January 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

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
1/22 - 4 miles
1/23 - 4 miles
1/24 - Skipped
1/25 - 3 miles (22:03)
1/26 - 12.13 miles (1:55:39)
27.13 miles for the week

January To-Date / Goal = 97.46 / 105

TheMrWobbly wrote: »

I find the sloshing of a water bottle annoying as well, I think I'd rather have the camelpack so the weight sits evenly. Wouldn't there be less 'bounce' with a camelpack than a belt?

I find a lot more bounce with most packs compared to a handheld water bottle. I use a fuel belt, but not normally a water belt, so can't really speak on that.

Years ago when I was trying to find a pack that would not bounce against my back while running, I was sooo frustrated until someone suggested checking out the cycling packs. Yep, turns out those cyclists get all the best stuff! I ended up with an Osprey Raptor, with a 3L bladder and no more bounce.

Morning all.

Still feeling like I'm coming down with a lurgy. Just feel a bit scratchy in my nose and chest. Nothing concrete atm, so went for a 5.8k run anyway, in my second pair of new shoes. I for some gel kayano 26s yesterday. They are pretty close to the 25s but seem a little looser in the heel. But no issues on my run at all, so the kayano continues to be my shoe of choice. Now I have 3 pairs of running shoes, 1 which is about halfway through their life, and 2 brand new pairs.

I'm hanging out at home with miss 5 today. We were going to go for a bike ride, but it's raining (yay) so now we are staying in, watching Man About Cake and Doc Mcstuffins while making cookies.

Oh and DHL inform me my new glasses are on their way! Hope they show before 2:30pm, I wanna wear them at work tonight!

___________________________
Jan - goal 140k
Jan 1 - 2.1k
Jan 2 - 3k
Jan 3 - 6k
Jan 4 - 3k
Jan 5 - 9k
Jan 6 - 6.3k
Jan 7 - 2.3k
Jan 8 - 8.3k
Jan 9 - 3k
Jan 10 - 7k
Jan 11 - 4k
Jan 12 - 2k
Jan 13 - 5.5k
Jan 14 - 3k
Jan 15 - 7.6k
Jan 16 - 3k
Jan 17 - 4.5k
Jan 18 - 7.2k
Jan 19 - 3.4k
Jan 20 - 2k
Jan 21 - 5.2k
Jan 22 - 9.0k
Jan 23 - 3.7k
Jan 24 - 3.4k
Jan 25 - 6.6k
Jan 26 - 2.6k
Jan 27 - 5.8k
Total: 128.6k
Run streak - 38 days

Great job on your run @Camaramandy648!

@shanaber and @RunsOnEspresso, my Stella is a fan of the salad bar along the way on her walks. Especially if she's hot. She loves to find a nice soft clump of grass and go to town for a while.

Hey @johnisrunning - looks like you've had a good week! Nice running.

Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
01/01/20 :::: 4.3 :::: 4.3
01/02/20 :::: 4.9 :::: 9.2
01/03/20 :::: 2.1 :::: 11.3
01/04/20 :::: 3.1 :::: 14.5
01/05/20 :::: 7.0 :::: 21.5
01/06/20 :::: 3.8 :::: 25.2
01/07/20 :::: 1.3 :::: 26.5
01/08/20 :::: 2.1 :::: 28.5
01/09/20 :::: 2.0 :::: 30.6
01/10/20 :::: 2.6 :::: 33.2
01/11/20 :::: 7.2 :::: 40.4
01/12/20 :::: 3.2 :::: 43.6
01/13/20 :::: 2.7 :::: 46.3
01/14/20 :::: 2.1 :::: 48.4
01/15/20 :::: 1.3 :::: 49.7
01/16/20 :::: 1.6 :::: 51.2
01/17/20 :::: 1.6 :::: 52.8
01/18/20 :::: 3.8 :::: 56.6
01/19/20 :::: 2.1 :::: 58.8
01/20/20 :::: 3.6 :::: 62.4
01/21/20 :::: 2.0 :::: 64.4
01/22/20 :::: 1.6 :::: 66.0
01/23/20 :::: 1.9 :::: 67.9
01/24/20 :::: 4.2 :::: 72.1
01/25/20 :::: 7.4 :::: 79.5
01/26/20 :::: 2.5 :::: 82.0/ 100 mile goal (40 day streak)

