APRIL 2024 Monthly Running Challenge

tarun_yadavA · April 17

Morning all
Got in 5 (at 09"23).
So far so good with new shoes 🤞🏽🙏🏽
@shanaber I do wear orthotic insoles. It's more of a flat feet arch issue. According to chiropodist - unrelated to gel foam padding in running shoes

^to push up arch.

@7lenny7 amazing! What an achievement! Shame the food wasn't on point. Yeah - cold BbQ. Bleurgh.

SpeAking of...
@Laurz9191 what was your pig out meal post marathon?

Speaking of marathons...
If I get a selfie of @TheMrWobbly as he runs past -does that count as a meet-up? And do I draw level with @quilteryoyo with 2 face-to-face meetups? Lol

Speaking of meet ups...
Welcome back @eleanorhawkins . Hope the funeral goes well (as well as these things can go!). Shame it's such a short trip and we couldn't get dates to align!

Finally...
@ContraryMaryMary great excuse for steaks, Big macs and pints of Guinness lol

Teresa502 · April 17

April 1 – 3.31
April 2 – 5.10
April 4 – 6.15
April 9 – 5.09
April 11 – 5.01
April 15 – 3.15 miles
April 16 – 4.03 miles
April 17 – 5.15 miles
36.99/90 Mile Goal

Not much to say about today’s run except it is done! Weather was 65F and very humid. It sprinkled rain on me on the drive into town but it stayed dry for the run.

Glad you received good news at your checkup @emptydog!

Glad you got some blood work done @ContraryMaryMary and figured out the cause of your tiredness. When I was anemic one time, the doctor advised me to take a pre-natal multi-vitamin because they typically have more iron than regular vitamins. You may want to consider those after you take all your supplements.

Thanks for the race report @7lenny7! You did amazing!!! You brother sounds like a perfect crew. Too bad the food was a disappointment. It sounded good in theory. You did a great job sticking to your plan for managing the race. Very crappy that they took down the finish line chute and all the finish line excitement had diminished but you did it!!! Congratulations!

Yes, that definitely counts as a meet up @Tarun_yadavA!

7lenny7 · April 17

ContraryMaryMary wrote: »

I can’t believe they were packing up the finishing Shute - that is so rude. If anything, more needs to be done for those finishing nearer the cutoff - you’ve been working longer and harder than the speedsters.

Especially considering there were still SIX runners behind me. That's 25% of the finishers yet to cross. I understand they had a long weekend too and want to get home, but they have to understand that we in the back paid just as much as those in the front, and we were out there longer.

I finally got through the thread last night after posting.
@quilteryoyo and @tarun_yadavA how awesome that you two got to meet IRL! And @tarun_yadavA sounds like you had a great time on our side of the pond.
@quilteryoyo that must be tough playing doubles tennis with a partner you've never met.

@AlphaHowls I hope your mom's arm is healing well. Yikes!

@ContraryMaryMary great finish line photo!

@yirara while I won't say I prefer running in the dark, I do absolutely love running in the dark, especially when it's raining or snowing. I'd say running in the dark is on par with running in daylight for me.

@Teresa502 how much of the AT have you hiked? Is a thru-hike in your future? Beautiful photos

@TheMrWobbly congrats on your HM finish! 24,000 people?!?!? Wow! That be pretty fun to run a race in London, though I'd probably get lost just getting to it.

@emptydog great job on the 5k!

@kgirlhart sorry about your windshield. Hopefully insurance will take care of it.

@eleanorhawkins so sorry to hear about your grandmother and good luck with the new job. Where are you starting your Camino? The first year of retirement I plan on walking the Camino Frances from SJPdP.

@Laurz9191 congrats on your marathon! I enjoyed your RR. Refueling with salami sticks...that's a new one, LOL

@daria0919 congrats on 400!

7lenny7 · April 17

Recovery has gone really well. Initially the main issues were my sore back and sore feet. My back resolved in a couple of days and my feet, for the most part, took 3 days though there still was some swelling in my left foot which lasted a week. I think I'm ready to go run again at this point.

Some numbers from my race (based on Garmin, not the official clock)

Total Time: 30:56:39
Run Time: 5:43:08
Walk Time: 22:31:33
Idle Time: 2:42:02

Average Overall Pace: 18:34
Average Moving Pace: 16:38

Total Ascent: 7920 feet
Calories burned: 14,130
Est. Sweat loss: 17 liters
Average HR: 117
Estimated steps: 180,000

Last year I create two segments on Strava of the two 5 mile loops in the race. The first image is the second loop from this year and shows how my pace slowed down throughout the race. The other loop shows a similar trend so I'm only posting this one. Loop 6 this year is when it started getting dark.

The second image shows the segment time from last year for the 7 loops I finished. Even though I took it easier this year based on effort, it's nice to see I was still faster.

7lenny7 · April 17

Some of you may recall my hallucinations last year (none this year) and one included thinking that a rabid skunk was coming out of a tree to attack me.

