December 2021 Monthly Running Challenge

My scary goal is to run 5km without stopping.

@Orphia I'm so glad to see you're getting back to it. Great goal! I remember when you ran 50k, and I knew I wanted to do it to.

@rheddmobile so sorry you have to wait so long. Has the heart rate done anything weird since the day you were in the ER? How are you feeling otherwise?

I had to pick up packages from the parcel locker (there's a new one probably 400 meters from my house) so grabbed a backpack and ran there, only to find 2 guys working on it who told me it was broken. Would help if I paid attention to my notifications. Oh well, I ran up the hill and took a longer way home, then went back a little later with a side trip to the other parcel locker first. Total 3.5 km and it was the first time since getting sick that running has actually felt good. Plus I felt like Santa Claus running with all of my packages in and on the backpack. 🎄

For now I'm not so worried about distances, just want to get back into the habit of running most days.

12-1 7k slow


Don't Rest December Total: 7k
Don't Rest December Goal: 180k

Milky sun through high hazy clouds, low 30s F, and little wind this morning. Some icy patches, but the worst part was the frozen bumpy snow on the footbridges. Felt like a rolled ankle looking for a place to happen. Saw the runner who is half my height and twice my speed; left the worst of the bridges to her alone when I met her on my second lap.

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)

2021 Races:

6/26 Direction Up 5k, Solon, OH 31:48 chip; 31:59 Garmin; 53d overall; 2d male 65 and over
7/17 Run of the Ox 5k, Mantua, OH 32:19 Garmin; 44th overall; 3d place male 60 and over

5.32 Miles this morning. My usual run is at a lakefront park. About 1.6 miles is lit by streetlights and I try to do 3 "laps."

The entire park has 2.5 miles of lake frontage. I enjoy being there early and seeing the sunrise when I run. Like today. The temperature this morning was 40F with calm winds. A pleasant morning to be there.

@rheddmobile I send you good vibes for a good outcome, but the waiting and stress must be brutal.

So many variables for running. The most important thing is maintaining good form, because trying to go faster by adjusting your stride length or cadence before you have the "running fitness" to do it just breaks down form. The more you run and build up strength and endurance the longer your stride length can become from when you start off. Then multiplying that by cadence increases your pace, but you can't just take shorter steps to increase that cadence, you have to keep the same form, which means increasing your cadence at that stride length equals greater effort. Again it comes down to your fitness and strength.

So what does all that mean?

I guess I don't know...
except to do a lot of running, run with good form, and get better. That includes cadence. In the end, I think HR based training while minding your form is the most reliable method for me, and then I observe other variables moving upwards, or ones that are lagging which I can address as I can. But in the end you have to run at the pace you can maintain for the distance for the targeted effort level with good form.

Again, not sure what all that means. Even though I said it.

I suspect you're seeing major fitness gains from all that speedy running, bON! You're doing great!