December 2021 Monthly Running Challenge
Replies
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I also want to know this.katharmonic wrote: »@martaindale how did the leaf moat work out for her? Did she hear any raccoons trying to breach the perimeter?
I ran kid2 to school on her bike (yes, in the snow), then came back to make sure kid1 made it out the door in time... and the school called just before he left and asked if I could come back for kid2 because her entire class is now on quarantine for a week. So I ran back. My watch is paused and waiting for me to go back out.
Hey, the "save draft" button works. I did make it out for a longer run, and decided to finally find out where this one road leads, and it's a lovely shortcut that takes me through fields and back roads. I like it.
Looks like the baby swans have grown up!!!Happy running, everyone!
I can't tell them apart from the parents anymore. They were still grey last time I saw them.6 -
katharmonic wrote: »@martaindale how did the leaf moat work out for her? Did she hear any raccoons trying to breach the perimeter?
The perimeter was not breached!
There was a net over the top pf the hammock and then the tarp/rain fly. I think she knew they couldn't actually get to her, but the mental comfort of an alert system was nice. She kept saying that racoons would try to slack-line the top of the tarp rope, which is a funny visual!
@polskagirl01 Nice shot of the swans. Sorry to hear that your kid is now quarantining. Hope that doesn't throw too many wrinkles into your schedule. I know it would really upend ours.5 -
December Totals: 18.4/100 miles
12/3: 3.1 miles
12/4: 6 miles
12/6: 4.6 miles
12/7: 4.7 miles
Nice and cool this morning with just a little breeze. I had a "track" workout of 8 x 400m repeats. I did a better job not going out too fast. In fact the first few were a little slower than I was targeting. Then I overcompensated and had one that was too fast. By the last 2, I had the pace dialed in right.
I love running in the dark this time of year, when everyone has their lights on. It's so pretty and gives me a new set of scenery in an area I run hundreds of times a year.5 -
Oh I love the swans! My BP dropped 20 points just looking at that photo.
Update: 60.57 left for run the year. 5 today. total 33.72 out of 100 planned. Continuing my streak of running under 10 min pace so now am up to 81 miles in a row. I wish I could say it was getting easier but that first mile continues to require significant effort most days.
@quilteryoyo I hope this means your back is really truly on the mend now!!! Injuries are so difficult to deal with. Should I push, should I stop, etc,,, I mostly extend my recovery time because I am ALWAYSs testing out if I am better.4 -
December Goal: 100 Miles
12/1: 5.11 miles
12/2: 5.11 miles
12/5: 10.03 miles
12/7: 5.31 miles
25.56/100 miles completed for December
I have to admit I was not looking forward to this morning's run. When I went to bed the forecast was supposed to be 31°F this morning. When I got up it was actually 27°F, feels like 23°. Which is really cold in Texas. Luckily it wasn't wet and it wasn't windy compared to the 20-40 mph winds we were having yesterday so I ended up having a great 5 mile run. I wore pants and a long sleeved shirt and a jacket. With gloves and a warm head/ear band. I was dressed well. I was chilly starting out but halfway through I did take off the jacket and tie it around my waist. Next time I will probably wear either sleeves and a jacket or sleeves and a long sleeved shirt. The hard part of layers is what to do with the layers you shed. Plus in the morning when it is dark I have to stop and take off my Noxgear in order to shed the jacket and it is a bit of a hassle. It is just always hard for me to know how to dress in the winter.
2021 Races:
4/24/21: Run For The Children - 10K PR 55:46:28.
11/6/21: Run For 57th AHC Half Marathon - PR 2:07:11 and 1st in AG4 -
no worries @kghart it will be 80 by the weekend..... LOL... I ended up with tank and jacket and hat and gloves and long pants but with no wind I think the hat was overkill. My hands still got a little chilled but the jacket over tank was perfect. Today we are twins with 5 milers.2
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It is ok, because she's technically old enough to be home alone if necessary (she prefers not to be though), and I work from home or away from home at weird hours when her brother can stay with her. Only issue is we need to get some Christmas presents and will have to find a way to explain where we're going and why we're taking the trailer. Unless we change our minds. Prices on bikes are through the roof. But they've outgrown theirs and ride to school almost daily. Daughter has slowed back down to my easy run pace.martaindale wrote: »@polskagirl01 Nice shot of the swans. Sorry to hear that your kid is now quarantining. Hope that doesn't throw too many wrinkles into your schedule. I know it would really upend ours.
