NOVEMBER 2024 Monthly Running Challenge

Not running related, but….

Yesterday our loving dog Drake passed away and crossed the rainbow bridge. 🌈 I am so very very very sad today. He was an amazing gentle, kind, sweet, loving border collie mix rescue that we had for 17+ years. He lived to 17 1/2, (101.5 in human years) ♥️

Target 50 miles/80.45k

3 Nov: 2.65mi/4.26k
6 Nov: 2.17mi/3.49k
8 Nov: 2.99mi/4.91k

Two drill workouts - cadence, and a new speed drill. I made a terrible hash of it - I was either going too fast or too slow, but Garmin still awarded me a ‘Good Job’ though. I would like to blame the trees for interfering with GPS (probably less crucial when it’s just a single normal pace run), so on the next speed session I will pick a route that’s out in the open so I can see if that’s the case (or if I am just rubbish!).

I made plans with my family for Sunday which will interfere with doing my much-awaited ‘long run’ (in the morning, fasted, which is my preference), so I am shifting that to Monday rather than try to run my 5-ish miles late in the evening after a busy day and a roast dinner…

Sorry to hear about your loss, @daria0919 - you can clearly see the love in Drake’s eyes in that photo.

I’m one of the resident Brits, living in Norfolk (100 miles north of London): my hubby saw a map of the UK at night, and always fancied living in the darkest space in the west of Norfolk (see spoiler, circled), so that’s where we ended up! My work (building new affordable homes) takes me to many of those very lit-up, bright areas though.

So sorry to hear your news @daria0919, losing a beloved pet is always difficult, even if they have lived to a ripe old age.

I did Parkrun this morning in my slowest time ever. Is it possible to get a PW (personal worst)? This is what happens when you don’t run properly for six or more weeks but at least I’m back running so I’m happy about that. It’s a beautiful day for it too.

Sorry for your loss @daria0919 It never gets easier. 😢

@kgirlhart PERFECT weather today. I predict a fantastic race!

@AlphaHowls just want you to know I think of you and the difficult situation you are handling often. 🥹 Hang in there gyrll.

No run for me yesterday. I woke up mid 3 am with a headache so went back to bed again after some meds and STILL woke up around 7:30 with the same headache. So opted not to run and have an easy day which did include a couple walks. I actually met my walking mileage for last year (540 total no goal) so now I guess it is time to try to get the runs in. In crazy news usually when I take a staycation from work I actually get on the computer and keep up. Yesterday for the first time in years I have completely stayed away. I am taking Monday off as well. Not sure if I will be able to keep myself away until Tuesday and have 2000 emails to catch up on but I think it is doing wonders for my headache which is gone. Maybe HR is right and we should take all that vacation... LOL.

@SummerSkier I'm glad that your headache is gone and you are feeling better today. I agree that your HR was right and you need the vacation, but not force everyone to do it in 2 months. LOL That just gives you managers more headaches..and more reasons to make sure you take your days.

Great run @tarun_yadavA . Your "meal" sounds an awfully lot like brunch to me. Have fun tonight.

Good luck today @kgirlhart !

@ContraryMaryMary your garden sounds great, although it's a shame it hurts your back.

@quilteryoyo my daughter has been ice skating for years, she has lessons in ice dance but doesn't compete in it, she is also doing synchro skating and goes to competition with her team, she lives it. We are at the rink 3 times/week so there's a nice little group of mums there alway happy to join for a walk around the top of the rink or a run outside

@tarun_yadavA I am actually French but have been in the UK for years about 15 years now, my husband is British. We used to live in London (Uxbridge) before my daughter turned 1, then we moved to South Wales as it was a bit more affordable and easier with a young family

@kgirlhart good luck, hope your race goes well

@daria0919 Sorry for your loss, he looks like he was a lovely companion

@AmunahSki I think I might be in a yellow/light blue area looking at your map, although we can see quite a bit of stars from the garden at night

Goal : 80km for November

2nd Nov 🏃‍♀️ 5.06 km in 35:36 min (pace 7:02/km) Saturday parkrun
3rd Nov 🏃‍♀️ 5.02 km 36:05 min (pace 7:11/km) usual Sunday mums run + 🚶‍♀️ 2.5 km walk around the ice rink
5th Nov 🚶‍♀️3.14 km walk around the ice rink
7th Nov 🚶‍♀️ 3.6 km walk around the top of the rink when my daughter was training
10.08 km done, 69.92 to go

Hello Team. I hope everyone is having a great Saturday thus far. I started mine with 13.1 miles 😉

Nov total: 27.3 miles
YTD: 880/1200 miles

11/2: 8.4 miles
11/3: 4.3 miles
11/4: 4.2 miles
11/5: 3.4 miles
11/6: 2.4 miles
11/9: 6.4 miles

Weather was pretty nice this morning, and a welcome change. I waited around and got out later than usual. Partway through the run I could tell my blood sugar was getting a little low. The run got harder than it should have been. I got home and showered and by the time I started making breakfast it was almost 11:00. I started getting lightheaded while I was cooking so I drank some juice and my husband finished the food. When this happens it throws me off all day; I'm basically a bottomless pit for the rest of the day and I don't feel quite right.

I happened upon a race in my neighborhood while I was out today. It was wrapping up as I came through but there were still a few finishers and the announcer was calling out names. One of these years I'll have to participate. Some years I notice signs advertising it but this year I don't remember seeing anything about it at all.

November Goal: 100 miles

11/1: 8.20 miles
11/3: 5.02 miles
11/5: 4.02 miles
11/7: 4.26 miles
11/9: 13.20 miles

34.71/100 miles completed for November

Thanks @scott6255, @quilteryoyo, @summerskier, @tarun_yadavA, @daria0919, @emilienewme, @martaindale an @Teresa502!

Congratulations on your Half @steviebee888! I love the medal!

Here is my race report:
It was a beautiful day for the race. It was 45°F at the start and 57°F at the end. There was no wind and the sun was shining. It could not have been nicer. The race was in a town about 45 minutes away, which was nice because the race started at 8 and packet pick up was at 7, so I didn't have to get up any earlier than I usually do. We got there about 7:10 and I picked up my packet. We were able to park just a few feet away from the start/finish line. I used the restroom and ran around the block a few times to warm up. They had us move behind the start mat and blew the horn. I started my watch a little bit before I ran over the mat, so my Garmin has 13.2, but the course was USTAF certified.

We started out and ran from downtown through a residential area and out of town. They said the course had crazy hills, and it did. This was the most challenging course I have ever run. It was nice, and it was fun, but it was
hard. I started out pretty fast and ran up all of the hills without any walking, but I was definitely slower going up. The route was an out and back. There were lots of hills, but there were two that were really brutal. I felt good and strong for most of the race, but my calves started cramping around mile 9 and I started to slow down some. I was still running faster than my usual pace snd I think my interval runs helped me to put on some bursts of speed. In mile 11 I was passed by a lady that had been running around my pace all through the race and we had passed each other a couple of times. I put on a burst of speed, but then I knew I couldn't catch her. I was hoping for a PR, but I knew that the hills might be an issue. And they were, so I didn't get a PR, but I finished in 2:08:44. My PR is 2:07:58. I did finish 2nd in my age group. The lady who passed me beat me by 26 seconds. I was 13 of 38 women and 19 of 60 overall. So I felt really good about it. And it is my 2nd fastest HM time so I definitely felt like the race was a success.

I am having trouble uploading my photos, so I will try in a separate post.