June 2022 Monthly Running Challenge
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@martaindale I see you're a paid subscriber on Strava. You may know this, and already be using this, but one feature you get with that is the ability to see running heat maps when you create a route. I use this feature quite a bit when looking for running routes in new places, thinking that if a route gets heavy use, there must be a reason. It's also a great way to find trail routes. The only caveat is that races can throw off the heat map by showing heavy use on roads that might only be suitable for running during a race when traffic is blocked off. When looking for new routes you might consider taking a look at that feature if you're not already.
Yes, I use the heat maps quite a bit. It’s the main reason I pay for the subscription. That’s how I found the nature preserve trail! In more densely populated areas I love that it labels common start points and bathrooms too. It takes a lot of guess work out of running in a place I am unfamiliar with. At the hill country house, the heat maps are mostly my 1 running neighbor! And now me. At least in this part of the neighborhood. There are a couple of bikers and runners on the other side of the neighborhood.
Glad your fall wasn’t serious. That trail is so gorgeous!2 -
that last photo is hilarious!
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Yea. He wasn’t very impressed with me at the time😅SummerSkier wrote: »that last photo is hilarious!
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Ha! @SummerSkier and @Mari33a - I was going to say something about the side-eye he was giving you and decided not to. Looks to me like he had had enough of the pictures!
I was looking forward to a great run (we are having lovely cooler weather - mid to low 70s) and it turned out to be pretty 'scrappy'. My legs felt like lead and I couldn't get or keep my HR up. My HR is not that high normally but this was just ridiculous. Finally in about the last mile or so, it finally decided to kick in. Maybe I was going too slow earlier in the run for it to realize I was running 😁 or my PM was just being stupid and thought I was walking and didn't need any help 🤷🏻♀️ Tomorrow will be better. I am trying to get out as much as possible right now while we are getting the marine layer and the temps are staying down.
I have also started looking for running spots for our road trip to Portland and Seattle in a couple weeks. I will need to be taking Hobbes out for a few runs along the way.8 -
@Scott6255 and @shanaber, yes it was definitely @AlphaHowls-inspired crazy laps!
Yesterday morning was speed work. 5 min Z1, 5 min Z2, 6x 1 min Z5 and 2 min z1, 5 min Z1 for a total of 2.04 miles. It was nice and cool, but my neighbor’s little dog, who was taken out to potty, decided to start running after me. I had to stop during one of my Z5 intervals so that the lady could catch up and grab him.4 -
Congrats @Scott6255 and @SummerSkier on your 5 years on MFP! Awesome. @SummerSkier I love that you started your journey when you realized you could either be a whale or a gazelle and that gazelle won! No wonder you are so speedy.
@SummerSkier Great job on getting out there and running when you weren't feeling it. You'll figure it out and get back to your speedy self soon.
Nice running @martaindale . Glad you are finding routes you want to run. I'm with you on the even tenths.
@7lenny7 Glad the shoes worked out for you. Those pictures of the park you ran in are really beautiful. I would run there again too, if I were you. How do you call in the birds? Glad your fall wasn't serious.
@Mari33a Dakota is adorable.
@shanaber I hope your PM works better for you today. I also hope you find some nice trails to run on your road trip. Sounds like fun and I'm sure Hobbes will enjoy new sights and smells.
@marisap2010 We had the same workout yesterday! I just haven't posted my runs yet. My internet was acting up last night, so I gave up even trying.1 -
@Mari33a Dakota looks like he has a lot of personality. So distinguished. And, yes, he looks like he has a lot to say.2
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June total: 18.5/117 miles
6/1: 4.1 mile
6/2: 3 miles
6/3: 3.2 miles
6/4: 8.2 miles
Pretty good long run today. It just stopped storming as I left so I got the cool back end and the cloud cover up until the last couple of miles. Saw the guy riding his horse again. And several deer including a tiny fawn. And Emma the poodle (mix?). How do I know Emma’s name? Her owners did not have her leashed and said it multiple times in a very half-hearted attempt to recall her when we were passing each other on the road. Of course when I asked them to at least grab her the wife laughed and said “oh, she’s ok.” Of course she is, just like every other “friendly” dog right up to the moment they bite someone. I am so over these people and their unleashed dogs. My neighbor runs with mace and I thought that was a bit of overkill but now I understand it. Entitled people with unleashed dogs who probably don’t see a lot of people on their daily outings is a recipe for a dog springing into protective mode.7 -
@martaindale I run with pepper spray also and sometimes a small stun if I am wearing a jacket with pockets (size of a large lipstick). I haven't had any issues in a while but mostly it is folks who let their dogs out on their front lawn quickly and I happen to be running by. Loose packs are typically worse than the owner walking off leash. Mostly if I stop, turn and confront when strays are at a distance they will turn away. Haven't had one get close enough with aggressive intent to spray yet. But I totally agree with you that owners can be blind. I like dogs but I don't like strange ones climbing on me. Annoys me to no end when they ARE leashed and yet the owner still let's them climb on you - and then apologizes? seriously.
oops - rant over. Snuck in another 5 after a HUGE unpredicted storm rolled thru Austin this morning and dropped over an inch of rain. WOW. That was actually quite nice. 23.21 miles to date out of 100 goal. Even went out for a long walk after because the air felt so clean and cool and the sun hadn't come out to steam things up.
