Anyone up for a run?

[Dason]

So I don't know how many runners we have in our nice little community here but I've been trying to exercise on a regular basis. I thought I'd start a thread and give a small little challenge. On another forum I frequent they have a "Run 10,000 miles" thread but I think that would take forever with the size of our forum. So to get us started (and to gauge the interest level in something like this) I propose a starting challenge of "Run 100 miles" (I know it's a silly measure of distance but it's what I'm used to). We'll see how long that takes us to do and then gauge what a reasonable goal would be.

So without further ado I'll start us off. Now I'm actually just about to go on my run so I'll put down what I plan on doing and then if I need to I'll edit it later. Format should follow
Previous Total + Your Run = Current Total

0 + 2.5 = 2.5 miles (4.02336 km)


Edit (by TheEcologist): I hope you don't mind, Dason, I added SI units to your post. Motivation: it's the standard in science [SI units] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_System_of_Units) and for most of us on the forum. Finally - best argument yet - kilometers look so much more impressive (for the rest of us "Run 100 miles" would mean run 160.9344 km) .. indeed they look about 60% more impressive :P

[TheEcologist]

So I don't know how many runners we have in our nice little community here but I've been trying to exercise on a regular basis. I thought I'd start a thread and give a small little challenge. On another forum I frequent they have a "Run 10,000 miles" thread but I think that would take forever with the size of our forum. So to get us started (and to gauge the interest level in something like this) I propose a starting challenge of "Run 100 miles" (I know it's a silly measure of distance but it's what I'm used to). We'll see how long that takes us to do and then gauge what a reasonable goal would be.

Challenge accepted.



So without further ado I'll start us off. Now I'm actually just about to go on my run so I'll put down what I plan on doing and then if I need to I'll edit it later. Format should follow
Previous Total + Your Run = Current Total

Oke so I'm a boxer, and run at least once a week next to training. I'll jump in now as well. Same format
My Previous Total + Your Run = Current Total only blue indicates SI km for those that don't live the US of A

0 + 5.12 km(0 + 3.1814205 miles)


I measure my distance with the gps in my smartphone and the free app runkeeper.


Dason's edit to update: 4.02 + 5.12 = 9.14km (5.7 miles)

Personal Total: 5.12 km

[Dason]

I ran another 2.5 miles (4.02 km) (it's been a while).

I'd like to keep the format going so I'll edit it later but I'm not sure exactly how you formatted yours TheEcologist. Did you run 5.12 km? If that's the case I would have expected to see 4.02 + 5.12 = 9.14 km.

I was planning on keeping track of my personal total as well but the idea being that the goal is a goal for the entire community. If you want to make it a race (first to 160km then that might even be more motivation but might discourage others from joining up later...)

5.7 + 2.5 = 8.2 miles (13.19 km)

Personal Total: 5 miles

[trinker]

Just saw the post. I'm up for the challenge. In honor of the challenge I wrote a piece of [R] code to assist us in the task so we have no excuse for not getting our exercise. I don't know how many times I've used the excuse "I couldn't exercise because computing the metric conversions was too exhausting." Am I alone here? I think not. So Dason this is for you:

For those who use standard units:


DASONs.challenge<-function(previous.miles,new.miles){
total<-previous.miles+new.miles
km<-total*1.609
cat("\nPrevious Total:",previous.miles,"miles. Run Length:",new.miles,"miles. Current Total:",total,"miles(",km,"km).\n\n\n")
cat(previous.miles,"+",new.miles,"=",total,"miles(",km,"km)\n")
}

And for our metric friends:


DASONs.challenge<-function(previous.km,new.km){
total<-previous.km+new.km
km<-total
total<-total/1.609
previous.miles<-previous.km/1.609
new.miles<-new.km/1.609
cat("\nPrevious Total:",previous.miles,"miles. Run Length:",new.miles,"miles. Current Total:",total,"miles(",km,"km).\n\n\n")
cat(previous.miles,"+",new.miles,"=",total,"miles(",km,"km)\n")
}

[interestednew]

1) can we keep this in miles
2) whats the current total

Ill add 2 miles from today

8.2 + 2 = 10.2 miles (16.41 km)

PT: 2 miles

[Dason]

I'll try to keep a running tally in both miles and kilometers. If you don't feel like converting to kilometers for that running total I'll come along and edit your post to have the kilometers as well.

