Fall Frolicking: November Runs

[katluvr]

I wanted to post that a RAN again today. I am ALMOST running regularly. Then I noted that I needed to start a new thread. I tried to think of a catchy title. I wanted to post something about running AWAY from Turkey and food and weight gain, etc through out the season. But this title is the best I could come up with. If anyone has a better thread title, feel free to start it !

Scheduled day off but I had a meeting to go to but I still got up in time to run. Actually got up early to have coffee and watch AM TV until the sun came up and then went to go for a run. Just 4 miles but I felt pretty good. Still slow, but feeling more comfortable. Have my last long run this weekend coming up (HM in about 2 weeks).

Kay

[Tri Girl]

I like the title- good one!
Good job on the consistent running. Can I get a woot woot?

Can't add anything to this thread yet, have been recovering all week from my race last weekend-although I was hardly sore at all, just tired. Going to run in the morning.

Keep it up, Kay! :)


edit: ran 2 miles on the trail tonight and it was HARD! The body felt surprisingly good considering what I put it through on Saturday, but I was breathing so hard it was like the first time I had ever run. I needed to move again after being slothful all week...errr...recovering all week. ;)
Will try for 8 tomorrow and see how I do. I'm planning on signing up for a marathon next weekend. I have to do 2 within 16 days if I want to become a Marathon Maniac. We'll see how the recovery comes along next week.

[katluvr]

Thanks Trigirl. Maybe I'll post later a "race" I found for my 50th B-day in Dec. 2013 and get opinions. Consider I live in flat Florida, I look for challenging elevation races (why I don't know, they just sound fun in a sick way!). Preparing for my 12 miler tomorrow. Hope I have the legs for it. Been so sluggish lately. Nite all!

K

[skhill]

Great title!

It's been a very low mileage week. Every morning has been wet or windy or cold (or all three!), and I've been having a hard time getting out the door. Today would have been perfect, but I strained something in my back raking leaves yesterday. Next week!

[jessmarimba]

Did about 7 this morning. Oddly, running does not hurt my foot, but walking does. Guess I know I'm definitely not heel-striking anymore! Still disappointed with my current pace. 2 weeks before my marathon, I could run 5 miles at ~8:30 min/mile when I was feeling motivated...now, anything faster than 10, for any distance, feels awful. Hopefully it's temporary.

[indysteel]

Did a morning yoga class followed by a short run. I ran 2 miles and then did another 12 minutes of speed and hill intervals.

[katluvr]

Trail run/race today. I don't have much opportunity to run on trails, wish I did, therefore I often sign up for organized races. Did a 10K today. Now I did run 12 mies on the road yesterday. I am still feeling slow and my endurance and not where it should be. But this was pretty fun. I did not push myself, well maybe here and there. Of course they like to throw in some incline/declines that take a rope to help guide you down or pull you up. I think when I am running "fast" and right now I"m not a 1 hour 6 min 10K is pretty good. So did this in 1 hr and 19 min...I'll take that. I am sure feeling the 18 miles in 2 days. Plus we wen to college football game last night and this today after the race did lots of house work. I need another day off just to rest!

K

[Tri Girl]

Good job on the race, K! :) I'm at least 3-4 min/mi slower on the trails than on the road. I'm far too clumsy to run with any speed when bone breakage is ever-so-close at hand. ;)

I did 6 miles on the trail today. Felt good. Recovery is coming along nicely. Once I get an hour into a run, I really start loosening up and feeling good. It takes that long to get to feeling comfortable, tho.

[skhill]

Trail running/ racing sure sounds fun. Someday I'll have to try it out...

Today was one of those rare days when it all came together. Despite the 28F chill, when I set out, everything felt good. Somehow my stride felt more powerful and fluid than ever before, and I was flying effortlessly down the sidewalk. At every one of my mental checkpoints along the way, I was considerably faster than, well, ever. Slowed down a bit eventually, but ended up with 6 miles, at an 8:20 pace. Oh, and with the time change I got to see a gorgeous sunrise as I was getting home.