I have been watching them since Spring when mama was sitting on the nest and dad was guarding her. I love them too, but unfortunately they do not like me and have been very aggressive even when I've been across the entire pond away from their babies. I try to give them plenty of space. It's their territory.SummerSkier wrote: »Oh I love the swans! My BP dropped 20 points just looking at that photo.3 -
The hard part of layers is what to do with the layers you shed. Plus in the morning when it is dark I have to stop and take off my Noxgear in order to shed the jacket and it is a bit of a hassle. It is just always hard for me to know how to dress in the winter.
Yes to all this. I avoid taking off the outer layer for far too long most times just because of the hassle of it.
@polskagirl01 I love the swans. So cool that you saw them grow up. I kind of love the "teenage" phase for swans/geese etc. The gangly gray not quite adults but not tiny babies just kind of crack me up. And then they are grown so fast. Hope you can keep your shopping secret from your stay at home kiddo.
@martaindale glad your daughter was safe from a raccoon invasion. She gets points for the clever alert system!
Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
12/01/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 0.0
12/02/21 :::: 2.2 :::: 2.2
12/03/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 5.3
12/04/21 :::: 10.1 :::: 15.3
12/05/21 :::: 4.0 :::: 19.4
12/06/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 22.5
12/07/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 25.5
Ran after work (well, left work a little early but still) with a friend. About 32 degrees but not too bad, at least all that wind had died down. We had a beautiful sunrise this morning and a few flurries right around that time. It was so pretty although the pics don't quite capture that it was a lot more pink than fiery red:
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Ran a very easy 5k yesterday, first real run since heart issues. Heart stayed okay.
Still waiting on my appointment. I wish I could say it was just a one time thing and ignore it, but my chest is still very uncomfortable and heart rate still a little elevated. Although it’s probably lupus I would like a real doctor to rule some other things out so I don’t have to be afraid all the time. Btw I got a bill from the cardiologist who reviewed my ekg two days AFTER my visit to the ER, found abnormalities, and made no contact with me (if I didn’t go back and read mychart for an unrelated reason I never would have known, since I was told at the ER it was normal.) So now I have to pay this guy who did zilch for me who I have never even talked to, for results the hospital never contacted me about.8 -
@martaindale My husband and I were greatly amused by the raccoon moat. It would work, assuming you were a light enough sleeper to be awakened by leaves crunching! But raccoons are terrible at slack lining. And also would try to avoid sleeping humans!
Our local raccoons have been canoodling all up in the trees. It’s that time of year. I also caught one of them examining my Christmas tree while it was waiting to be brought into the house.3 -
Walked the dog for 30 minutes as a warm up, then a 5 mile run this evening. Another good run with the Asics. Is it too early to think about getting another pair? 😁4
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You're a beast @Tramboman ! That's a huge temperature change which makes it feel so much colder. You did great!
@polskagirl01 I hope kid 2 and her class are all okay. Great job on the snowy run. Love the picture of the geese with the snow falling.
@martaindale Glad there were no raccoons that breached the perimeter. Nice running.
Thanks @SummerSkier ! Nice running!
Nice run @kgirlhart . I never know what to wear either and don't really have much cold running gear. I tend to wimp out and run on the treadmill.
@katharmonic Nice run and love the sunrise pictures. So pretty.
@rheddmobile Glad your heart behaved during your run. Crazy about the bill. I hope you get answers soon.
My back did pretty good most of the day. Those low chairs at daycare are horrible, so I try to sit on the shelf or in the floor, when I can. I did see the chiropractor this afternoon. We talked and I am released from his care for now, unless something happens later on. He would like for me to continue to do the exercises 5 - 6 days a week at least through January and then 3 times a week after that. I can tell they have helped, so will do my darndest to keep it up. He redid the strength test. I was able to stand up and sit down 5 times in 5 seconds today. It took me 6 seconds the last time. The scale they have is different from men and women. I was already excellent for a woman the first time. He said that put me in the excellent category for a man. LOL While holding my legs up while on my stomach is still in the poor catagory, it improved from 19 sec to 27 seconds, so almost a 50% increase. He said it should keep getting better as long as I keep up with the exercises. He was pleased with my progress. Good is 81 seconds, so still a long way to go.