I wish I could tell you the running total but I'm not sure about TheEcologist's post so once he clears that up we'll get everything updated.

[bryangoodrich]

I'm American. I don't do kilos!

December 2012 will be a decade since my last marathon. I plan to run the California International Marathon then. I'm rehabilitating a messed up (arthritic?) knee, though. I ran 1.6 miles yesterday, and a bit over one mile two days before that. So, I'll accept this challenge and put me down for 2.75! I'm moving this weekend, so I won't have an update for a couple of days, probably. Not because I won't have internet, but because moving is a workout in itself!

10.2 + 2.75 = 12.95 miles (20.84 km)

PT: 2.75 miles

[Dason]

Awesome! Looks like we have a few people interested now. Don't worry about not updating over the weekend but hopefully we can keep each other motivated.

[trinker]

Oh I get it... I think what theEcologist, and definitely I, didn't understand is this is a whole group challenge, not an individual effotrt. I'm game!

[Dason]

What would everybody prefer? A "first to 100 miles" challenge where the winner gets all the glory or a community effort to get there? 100 miles isn't really that far (the other place I did this it was a challenge to 10,000 miles) but I didn't know how many people would be interested.

[interestednew]

My vote is a community effort because in some sense this forum is a community effort to learn statistics. Keeping in that spirit I think we should set a community goal of 2500 miles. Anyone second it? Depending on how many people join in I figure it will take us between 1 and 2 years.

[Dason]

I think it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep the goal where it is right now. The reason I set it that low was that for a small amount of people it shouldn't take long at all to reach but it'll give us a trial period where we can see how many people are actually participating. So at the end of this challenge we'll actually have some data to use to create a more reasonable challenge. We wouldn't want to set an actual challenge too low so that it gets completed in a month but we don't want to set it so high that it would take 10 years to complete. 100 miles is easy enough for a very small group of people to get done with quite quickly but it still wouldn't take 1-2 people too long to finish either so I figured it would be a good way to gauge interest.


Edit: I updated the previous posts that added runs - let me know if I messed something up.

Post Edit: I wouldn't mind having personal challenges as well. We could probably do it within the same thread. My thought is that we would keep the overall challenge a community one but possibly have weekly/monthly personal challenges to see who can collect the most distance in the allotted time. That way new comers are still contributing to the community goal and if they're here when we start a new personal challenge they still have a chance to win it.

[interestednew]

Sounds good. Start with a hundred and see where it goes. One team one dream....100 miles. I'll take the under on September 18th we will be done.

[trinker]

I like the community effort too.

[Dason]

Looks like while I was making those edits a few posts happened. So check the edits at my previous post if you happened to miss them.

I also added personal totals to each post as well so that along with the community effort you can keep track of how much you've added. Don't feel like you have to keep track of your personal total if you don't want to.

[bryangoodrich]

Awesome. When I get back in shape I should be aiming for some 20 to 30 miles a week :D Glad you'll be keeping track of the totals! I wonder if there's some kind of counter we can plaster on the front page or something. Not only would it get recognition, it might motivate more involvement.

[interestednew]

Good idea bryangoodrich

[Dason]

12.95 + 3.65 = 16.6 miles (26.7094 km)

PT: 8.65

[NN_STAT]

16.6 + 2.5 = 19.1 miles (30.74 km)

I corrected your post - the current total was 16.6 and I added kilometers - Dason

[interestednew]

19.1 + 5.8 = 24.9 miles (40.07 km)

[quark]

How's this banner? :) I can put it on the top right corner.

http://i52.tinypic.com/5dwle1.png

[interestednew]

I like it.....and could you link it to this thread?