[indysteel]

I ran another 3 miles last night on the treadmill. My last few weeks of running have been really fun. As I mentioned in last month's running thread, I decided to drop my speed down a small amount from what I had been doing last year. What a difference that's made. I'm actually enjoying my runs. And while they remain modest in terms of length, I at least feel like I have room to grow. All last year, I felt sort of stuck. Some of that had to do with my cranky hamstring injury, which feels much better this year, but part of it is that I think I was trying to go faster than my body wanted to go. While I do hope to up my speed back up a bit and am doing a bit of speed (for me) work, for right now, I think I've found a good groove.

[indigoiis]

Week 2 of marathon training for a March 3 marathon. Trail runs over the weekend, 25 miles on the bike to work yesterday, 3 miles today. Plan on 5, 3, rest, 5, trail run (8) for W,Th,F,S,S.

[katluvr]

Still trying to keep my running going on a regular basis. Usual 4 mile route today. A bit slow, even though it was cooler. 1 1/2 weeks til my HM.

K

[SadieKate]

Once I get an hour into a run, I really start loosening up and feeling good. It takes that long to get to feeling comfortable, tho.

What is it with the long warm up time? I hate, at least, the first 3 miles. It is seriously had to stay out there sometimes. Both my body and my brain complain LOUDLY.

[skhill]

Just a nice little 4 miles this morning. Somehow, all the traffic lights were turning green as I approached. Very strange.

Planning on doing a 5k Saturday morning. It's a veteran's day event, out at our VA hospital, supposed to be a really special crowd. There's a conundrum I'm facing: the lucky bra I've worn for races over the last 1.5 years or so is really not up to it anymore. Which bra gets promoted to race day??? This is a serious problem...

[OakLeaf]

I'm in double digits again!

Nine miles had been about as far as I wanted to run without water, even in cooler weather. I'd tried a shorter run this week with my water pack, and it bothered my shoulders/sternum/ribcage a little, but not so much that I worried, plus I'd had another acupuncture treatment yesterday which is really making progress with that stuff. It's past time to start building mileage if I'm really going to do a spring marathon, but I was pretty apprehensive, especially since my 10-mile loop is pretty hilly.

It was fine. Plus it's a beautiful day. I spooked two red-tailed hawks, and the way they caught the light with the sun as low as it is this time of year, even at midday, was amazing.

Yay.


I'm signed up for a 5K Turkey Trot. It'll be my first race since the marathon in April. I'm a little nervous about that too, but I've been adding in a teensy bit of speedwork, and I'm pretty sure I'll be okay with a 5K tempo run (and if not, it'll be better to know that sooner than later...). I'll be wearing my lucky lei for sure. SKHill, you're right, it IS a serious problem, but I'll bet there's even better luck in your new lucky bra than there was in your old one! Maybe you can put them next to each other in the drawer overnight so the luck can transfer. This stuff DOES count!

[katluvr]

Posting late....ran 7 miles yesterday. Mid to upper 60's so you would think my pace would pick up...but it's just not there. Heavy feeling legs. After my upcoming HM I plan to cut the miles and work on speed. My next goal is a 5 & 10K combo, really want to PR one of those races. Or at least com close. Then end of Jan. an trail HM...hopefully!

K

[Tri Girl]

Decided to run a marathon this weekend down in Ft. Worth, TX. If I do 2 marathons within 16 days I qualify to become a Marathon Maniac (www.marathonmaniacs.com). And I want to be one. Why? I have no idea, except that it's a group of crazy people as crazy as me. ;)
The furthest I've run since my 50 mile race two weeks ago has been 6 miles. I have no idea how I will do this weekend. I don't know how my legs will fare after 10 miles or more. I know I've been REALLY tired since the race, tho, so I know it will be more of a struggle than any solo marathon I've done before. I figure I have 7 hours until the course closes, so surely I can pull it together in that time frame. But of course, I'm getting some stupid chest cold, so let's just pray it holds off until tomorrow afternoon. ;)

[OakLeaf]

Good luck TriGirl! A good friend of mine is a 10-star Maniac. It seems like a fun group of people for sure! Don't push too hard with the bronchitis though - there will be other marathons.

