January 2021 Monthly Running Challenge

Morning all.

I'm a bit achey this morning so will do a yoga session later. It's rest day today. First mum and I are taking the girls to the bike park this morning, then going to look at some open homes, mum is looking to buy a house here. Don't expect to find THE house today but there are a few to look at. Should be interesting.

So glad I did my long run yesterday!

Actually my horse. The vet thought it was a new break but after the second x-ray she decided that it was an old fracture. Best New Year’s present ever was her telling me that.

My husband and I are running our own private Winter series as a substitute for the in-person Winter Off-Road series - our plan right now is to do each distance of the series twice, once on roads as fast as possible, then on trails, on the same course as the official Off-Road series if possible, if not, in similar terrain wherever we feel safe running. That way we can look at the results and compare both our road and trail times to both the virtual and in-person runners.

I really miss running the series but regret not doing it less and less the more I learn about it - right now the organizers’ Facebook page is full of photos of people previewing the official course two days ago - unmasked, frolicking, and hugging on each other. Even their “safety” regulations - they require in person sign in, temperature check, and filling out paperwork saying you are symptom-free - would mean more close contact with other humans than I have had since last March. So yeah, that’s a big nope from me. Also the guy who announces the races every year literally just died of Covid a week ago and there is a memorial up for him on their homepage, so it’s not like they don’t know things are bad right now.

Regardless, we are determined to make our own fun! The weather got in on the winter series action. It was nice and balmy with bright sunlight while we were getting dressed, then turned completely overcast, dropped ten degrees, and the wind picked up during the five minute drive to our spot. Much more wintery! So we were nicely underdressed, which turned out to mean we were perfectly dressed for running our hardest.

I marked out 3k on our usual Strava run and created a segment from it, which turns out to be almost exactly the entire length of the railroad access road going one way. I like making courses from Strava segments for races since it means I don’t have to worry about stopping or starting the run exactly. 3k is a fun distance for a race because you can just run like crazy and not have to worry about pacing yourself. The Winter series course in the past has been at Overton Park on what we like to call “the slip and slide” - a muddy creek bed back in the woods with steep sides, true singletrack, with just enough dips and roots to be interesting. It’s a total blast, you just keep moving forward and try not to faceplant in the mud! Unfortunately this year it’s at Shelby Farms instead, on a course which is mostly grass. Also, moles.

The course we ran is a railroad access road, two lanes with no shoulder and very little traffic. I was pleased when our time - 15:57 - turned out to be a PR for the race segment, which we have run 29 times since joining Strava. Since several of those runs were part of a 5k race or a time trial of some sort, that means we did well today!

After finishing we headed over to the little bit of woods nearby and pretended we were running a trail race. There’s only about a mile or so of trails back there, not even enough to make a 3k course properly, but it has helped us keep our sanity when no other trails were available. One of the things that’s making me sad about missing the in-person series is that we always get the best photographs from the professional photographers at the series. So my husband kindly took a couple of shots of me running.

Longest run ever!!!!
For me that is, not forever ever, that would be weird, and probably not doable in 3 hours on a Sunday morning!

1,680ft by the way - quite a bit short 😕

Well midmonth update on Jan and goals.



#1 accomplished. This one can be tough as we all know from experience. Last Jan I ended up with a shin splint early on due to some shoes wearing out. But so far I am on track mileage wise. I am only at .32% of under 10 min splits and I was unable to get an under 9 minute split for the 2nd week but I have gotten 2 so I feel pretty good about that. Also on track for doing the long run once a month min to meet my HM goal in August. Actually started doing some 2 a days (which I posted about earlier) but I don't know that they help with endurance or not. They do help with the RTY and our team will hit 700 miles today.

I have been eating well to TDEE and if my mileage stays up I may increase a little but for some unknown reason my RHR continues to stay too high. It's pretty strange for me to have it over 60 so consistently the past few months but maybe it's internal stress due to our election antics and Covid? I don't "think" it is but rather there is something going on with my sleep most likely as that is where the readings come from. But who knows.... ??