I lazed around a little longer than planned this morning, having a bit of a pout that I just wanted a day NOT to do anything - no exercise and no work - just lie on the couch like a slug. Once I was done with my little inner tantrum though, I got dressed and took the dog out for a walk. While walking, I started thinking that because I was dressed for it anyway, I might as well get my run done. And then friends texted they were rock climbing so I needed to get it done soon. I scooted the dog back in the house, changed jackets, and headed back out for a quick run, then back home to shower and change and head out again.

So my slug plan became walk, run, climb, eat Cuban food, and go to work for a couple of hours. And I'm better for it Especially the Cuban food.

Thanks for the recommendations on tights, I think I may try the Athleta. It’s a bunch of money but I only really need one pair of super warm tights.

Race Report, Memphis Runners Track Club Winter off-road series 5k, race #2 in the series. Held at Johnson Park where my husband and I usually run trails (it’s the park with the bridge that keeps disappearing and reappearing under the water). When we arrived the first thing we did was go ask the race director if the bridge was flooded! It’s been about a 50/50 chance so far this winter. Today it was NOT FLOODED! Which meant that the course was run as planned, unlike last year when it was changed to an out and back because of the flooding.

This was our race to win, it was on our home stomping grounds, so it was a little disappointing that I felt bad today and ran a mediocre race. I think I may be starting a lupus flare, just generic feeling terrible and stressed. Anyway even accounting for the longer course our pace was almost a minute off from last year. Just could not seem to go faster. Part of it is that we are in terrible shape compared to this time last year due to almost two months of bad runs due to colds and injury, which we knew going in, but even so, this was not a great run. The good news: my Achilles’ tendon feels great right now, and my husband found a new way of taping his ankle which helped a lot. Also: it did not rain on us! Up until the last minute the forecast was saying 50% chance of rain, and I don’t have a rain jacket with a hood right now, so I was praying. But the weather was 51, if anything a trifle warm to run hard, and didn’t start misting rain until after the race.

We started off by lining up in the 8 - 10 minute corral, which I figured was overly optimistic for today but fair since I ran 9:28 here last year. Unlike the last race in the series, where there were a bunch of new people and I looked around and figured out that I should have probably moved forward, today I looked around and saw nothing but track club and running store employee singlets. On mostly guys who were younger and taller than we are. I figured we were about to get passed a whole bunch and I wasn’t mistaken. Fortunately the trails at WC Johnson are mostly double wide and there were no real bottlenecks. In fact, when these trails are dry, they are some of the easiest running around - nice flat dirt trails, with the worst hazards being a few dips and tree roots. Today, however, they came extra sloshy with a side of mud!

This course starts out on an access road, then heads onto gravel, before turning into the woods. It’s usually a good idea to run the roads hard in order to make up time that will be lost going carefully in the woods. Looking back at my gps data we started really fast, doing the first third of a mile at about a 7:30 pace. It felt really slow at the time, and my husband was also surprised to see our speed, which just goes to show what running in a pack with faster runners will do to you. We hit the woods and slowed down to a steady speed, being periodically passed by younger and faster people. There were a handful of young people who were very fast but clearly new to trails who kept passing us repeatedly on dry ground, then hitting a patch of mud and freaking out, dancing around trying to keep dry while we chugged straight through and passed them. Then they would repeat the process. I swear we passed one young woman five times!

At the bridge, we were given the option to run up and down a steep muddy slope or use the stairs. We opted to use the stairs going down and the slope going up, which may not have been the best choice, since we were passed by several people who used the stairs up and seemed less winded as a result. Usually, in practice, we use the stairs because it gives us a chance to stop, blow our noses, and so on, but it seemed like the slope would be less exhausting in race conditions. Pretty sure that was a miscalculation.