1 Jun - 7
2 Jun - 6
3 Jun - 5
4 Jun - 54 -
Hey friends! I've been MIA for a while but checked in here and there to see what you all are up to. Everyone seems to be doing great so far in June!
Re dogs - the pics of Dakota above are cute - love the side-eye. I have a "bad dog" so I am very careful to keep her on a short leash and near me when other people/dogs are around. It's shocking how many people just let their dogs run on up to people and other dogs and assume it's ok with them. To their "it's ok, he's friendly" I always respond "well mine's not, so control your dog" and they look at me and my dog like we're horrible and should not be out in public.
Date :::: Miles :::: Cumulative
06/01/22 :::: 0.00 :::: 0.0
06/02/22 :::: 2.27 :::: 2.3
06/03/22 :::: 0.00 :::: 2.3
06/04/22 :::: 7.32 :::: 9.6
I never went back and updated my total for May, but it was pretty dismal at 61.2 miles. Only 1 more mile than the previous month. I was traveling for a week at the end of May and only got a couple of runs in. When I was staying in Iowa helping my mom move, I found there were nice bike paths/trails right behind my hotel and along a creek that connected with ones along the river that I knew about previously. So I ran from there on Friday and Saturday mornings.
Then I went to my sister's cabin on the Mississippi river - across the river on the Illinois side - and we had a lovely day there on the river. It was very high and their cabin is basically on stilts because it floods all the time. We kayaked a bit in the flood waters around her neighborhood. My boyfriend met me there and got to meet my family and then he and I drove to Chicago and spent a couple of days there. We went to a Cubs game and just generally ate and drank and enjoyed the city. I got no more running done.
I don't have a super strong start to June either, but I did run 7 miles this morning on a perfectly gorgeous day. Perfect temps in the low 60s and clear blue skys. I felt better than I have in a long time trying to do a longer run. And this is the first time I think I've gone over 5 miles since early April.
We found a young raccoon on the side of the path during our run, and it was clearly sick or injured. Poor little baby was curled up and had the saddest eyes. It was not a tiny baby, more of an adolescent but clearly alone and hurt. My friend called and reported it and I had to leave but they stayed until the police came. Apparently it had an injured leg but the officer decided to leave it and "let nature take its course". Aw. Breaks my heart. I wanted to pick it up and take it home.8 -
Yesterday me: I'm going to get up at 5, have one cup of coffee & waffles then head out to run.
Today me: well, 2 cups of coffee done, guess I should eat and maybe get out by 730.
Remind next Saturday me it's too hot to wait until 730 to go out 🤣
6 miles today of slow run with walk breaks
13.5ish for June so far8 -
@martaindale Glad you had a good run and got to see a tiny fawn. They are so cute. Even if they know that Emma isn't going to bite, they need to follow the rules and respect those who don't want a dog rushing up to them. Very rude for them to not follow your request to hold her until you got by. Not that you were afraid, but dogs can sense fear and usually react to that with aggression - even if they normally aren't. I'm sorry you had to deal with that.
Nice run @SummerSkier . Glad you had nice weather for it.
@katharmonic Sounds like you had a very nice week's vacation! Glad you had great weather for your run today. Sorry about the racoon. I would have wanted to help it out too.
Haha I hear you @RunsOnEspresso . I meant to get out early and it was nearly 10 today before I headed out the door. Fortunately, it wasn't horribly hot here.1 -
1 Jun - Walk - 1.00 mile - driveway laps and trimmed trees for 1.75 hours
2 Jun - Walk - 1.00 mile - treadmill
3 Jun - Walk - 0.70 mile - Ran 2.50 miles - driveway laps
4 Jun - Walk - 0.70 mile - Ran 3.00 miles - driveway laps
Finally got my first run in for the month yesterday. It was my planned Short Interval run - the same one that @marisap2010 did. My fast segments were under 10:30 min/mile, so I was happy with that.
Today, the schedule called for a 40 minute Foundation Run. I got out around 10 am - later than I intended. It was only 68°F and 60% humidity, per Garmin. It felt more humid. I think the struggle bus made it's way to East TN overnight, because it was a tough run. My legs were stiff - probably because I ran hard last evening, and my breathing was off. But, I made it and kept my HR down. The first mile was 13:28 minutes, which wasn't bad for the driveway and a max HR of 132. But, after that, I had to walk a little bit more in order to keep the HR on target. So, it was a slow, 14:01 min/mile pace, but I got it done.
