February 2021 Monthly Running Challenge

Avidkeo
Avidkeo Posts: 3,211 Member
WARNING: Following this thread may be addictive; it gets very talkative...miss a day and you can be 50 posts behind. This is the most popular challenge on MFP. If you found us in the middle (or end) of the month, you're still very welcome to join in - no requirements or special invite needed. Once you post, that's it you're in. And yes, we do this every month.

You set your own pace and distance for the month. We will all be doing it together. This is your virtual running group to help keep you accountable, to enjoy a virtual post-run coffee with your fellow runners, and to make new friends and learn a few things.

This is a continuation from the January 2021 Running Challenge which can be found at:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10819137/january-2021-monthly-running-challenge#latest

Anyone can join in, new and old, and if you found this thread late, you can join in at any time.
We have members ranging from total beginners all the way to Boston Qualifiers and beyond. We are a friendly and encouraging bunch. You never need to be ashamed of your miles. If you are making the effort, you will find only support here.

Here are the details from last month that apply again:

Anybody want to join in for a running challenge? Set a goal here and update us every day. OPTIONAL: You can post your progress by creating a ticker at http://www.tickerfactory.com (if creating one seems difficult, or you're like me and can't be bothered, then just type in your daily miles in this thread).

You can run, walk, or do treadmill - just be consistent. Don't let the high (or low) goals of others intimidate you. Some do 25 miles, others do 50, some go higher than that, some do lower; it's entirely your goal and therefore completely up to you. We help motivate each other, so what do you say? If you're new to running, set a low goal. If you're from a part of the world where miles aren't your thing, log your distances in KMs. And if you'd rather log your progress by time rather than distance, then you're entirely free to do that as well.

Feel free to set your goal now but wait until February 1, 2021 to start logging your runs!

Also, don't forget to join our group which can be found at:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/21182-monthly-running-challenges
Bookmark the previous and past challenges: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10393468/current-past-challenges#latest
Find a small group of runners that encourage and offer food support:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10573619/runners-that-need-some-nutritional-accountability#latest

There you will find lots of good info, and it's a place where everyone can talk to each other for further motivation. It's also a place to find help when there is a problem with this thread.

Note: we also have a group on Strava and Facebook.

After you run, come into this thread and post what you did (don't forget to hit the star in the upper right corner to bookmark this thread). Simply keep a running tally of what you've done this month, and interact with the others. Many folks come in here and chit-chat it up, even on their rest days or while recouping from injury. This is a very social group and we talk about many things (sometimes even about running ). It's a very friendly bunch here so don't be afraid to say hi (even if this is your first time), talk about a recent or up-coming race, ask questions, provide answers, or just lurk-n-learn. Participation is what makes this group successful.

Not quite sure how to log your runs? Follow the examples of many other challenge members. Even take a peek at last month's thread (posted above).


*******OPTIONAL TICKER*************
Info on tickers since I know there will be questions. Sign up for an account at http://www.tickerfactory.com and create your ticker. Then you need to update it after you finish a run and post it here. Here is what you will need to do.

After setting up your ticker, you will need to make note of the weblink they give you so you can return. An example would be:

http://www.tickerfactory.com/exercise/w6K1EiX/ <<<< the last part will be a part of the image link (explained below) that will be supplied to you after you initially create your link.

When you return to TickerFactory with the weblink, go to your settings page. Make sure you type your PIN in that you set when you created your ticker account. Then, where it says "Your current cumulative value", there is an add button. Simply add the distance that you just did, and the cumulative value automatically changes. Then hit next.

After adding your new miles (or KMs) to your ticker, you need to post it here.

After you hit next, it will give you a bunch of codes suggesting how to display your ticker.
Use the one at the bottom where it says Direct Image URL:

It will look something like:
http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w6K1EiX/exercise.png

To display that correctly in your post, make sure you place the image (img) tags around that link. So it will look something like the following (but removing the spaces in the img tags):

[ img ] http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/t/w6K1EiX/exercise.png [ /img ]

^^^^^^^ Don't forget to remove the spaces between the brackets ^^^^^^^^^^

Some key things to pay attention to when posting your ticker:
Use the link that ends in .png
Remember the [ img] and [ /img] tags go in between the link
Remove the spaces in the img tags before posting
YES, there is a / in the second /img tag

By the way, everyone here should consider themselves a runner no matter how fast or slow. There's no judgment, we all started somewhere. And no comparisons, except with your former self. Don't compare your Chapter 1 to somebody else’s Chapter 20.

