2 -
I did eat and drink badly from Thursday-Sunday and did no exercise. It was great.
Some strength training yesterday and back at the cardio today. 7k done with no interval which I think is the longest I have run without a walk break.
At the start of the year Feb's main goal was to do 10k without interval so I am well on the way.
Jan Goal:
1. Ttl 130km...............................69km
2. Long run10 miles...................16k ✔
3. 17 runs....................................9
4. Help someone C25K.....run 3 - 1.30-2/1 (3.1k)
5. Strength training x14.............7
7
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