[Tri Girl]

HOLY CRAP! A 10 star Maniac??? WOW!!!
Um... yeah, I'm looking at one star. Maybe two or three some day. But never more than that! Impressive!

I won't push it too much. I don't want to have to get another round of antibiotics because I just had to be on them 2 weeks ago for strep. I don't know why my body is getting so sick lately (well, I do know- the kids at school have been VERY sick lately but you'd think 15 years of teaching would have given me some kind of immunity...although with my asthma as bad as it is, I tend to catch everything that comes by). ;)

[skhill]

Went with the orange bra for the race, and I think I've found my new lucky bra! Was hoping for a time under 25 minutes, ended up at 25:10. Still, that's my fastest 5k of 2012 and on a hillier course than most of our local 5ks. And it's stupid to get caught up on a measley 10 seconds when you win your age group.:) 10th overall among women, but if you toss out the very young girls who appear to not have hit puberty (they are definitely not women!!!) I was 6th. It was (obviously) a small and somewhat slow field.

Hope most of y'all have as beautiful a fall day as we're enjoying!

[Tri Girl]

And it's stupid to get caught up on a measley 10 seconds when you win your age group.:)

WOOT!!! Congrats!!! :) (and yeah, pre-pubescent girls don't count!)

[katluvr]

Skill, great time! My goal is just to get and stay under 30 mins for a 5K.

Tri Girl.....how was the marathon? I don't' even want to run today. I'm off but don't want to run. I just feel like every day I get up I HAVE to do something (work, meeting, run, stuff!). Hopefully I can myself out the door this evening and go an evening run.

K

[SadieKate]

Congratulations, skhill!

I had a very weird week. I registered for two trail half marathons, ran two days in a row without yellow here to push me into it, and joined the US Snowshoe Assoc for no real rational reason other than Group Stupid. The Nats are here this year and I'm running with a group that is going to carpool to some of the qualifiers so what the heck. As long as I can get hashbrowns after a race, I'm good -- plus I'm not on the couch.

[indigoiis]

Had a good week so far. Ran 8 trail on Sunday, rode 28 Monday, ran 4 yesterday and 5 today. Plan on 3 tomorrow (hill repeats) then rest fri., sat., trail race Sunday.

[skhill]

It's been a bit cold the last few days. Tuesday I got in about 5 miles in 28F weather, today another 5 in 26F. Brr. Wednesday, I couldn't face the cold and so spent the time cuddling the cats and having some extra coffee instead. Had good intentions of running in the late afternoon, but stuff piled up and it didn't happen, as usual...

For once I'm planning on staying in town on Thanksgiving Day, so I might do the turkey 5k that morning. Would have to get all the pie baking done the night before, tho...

[Tri Girl]

The marathon on Sunday was... well, it was kinda brutal. I'm still not even close to being recovered from the 50 miler, and even though I thought I felt good, about 11 miles in I realized I was in over my head. But of course I kept going anyway. :) My race report in pictures is on my blog (www.turtlepacing.blogspot.com).
This was probably my least favorite marathon, and not just because I was hurting. The course itself was nice and flat and probably a good course to PR on, but the organization was quite poor. And I really don't expect a lot for my entry fee (it was $90 BTW), but there was no packet (just my bib) and the aid stations were more sparse than I've ever seen (a bowl of pretzels or some bananas or orange slices was it- but never all three of those at one aid station). No gels, no nutrition, and gatorade only at 3 aid stations. Good thing I come prepared to races with plenty of endurolytes and gels in my hydration pack. ;) It took me 6:20 and I'm OK with that considering how big my pain cave was that day.
Anywho- need to rest up for a bit. Had strep 3 weeks ago and came down with a nasty chest cold on Friday before the marathon on Sunday. I know it's my bodys way of telling me to chill the F out and rest a little.