[Dason]

24.9 + 2 = 26.9 miles (43.29 km)

PT: 10.65

[bryangoodrich]

24.9 + 2 = 26.9 miles (43.29 km)

PT: 10.65

Dude, you're showing everyone up. You need to calm yourself down! :P I'm exhausted from moving, but now I'm so itching to run 2 miles tonight or tomorrow (still have lots of house stuff to do :( )

[Dason]

Ha. No. Check out interestednew's last run... showed me up pretty hard right there. I've just been trying to run a little bit more often so my shorter runs add up if I do a bunch of them.

[bryangoodrich]

Maybe I missed it, but do I just post my contribution and you fix everything? lol

I ran ... a whole mile (actually a little more, but I'm only recording the one. I sprinted across two parking lots and across the street before I worked out, which didn't help my first time back to the gym since my move! I used a spin bike for the rest of my sweat). More tomorrow!

[Dason]

You can post your contribution and everything. I just prefer that we keep the same format so if it isn't I fix i up. But if you post it that way to begin with then that would be great.

[bryangoodrich]

26.9 + 1 = 27.9 miles (44.90 km)

PT: 3.75

[bryangoodrich]

27.9 + 2.25 = 30.15 miles (48.52 km)

PT: 6 miles

[interestednew]

30.15 + 5.8 = 35.95 miles

[bryangoodrich]

35.95 + 2.0 = 37.95 (60.07 km)

PT: 8 miles

[bryangoodrich]

37.95 + 2.05 (yeah, I did it!) = 40 miles (64.37 km)

PT: 10 miles (= 25% of total)

[Dason]

Looks like I gotta go on another run.

... maybe not today though...

I'm not sure if I'll have the energy.

[bryangoodrich]

I think each week we should post a list of the total and each member's proportion of the total. At least I find it to be good motivation. I want to have the largest share! haha

[bryangoodrich]

Looks like I gotta go on another run.

No excuses! I was hurting today, and ran yesterday. Still, I know tomorrow I'll have too much alcohol in me to workout lol So I got my miles in today! Half-way through the run I was thinking "I feel a lot worse right now than I did this time into the run yesterday ... ugh!" haha

40.00 + 2.00 = 42 miles (67.59 km)

PT: 12 miles (= 29% of total)

[Outlier]

My left foot can't stand impacts, even from rope skipping. It might be a bone spur.
But then, I'm old! :(

[Dason]

42 + 7.3 = 49.3 (79.34 km)

PT: 10.6 + 7.3 = 17.9 miles

[bryangoodrich]

Going for gold, are you now?? lol

[bryangoodrich]

Ugh ... running in this heat is killing me. I started doing outside training, and today I ran to and from the gym (1.5 miles). I couldn't swallow by the time I got home lol

49.3 + 1.5 (Mon) + 1.5 (Tues) = 52.3 miles (84.17 km)

PT: 12 + 3 = 15 miles (28.7%)

[trinker]

Forgot to put this up yesterday:

52.3 miles +1.5 = 53.8 (86.58 km)
PT: 0+1.5 = 1.5 miles

[bryangoodrich]

Welcome aboard trinker. You got some catching up to do ;) haha

[interestednew]

53.8 + 11.6 = 65.4

[bryangoodrich]

It just occurred to me that we should have a discussion: what technology is out there to improve our training? I remember someone saying they used an iphone app to track their mileage. Does anyone have any recommendation on good secure android apps? I'd love to put my phone to use on this, and I have a track nearby to test it out on.

[trinker]

I almost feel embarassed to post a mile after interestednew just put out nearly 12 miles.