I found that tree this year and now feel like it wasn't such a stretch to think that in the early hours, nearly 70 miles in. Here are photos of the tree, both in daylight and in the dark. You can even see the sap oozing out. In the moment last year I thought the glistening sap was an eye.

Scott6255 · April 17

Oh wow @7lenny7 what a race report!! I still don't know how you managed to do 100 miles in 31 hours. It's just mindboggling. And who knew there was a character limit on this site?

And 100% agree that tree looks like a skunk, even without sleep deprivation!!

yirara · April 17

01.04 1.0km 7min 7:28/km - something
02.04 1.1km 8min 7:26/km - benchmark run
03.04 3.1km 25min 8:12/km - 10 stride repeats
04.04 3.0km 25min 8:08/km
07.04 3.7km 30min 8:04/km - easy
08.04 3.1km 25min 8:01/km - 8 stride repeats
10.04 4.3km 35min 8:04/km - easy
11.04 3.0km 24min 7:54/km - fast
12.04 1.2km 9min 7:32/km - benchmark run
13.04 4.1km 35min 8:36/km - easy
16.04 3.0km 23min 7:40/km - fast
17.04 5.0km 41min 8:06/km - easy, then faster

35.55km/67km - 2.4km behind target

Yay, running is working again! Still not totally good, but so much better than last week. Changed the goal for this month. Not sure I'll manage as I'm going on vacation from Friday and I'll spend a lot of time either on my feet or in various transports with late evening return. But just in case: my hotel is close to the corniche, which will give me some nice running opportunity.

quilteryoyo · April 17

You are doing great @shanaber ! So glad you were able to do all of agility class with Hobbes.

@kgirlhart Sounds like it is getting hot quickly. Maybe it will cool down a little again before summer hits in full. You are doing great.

Thanks for the detailed race report @7lenny7 . About all I can think to say is WOW! You are amazing. You sure don't look like you just finished 100 miles! I am amazed they had packed up most of the stuff at the end too. Was anyone/anything left for those who finished after you? Do you know how far the 71 yo went before stopping? Amazing stats. It is amazing, and a lesson for all, how taking it easier for the entire race made you faster overall. I can see how your mind would make a rabid skunk out of that tree. Interesting.

Nice running @tarun_yadavA . I say it only counts with @TheMrWobbly if he stops for the selfie and you at least speak to each other. Otherwise, I'm still in the lead.

Nice running @yirara . Enjoy your vacation and I hope you can manage a couple of runs anyway.

7lenny7 · April 17

quilteryoyo wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed race report @7lenny7 . About all I can think to say is WOW! You are amazing. You sure don't look like you just finished 100 miles! I am amazed they had packed up most of the stuff at the end too. Was anyone/anything left for those who finished after you? Do you know how far the 71 yo went before stopping? Amazing stats. It is amazing, and a lesson for all, how taking it easier for the entire race made you faster overall. I can see how your mind would make a rabid skunk out of that tree. Interesting.

@quilteryoyo I imagine that the five or six folks (RD and volunteers) who were there when I finished were there until everyone finished. I stayed at the finish for the next runner who came in and cheered loudly but after that I had to sit down and drink my beer.

The 71 year old went 60 miles. I found his Facebook page. He's been running since at least 1982. As recently as last year he did the Pikes Peak Ascent, a 13.3 mile race with 7800 feet of verticle!

Laurz9191 · April 17

@7lenny7 Wow! That sounds like an amazing race! What an accomplishment! I’m glad you made it safe and sound and had an “enjoyable “ race. I can’t believe they had taken down all the finish line stuff before the cutoff. Yes, it’s a long race, but that is a given in a 100mile race. They should at least wait until the cutoff to start packing up.

@tarun_yadavA No “one” post marathon pig out for me, but I did eat the 2 salami sticks I took 😂. My stomach always needs a good day to recover from longer races/runs. It’s more of a gradual increase in grazing. Sort to disappoint.

My legs were pretty sore on Monday. On Tuesday I had a painful but helpful sports message and today I let myself get in a little biking.

I am starting to really want to go on a run already, and so far I have signed up for 2 races (one is the Hanover marathon next year) and bought a new pair of running shoes. So yeah, not running is an expensive hobby for me

.

I will take it easy this week and have to take it easy next week too to be recovered enough for the 100km bike ride. I was already back of the pack last year, so fingers crossed I can recover enough to not have to go even slower. I think this might have to do a bit with gender though. Only 300 women have signed up vs. 2200 men for the race! I don’t get it. Why are so few women here interested in longer distance athletic competitions like I am? I really don’t have an answer to this question, but it has been on my mind since I first saw the numbers.

So I’m not going to reach my April running mileage. Good recovery is more important though.

@chris_in_cal asked about running the race again, which I’ve already paid to do! So yes, I loved it! I’m not a big fan of the cheap looking wooden medals though (see spoiler). They look like something my kids might make during art lessons in school

.