Oh, and I earned my Marathon Maniac status. MM#6109. Woot! :D

[OakLeaf]

TriGirl I don't know whether to say Ugh or Hooray! :p

Congrats on your Maniac number. Way to go digging so deep. Now rest up and feel better soon!

[Veronica]

Congratulation Tri Girl - now take a little time off. :p

Veronica

[katluvr]

BIG CONGRATS Tri Girl! I read your blog and remain in awe! Good job at just plodding along you Marathon Maniac! Rest up and take care of yourself now!

K

[indysteel]

Congratulation Tri Girl - now take a little time off. :p

Veronica

+1!!!!

[Tri Girl]

Thanks everyone! I'm just as amazed and in awe of you ladies who run fast, or go long distances with ease or run in beautiful mountainous areas. I think we're all pretty darn amazing if you ask me. ;)

[skhill]

Wow, trigirl! My long-term goal is to be in a place where I would feel like I could run a half on the spur of the moment, or on back to back weeks. Hard to imagine the kind of mileage you're doing!

This morning was a nice 7 miles. My mileage has been so low of late that I logged it as a long run. Brought a dollar along so I could stop at the new donut store on my way home. That dollar bill was sweaty and nasty! Enjoyed the donut, then had a burst of speed for that last .75 mile...

[jessmarimba]

Haha that donut stop sounds fantastic!

I did a little over an hour on the trails on Thursday - SO fun. Except for the (half-frozen) rattlesnake. And I was stuck behind a couple lolly-gagging mountain bikers on the uphill section - no energy to sprint past and too slow to pass in the space allowed, so I decided to do hill sprints. Wait for them to get about 30 seconds ahead, run until I caught up, repeat. Worked out pretty well.

Eight on the roads this morning with an older running partner, so slowed to about 11 minute miles. I haven't kept the mileage I should need to do the potential 50k next month, but if I slow down to that speed I think I could probably do it anyway. Still haven't decided.

Tri, I still haven't caught up with your blog, but congrats! I'd never have the willpower for that.

[katluvr]

Completed my half marathon this AM. It was overcast and cool, kept it in the 60's so that was good. I tried to start out slow and keep a comfortable pace, which I did most of it. I did fade on the latter 3rd and took walk breaks. Overall I did "ok" and it was about my "average" time for a HM, 2h 24m. Not a great time but not a bad time for me, I'll take it.

Next focus: weight loss, steady running and some speed work!

K

[Tri Girl]

Completed my half marathon this AM. It was overcast and cool, kept it in the 60's so that was good. I tried to start out slow and keep a comfortable pace, which I did most of it. I did fade on the latter 3rd and took walk breaks. Overall I did "ok" and it was about my "average" time for a HM, 2h 24m. Not a great time but not a bad time for me, I'll take it.

YAY!!!!! :D Congrats on your half!!!! I think your time is great! Sounds like you had great weather for it, too!! Most importantly, tho, is that you were out there doing it while the rest of us were sitting on the couch and watching bad tv (or was that just me). ;)
So proud of you!!! Keep it going, K!

[Tri Girl]

A little 4 mile Turkey run on the trails with friends. This will be my first Thanksgiving as a vegan, and the only thing I'll miss are my in-laws famous noodles (they are not vegan). :)
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! :)15782

[Artista]

^^^This kept me grinning through my run this morning. Happy turkey day to you, too!

[indysteel]

I did 4.6 miles today at the Drumstick Dash with friends. It was a great day for it, and I had a lot of fun! Happy Thanksgiving, all!

[OakLeaf]

I did a 5K Turkey Trot, first race since my body fell apart this summer. I wore my Garmin to record the race but didn't set any alarms, didn't display pace, didn't try to really go at race pace, and only glanced at the elapsed time a couple of times. I wound up running steady splits, below my best half marathon pace, with a nice finishing kick. Wheezed a lot, but had to expect that with the lack of speedwork the last few months.