Thanks bryangoodrich. I doubt I'll catch up. I'm doing a program called Insanity and am just now able to add a brief run afterward. As I build up maybe I can contribute more. Anyway today was Pure Cardio in Insanity so I only squeaked out a mile afterward, but data is data.

65.4 miles +1 = 66.4 (106.86 km)
PT: 1.5+1 = 2.5 miles

[interestednew]

I've heard good things about insanity. I'd like to hear an overall review when your done trinker. Thanks

[bryangoodrich]

Don't worry trinker, you do as much as you can. I've done my 1 mile contributions, too. It's the small victories that accumulate over time. I also think interestednew posts his weekly total, since he posts his update just about every week! I'd also like to hear more about Insanity. It sounds vaguely familiar.

[interestednew]

yes bryangoodrich has good intuition. over the course of 3 nonconsecutive days i did 2.9, 5.8, and 2.9.

[bryangoodrich]

yes bryangoodrich has good intuition. over the course of 3 nonconsecutive days i did 2.9, 5.8, and 2.9.

That's some good running you have there! I was doing 3-6 mile runs 4-5 days a week around the end of last year, beginning of this year. It is upsetting that I suffered a knee problem that has me at the level I'm at now. However, it is not disheartening! I'm improving quickly and running regularly.

66.4 + 1.5 = 67.9 miles (109.27 km)
PT: 16.5

[Dason]

Good job everybody. We should hit the 100 mile mark anytime now.

Wish I could keep contributing but I'll probably be out for a while. I hurt my ankle over the Forth of July weekend and it still not feeling so good.

[trinker]

Drunken hopscotch?

[Dason]

Nothing quite that exciting. Although the next time I have a couple of drinks I think I will play some hopscotch now that you put that idea in my head...

[Link]

Do obstacle courses count? I'm about to start training for the Men's Urbanathlon: http://www.menshealthurbanathlon.com/san-francisco-course.cfm

[Dason]

Sure why not.

[interestednew]

67.9 + 2.9 = 70.8

[PsychResearcherRASIS]

I hate running, jogging, leisurely strolling, etc., but if you want to expand it beyond foot travel you could easily tack on an extra 20+ miles a week to this count with how much I kayak.

[Dason]

I don't think that would be very much in the spirit of this thread. We could easily tack on huge numbers if we allowed things other than foot travel. Just imagine how fast this could grow if we allowed bike riding.

[PsychResearcherRASIS]

Yeah, I figured as much, thought I'd throw it out there anyway though.

[bryangoodrich]

We can do a biking challenge later, like when I'm preparing for a triathlon :P haha

[trinker]

70.8 + 2 = 72.8 (117.16)
pt: 4.5

[bryangoodrich]

Going running in the heat of the day after 10 minutes in a wet sauna is hard lol

72.8 + 1.5 = 74.3 miles (119.57 km)

PT: 18 miles (24%)

[bryangoodrich]

I used to be a personal trainer, but even in that you get rusty from lack of practice. So last night I opened up my Exercise Bible (http://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Strength-Training-Conditioning-3rd/dp/0736058036) to review aerobic training protocols and adaptation. I've made some adjustments to my conditioning program now. Namely, I'm making sure to incorporate interval training at least every other day. The reason is no different than when lifting weights: No Pain No Gain. You push yourself to lift higher weights to exhaustion because you want your body to adapt by growing the muscles larger, improving neuromuscular facilitation, etc., so that you can perform lifting that level of resistance. The difference is that in aerobic training we're trying to adapt by improving lung function, nervous system responses, hormonal responses, capillary size, and (heart) stroke volume. While the "long and slow" is good for training your body to be able to run at a given pace for a long time, you're not inducing the intended training protocol we desire: increase stroke volume and VO2 max (lung function). You target that through high intensity training.

Think of it this way, it is nice to be able to bench 200 lbs 20 times, but to get there you don't just bench 200 lbs until you can do it 20 times. You train by lifting 250 lbs in 3 sets of 8 reps, say. In the same way, you don't train to run an hour by just trying to run an hour. You run, say, 10 to 20 minute intervals with 1:2 (high:low) splits.

