January 2023 Monthly Running Challenge

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  • eleanorhawkins
    eleanorhawkins Posts: 1,659 Member
    @Laurz9191 I generally use (or base my plans on) the Hal Higdon plans... he has many different versions for different levels. There's also a free app of his that you plug your race date and goal time into, tell it the days of the week you want to run and it does the planning. The problem a few of us found with that is it's pretty judgy and will scold you if you do too much, or not enough, or have to juggle days and workouts around.
  • tarun_yadavA
    tarun_yadavA Posts: 1,410 Member
    Laurz9191 wrote: »
    The most important race I have planned this year is a half marathon in Hanover at the end of May. I don't yet have a training plan that I am using. Do any of you have any recommendations for me? My goal is to be faster than the first (and only time) I ran it, all the way back in 2011! Kids and illness kept me from trying again after that. I think my time was around 1:57:00. Ideally I would like to aim for under 1:50:00 and see how close to that goal I can get. I am grateful for any help and suggestions!

    @Laurz9191 good luck with the Half in March!
    I kind of 'wing it' (as you can tell from the conversations about fueling!),so I'm probably not the best person to give out advice.

    I ran >= 13.1 four times in 2022:
    April - did it in 2hr02".
    July - did it in1hr56".
    Dec (20Miler) - did it in 1hr53".

    [So incrementally quicker]

    (I did a second in Dec, NYE - just for the heck of it - did it in 1hr57").

    So I would say it's totally doable to shave off 7mins.

    I run frequently. I would say I run 13/14 days consecutively. (Excluding travelling abroad on vacation etc etc). If I know I have a long run at pace, I'll plan it around that rest day.

    Again - I just wing it. So probably might not work for you! (All those four were literally on empty stomachs, save for the pint of water and sugary chai).

    Best person to ask is Jen @AlphaHowls .... She runs Half Marathons DAILY 🙌

    PS: are you on Strava? If so- I'm https://www.strava.com/athletes/53345216





  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,542 Member
    Sounds like you are getting out and doing what you can @Fit2btied2016 ! Cold, snow/rain mix has to be the worst. Your pups sound like fun and I do think that animals sense weather changes. Sorry about the farmer losing some of his stock. Is it dogs or wild animals?

    @shanaber Great start to the new year! You have been pretty consistent lately with your running/walking, so I am sure you can continue with that. Strength training is something that I really need to start, but don't know how I would fit it into my schedule. We shall see. It is NOT one of my stated goals for the year though.

    @tarun_yadavA I hope you aren't getting sick again. Maybe it's just your body adjusting to your hard reset? You did great today for not feeling it and being stiff.

    @Laurz9191 Great running and I agree that running on the treadmill is safer than in the forest when it's windy. Just too many limbs/trees can fall unexpectedly. It is time to start a plan, for sure. The only one I have used was by Matt Fitzgerald in his book 80/20 running. I liked it, but wasn't able to follow it well due to time constraints. I did run the HM, virtually, which made it difficult. If not for @Teresa502 joining me at the end to push me on, I'm not sure I would have finished. So, I'm not really a good judge of whether that is a good plan or not. :lol: What did you use to get ready for it in 2011? Maybe repeat that? Which fitness watch do you have?



    Scott6255 wrote: »
    Well I NEVER play the lottery, but after that hat trick Monday, and after many suggestions, I caved and played the numbers 8 36 23 20 1 and 2.
    Not a single number matched. 😒
    Hahahaha At least it was worth a try.


