December 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

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  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,471 Member
    @skippygirlsmom That looks like a really "cool" place to run. I hope Skip is okay!

    @katharmonic ! You did fantastic this year. All the things you didn't do were out of your control. You're awesome.

    @kgirlhart You did great on your goals too. Being stressed with all that went on this year is not a failure in my book. You survived and are doing good. Great job on you 8 mile run yesterday.



  • Tramboman
    Tramboman Posts: 2,482 Member
    12-1 rest + yoga
    12-2 7k treadmill + resistance bands
    12-3 7k treadmill + yoga
    12-4 7k slow + resistance bands
    12-5 7k slow + yoga
    12-6 7k slow
    12-7 7k easy + resistance bands
    12-8 rest + yoga
    12-9 7k easy + resistance bands
    12-10 7k easy-ish + yoga
    12-11 7k moderate-ish + resistance bands
    12-12 5k treadmill + yoga
    12-13 7k slow
    12-14 7k slow + resistance bands
    12-15 rest + yoga
    12-16 6k slow + resistance bands
    12-17 5k treadmill + yoga
    12-18 rest + resistance bands
    12-19 7k slow + yoga
    12-20 5k treadmill
    12-21 7k easy + resistance bands
    12-22 rest + yoga
    12-23 7k slow + resistance bands
    12-24 5k treadmill + yoga
    12-25 rest
    12-26 5k treadmill + yoga
    12-27 6k treadmill
    12-28 7k slow + resistance bands

    December Total: 142k
    December Goal: 170k

    January Total: 161k
    February Total: 167k
    March Total: 181k
    April Total: 191k
    May Total: 200k
    June Total: 156k
    July Total: 180k
    August Total: 172k
    September Total: 176k
    October Total: 189k
    November Total: 180k

    2020 Total through November: 1953k

    LIVE total for 2020: 2095k

    Cloudy, mid 30s F, and a nasty wind out of the southwest. A lot of our snow melted overnight; just one of the side streets was a little icy/slushy. Saw a lot of geese flying around, looking for something green to eat.

    @eleanorhawkins I was on blood pressure meds for a long time; finally got off them when I lost weight and maintained my running. They actually ended up making my BP too low, and started affecting me when I would go from sitting to standing.

    @noblsheep Great pictures of Tibet.

    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 -- Fail
    Run at least 4 5k races -- Fail
    Get a 5k PR -- Fail
    Average at least 138k per month, to meet my Run the Year pledge of 1,020 miles - Completed 10-11
    Stretch goal: If I can average 169k per month, I can run 2020k in 2020 - Completed 12-12
    Run the Year Team: Pavement Pounders -- Completed 9-29

    2020 races:

    9-8 to 9-13 "Virtual Boston with Vincent" Time goal 5:15:00; actual time 4:47:01
  • martaindale
    martaindale Posts: 2,317 Member
    Good job everyone on doing the best you can on goals this year. So many plans made with the best of intentions!

    @noblsheep Great pictures! Tibet is one of many places on my travel bucket list.