If you're not incorporating interval training into your workout routine, I highly recommend it. The actual exercise protocol is entirely up to you. I personally can't handle running at high intensity (sprints) due to my knees. That doesn't mean I can't do sprint lengths in the pool, high intensity incline on an elliptical, or just kick my butt on a spin bike. Personally, I'd rather just do sprints, but it is good to mix it up because you're changing up the muscular adaptation, also. You utilize different muscles when you do that. Therefore, use multiple exercise protocols for your interval training. If you have any questions, suggestions, or whatever, let's talk about it.

Today I did a 45:90 (seconds) 5 split interval on a spin bike. I thought I was going to die! I was breathing really hard, and that's what you want. When you lift weights we often talk about feeling the "pump" (of blood through the muscles). When it comes to aerobic training, you feel your diaphragm pump! I've actually made my chest sore from breathing so hard in the past. We'll see if my very non-gentle re-introduction to interval training does it again lol

__________________________________
74.3 + 1.5 = 75.8 miles (122.00 km)

PT: 19.5 miles (26%)

[trinker]

briangoodrich,

Thanks for info. I'm on week 3 of a program called insanity that's based on interval training. I'm seeing some pretty great results as far as strength and endurance, but am not shedding the pounds (my goal was 10 pounds and I'm the same weight). I tell myself it's because I'm gaining muscle and loosing fat but I know in my heart that's crap.;) Gotta push it harder.

75.8 + 1.5 = 77.3 miles (124.4 km)
PT: 6 miles

[Outlier]

I tell myself it's because I'm gaining muscle and loosing fat but I know in my heart that's crap.
You can check your body fat with homemade calipers.
At 5'9" I weighed 156# in high school. Now I weigh 180#. Scaling my height and weight to body builders who are 5'9" I should weigh 185# and be very muscular. Weight = K x height^2.1

Also, check your hp output, either on a machine or by running upstairs.
If you can go up
6 flights of stairs (72') in
20 seconds and you weigh
160#, that is
(72x160)/(20x550)= ~1 hp.

[Dason]

I finally have some time and am feeling better so tomorrow I plan on going on a (short) run!

[bryangoodrich]

trynker

My name is RIGHT there and you spelled it wrong! Don't worry, you're far from unique in that lol

Anyway, in your initial training it would be impossible to gain a ton of mass to account for a loss in fat. The more acute adaptations are largely neurological and chemical. You're body is becoming better adapting at using the system it has to get the job done (i.e., by nervous and endocrine responses). Muscle mass will change, but it is a slower change. Now, you will lose fat, though. The biggest fat burner is the increase in your metabolism. Your body has a higher demand at all times due to an increase in activity habits. Therefore, while you're resting and doing your daily things, you're burning more energy. At that "intensity level" of regular habits, you're mostly burning fat (walking around the house doesn't have high energy demands! lol). This is what is known as your Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT). The benefit of training for fat loss does not come from the exercise. It comes from the impact it has on your metabolism throughout the day: by increasing your NEAT. The reason you may not lose weight, however, could be a result of things like, say, water storage. Higher demands on activity means higher demands in the products your body needs to get the job done: water, protein, electrolytes, etc. Of course, this can all be crap, too! But the best way is to get a reading on your actual body composition. It is much easier to use an electrical impedance device (http://www.amazon.com/Omron-1032338-Body-Fat-Analyzer/dp/B00006WNPU) (hand-held). I picked mine up cheap from REI for like $30. It looks to be the same at Amazon. (I had an REI coupon, though).