  • spl8
    spl8 Posts: 101 Member
    exercise.png
    I planned to run yesterday, but the weather was yucky and I'm not yet motivated enough to run in yucky weather. I did some yoga. Any other yoga people here? (I'm trying to do the Yoga with Adriene 30 Day Yoga Journey (YouTube) right now.)
    It's supposed to rain again later today, so I went for a half hour jog after dropping my kid off at school this morning. I'm so impressed by the early morning runners who have been sharing their morning routines here.
  • shanaber
    shanaber Posts: 6,423 Member
    edited January 2023
    @Scott6255 - sorry the lotto ticket wasn't a success but you had to try!
    @tarun_yadavA - you might consider trying the grapes or whatever before a shorter, maybe intermediate, distance run in case it causes stomach issues. Something that would still stress your body a bit to see if it handled it ok but not a super long run that you would have abandon if it didn't.
    @Laurz9191 - While I don't run that distance any longer I have run many HMs and used the Hal Higden plans for pretty much all of them but the first. Like @eleanorhawkins said he has many different distances and some focused on improving speed, just finishing, etc... I did not use the app though, I took the plan and created my own calendar fitting it around my schedule and running days. Because of work and work travel I just couldn't keep it to the specifics the app required and had to move days around. I did manage to do most every run though as it called for just not on the days and sometimes not in the same order. It is important to remember whatever plan you use you can adjust it to you and what works for you.
    @spl8 - there are many here who do yoga and also the Yoga with Adriene. I love it but don't go it enough. Hmm maybe I need to add it onto my yearly goal!
    @polskagirl01 - Please do check in with us! It maybe a slow recovery but you'll get back to it!
    @quilteryoyo - I hope the Holter monitor gives you some indication of what is going on. When I have had them in the past I was never told not to get it sweaty. They encouraged me to do whatever my normal day was, running, working out, etc.

    To all the newbies - we have a private group on Facebook (MFP Monthly Running Challenge) that isn't super active but many of us are on Strava. There is also a MFP group with the same name on Strava if you want to follow any of us there.
  • martaindale
    martaindale Posts: 2,333 Member
    edited January 2023
    quilteryoyo wrote: »
    Thanks for sharing the tracker @martaindale ! What time do the races start? Sounded like really early since you said you would be getting up at 2:30 am.

    5k and 10k start at 5:30. HM and full at 5:00. It's an early day!

    @Laurz9191 I also used higdon plans for my first few HM. I found them super approachable and easy to follow.
  • martaindale
    martaindale Posts: 2,333 Member
    @tarun_yadavA I'm a big fan of oatmeal. Banana. Bagel-PB. I just avoid greasy or heavy. And I don't do eggs unless I have a couple of hours.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,188 Member
    January Goal: 100 Miles

    1/1: 10.50 miles
    1/3: 6.02 miles

    16.52-/100 miles completed for January

    When I got ready to post today's run, I noticed that yesterday's post was still sitting in drafts. So I will post it now and post today's run in a few minutes. 🙂
    It was a beautiful morning for running and I ran 6 miles. It was a little chillier than I expected. The weather app said 51°F so I wore shorts and a t-shirt. I was really dressed ok, I just kind of wished I had worn gloves. But other than my hands being cold the weather was great.

    I was scared by a dog starting out about half a block from my house. He ran at me barking and I yelled "go away, go away, go away" . And honestly that seemed to scare him and he ran off.

    I saw three deer by the park. They crossed the road in front of me and then stopped to watch me pass. As I passed I noticed two other deer on the other side of the road. I ran between them. It was really cool.

    As I neared home, I was nervous that the strange dog would still be there, but he was not. There was another dog out, but zhe's a dog I am familiar with and I kind of felt like he would protect me if the strange dog was there.

    It has been a really busy day at work. I am going to post this and then go back and try to catch up on all the comments.

    exercise.png



  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited January 2023
    This content has been removed.
  • Laurz9191
    Laurz9191 Posts: 513 Member
    edited January 2023
    Hello everyone! Thank you for all the suggestions. It seems like Hal Higdon got the most votes @eleanorhawkins @martaindale @kgirlhart @schnaber. I will also take a look at Matt Fitzgerald @quilteryoyo.

    So actually, I hadn't thought much about what I did last time to train, but it's kind of an interesting story. At the time I was still a student here and I was living in a shared flat with the 2 best runners in the city (male & female). They really whipped me into shape within just a few months, and I kind of just roughly followed their training plan. I asked a lot of questions and did a much slower and easier version of what they did, when I felt like it. I also went and cheered them on at a couple of races, which really motivated me to race as well. I remember one race, where they each ran (and won) the 5K and 10K races. The prize there was not a sausage, but rather they got to pick out a pair of shoes, so they went home with 4 additional pairs of shoes. I thought that was pretty cool. Alas, I only lived with them for a year, so now I am in need of some other training ideas besides what I have in my head ;).

    @quilteryoyo I have been researching running watches for a long time, and finally decided to go with the Garmin Fenix7S. I can't tell you yet if I think that is a good thing, because my watch is still telling me that I am doing too much, even though, I don't think that I am. So if I go with Hal Higdon, I might be criticized for not following the plan to a T and from my watch. This could get interesting... Maybe my watch is still getting to know me and needs some time to adjust?

