February 2023 Monthly Running Challenge

@martaindale - we saw Chicago on Broadway when our daughter was in HS. We all loved it and it is still one of my favorites. I imagine Legally Blonde would be really fun as a stage production. For me though I just love musicals. There was a period of time we were in NYC frequently and tried to see at least one show every time (Music Man, Oklahoma, Rent (3 times), 42nd Street, Moving On, Evita and more I can't remember).
@quilteryoyo - that quilt top is gorgeous. I tried quilting once and enjoyed making small items but committing to a large quilt was just overwhelming. Do you hand quilt the top to the back or do it on your machine?
I also sew, starting from a very young age and at one time made a lot of my own clothes as well as making displays for the sewing dept in a large department store where I worked in college. It was great because I got to pick out patterns and fabrics I liked, make the items and they paid for it (time and materials) and when it came off display it was mine.
@tarun_yadavA - is the scenery that you will loop around interesting? Also is your running buddy who coerced you into running a marathon in training, running as well? I am really excited for your race, too! Living vicariously I guess 😁 I looked at the website for the race and did not see anything for runner tracking but maybe there will be something up on race day.
@7lenny7 used to run marathons and ultras that were multiple loops like that, but out on a trail or in a big field. He seemed to really like doing it.
Also @eleanorhawkins, I think @7lenny7 used to eat pizza when he ran some of those races. I don't think he ever took it himself though, it was just part of what they offered at the fuel stations.

I haven't run to walked since last Thursday. Because of some health/medical issues I won't be running much, if any this month but may get in some walks depending on how I feel. I was told to take it easy. I do plan to still be following along here though and watching from afar all of your great running exploits!

Starting slow this month. While I work on my conditioning, I've been doing heart-rate training. I'm finally figuring out what pace keeps me in the zone, but I sometimes find myself speeding up because I feel I'm going so slow, and then I get out of the zone and have to walk to drop it down again. Will try adding intervals once I get my distance up a bit more.

February Goal: 90 Miles

2/3: 5.27 miles
2/4: 5.26 miles
2/5: 13.15 miles
2/6: 5.02 miles

28.7/90 miles completed for February

We are supposed to get rain the next couple of days, and the weather was really good for running this morning, so I ran 5 miles. It was a great run. I was able to wear shorts and a t-shirt. It was 54°F, but a little windy so I started out with sleeves on, but I took them off about halfway through. I saw a skunk when I started out. And I saw a loose dog near the park. The dog ran off when he saw me though so he wasn't a problem. I was worried that my legs would be really tired after my 13 miles yesterday, but I felt pretty good. I do plan to take tomorrow as a rest day even if we don't get the rain.

Morning all.
Today's 7K in the cold fog
@eleanorhawkins - pizza for fuel? What the...
🤣😂
(Here's me - one month ago, running long distances on an empty stomach!)
Makes me nauseous just thinking about it! Like that episode of the US Office where Michael Scott signs up the whole office for a 5K fun run and eats Pasta Alfredo to 'carb up' just as the race starts, then vomms it all out and collapses 🤢

@shanaber - it's the old F1 motor racing circuit. (I'm not into racing cars at all, so lost on me). If old pitstops and F1 legend statues etc your jam - then yes, I guess!?

@Laurz9191 - 11 laps as interesting!? Lol, no. Dull and monotonous, more like! Haven't done a single scenic run in London in over a month (I have Canary Wharf to one side of me / Tower Bridge and The Shard to the other). Just been doing laps - to "get in the zone"!

@quilteryoyo - staggered start times, but yes, lapping (and getting lapped) remains a distinct possibility/likelihood.
PS: lovely quilt.

@martaindale - thanks!!
PS: I think I've done two musicals. Dirty Dancing and The Lion King. (First one was traumatic; enjoyed the latter more!)


T-5.

eleanorhawkins wrote: »

@tarun_yadavA yes but think looooong trail run mentality. You're going slow, in fact some climbs you're going slower than a wander round the shops, and you've been going for hours. Pizza sounds like heaven in those circumstances hahaha.
I've always thought races on F1 and other motor racing tracks sound cool. We used to be quite into F1 before. Races at airports also catch my attention. Never done any of either. Closest was a 5k at the huge marina in the cith where the cruise ships dock. That was great fun, it was at sunset and organised but the National Police force, and they 'chased' us with a helicopter with a spotlight. That makes you run faster!
@quilteryoyo that quilt is stunning! I used to do a lot of cross stitch in the days before I spent most of my free time running around.

Think all this pizza 🍕 talk... Think my post Marathon evening dinner might well be pizza! ☺️

I haven't had a single drop of alcohol or eaten meat since NYE 😐
(Only vice has been sweet tooth - so do eat a bit of chocolate after dinner before bed!)

As for the F1 track... Provided I'm not too zombied out/tense, and I remember (!), I'll take pictures!

@SummerSkier wrote: »

....... I am going to start ranking my injuries on a scale I think of 1-10 where 10 is NEED CRUTCHES and DRUGS and HOSPITAL and 1 is WHERE DID THAT BRUISE come from? I rank these at about a 3 and expect to do my @AlphaHowls imitation and ignore them to run today. I did skip tennis yesterday evening and my walk but decided that maybe icing is not always best as our body might NEED the extra blood flow for recovery.

Hmm, I like this, going to think about this scale a bit.

WIP

Random thoughts, comments and news:
I must copy the decision tree!
@SummerSkier glad it isn't too bad!
@polskagirl01 ugh, I was worried you would relapse at the time. Fingers crossed the light is of some use, and ****&/€!!! diet. The book is by Claire Maxted, former editor of UK Trail Running magazine. She has a YouTube channel Wild Ginger Running. I find her rather annoying, but she does have some good advice and in my book anyone who believes in pizza can't be too bad!
Talking of pizza, @tarun_yadavA there is no valid post-marathon meal that does not involve pizza. That would be a sin. End of story.

Life suddenly got crazy for me, my daughter is suffering from crippling anxiety to such an extent that she almost cannot leave the house without ending up in a heap on the floor. She's getting help but it's very early days, and it's so very draining. She's adamant she can't take the pressure of school (final exams are in June) and wants to quit. Now, to top it off, she has a flu bug. I had talked her into coming with us at the weekend and staying in the hotel room with her dad while I race, and maybe going to a pizza buffet place on the way home. So who knows what will happen, whether she'll be up to that, or I'll go alone, or I won't be able to go. I'm downing shots of echinacea and propolis hoping to dodge the germs, anyway.
Also, I found a map and profile of the race online. This will definitely be a training run with aid stations, and it will definitely be character building! 13 climbs, including a mile and a half long one at 14% near the beginning, 4 or 5 at 11-12% along the way, and a nice (sarcasm there) mile and a bit at 15% almost at the end!