    @eleanorhawkins Re: BP meds and running. Especially if you are currently not on any meds, take it slow with running and adding in meds initially. If possible, stick closer to home and do some easier runs (not anything that is super taxing like speed work or fast pace work) to start with. And make sure you walk after your runs to let your heartrate and BP normalize a little before you stop moving entirely. Hopefully it won't affect you too much but like @Tramboman mentioned, BP meds can cause dizziness and lightheadedness as your body adjusts to the lower baseline BP. There are plenty of people who run with BP meds but even in those who don't run, it can take some time to get meds optimized for any particular person.
  • eleanorhawkins
    eleanorhawkins Posts: 1,659 Member
    @Tramboman @martaindale thanks, yeah, it's the dizziness and stuff that worries me. I haven't been doing any speed work for some time now, but I have been finding I've started feeling lightheaded towards the end of long runs but was putting it down to lack of fuel as I run on coffee and a banana and have also been on a deficit for a few months losing the lockdown pounds.
    I've been at threshold levels for probably 15 years and admittedly I hadn't thought to check it for probably a year or so. It isn't all that high, but high enough to need something doing about it.
    Worryingly though, the doctor (who phoned me to confirm my negative PCR and obviously wasn't expecting me to come out with BP worries!) didn't even bother talking about weight, diet, lifestyle or anything. Though the only things I could even try to do would be cut out caffeine anyway. He just happily prescribed a mild medication and told me we'd talk in a few weeks to see how it's going.
    I've taken one, and 5 hours later my BP is the lowest I've seen it since I was taken off the meds they gave me for it at the end of pregnancy. So yeah, I'm not sure if they will make it drop too much. If so, I may experiment for myself with cutting them in half. I also think I'll probably take them after I get home from running rather than beforehand just in case.
  • shanaber
    shanaber Posts: 6,423 Member
    I am enjoying reading everyones review of their goals! Seems like so many took a hit from Covid as expected but others we all did fairly well on! Maybe all those racing and travel related goals can be moved over to later in 2021?

    @Teresa502 - beautiful pictures! That road looks like where I lived as a kid. We loved it when the road got like that and we could run and slide all the way along it!
    @skippygirlsmom - Wow that is cold for you all! I hope Skip is nice and warm now!
    @noblsheep - Tibet looks fantastic! Were you able to get in some runs while you were there? I am sorry you are having another Covid breakout! We just can't seem to get it even slightly under control here. We are expecting an extension of our stay at home order in So CA since the rates are so high and ICU beds are at 0%. It was supposed to expire today but I don't see how that could happen now. I am figuring probably another 3 weeks at least.
    @eleanorhawkins - I have not run on BP meds but I would also make sure you always start out with a walk. I think you typically do that anyway but it will give your body time to adjust and see how you feel while closer to home. If you have a HR monitor I would also track your HR as like @Tramboman said, it can make your HR drop really low.

    I woke up to pouring rain this morning. On the one hand YAY! We need rain and haven't had any for so long. But on the other hand dragging myself out for a rainy walk is tough. A rain run I would love a rain walk - not so much... I am seeing a patch of blue sky though so maybe I can zip out for a quick walk while the rain stops for a bit!
  • eleanorhawkins
    eleanorhawkins Posts: 1,659 Member
    @eleanorhawkins I take BP meds every day (okay when I remember) and all my other numbers are good, the doctor says hereditary since it seems everyone on Mom's side of the family has it. Hopefully daily meds will help you out and you have no issues. I remember when I started taking them it was right after a surgery where the nurse was having a fit because my pressure was so high. The next morning it was so low I thought I was going to fall down the steps trying to go to work. The only issue I have now is if I don't know it I get a headache, usually the reminder that I need to take it.

    Good luck.

    Thanks, yes, the reason I even bothered starting to check it was that I've been getting a lot of headaches recently and that's what always happens to my husband when he forgets to take his BP pills.

    @shanaber I always walk for 10 minutes before and after my runs, I'm too scared of my evil physio not to! I have been wondering recently when it's been bloody cold outside at 7am whether to have a go at doing my warm up on my indoor bike instead then hitting the road running to avoid freezing my backside off while trying to warm up. Good call on the HR, I don't have a chest strap but this watch generally seems ok at tracking it apart from the occasional crazy day when it decides I died running or I ran while dead. I think I can set HR alarms, will have a look and see.
  • skippygirlsmom
    skippygirlsmom Posts: 4,433 Member
    Thanks @martaindale
  • Tramboman
    Tramboman Posts: 2,482 Member

    Thanks so much!!!
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,471 Member
    edited December 2020
    @eleanorhawkins You did great with the yoga all year. Everything else was pretty much beyond your control, so you did great! As for BP meds, they shouldn't make your BP drop that much. Mine never has. I don't think it should be anything to worry about, but you can discuss your concerns with your doctor. That's what they are there for.