I've taken time off from running (due to my knee), but I'll be working on building it up again, soon. I'm focusing on muscular endurance and muscular strength conditioning right now. In that way, I should be better able to run as long as my knee has gotten some recovery from the rest it's received. The interval training and muscular endurance training (did a five set 3 times, 2 days ago: good mornings [45 lbs; 15 reps], free squats [18 reps], bent over row [85 lbs; 10 reps], biceps curl [70 lbs; 12 reps], upright row [70 lbs; 10 reps]) has really kicked my butt!

[bryangoodrich]

I took some time off from running nearly every day. I did one session of interval training (on a bike, back when I mentioned it) and one session of muscular endurance training (the 5-set the other day). Along with weight training a few times a week in general, I have made some improvement getting back into my running! Now if only I could see some body composition results happening faster. Being lighter would really help my running lol

____________________________________
77.3 + 2.5 = 79.8 miles (128.43 km)

PT: 22 miles (27.6%)

[bryangoodrich]

79.8 + 1.5 = 81.3 miles (130.84 km)

PT: 23.5 miles (28.9%)

[trinker]

bryangoodrich here's a little help. Just under 17 miles to goal :)

81.3 + 2 = 83.3 miles (134.06 km)
PT: 8 miles

[sak]

i will run this weekend and my share to community ... not much but at least 2 miles i think

[bryangoodrich]

Ugh, allergies or something must be bothering me because my head has been really pressurized and I've been really tired lately. I think I'm getting better, though. I'll definitely try to hit the gym tonight (haven't since like Monday, I think). If all goes well, I plan to run everyday this weekend. Hopefully I'll pull that goal down to 10 miles and we'll be done by the end of next week, easy! Well, I'm sure we will even if I stayed in bed all weekend, but I want to have a good contribution percentage when we review this exercise lol

[trinker]

Where's Dason been? He said he was feeling better almost a week ago. :D

[bryangoodrich]

I'm just waiting for interestednew to show up saying he's topped us off lol

[Dason]

Where's Dason been? He said he was feeling better almost a week ago. :D

I did go on a run the day after I said that. I forgot to log it though. It was my typical run so the update at the end of the post. The rest of the time I was trying to avoid this heatwave and not to mention I have been buuuusy.

83.3 + 2 = 85.3 (137.27 km)

[TheEcologist]

Settled in into my new house -> Decided to start my jogging again -> Checked the forum -> saw that I have allot of catching up to do! :-o

[bryangoodrich]

Ugh, I haven't worked out in probably 5+ days since the past few days I was either busy or feeling crappy from a sinus inflammation or something. Feeling better now, so I added an extra 1/2 mile to my run to the gym (1.25). It was also pretty hot today, but the run back was cool compared to the 10+ minutes I spent in the dry sauna!! Not having eaten for 12+ hours didn't help me feel well when I got home, haha

_____________________________
85.3 + 2 = 87.3 miles (140.50 km)

PT: 25.5 miles (29%)

[bryangoodrich]

Ugh, I went to the gym at 5 AM and was going to do some interval training. I figured a light 5 minute jog should be a good warm-up. Turned into an 8:50 mile (fast for my knee, but no pain!). Since I was a bit worked up I figured I would do the interval training after the weights, since last time the interval training killed any weight lifting I was going to do. Turns out to be the converse this time. I did a 6-set twice that left me almost ready to puke! But at least I have another mile to add.

Come on guys, we're supposed to be finishing this up this week. We're nearly there!

__________________________
87.3 + 1 = 88.3 (142.11 km)

PT: 26.5

[trinker]

The plan for me is to get 2 miles in tonight (already did my insanity work out, this week is the recovery week [so I should be recovering but...]).


Settled in into my new house -> Decided to start my jogging again

I saw this somewhere, just can't remember where. Anyone see this? :)

[bryangoodrich]

The plan for me is to get 2 miles in tonight (already did my insanity work out, this week is the recovery week [so I should be recovering but...]).



I saw this somewhere, just can't remember where. Anyone see this? :)

Looks familiar. Maybe it was like 3 pages ago! haha

[trinker]

Confesion Time
I went nuts before dinner and ate about 10 spoonfuls of peanut butter. Had to work that off.

