DECEMBER 2023 Monthly Running Challenge

01.12 8km walk during day plus concert
02.12 22km walk during day plus concert
03.12 8km walk during day
05.12 3°C 4.0km 32min 8:05/km
06.12 1°C 1.2km 9min 7:38/km
07.12 1°C 3.6km 30min 8:18/km
08.12 2°C 3.5km 30min 8:23/km slow run
10.12 7°C 3.9km 33min 8:29/km slow run
11.12 7°C 3.0km 25min 8:12/km stride repeats
15.12 6°C 3.8km 31min 8:14/km slow run
17.12 8°C 3.0km 24min 8:08/km fast run

26.00km/80.5km

Fast run. Wanted to know how long I can run by running a bit faster. The answer is 20 minutes Working on getting fitter. Second week of my 10k running programme done. 4 runs planned for next week.

*waves* checking in but pretty exhausted. Today was our club Backyard... I managed the 8 hours/loops, the last 3 were TOUGH and it took a lot of will power to keep moving and finish the 8th loop with a minute and a half to spare. I ran/walked/hobbled 53.2km altogether, making it not only my first real marathon distance (the marathon I ran in April was 1km short) but also my first ultra! I learned a lot and seeing how recovery goes will hopefully give me plenty of info to work with to plan for the official Backyard ultra I'm running in February. The guy who organised the one today tells me his course is tougher than the official one and I can probably manage a couple more loops there, but I have yet to decide whether or not I should or want to 🤣
The format is fascinating and means apart from the physical challenge it's a huge mental challenge, especially when you get tired and slow down and start worrying whether you'll finish a loop in time to refuel/refill and start the next! Yeah, I know, I'm crazy

December total: 84.7/164 miles

12/1: 6 miles
12/2: 12 miles
12/4: 9 miles
12/5: 2.7 miles
12/7: 5 miles
12/9: 10 miles
12/11: 8.8 miles
12/13: 5.1 miles
12/14: 8.1 miles
12/15: 6 miles
12/17: 12 miles

Moved my long run to Sunday this week because I had to work yesterday morning and just couldn’t muster the desire to run for 2 hours in the afternoon. It was a lovely morning and I’m glad I didn’t force it yesterday. I pushed the pace a little more than I usually do and ended up averaging the same pace I ran during my current HM PR and ran negative splits. That gave me a lot of confidence in how this race will go since I wasn’t even fully pushing today. My watch thinks I can run a 2 hr HM, which seems a little ambitious but I guess we’ll see how things go with a little race day magic and a few more weeks of training.

Hello! I've done a few wuns since my last update on 12/9.

I wun today 12/17.

12/2 - 1.59 miles
12/5 - 1.50 miles
12/7 - 1.77 miles
12/9 - 1.99 miles
12/13 - 2.73 miles with my local running group see pic below
12/15 - 1.47 miles
12/17 - 2.55 miles "long run" up to 3:1 walk/run

Total 13.6/30

1 Dec - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - treadmill
2 Dec - Walked 2.00 miles - Ran 7.00 miles - treadmill
3 Dec - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - treadmill
4 Dec - Walked 2.25 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - treadmill
5 Dec - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 1.00 miles - treadmill
6 Dec - Walked 1.25 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - In SC
7 Dec - Walked 1.25 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - In FL
8 Dec - Walked 0.00 miles - Ran 2.00 miles - Wog in FL
9 Dec - Walked 0.00 miles - Ran 10.13 miles - T-Minus 10 miler on Cape Canaveral AFS
10 Dec - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - On the beach
11 Dec - Walked 2.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - one on the beach and one in SC
12 Dec - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - driveway walk after I got home
13 Dec - Walked 1.25 miles - Ran 2.00 miles - treadmill
14 Dec - Walked 2.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - treadmill - tennis for 2.5 hours
15 Dec - Walked 2.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - treadmill
16 Dec - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 2.00 miles - treadmill
17 Dec - Walked 1.00 miles - Ran 0.00 miles - treadmill

45.13/80.00 miles

My rest day walk after eating way too much at a Christmas party with one of my Sunday School classes.

Morning everyone!

Got in 5M (at 09"23).

Happy Monday! ... off from Friday till Jan 2nd... ~4 1/2days to go...

December Goal: 130 Miles

12/1: 3.30 miles
12/3: 10.10 miles
12/5: 6.31 miles
12/6: 6.31 miles
12/7: 6.04 miles
12/10: 11.01 miles
12/11: 6.02 miles
12/12: 6.03 miles
12/13: 6.26 miles
12/14: 3.15 miles
12/17: 10.27 miles
12/18: 6.02 miles

80.82/130 miles completed for December

It was a chilly 39°F run today. I ran 6 miles and felt pretty good. I think I am finally starting to figure out how to dress for winter running.

@polskagirl01 That cold water immersion sounds just awful to me, but I think my husband would really like it. You are very tough to be able to do that.

Great job @eleanorhawkins! You are a beast!

polskagirl01 wrote: »

I introduced some Pennsylvania friends to cold water immersion and they got hooked. So it's gonna be a daily thing until I leave 🙃

In California we have that too, except we use hot water. We call it sitting in the Hot Tub.

@daria0919

daria0919 wrote: »

Did we miss something Chris? You pulling a Benjamin Button on us?

That one took me awhile to understand- I must admit. Nice red hair @chris_in_cal .

@martaindale You have been really doing well in your speed sessions. I definitely think you can do a sub 2 HM!

@eleanorhawkins Great job on the ultra! I am very impressed! It does seem like it would be a big mind game as soon as you start to get tired, but you made it! You should be really proud - and - as @martaindale pointed out - you had elevation gain every lap too!

Yeah @chris_in_cal I did a double-take at your new profile pic 😁
Hope your run got you refocused @Laurz9191, and you start feeling better soon.

6.2 miles this evening. Surprisingly fast 10K for a Monday 😏
Didn't expect that after moving dirt for 2 hours yesterday.
But hit negative splits every mile. 2nd fastest 10K ever (missed last month's PR by 3 sec/mi)