Good day. I'm grateful. Happy Thanksgiving, all!

[skhill]

Didn't get to do Thursday's turkey trot 5k-- they actually sold out, for the first time. Could have done the mile fun run, but decided it wasn't worth the drive out to the site. I kinda wish I had done it; I'm curious how fast I could race a mile if that's as far as I was going. But instead, I just did a typical 5 miles in the neighborhood.

Today I set out for a burn-off-the-pie run, but the weather was crappy with a cold front moving in, and I felt weighed down by all that pie. I ran all of 2 miles before giving up. But my dog and I did do some doggy intervals chasing squirrels while on her early morning walk...

[katluvr]

Yesterday: 5K Turkey Trot. Weather was cool and I felt good. Never can really race as the it is HUGE and thick crowd. I was amazed how quickly it was over, must be the fact I had just finished my 1/2 marathon less than a week before!
Today: about 3 miles at my parents. Another cool morning. Not very speedy, but I do enjoy the few hills they have in the neighborhood.

K

[GLC1968]

Hey...look at me...posting to the running thread again!!

After my lisfranc joint repair last March, I was finally cleared to run last week. My first chance to get out was yesterday. We went for a long walk with one of our dogs, and I took the opportunity to do some run intervals to test out my foot. 2 miles into the walk, I ran 0.1 miles, walked some and then did another 0.1/walk/0.2/walk/0.2/walk/0.3/walk and then 0.1 to finish out one mile. I was pretty terrified during the first 0.1 that my foot would crumble...but it didn't. The rest of the intervals went well and today, my foot feels fine! All told, we covered 5.5 miles.

Run #2 will be tomorrow. Yay!

[indysteel]

That's great, GLC! I'm excited for you!!

I ran 4 miles this morning and felt great! I'm happy to be past what for me had been a hump at 3 miles. That was typically the point at which either or both of my hamstrings started to complain and I felt oddly fatigued. I have come to realize that if I work past the fatigue, it gets better. As for my hamstrings, I'm using my roller and trigger point ball more religiously and it's helping. I'd really like to run a 10k either late winter or early spring (not that I have identified
one). That seems like a doable goal.

[jobob]

Congrats GLC!!

( ... looks around, realizes she's in the running thread, gasps in terror, makes hasty retreat ... )

[OakLeaf]

Wooohoo GLC! What a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving!


I'm blowing mine off today. :rolleyes: It's snowing, Ohio State vs. Michigan is on, and there won't be enough daylight left after the game's over. Ah well.

[indysteel]

Congrats GLC!!

( ... looks around, realizes she's in the running thread, gasps in terror, makes hasty retreat ... )

You should stick around, Jo!!!

[Crankin]

Yeah, I'm getting that seasonal urge to run, which happens regularly when my cycling starts dropping off and the snow hasn't arrived. I did run a little (intervals interspersed with hill walking) on the TM yesterday. Had sort of intentions to go outside and run today, but that didn't happen and I did a functional fitness DVD with other cardio intervals at home. It's not that cold but very windy (30 mph gusts) and I just feel like hibernating, which is odd for me. My head wants to run, but when I actually do it, it feels incredibly hard. But, maybe if I don't even think about speed, I can handle it.

[Veronica]

It was 47 degrees when we went out to run today at 6 AM. I know that's quite pleasant to many of you. :rolleyes: We were suppose to warm up for half a mile and then do intervals for 2.5 miles. It took me two miles to get warmed up. Everything from my knees down just felt really tight and I couldn't get my breathing to feel good. I wanted to head home after the first half mile, but stuck it out. I'd catch up to Thom while he was walking in between his intervals. I was glad I stayed out as I finally felt good and did the last two intervals with him. I was his rabbit on the last one and he didn't catch me. He gave me a really good head start. :p But I ran it perfectly, building all the way through. It was a good finish.