On the first lap of running, I was met with a corn snake at my turn around point. Pictures under the spoiler.
He was about 2 feet, maybe a little longer.
He wasn't shy at all.6 -
@martaindale - I hate it when people don't have their dogs on leash or don't control their dogs that are on leash. It is especially bad if they have children with them because the dogs can be so protective of 'their' kids. Hobbes is pretty friendly with everyone but I make it a point to avoid situations where he has to meet and greet unknown dogs. I haven't carried it in a while but I used to carry a small air horn with me. I got it because of coyotes on the trail where I run and later used it with a dog that would jump the wall from his backyard and go after people on the trail. Animal control ended up taking that dog away because the owners couldn't/wouldn't control it.
@SummerSkier - Hobbes will sit to be loved up on but I always warn people he may pop up to lick their face, especially if they are leaning over him. 😁
@katharmonic - sounds like you have been running what you can while enjoying life! I love Chicago! It is a great city to visit and eat your way through! I'm so sorry about the little raccoon! Where is @rheddmobile when we need a raccoon rescue!
@RunsOnEspresso - I have the hardest time getting out the door early, especially right now with our weather being pretty cool. If I got out earlier it would be even cooler! I mentioned to my husband that I really need to get going earlier since it now takes me 45-60 minutes to do all my PT exercises and he recommended I just start the night before 😂 It is going to get warmer this next week so I will really need to get going earlier!
I did have a much better run today than yesterday. My HR was still being funky low but I went a head with 60/40 run/walk intervals and that worked well. I had an issue with my watch display at one point and tried to fix it while I was running. I should have stopped, I couldn't really see what I was doing without my glasses and ended up stopping the run. Fortunately I hit 'save' but I ended up stopping and checking on my phone to make sure it was there. Not sure what I would have done if it hadn't been. Total so far for the month 21.5 miles.
Those of you who have known me here for a while know I am a huge fan of Topo Athletics shoes and the ST series in particular. The newest ST-4 however is just off for me (and others I have read). It is not as light and flexible and they made changes to the heel and overlays on the toes that make it feel clunky to me. I have 2 pairs of ST-3s that I continue to wear and every once in a while I pull out the ST-4s to try them one more time. One of the ST-3 pairs has over 450 miles on them and the other has about 200. Since I can't find the ST-3s anywhere in men's or women's I decided to look for a different brand of 0 drop minimal shoes. I ordered these Xero HFS shoes last night and they should be here tomorrow. They look a little crazy to me but I am excited to try them.
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I can't stand people who aren't in control of their dogs. I also hate people who will walk up or allow their children to walk up and pet my dogs without asking me. My dogs are generally good-natured, but they are both old and sometimes don't want to be bothered. I've had to ask people to stop a few times, especially with smaller kids, because I don't know if they will be rough and scare my dogs.
Today was a 40 minute Foundation Run (the same as @quilteryoyo again), completed on the track at the gym, followed by my one hour RIPPED class. I'm trying to do two days per week of strength training, so I can check it off the list for this week.
Tomorrow is an 8 mile long run, most of which will be in Zone 2. I need to download a new audiobook tonight. I also ordered a box of Gu since I'm going to be doing a lot of longer runs moving forward. I usually stick with vanilla, but I bought a variety box that includes some new flavors, so we'll see how well I like them. I just couldn't resist birthday cake and s'mores.6 -
@marisap2010 - We have some kids in the neighborhood who think it is ok to run screaming at us waving their arms over their head or ride their tricycles/bicycles directly at us and then are surprised when Hobbes barks at them. Typically the parents are out with them and do/say nothing. I hope the kids are never bitten but that is exactly how dog bites happen. You don't allow your kids to run up to any dog let alone an unknown dog.marisap2010 wrote: »I can't stand people who aren't in control of their dogs. I also hate people who will walk up or allow their children to walk up and pet my dogs without asking me. My dogs are generally good-natured, but they are both old and sometimes don't want to be bothered. I've had to ask people to stop a few times, especially with smaller kids, because I don't know if they will be rough and scare my dogs.
I hope the GU flavors are good. I'm not much of a fan of GUs of any kind because they are just so sticky and sweet...
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@shanaber Glad you had a better run. Hope the shoes work out for you. I can't do lower drop shoes. I tried once and it really hurt my legs to run in them, which is weird since I wear flat shoes at work and go barefoot in the house.
@marisap2010 That is probably the last time we'll have the same workout since I'm doing the 10K plan and you the marathon one. Definitely no 8 miles scheduled anytime soon. I have moved my plan by a day so that Sunday's are my rest days, not Monday. So yesterday was my "long run" of the week. LOL You are doing great! I need to get some strength training in.......as I have said many, many times before. Guess it isn't really a priority for me.
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10.4 miles this morning. Two weekends in a row I have over indulged the night before my long run, and have paid for it. Today was harder than last week so I cut it short. I really need to stop that before it becomes a habit
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