Yesterday a most excellent run and in addition to getting a split under 9 minutes I managed a 10K in under an hour which is a rarity for me. LOL.

It's fun to read everyone's approach to the month and their different goals and challenges. And it is such a good reminder to put things in perspective and not beat ourselves up when we have a "bad" day. Hugs to our 2 runners on injured reserve. This too shall pass with time.

Summerisitwarmagainyet?

1-1 5k treadmill + resistance bands
1-2 5k treadmill + yoga
1-3 6k easy
1-4 7k slow + resistance bands
1-5 5k treadmill + yoga
1-6 7k slow + resistance bands
1-7 6k slow + yoga
1-8 5k treadmill + resistance bands
1-9 6k slow + yoga
1-10 6k slow
1-11 6k slower
1-12 5k treadmill + yoga
1-13 7k slow
1-14 6k slow + yoga
1-15 6k slow
1-16 6k slow + yoga
1-17 5k treadmill

January Total: 99k
January Goal: 140k

Low 30s F and a little light snow today, so opted for the treadmill.
Normally I listen to 1950s music while treadmilling, but today I tried "Classic Rock Workout Music" on Sirius XM. Was OK.

@rheddmobile You're the one putting the fun back in the run!!! Keep it up!

@TheMrWobbly Great job on your big distance!!

@SummerSkier You're off to a great start!!!

When you pop in here claiming your December 2021 mileage, what accomplishments will you have made?

PUT THE FUN BACK IN THE RUN!
Return to a good running weight of 175 lbs (second attempt)

01/01... 10.12
04/01... 4.20
05/01... 5.41
06/01... 5.22
07/01... 4.02
08/01... 12.05
11/01... 4.02
12/01... 6.52
14/01... 3.54
15/01... 12.07
16/01... 5.16
18/01... 3.22

Total KM 75.55

It's the start of a cutback week for me today which initially I thought was unnecessary since my weekly mileage isn't that high, but these last few days I've been feeling so tired. I had to have an afternoon nap yesterday which is very unusual for me, so I guess the cutback week is probably a good idea after all

@rheddmobile Fantastic effort on your race, I love that you're doing it on your own

@TheMrWobbly Just looking at all the elevation you run makes me tired! Awesome work. I see we're currently running across the channel about to land on your home turf soon

RunsOnEspresso wrote: »

I don't remember if I shared my x-ray when I broke my leg. They gave me a cd. I did not get a copy of the final x-ray (different doctor).

For anyone that wants to see. Yes, it's a picture of my computer screen. If I remember correctly there wasn't a way to save it and I didn't think to do a screenshot. LOL

That's a nice fracture! It's called a webber A fracture. The webber classification is based on the level of the fracture on the fibula (bone on the outside). A is below the fibula/tibila joint, B is at the level of the joint, and C is above.

There's your xray fact for the day lol

kgirlhart wrote: »

Yesterday and Friday it was so windy the sky was brown and everything is covered with a layer of dirt. I was thinking if it was like that today I might have to wear a mask so I could breath. (I rarely see people when I am running and when I do staying 6 feet away is never an issue. )

Yeah - I did not expect it yesterday morning and when the sun rose it looked so strange. I finally figured out it was dust coming out from Lubbock way. yuck. You have it way worse then us. Air quality was medium in the 70's so not as bad as the Dust from Africa last year. Wow. That was horrid.

Looks like you got a nice long run in. Thank GAWD the wind has settled down. Now if the air would clear up.

Of course it did make for a glowing sunset yesterday

@Avidkeo I love that we have our own xray analyzer here.