Veronica

[Tri Girl]

Hey...look at me...posting to the running thread again!!

Run #2 will be tomorrow. Yay!

Yay GLC! That's awesome!!! Welcome back to the running thread!! :)

[Tri Girl]

Today I ran 7 miles at the Ho Ho Half Marathon I put on with about 40 runner friends. It was just a silly little run that I organized and put together on Tuesday to honor the demise of Hostess. The "entry fee" was one box of Hostess goodies (and since nobody could find any- everyone just brought Little Debbies) and everyone brought their own water/gatorade and we all just ran. Everyone made their own bibs using old racing bibs, some people made shirts and we just had fun running- like it should be. Some ran on the one mile paved loop, some ran on the 2 mile trail loop, and some did both. Some people ran a 5K, others a 10K, but most everyone ran the half. It was silly and fun- and a great way to get out and spend some time with old friends and meet new ones.

We decided we are going to put on another one next month the Sunday before Christmas. Free events with friends are always a blast. I'm getting REALLY tired of paying $70+ for a half marathon and $90+ to run a marathon. Sometimes I don't mind when I need an official finish or if I'm in another city and it's a destination race, but this paying exhorbitant fees just to run is getting out of hand. And most of my friends agree. So it will be more frequent free events where we potluck the nutrition/water and have a little no-pressure racing atmosphere. :) 157961579715798

[GLC1968]

Tri Girl - that sounds like a lot of fun! What a great idea! (mmmm, ho ho's!)

I did not do run #2. We spent the day loading and unloading 1700 lbs of new flooring and then ripping out and disposing of the old carpets, pads and laminate in our old house. I was exhausted. The following day, I painted the living room, hall and half a bathroom. I had barely enough energy left to bowl in my league...so again, no run. I hope to get out again tomorrow at lunch!

[skhill]

Tri Girl, what an awesome idea! Mentioned it to a few friends and we're thinking of copying it. It's so convenient that there are spray painted markings on one of our most commonly used 5k routes, and we've all run it so many times we know it well...

The technical term for this morning's weather is "icky" I think. Drizzle, barely too warm for snow. So it was my first treadmill run in months. 4 miles in 33 minutes, and I don't trust the data from the treadmill because it didn't feel anywhere near that fast.

[indysteel]

Had two good runs yesterday and today. I've been careful lately to shorten and quicken my stride and it's really helping me to actually enjoy my runs. I picked up a Garmin Forerunner 410 on sale at Amazon. It's way more watch than I arguably need but I could pass up the price. It just came today, but it's going to take me some time to figure it out. Thank goodness my husband likes gadgets!

[Tri Girl]

Tri Girl, what an awesome idea! Mentioned it to a few friends and we're thinking of copying it. It's so convenient that there are spray painted markings on one of our most commonly used 5k routes, and we've all run it so many times we know it well.

Go for it! The idea wasn't totally original. I wanted to run a half marathon but there wasn't a race in November close enough, so I just created one. I was going to call it the Swiss Cake Roll Half (those are my faves)and my tagline was going to be "Will run for the Rolls" but then when Hostess went out of business and I decided to do it in honor of them. I Googled Hostess half and it turns out some guy started a Hostess Half Marathon a few years ago. Fun runs are the best!

[SadieKate]

Free events with friends are always a blast. Last year, a local woman started a snowshoe running group on Facebook but this year she started organizing trail runs earlier, before the snow flew, and I've joined in. She just posts the location each week and then we show up to carpool. Sometimes only a few people show but a couple weeks ago sixteen people showed up for a run 42 miles out of town and in the cold, drizzly rain. I have to give her kudos for bringing together total strangers just through word of mouth.

[skhill]

Finally back outside for this morning! We're having a warm(ish) spell, it was around 40F at dawn, and there were lots of other runners out there. Did about 7.5 miles at an 8:35 pace (absolutely flying), and I'm writing to my councilman about the defective pedestrian signal. It hasn't turned green since they replace the equipment a couple months ago...