Heading into the final mile, I noticed we were starting to get passed by people nearer our own age and fitness level and tried to pick it up, but my body was having none of it. I did run hard for the finish, alongside two other ladies who were equally determined. I beat one and the other beat me.

My time was 33:59. The course, which is not supposed to be exact distance, was quite a bit long, my gps says 3:22ish and 10:30 minute miles - which is pretty good for us in practice since we usually run these trails about 12, but not good at all for a race day. Ended up seventh in AG, sighed heavily, then toted up the points from the series and figured out, hey, I’m still in this thing. I was 4th in the first race. Due to two of the people in front of me not showing up, I’m now 5th overall in the series, and two of the ladies in my AG are shoo-ins for Master and Grandmaster respectively, which would make them ineligible for AG awards. Which go three deep. So I could still potentially win a series award in my AG if I do well in the next two races. Considering how badly out of shape we are and that the next two races are the Stanky Creek 8k - the most technical race in the series, which nearly flattened us last year - and the Shelby Farms 10k which was right at the limit of our endurance last year when we were much better off - we will probably not do all that well. But! It ain’t over til it’s over. My husband who runs with me usually ends up right in the middle of the men’s AG and was more in the bottom third, which shows how off our game we were. He says he had more in terms of stamina, but would not have wanted to run faster on his ankle with it bothering him. The next fastest woman in my AG was almost a full minute faster, so I don’t feel bad about my effort - I went all in, and there was no way I could have shaved that much time off - just wasn’t a good run day for me! We had a great time and nobody faceplanted in the mud, which is the most important part of any trail race.

14k last night. Fine until 11k but then I came out of my bubble and the last 3k was pretty hard. I am suffering with another cold, coughing up some stuff and have taken headache tablets this morning which is unusual for me.

Jan Goal:

1. Ttl 130km...............................89km
2. Long run10 miles...................16k ✔
3. 17 runs....................................11
4. Help someone C25K.....run 3 - 1.30-2/1 (3.1k)
5. Strength training x14.............9 (i think)

@rheddmobile, sorry you weren’t feeling well, but you did a great job! I’d like to get into more trail races.

I got in my six miles yesterday, but the girl I mentor was sick, so we cancelled our hike. I ended up doing a bit of ab work and then focused on laundry and starting to pack for my upcoming vacation. We are going to Egypt, so I am trying to carefully check the weather and plan so I don’t overpack. I also checked out the fitness centers for our hotels so I can hopefully get in some short but decent workouts while gone.

1-1 8k slow + resistance bands
1-2 7k slow + yoga
1-3 rest + resistance bands
1-4 7k slow + yoga
1-5 8k slow
1-6 7k easy + resistance bands
1-7 rest + yoga
1-8 7k slow + resistance bands
1-9 7k slow + yoga
1-10 rest + resistance bands
1-11 5k slow + yoga
1-12 7k slow
1-13 7k slow + resistance bands
1-14 rest + yoga
1-15 7k easy + resistance bands
1-16 7k easy + yoga
1-17 7k slow + resistance bands
1-18 rest + yoga
1-19 7k slow
1-20 7k slow + resistance bands
1-21 rest + yoga
1-22 7k easy + resistance bands
1-23 7k easy + yoga
1-24 rest + resistance bands
1-25 7k easy + yoga
1-26 7k easy
1-27 7k moderate + resistance bands


January Total: 140k
January Goal: 135k

A repeat of yesterday: cloudy, low 30s F, wind from the southwest with light snow. Legs felt good, so I picked up the pace a little.

@LoveyChar Good run!!!!
@rheddmobile You did your best; that's what matters. All I get in January is windburn.

Next year when you pop in here claiming your December 2020 mileage, what accomplishments will you have made?

Return to a good running weight of 175 lbs
Run at least 4 5k races
Get a 5k PR
Average at least 138k per month, to meet my Run the Year pledge of 1,020 miles

Run the Year Team: Pavement Pounders