SUmmer

January Goal: 90 Miles

1/1: 6.26 miles
1/3: 9.02 miles
1/5: 5.03 miles
1/6: 5.05 miles
1/7: 5.04 miles
1/9: 9.02 miles
1/12: 3.56 miles
1/13: 5.07 miles
1/14: 5.07 miles
1/17: 9..02 miles

62.15/90  miles completed for January

I slept in a bit this morning and waited for it to warm up some before I ran. It was around 35°F when I got up, but it was 47°F by the time I started and 54°F when I finished up which is just about perfect running weather for me. I ran 9 miles and it was really nice.  It was a little cloudier than it had been when I first got up, but there was still a lot of blue sky. Thankfully the sky wasn't brown like it was yesterday.  It was an uneventful run, but a very enjoyable one.  I had new shoes and I was feeling good. I need to go wash my car, but I am thinking about doing some yoga first.



2021 Races:
11/6/21: Run For 57th AHC Half Marathon

@shanaber that's impressive effort for the vaccination. I was pretty impressed with the organization by our health department too (although not nearly on that scale) and I looked into trying to volunteer somewhere one the distribution front to help but it appears they only take medically trained people right now. I'm due for my second dose the same day as you and I'm in the same boat. Just hoping that they will actually have it.

@rheddmobile that's cool that you are doing your own winter series. Great job!

@Camaramandy648 oh wow, congratulations on the amazing feat of the 100-miler. I can't begin to imagine how you did that but I'm not surprised that you achieved what you set out to do. Just incredible. I am so very sorry about your job and I send all the good vibes for finding a new and better one quickly.

@Scott6255 well done on your HM time and continuing your streak. I'm sure getting outside was a big help.


Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
01/01/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 0.0
01/02/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 0.0
01/03/21 :::: 3.3 :::: 3.3
01/04/21 :::: 3.4 :::: 6.7
01/05/21 :::: 3.0 :::: 9.8
01/06/21 :::: 5.9 :::: 15.6
01/07/21 :::: 3.2 :::: 18.8
01/08/21 :::: 1.5 :::: 20.3
01/09/21 :::: 13.2 :::: 33.4
01/10/21 :::: 3.3 :::: 36.8
01/11/21 :::: 2.1 :::: 38.9
01/12/21 :::: 3.2 :::: 42.0
01/13/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 42.0
01/14/21 :::: 3.3 :::: 45.4
01/15/21 :::: 3.0 :::: 48.4
01/16/21 :::: 5.0 :::: 53.4
01/17/21 :::: 4.4 :::: 57.8

Little bit of snow and wind this morning but not a bad run. We chose the roads instead of the trails because of footing - the slush from yesterday had hardened to ice overnight.

After the run I showered and changed and headed out for a short local hike. No mountains this time, just a hill, but it was a steep-ish hike and it was very windy up at the top.

Finished up after I got home with a walk with Stella. Now we are curling up in front of the (fake) fire.

Just wanted to type:
You all are so completely awesome and groovy! I do read comments, I just do not respond very often. I was able to pull the knot out of my tail and pound some more pavement. Being in this group, being part of your lives in a small way by reading about you, improves me and my running. Always something to learn here, always a good place to belong!

Answers: I already take D3 vitamins daily, as well as a few others. I have fluorescent lights, that pretty much stay on when I am awake. I do not like cold and not a fan of winter. Snow is only great on TV and postcards. January has always worn me out.

1/1 26.29 miles, 977 Days on the run, 159 days HM+ streak
1/2 16.5 miles, 160 days HM+ streak
1/3 28.43 miles
1/4 13.56 miles, 980 Days on the run
1/5 16.25 miles
1/6 13.38 miles
Hit a deer on way home from work, physically am OK, van physically not OK

1/7 13.52 miles, 165 days HM+ streak
1/8 13.54 miles
1/9 13.11 miles, 985 Days on the run
1/10 15.12 miles
1/11 15.2 miles
1/12 15.14 miles, 170 days HM+ streak, Crazy Laps!
1/13 15.07 miles, Crazy Laps!
1/14 15.03 miles, 990 Days on the run
1/15 15.42 miles
1/16 20.15 miles
1/17 16.04 miles, 175 days HM+ streak
Tripped on concrete bump in road (6.25 miles in), body plant, tore my gloves, scraped my chin, wrists will probably hurt in the morning.