I did some shopping and stopped at mom's to give her some things and talk and change into old shoes so I can put up the neighbor's chickens. Well, when I straightened up from putting on my shoes, I got a catch in my back. Really? At least it isn't as bad as it was the last time that happened. I guess I really stressed it trying to hold my legs up.
I did do a mile walk with no real issues, but I couldn't do all of the strengthening exercises...in fact could only do two of them. The others hurt, so I did stretches instead. I'm hoping it will be better tomorrow morning.
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Saturday I walked/ran 5km parkrun.
Today I ran 3 km faster than recent attempts.
Thanks for all the support, lovely people! I wish you a safe and happy December.6 -
December Totals: 21.4/100 miles
12/3: 3.1 miles
12/4: 6 miles
12/6: 4.6 miles
12/7: 4.7 miles
12/8: 3 miles
Adding in a 5th running day means having to really think about my schedule. I prefer not to run in the evening one day then again the next morning. My legs usually grumble quite a bit about that and this plan mixes in speed work and pace training, so some of my mid week runs are also a bit harder. I have to be at work as early as 7 or as late as 10am depending on the shift I am working and finish as early as 1 or as late at 7pm. I currently run in the morning on my non-clinic days and on days where I don't have to be there until 10. That can usually account for 2-3 runs during the week. But, adding in that 5th day means that most weeks I am running 4 times during the weekdays. I do my cooking for meal prep on Sunday so adding a run into that schedule is also not the easiest but may be my only option some weeks.
All that to say I got up even earlier this morning than usual to get in my easy 3 miles before work at 8am. It works. It is an early morning and I am basically rolling out of bed and out the door but I have time to do what I need and not feel like I am too rushed. Anything longer than 3 miles won't work on those days but if the schedule falls right, I can avoid another afternoon run.5 -
@Teresa502 wrote: »Doesn’t help with our Run the World challenge though. ☹ Speaking of which, we only need 3,281 kilometers (2,038.8 miles) to finish the year!
1,904 Miles Remaining
-335 Miles Behind Pace
Noticed, been watching the slow down , trying to fight my disappointment that we may not make it.
12/1 14.58 miles, 1311 days on the run, 493 days HM+ Streak
12/2 14.19 miles, Running Partner A
12/3 14.38 miles
12/4 18.57 miles, Running Partner A & E
12/5 15.27 miles
12/6 16.43 miles
12/7 13.44 miles, Crazy Laps!
12/8 14.5 miles, 1318 days on the run, 500 days HM+ Streak
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I think I can get about 60 of that 2,038 miles covered with walks by the end of the year so long as the foot continues to cooperate. That is at my current levels these last 2 weeks, so hopefully that may help. I had not been walking at all prior to that, so the trajectory might be changing ever so slightly upwards. Otherwise, just let me know, I may have a couple thousand miles in me somewhere!
Maybe we can add about 30 people?3 -
AlphaHowls wrote: »@Teresa502 wrote: »Doesn’t help with our Run the World challenge though. ☹ Speaking of which, we only need 3,281 kilometers (2,038.8 miles) to finish the year!
1,904 Miles Remaining
-335 Miles Behind Pace
Noticed, been watching the slow down , trying to fight my disappointment that we may not make it.
I know! We are now -539 kilometers behind pace. At least we made it onto land now - we won't drown in the ocean.
@quilteryoyo - did you go back and enter your miles yet?1 -
12-1 7k slow
12-2 7k slow
12-3 7k slow
12-4 7k sleasy
12-5 7k slow
12-6 7k slow
12-7 7k slow
12-8 7k sleasy
Don't Rest December Total: 56k
Don't Rest December Goal: 180k
Mid 20s F, with a light snow for the first 3k or so. Footing wasn't bad; but I still tried to pay attention. Goose and squirrel tracks, but not many people.
C'mon, Run the Year people!!!!! I KNOW you can do it!!!!!