    @Avidkeo Yeah for not gaining weight. That's always a win in my book. You did great with the HM distances too.

    @noblsheep Beautiful pictures! 2 out of 3 isn't bad, especially when 3 was out of your control.

    @polskagirl01 Haha Glad you got out before your husband was able to voice other priorities. I hope you get to see Reddy again!

    Yeah for meeting your goal @shorkster !

    Congratulations @Scott6255 !

    Thanks @martaindale !

    @rheddmobile I think you did fantastic with your goals!
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,471 Member
    @katharmonic Thanks. Goals for next year will be sparse, I'm sure. Sounds like you made a wise choice to wait until later in the day to run. Did your friends run in the sleet? I think that would hurt. You've done great this year. I like your countdown theme for New Year's Eve.

    @marisap2010 You are right. You can only do what you can do. It's hard when the workload doesn't decrease, but the people to get it done does. Congrats on your positives for the year. Losing 35 pounds is HUGE!

    @Tramboman You did great this year too. Not having actual races made it hard to bet PR's, so I wouldn't kick myself too hard on that one. Your mileage for the year is amazing.

  • katharmonic
    katharmonic Posts: 5,720 Member
    @marisap2010 sorry about your ongoing work overload. You were so dedicated in training for and completing your marathon this year, that's very impressive. And huge congrats on your 5k PR and your weight loss!

    Nice run @RunsOnEspresso! Love the frosty look.

    @polskagirl01 congrats on meeting your monthly and yearly goals!


    Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
    12/01/20 :::: 2.2 :::: 2.2
    12/02/20 :::: 3.7 :::: 5.9
    12/03/20 :::: 3.5 :::: 9.5
    12/04/20 :::: 9.1 :::: 18.6
    12/05/20 :::: 5.0 :::: 23.6
    12/06/20 :::: 3.1 :::: 26.7
    12/07/20 :::: 3.6 :::: 30.2
    12/08/20 :::: 2.0 :::: 32.3
    12/09/20 :::: 1.9 :::: 34.1
    12/10/20 :::: 1.8 :::: 35.9
    12/11/20 :::: 5.5 :::: 41.5
    12/12/20 :::: 5.3 :::: 46.7
    12/13/20 :::: 3.3 :::: 50.0
    12/14/20 :::: 2.2 :::: 52.3
    12/15/20 :::: 3.1 :::: 55.3
    12/16/20 :::: 4.1 :::: 59.4
    12/17/20 :::: 3.0 :::: 62.4
    12/18/20 :::: 8.1 :::: 70.5
    12/19/20 :::: 5.2 :::: 75.7
    12/20/20 :::: 4.5 :::: 80.2
    12/21/20 :::: 2.2 :::: 82.4
    12/22/20 :::: 4.5 :::: 86.9
    12/23/20 :::: 3.2 :::: 90.2
    12/24/20 :::: 4.0 :::: 94.2
    12/25/20 :::: 4.0 :::: 98.2
    12/26/20 :::: 5.0 :::: 103.2
    12/27/20 :::: 5.0 :::: 108.2
    12/28/20 :::: 5.4 :::: 113.7
    12/29/20 :::: 3.1 :::: 116.8

    I woke up to snow this morning. I had thought about running later in the day outside but decided I better just get it done at the gym this morning while I was there anyway. So I did 15 minutes, went to yoga class, then got talked into going to strength class, and finally I wrapped up the other half of the run on the treadmill.

    In the strength class the finisher workout was to do 2021 air squats, collectively as a group. Which was better than when I thought he meant we all had to do 2021 squats for sure. I contributed 200. That was kind of a fun group challenge but I am so happy it wasn't more than that.
  • Tramboman
    Tramboman Posts: 2,482 Member
    Oh!

    Not including today's mileage (I am not done with today yet), I am at 2145.9 miles for the year! Surpassed my 1200 mile pledge and have now surpassed the 2020 mark. Just keep going, I guess. :)

    Well done!!!!