Thanks everyone for all your words of encouragement. They really mean a lot!

If @tarun_yadavA manages to personally cheer on @TheMrWobbly this weekend, I agree that counts as meeting IRL. @TheMrWobbly I hope your taper is going well! You’re almost there!

Laurz9191 · April 17

@tarun_yadavA I just read @quilteryoyo ’s post. I agree a selfie could be helpful and “proof” of your “meeting” IRL, so maybe run with him a few meters to get a selfie in. What mile did you say you are at? Somewhere in the first half if I remember correctly?

TheMrWobbly · April 17

tarun_yadavA wrote: »

@TheMrWobbly how are we feeling??
Do you have a bib number yet for Sunday?

Picked up my race pack today.

There are not many Walkingtons in the world. Three of us are in this marathon! There is a Walkington society so I have reached out to my Dad to see if he can contact them. The chances of being able to meet in amongst 50,000 people are pretty slim though.

Fantastic run @7Lenny7 and totally love the idea of dunking in the pond at the end!

kgirlhart · April 17

April Goal: 130 Miles

4/1: 3.34 miles
4/2: 6.26 miles
4/3: 6.02 miles
4/4: 6.02 miles
4/7: 13.13 miles
4/8: 3.30 miles
4/9: 6.05 miles
4/11: 6.32 miles
4/12: 6.52 miles
4/14: 10.26 miles
4/15: 3.16 miles
4/16: 5.66 miles
4/17: 6.02 miles

82.06/130 miles completed for April

It was a little cooler this morning at 68°F. but it was so humid it didn't really seem cooler. I ran 6 miles. I was a little faster than yesterday. Yesterday I ran 5.6 miles, and I thought about running 5.6 every day this week in honor of my 56th birthday tomorrow. But then I figured, I'm old. I can do whatever I want. So I didn't cut my run short today. Who knows what I'll do tomorrow. LOL

@7lenny7 I loved reading your race report! What a wonderful accomplishment. I too am surprised they were already shutting things down when there were still runners out, and still plenty of time before the deadline. I can see maybe if you squeaked in with 5 minutes to spare, but even then I think they should keep everything up until time runs out or the last runner crosses. You look fantastic in your photos! Hard to believe you just ran 100 miles!

daria0919 · April 17

@7lenny7 thanks for sharing your amazing experience!! You should be on cloud nine…
And I agree with @kgirlhart, you look great in your post run photos - hard to believe you were at it for nearly 31 hours and still looked that good. Congrats again!

7lenny7 · April 17

Here are videos for the start and finish to my race.

In this one, I'm in a yellow shirt waving to the camera as I went by. Directly in front of me you can see a short older gentleman with a blue jacket and red hydration vest. That's Shelton the 71 year old.

https://youtu.be/4I402wgqzG8

And here's my finish. You can see the beach in the background where I went for a cooling dunk in the pond. When I say, "That might have cost me" it's because I still had my phone in my belt but nothing happened to it.

https://youtu.be/Aeedy4Nc9P0

7lenny7 · April 17

And here are the photos with descriptions under the spoiler

Various photos from the course

Me coming in at the 50 mile mark

This was early morning the second day. I didn't pull my sticks out until the 80 mile mark so this must be at the 85 mile mark

Me at 90 miles. I'm not looking so great in this one.

I have sticks but the jacket is off, and I'm coming out of the first 5 mile loop so this must be at mile 95

Me and my brother at the finish

Enjoying the victory beer! The guy sitting next to me is my nephew. It took both of them to pull me out of that chair when it was time to go.

And the hardware

ContraryMaryMary · April 17

The others are right, you look fantastic- hard to believe you’ve done 100 miles. I look a wreck after 5k!

7lenny7 · April 18

First post run race tonight. Went out for 5, ended up with 6.5. All felt great. I could feel a bit of something on the bottoms of my feet but nothing I'd characterize as pain. It felt great to be back at it.

chris_in_cal · April 18

Laurz9191 wrote: »

Why are so few women here interested in longer distance athletic competitions like I am? I really don’t have an answer to this question, but it has been on my mind since I first saw the numbers.

Interesting question. An element might be cultural. Someone back me up here, but I think in the US over the last decade many of the larger runs are majority women.

That doesn't necessarily address your point. In Ultras, Century rides, longer events, perhaps they are still out of wack in gender-balance here too.

tarun_yadavA · April 18

Morning all
Got in 6.24 (at 09"16).

@TheMrWobbly nice one!
Shall download the app and add your bib number. (I'm between miles 10 and 11)
Got I think, 3 on my Strava running it... And a few other people I know doing it for charity.
Oh, and you will be running it with Dr Who, Romesh and the delectable Sports presenter Natalie pinkham
https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/24252326.celebrities-running-london-marathon-2024/

What have you got planned for post run pig out meal?
(Seeing as @Laurz9191 was a massive disappointment LOL 😂 )

APRIL 2024 Monthly Running Challenge

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