March 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

@durhammfp Outstanding run!!!!

3-1 7k moderate
3-2 7k thresholdish + resistance bands
3-3 7k moderate
3-4 rest
3-5 11k slow
3-6 7k moderate
3-7 7k easy
3-8 7k threshold

March Total: 53k
March Goal: 170k

January Total: 161k
February Total: 167k

2020 Total through February: 328k

Sunny and low 30s F this morning. Thought about today being a longish run, but I helped my brother-in-law move some furniture yesterday and had leg cramps last night, along with some super fun lower GI issues as well. So I went out today and ran a training PR for 7k.

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
Stretch goal: If I can average 169k per month, I can run 2020K in 2020

Run the Year Team: Pavement Pounders

2020 races:
4-25 Shine the Light 5k, Twinsburg, OH
5-23 Race for the Parks 5k, Hudson OH
6-20 Freedom Run 5k, Aurora, OH

Happy Sunday 😀

So yesterday I decided to run on the green way that will be the course for the HM. I’ve not run this part of our extensive green way system as it is in Cary, and I’m in Raleigh which is not very far, but still a drive to get to. Anyway I wanted to see the course. And man, this one is tough. This particular stretch of greenway is 7.1 miles. The race has you start at one end and go almost to the end (less about a mile I guess) and turn around and head back.
I actually started at the other end so I was a mile from the turn around part in the race, so basically I went the opposite way, but as it’s out and back either way I would see what I’m dealing with.
It was cool and windy and that made it horrible to start. Then I had to stop several times as I didn’t know where I was going as far as following the correct trail (there are many connectors) and there are quite a few long steepish hills. And we have to cross a few main streets ie traffic lights to continue the green way. Then my toe pain decides today is good day to flare up, and at mile 6, I could barely walk. I had to limp and take shoes off and massage the ball of my foot and toes and kind of move my foot around in the shoe to a position it wouldn’t hurt. So the back half was way slow, lots of walking and I did manage to run slowly after the pain subsided a bit. The hills and downhills didn’t help, but I made it back to car having done 12 miles. It was easily the worst run I’ve had. I started slow, didn’t know where I was going and then the toes.
I’ll have to go back to the doctor to see what’s up.
I did want to try to to get a pb time for a HM but I really don’t think it will happen on this course. My goal now is to at least do as well as my one and only other race, if not finish lol.

Today I’ll do recovery walk, don’t think I will run because of the foot, and tomorrow is rest day so that will be good.

@polskagirl01 loved the race report. Congrats on your PB and your sons 1st place finish. Sounds like a wonderful time!
@LoveyChar I would never consider taking Kody on a run like that...long miles, paved route, and that much heat would not be good for him.
@bearly63 sorry to hear about your stress fracture. i hope you heal quickly and completely.
@durhammfp what a great finish to your race, well done!
@shanaber Kody's paw is fine. I think it's a tendon issue in one of his front legs. Lots of swelling and limping when he walks. I'm going to try to get him into the vet tomorrow. Looks like a great day at the beach!

No run for me today. I decided to skip it because I have a ton of work to get done. I hate working on weekends, but so be it.

Very nice run on Saturday, 5 miles on the Greenline. Still slow but feeling a little more like my usual self - you know the saying that the first mile is a lie? Lately it’s been more like the first two and a half, by two I’m to that state where you keep promising yourself if you just make it to that next lamppost you will let yourself quit, then you do it over again. But yesterday the first two miles felt almost normal.

The weather was literally perfect for running, for me anyway - 50 something degrees, light wind, sunny. I didn’t even have sweaty hair when I finished.

A lot of people were out on Patriot Lake in canoes, including one family trying to encourage their dog to swim for the first time. The dog was some small black and white bird dog-looking retriever type which was clearly meant to be a water dog. They had another dog which was swimming around with great gusto, to give the other dog an example, they went out in the canoe and called to the dog... no dice. Finally they came back to the shore and the dog jumped in the canoe. So they paddled out and the dog got anxious about the shore getting further away and leaned over the side of the boat, and whined, and carried on, and finally JUMPED the hugest jump into the water. And then immediately discovered that swimming was the absolute best thing! When we came back around the two dogs were paddling around together swimming and swimming in pure delight. And all the nearby people were cheering for the happy dog.

@bearly63 – wishing you a speedy recovery, swimming is also good. I watched a programme a while back where someone improved their bone density through diet.
@durhammfp – fantastic running, be very proud
@hamsterwheel6 – don’t rule anything out on race day and hopefully you get a solution for your toes before race day

Long run attempt today turned in long, slow and painful run. Had a detour in my warm up walk as I needed to 'express' myself which is my worst fear on race day. First 8 miles were fine and then I ran next to the wetlands which was a permanent headwind across open space and the mucus machine just switched on again leading to a run/tissue/wal/repeat scenario before I reached a point of think I had nothing left to give and switched off my tracker at 12.9 miles. What idiot doesn't go to 13.1? Apart from this idiot obviously!

Today I ran 8.3 miles. I was inspired to do some hills, since we were just talking about them, so I ran uphill for 3 minutes, and downhill for 3 minutes with 3 minutes of flat in between each hill for the first 5 miles, and then I tried to go a little faster to see if I couldn't get my average speed up to 11 minute miles (because I'm stupid and never learn.) I made it another 3 miles before suddenly, I felt like my legs didn't know how to just run naturally. Something was off about my gait, and I couldn't pinpoint what it was, but I only struggled with it for a few minutes until I told myself that if my gait wasn't right, was I trying for an injury? So, I have no idea what that was about. I hope that's not a new thing.

March Goal 40 miles
To date 14.8

Added a mile to my run today so 3.3 miles (mini long run) for me in 60 degrees and sunny skies. Spring is in the air here in Michigan. I saw my first robin and my first redwing blackbird of the season last week. It seems a little early to me but maybe they know something I don't. I hope so .
I love doing hill work as part of my strength training before doing speed work. You do need to be careful though like anything new it stresses different areas so I try to ease into it when i start back up. Hopefully by this summer i'll be ready to attack the sledding hill at the local park again.