    Good luck not sweating until tomorrow! Just one more day!

    @Fit2btied2016 I like your idea of running with the sausage but unfortunately I gave away my prize! My husband and kids don't eat pork and I thought devouring a whole salami by myself might not be the best New Year's Resolution, so I found it a good home and gave it to a friend.

    @scott6255 I'm sorry the lottery didn't work out! It was worth a try though.

    @martaindale Your 5K race must be starting now/soon! Good luck!

    So I just joined Strava when I set up my watch. If anyone wants to add me, please feel free to! https://www.strava.com/athletes/112077321 .

    Today, I decided once again to "mostly" listen to my watch. I did its suggested run at the suggested pace which was only 36 minutes, which lead me to my half way mark and then I did 3x 1Km at my max "alone" running speed in windy rain. After each interval I went back to running at my watch's suggested pace for a total of 11.1Km. My watch still didn't seem too happy with me afterwards and wants me to spend 65 hours for recovery! I do plan to take tomorrow off from running, so we'll see if the two of us are on the same page after that.

    exercise.png
  • Teresa502
    Teresa502 Posts: 1,871 Member
    Jan 1 – 7.02 miles
    Jan 2 – 3 miles
    Jan 3 – 5.1 miles
    Jan 5 – 3.02 miles

    Last night the weather app said it would be 43F at 5 am this morning but when I got out of the car it was 37F. I was a little underdressed, but after we got moving I was fine so in actuality I was probably dressed appropriately. Our route got cut short when one of the ladies tripped and fell. Pretty sure she broke her nose. Lots of blood involved. Luckily, there were 4 of us running this morning and while I and another girl ran back and got my car she had someone to stay with her. Thankfully, she didn’t hit her mouth or any other part of her face and head. Only one small cut on her leg. We took her home and she’s going to call her regular doctor to get his advice.

    @bmolde99 – I’ve heard good things about Grandma’s Marathon. Looking forward to following your training and hearing about your experience at the race.

    @Fit2btied2016 – Like @martaindale, I’m a fan of the Brooks Ghosts. I have a wide foot and their wide fits me well. I’ve tried the Hoka zero drop shoes before and have always ended up injured so I’ve decided they are not for me.

    Congratulations on the first one @martaindale! Love that medal! Enjoy your day!
  • tarun_yadavA
    tarun_yadavA Posts: 1,410 Member
    @martaindale - love the medal! Your four Disney themed medals are gonna look so cool
  • eleanorhawkins
    eleanorhawkins Posts: 1,659 Member
    @Laurz9191 it will take the watch a while to really understand you, but will still sometimes do that stuff. Also, I think it's mostly to do with your HR, I have had to plug more accurate zones into both of mine as they were way off. Also, if you don't use a chest strap, the wrist HR readings are notoriously bad, especially if it's too loose. Or too tight. Or the wind is blowing the wrong way. I nicknamed mine Garmeen the drama queen because of all the judgy stuff 🤣
    @Fit2btied2016 when I went to a store for gait analysis they gave me a pair of Brooks Glycerin to try on and I fell in love, they were like running on clouds. I need lots of cushion. But, they were a bit too expensive for me, so they gave me a few more to try and I ended up in Adidas Solarglides. I would never have thought to try an Adidas shoe for running if they hadn't suggested them. I still have a pair in rotation for the rare times I run on roads. When I started running trails my coach recommended Hoka Speedgoats, which are lower drop but super thick, cushioned soles. Felt like walking on stilts at first, but I can go for hours over rocks in them. I was lucky not to have any trouble with the difference in drop. Then because I still haven't forgotten how comfortable those Brooks felt, I decided to try a pair of Cascadias (trail shoe) and I'm liking their thinner sole for tricky descents as I can feel the ground more, but can't go over 2 hours in them without getting hot spots. Then as my road shoes are getting old and I like the trail Hokas I went for a pair of Bondis. They are nice and spongy for easy runs, but narrower than the Adidas. I also put them on out of the box and went 13 miles in them, not the best idea, gave me a few blisters. They're breaking in nicely on shorter shake out runs atm. So, I'm currently running in 4 different shoes. My husband will freak out if he ever notices 🤣
    @martaindale ugh to those early starts, but SO COOL AND AWESOME. Go, girl!

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