December 2021 Monthly Running Challenge

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
December 9 – 5.11 miles
December 11 -10.13 miles
December 12 – 5.01 miles
December 13 – 4.16 miles
December 15 – 5.14 miles
December 18 – 6.30 miles

68.6/100 miles completed

Been in a bit of a funk lately but I’ve been reading, liking and hugging here. Between Christmas gatherings, work and car problems and just laziness, I haven’t worked out in the prior two days but I got out for a run around 7 am today. The rain started around mile 3 but the temp was 52F so it wasn’t bad. I went by my driveway around the 5 mile mark and put my phone in my mailbox where it would stay dry and then I continued on for 6.3 miles.

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
12/08/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 28.6
12/09/21 :::: 1.7 :::: 30.3
12/10/21 :::: 3.3 :::: 33.6
12/11/21 :::: 4.5 :::: 38.1
12/12/21 :::: 4.1 :::: 42.2
12/13/21 :::: 3.1 :::: 45.3
12/14/21 :::: 4.0 :::: 49.3
12/15/21 :::: 4.0 :::: 53.3
12/16/21 :::: 0.0 :::: 53.3
12/17/21 :::: 2.7 :::: 56.0
12/18/21 :::: 13.7 :::: 69.7

I don't think I posted the last couple of days. Thursday was a gorgeous day in the 60s but I ran out of time to run. I was dressed to run after work and everything - but had to make a run to the store and decided It was for the best to take a rest day. Friday I ran with Stella on the trails so it was slow going but got something done. I also took a lovely short and easy hike, again taking advantage of a very nice day, although not quite as warm as the day befeore.

Today I did my 12th HM of the year for the 2021 HM a month challenge. Last minute I decided to go along with a friend to do this "Backyard Ultra" that is a 1 mile loop and you complete as many as you can/want in 12 hours. It was a small race raising money for a charity and my friend knew the race director. There were probably 20-30 people there for the ultra, a few more for the 5 mile race. It was very nice that they had an inside area to be able to wait in before and leave things in to be able to stop between loops if you wanted. With bathrooms and snacks available. My friend and I did our 13 loops (which added up to 13.7 for me because I didn't stop my watch when I went in to get snacks and water) and got a medal and a wooden chip that said 13.1 on it. There were chips for 26.2 and I think some higher distances as well and prizes for those who got the most loops and fastest times.

Overall this was much more enjoyable than I expected. The loop was not exciting but seeing and talking to people was fun. I thought it was going to be snowy all morning but it didn't start snowing until we were in our 9th loop and then big fluffy flakes were coming down. I wore my trail shoes because I worried about snow and traction and I should have just worn my regular shoes because my feet are pretty sore from running in the trail shoes on dry pavement. It was a well organized and well supported event and I am in awe of the folks who are still out there running an will be until 8 pm tonight.

So happy to be done with 12 half marathons!

Thanks for all of the good thoughts on my back. I got some disappointing news. He did an x-ray and turns out I have "dextroscoliosis convex to the right at L2. Curvature measures approximately 33 degrees from the T12 to the L5. Multilevel degenerative disc disease with facet arthropathy without fractures or spondylolisthesis." Not sure what all of those terms mean, but the x-ray looked pretty bad. No wonder it has been hurting. He gave me a steroid pack and some muscle relaxers. I was shocked so wasn't thinking clearly. The prescription for the muscle relaxers is for 2 pills for 45 days. I am going to call him on Monday and see if I really need to take them for 45 days in a row or if I can only take them when it hurts. I hate taking things that mask pain, so that I don't know what it is really doing. He didn't tell my not to run, but did say he didn't recommend it. I'm still trying to process all of this and see what I choose to do. The also gave me more strengthening and stretching exercises to do. I say more, but I wasn't really happy that he didn't ask about the things that the chiropractor had me doing already and didn't make sure that I knew how to do the ones he gave me. They just printed out directions when I checked out.

I'm going to do some research and decide about running and whether I want to try the brace he said could possibly help straighten it out some. But, he wasn't pushing it. He said most people don't get benefit because it isn't a quick fix and you have to wear this bulky brace under your clothes every day or it does no good. Haven't took the time to look at it yet.

Does anyone else on here have scoliosis or degenerative discs?

@quilteryoyo I would absolutely not make a decision about running before finding an ortho who is also a runner. Many old school orthos are very negative about running for reasons which aren’t necessarily valid according to more recent research. Mine told me never to run again because of my knees, which are problematic because I have no ACL, but otherwise mostly fine, and although I may yet be forced to stop for some reason, my knees aren’t it. A sports ortho told me the first ortho was being ridiculous and running and lifting were actually good for my knees.

Also, before freaking out too much about the scoliosis I do wonder what percentage of people have it and don’t realize.

Glad you ended up having a good run @Scott6255.

@quilteryoyo sorry about the diagnosis. Hope you can get to a good ortho.

@SummerSkier great job on your RTY miles! And the success with your pace goal also!

I'm having various computer/internet issues this weekend so I don't have my spreadsheet updated. But I ran tonight with our group of friends at the Lights on the Lake display. It's one of those drive through big light displays and we had to be off the path by 4:30 because they start letting cars through, so we were a bit before it got dark. But still the lights were pretty and we all dressed festively and had a fun time. I ended up with 3.6 miles. Afterwards some of us went out to dinner and we received a lot of looks and comments all dressed up in our Santa and elf hats, holiday patterned tights and ugly sweaters.

I don't know how this week is going to play out but in theory I should have time to get my running in.