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 over5 -
December 1 – 5.16 miles
December 4 – 10.05 miles
December 5 – 5.13 miles
December 6 – 5.30 miles
December 7 – 2 miles (treadmill)
December 8 – 5.1 miles
32.74/100 miles completed
It was raining lightly this morning and 36F so not too bad. I think we saw a drug deal going down this morning. On a semi-sketchy street, we encountered three people on bicycles and they were swapping backpacks. This was 5:30 in the morning. There were three of us but we made a u-turn and decided a detour might be appropriate.
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@Orphia Sounds like you are doing great. Keep up the good work.
@martaindale That would be a hard schedule to work running in. That sounds like mine, except I don't know when I will be coming into work sometimes until the day before. So, scheduling runs becomes really hard. Not wanting to get up early just to run doesn't help. LOL Sounds like you are doing great though. You've got this.
@Teresa502 Not yet. I'll work on it. Maybe I can do a few every night. I think you made a wise decision to turn around on your run this morning. That's a little scary.
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AlphaHowls wrote: »@Teresa502 wrote: »Doesn’t help with our Run the World challenge though. ☹ Speaking of which, we only need 3,281 kilometers (2,038.8 miles) to finish the year!
1,904 Miles Remaining
-335 Miles Behind Pace
Noticed, been watching the slow down , trying to fight my disappointment that we may not make it.
I know! We are now -539 kilometers behind pace. At least we made it onto land now - we won't drown in the ocean.
@quilteryoyo - did you go back and enter your miles yet?
I slipped last month and didn't put in the miles I should have (though it was injury related).
So hopefully I am close to being back to normal and I can add to the total. Probably won't make much difference, but it will be more than last month.3 -
I forget who started that run the world challenge. But if I join it I could add about 2021 miles in
54.5 miles left on Run the year after today's run. 87 mile streak under 10 min miles and added some under 9's to the mix. Those are rare jewels. I am kind of pacing myself a little because I expect kind of a deflated feeling when it's all said and done.
As far as upping my mileage and speedwork this year, I ended up adding a lunchtime short run in a couple times a week. Both to do the speed and also to add the miles. Since I normally always run in the mornings before work, on those days I make sure to get a decent breakfast so I have enough fuel left to run before lunch. I live close to work and altho I am no longer full time remote, I adjusted my schedule unofficially where I work remote every afternoon. When we get back to another Pandemic crunch (will it ever stop) I will be remote again full time as that's how I roll.5 -
I'm a few days behind...@noblsheep - Welcome back! It is good to see you again!
@whatmerunning - I don't think there was any offense taken. I don't think many of us spend as much time looking at articles or analyzing running information like the original creator of the challenge did and like @RunsOnEspresso said so many of the sites are now behind paywalls so even if we could post a link most would not be able to get to it. I do tend to go back to some of the older links, videos and articles as I think there is real value there but I also try to see if there are updates or new information or analysis.
We are way north in CA and on the way up stopped to visit friends. I got in a good fast run in the cold drizzle yesterday before we headed further up the coast. Today we visited the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It was cold (for us) but we had fun hiking and seeing the huge amazing trees. My daughter caught this picture of me that was really fun 😊. It was gloriously beautiful!I am hoping to get in a 6.6mi run for my birthday in the morning but it is supposed to be in the 30's 😳 and I really don't have the clothes with me for running in it. It may have to wait until we get home or maybe on Tuesday when we are heading back down the coast.
Yes, no offense was taken. I often forget where I learned something as well since I probably read it 5+ years ago. And if I do remember a specific article I either can't find it or can't access it anymore.polskagirl01 wrote: »@SummerSkier MobyCarp passed away in July of 2019. We still tag him from time to time, so he'll probably show up in a search more recently.WhatMeRunning wrote: »Just so everyone knows, I wasn't intending to imply anything was wrong with the group of expertise or advice here. I guess seeing those old threads/posts just seemed very "familiar" and made me comment, apologies if I came across incorrectly. I think this is the best place to go for running advice on MFP, no doubt, I point new runners here all the time. For anything more you have to go specific directions towards other specific sources (certain trainers/methods).
I miss a lot of things sometimes.
No offense taken
We miss those guys, too. There was the ultra-running lady from Canada who was really good too, got picked up by a sponsor and stopped posting here (she told us she was going to concentrate on her blog I think) but I lost track of her.