“I often hear someone say I’m not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner.” – Bart Yasso

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius

"We all know that if you run, you are pretty much choosing a life of success because of it.” – Deena Kastor

“Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.” – Steve Prefontaine

“Get going … walk if you have to, but finish the damned race.” – Ron Hill

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." - John Bingham


Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay on track.
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Replies

  • Avidkeo
    Avidkeo Posts: 3,211 Member

    @avidkeo, I’m only suggesting you stick to halves in a bid to help you stay injury free. You have years and years of running ahead - no need to launch into a full marathon just yet. Get comfy with the half. Set some half goals and get to the point you can run one without any hint of injury during training at all. Just my (bossy) two cents. 😘

    Excellent advice. And honestly I don't know WHY I want to run a full. It's not a great burning desire, more curiosity, can I do it? Also it's not something I ever thought I'd be able to do, so therefore doing it would be an amazing achievement.

    I do love running halves, during my training for the full before my injury last year I ended up doing a few HM+ distances and I absolutely loved them. I love anything over 10k. Less than that just doesn't feel like a long run. (to me! A long run to anyone else is what ever you make it. Heck only a few weeks ago, a long run was 5k,anf that felt brilliant.)

    You have great advice (as always), I get a few more halves in, maybe make running HM distance a regular thing, then step up.
  • polskagirl01
    polskagirl01 Posts: 2,024 Member
    @quilteryoyo I'm so impressed with how well your recovery is going! Keep following the instructions and keeping healthy with the walking!
  • Tramboman
    Tramboman Posts: 2,482 Member
    edited January 2021
    @SummerSkier I was stationed at USMA from 1992-94.
  • SummerSkier
    SummerSkier Posts: 5,194 Member
    Tramboman wrote: »
    @SummerSkier I was stationed at USMA from 1992-94.

    excellent! then you know of the hills and the ski slope. LOL.... That was a bit ahem after my time there so I suspect it was easier for all the cadets then (the corp has...... B)>:) )
  • Tramboman
    Tramboman Posts: 2,482 Member
    Tramboman wrote: »
    @SummerSkier I was stationed at USMA from 1992-94.

    excellent! then you know of the hills and the ski slope. LOL.... That was a bit ahem after my time there so I suspect it was easier for all the cadets then (the corp has...... B)>:) )

    Well, I certainly chased enough deer up and down those hills!!!
  • ContraryMaryMary
    ContraryMaryMary Posts: 1,787 Member
    Avidkeo wrote: »
    First run of February done! Supposed to be a slow 5k, aiming for 7:30 min/k but I really struggled slowing down today. Managed to slow to 7min/k and am happy with that. Hal didn't yell at me at least!

    Now I'm into my month where my first goal is, I'm starting to think about what my next goal should be. I kinda like the idea of keeping form going and aiming for a HM each month, building in some speed work. I have a HM at the end of June that I am going to do - it's an important one for me because its the same half I did 10 years ago that absolutely nailed me. I hadn't trained, I was unprepared. I finished, but only cause I felt like I had no choice. I did it in 3:07:09. I was going to do it last year, but you know that thing got in the way. So this year I'm going to knock the b****** off (famous kiwi saying).

    Kinda appropriate that it's 10 years.

    I'd like to do a sub 2hr HM - it's a flat course, but can get very windy. My PB is 2:03:00 on a course with a 7k downhill part.

    So thinking keep up HM conditioning, try find another HM in April, and then work on speed work, leading into the end of June.

    How do you keep HM condition? Run a HM once a month?

    Come to Auckland for the Waterfront Half on April 11th. It’s flat. It’s fast. It could be windy!
  • eleanorhawkins
    eleanorhawkins Posts: 1,659 Member
    @Avidkeo that's what I've done... I did the 12 week training up to run a HM at the end of October, then basically had a cutback week and now keep repeating the last 3-4 weeks of the plan. So this month my long runs will be 10k, 17k, 19k, 21k. Months with 5 Saturdays I've done 10, 15, 17, 19, 21. No idea whether I'm tempting fate or looking for trouble, but plenty of stretching, foam rolling, epsom salt baths the evening of long run days and monthly massages seem to be working.
    Btw, I'm in awe of your pace still... 7 min kms are pretty hard work for me! In fact I seem to be getting slower and slower atm, I should probably reduce my mileage and do some speedwork but I don't want to break my monthly HM distance streak (4 so far) and I'm hoping I'll get used to this level and have the energy and legs to do both before too long....
  • TheMrWobbly
    TheMrWobbly Posts: 2,541 Member
    I’m slightly jealous of the marathoners - I refuse to run one unless I have the time to train properly and that’s not likely while I still have young children. Also, how do you guys deal with the boredom that sets in after an hour or so?

    There are enough voices in my head to keep me company! You are right about young children - I gave up almost everything when we had our second. That's why it has taken me 30 years from deciding I would run a marathon to actually training for one!