I get what you're saying. But I also see you as one of those people who's been running for a while and has a lot of good input to share. So I'm glad you're back, and please, stick around! 😁
Jessica. She is no longer running. I can't really say much more than that.3 -
Slow start to this month. Only 25/103 so far. Hopefully I pick it up a bit!4
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rheddmobile wrote: »
Re: paywalls and running advice - hope no one minds me posting this here, but I really like six minute mile, which is a newsletter for runners. You do have to give them your email and they have ads, but no paywall, and they collect a lot of different articles including news, gear, and advice.@whatmerunning - I don't think there was any offense taken. I don't think many of us spend as much time looking at articles or analyzing running information like the original creator of the challenge did and like @RunsOnEspresso said so many of the sites are now behind paywalls so even if we could post a link most would not be able to get to it. I do tend to go back to some of the older links, videos and articles as I think there is real value there but I also try to see if there are updates or new information or analysis.
https://www.sixminutemile.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA47GNBhDrARIsAKfZ2rBzC7D_D8fcQiu-p40OviAu_yw_95eHDiYQ17f_4DyAyh6AP3FvYSQaAtpnEALw_wcB
Forgot to second this. I get their newsletter and although I don't read it every time, I have found some very interesting articles in it.2 -
Tonight’s run was 20 min at 11:13-12:13 min/mile. I ended up with 1.66 miles. I wasn’t really feeling it tonight, so I hope I have more motivation tomorrow.
I was visiting friends a couple of weeks ago, and this raccoon came right up onto the deck where we were sitting and starting munching on their dog’s food. She wasn’t scared of us at all! We discovered she lived in a tree in their backyard. Apparently, a couple of days later, the whole family came onto the deck, and my friends saw them from the kitchen and had to shoo them away.4 -
December Goal: 100 Miles
12/1: 5.11 miles
12/2: 5.11 miles
12/5: 10.03 miles
12/7: 5.31 miles
12/8: 5.52 miles
31.08/100 miles completed for December
It was another cold morning, but not as cold as yesterday. I ran 5.5 miles. It was a good run. I wore long pants but instead of a jacket I wore a t-shirt and 2 pair of sleeves. It worked well. I ended up taking off one pair, but it was easy to tuck them in my pockets.
2021 Races:
4/24/21: Run For The Children - 10K PR 55:46:28.
11/6/21: Run For 57th AHC Half Marathon - PR 2:07:11 and 1st in AG4 -
Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! I had a great trip to far No California with my husband and daughter. We did some hiking in the redwoods and I did get out for a birthday run, but did not get in my 6.6 miles. I was pleased that I got in 3.68 in the cold, there was definitely a point about 0.5miles out where I almost just called it because I was freezing, my hands and nose hurt from the cold and it really wasn't fun. I kept going though and eventually warmed up a little. The views though were definitely worth staying out.I really didn't get warm until I took a nice hot bath back at the hotel. My fingers were numb and hurt so bad as they warmed up. I have officially become a cold weather wimp!
I didn't get a run in yesterday as we were driving home and I planned to run today but woke up with a very stiff and painful hip. I am sure from too many hours sitting in the car. Tomorrow I have a girl's day out and will be gone all day so I am pinning my hopes on Friday!
@rheddmobile and @RunsOnEspresso - I like the Six Minute Mile newsletter too. The latest one had an article with some links to great kettlebell workouts.
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First post for December - this thread moves so fast I can't keep up! As usual, no running goals for me as I can only run a few times a week and it's difficult to predict how far I will run in the month. Just happy plodding along and running when I can/want to rather than running to chase a goal.
01/12 - 3.1 miles - pace 8:42 min/mile - 276 feet - Road
09/12 - 11 miles - pace 10:04 min/mile - 1,358 feet - Trail
December:
14.1 miles & 1,634 feet of elevation6 -
Glad you had a nice birthday trip @shanaber. Love the pictures.
I had a horrible setback with my back yesterday. Just stood up from sitting on the arm of a chair and got a catch that was about a 9 or 10 in order to stand back up straight. For about an hour after that, anytime I bent at the waist even a little it was awful. I did get in a slower walk on the treadmill - did 3.3 mph. I tried 3.5 mph, but it hurt. That seemed to help some and I iced it last night. Still painful this morning, but only at a 2 or 3. I can deal with that.10
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