88.3 + 3 = 91.3 (146.93 km)

PT: 11 miles


188 calories*5 tbsp =940 calories
459 calores burned running < 940 :shakehead Not Good :shakehead Plus Side: 8.7 miles to goal :yup:
Calories per 2 tbsp PB: 180
~5 tbsp consumed
Calories burned calculted using http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/calorie_calculator.htm

[Dason]

I'm away for the week but have been running about 2 miles in the morning every day.

91.3 + 9 = 100.3 (160.93 km)

[trinker]

Great success ! :)

[bryangoodrich]

i'm just seeing this thread. do i add all miles done since the beginning, or start from here?

i have had username issues so i don't often log in , and i only view a few pages...had NO idea this thread existed!

You add your mileage to the community total (and it is nice for our non-American friends if you throw in kilometers, too), and then state your personal total. But we've reached our goal. We should start a new thread with a new goal after we analyze our current trial run at this.

[bryangoodrich]

Confesion Time
I went nuts before dinner and ate about 10 spoonfuls of peanut butter. Had to work that off.

88.3 + 3 = 91.3 (146.93 km)

PT: 11 miles


188 calories*5 tbsp =940 calories
459 calores burned running < 940 :shakehead Not Good :shakehead Plus Side: 8.7 miles to goal :yup:
Calories per 2 tbsp PB: 180
~5 tbsp consumed
Calories burned calculted using http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/calculators/calorie_calculator.htm

Note that while the calories you burned during exercise may not have reached those consumed by the peanut butter, the real benefit from exercise is its lasting effects: increased muscle mass, higher metabolism, more calories burned during rest, better oxygenation of the blood, etc. The real amount of calories we burn is from our basel or resting metabolic rate--that "2000 calorie diet" to meet the needs of just being alive. Then there's the non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), plus the digestion thermogenesis (you burn about 10% of the calories you consume just by digesting it).

[bryangoodrich]

You could post if you want, but our goal was 100 miles and Dason just tipped us over. We're going to use this data (i.e., how long it took) to get an idea on our next distance challenge.

[bryangoodrich]

Okay, I did a quick run through, and I think everything I got was in miles and accurate. Not everyone consistently posted their personal totals so I had to do some counting. Here is what I got:

Dason: 17.9 + 2 + 9 - 0.3 (you went over!) = 28.6 miles (46 km)
interestednew: 2 + 5.8 + 5.8 + 11.6 + 2.9 = 28.1 miles (45 km)
bryangoodrich: 26.5 miles (43 km)
Trinker: 11 miles (18 km)
TheEcologist: 3.2 miles (5 km)
NN_STAT: 2.5 miles (4 km)

Since the total was 100, the percent contribution to the total is clearly the number of miles we contributed. I was hoping to get up to 30% (30 miles), but Dason had to ruin my plans! :P Nevertheless, I feel like interestednew was holding back on us. I don't believe you haven't ran since your last posting! What happened to TheEcologist? He posted in the beginning and we never saw another update!

Please, correct my numbers if I missed anything. Dason started this club on 26 May and it has now been completed 27 July. It is safe to approximate that we collectively did about 50 miles a month. Trinker also started late, but still in the time since he participated he contributed a good portion. If more people join us, we can acquire more miles in a month than presented in this first run!

So what do you guys think our next goal should be?

On a logistics note, I think you all should keep with updating your runs more! I made a habit of after running to make sure I jumped on TS to log my miles. Since I check TS at least once a day, I knew I would at least get my numbers placed!

[bryangoodrich]

I think we should go for a longer goal than shorter. A single month is too easy to overlook, and more time leaves room to get more competitive (I would have beat Dason if I had more time to train! haha).

[trinker]

I like the work together approach but we didn't have alot of buy in from the members.

[trinker]

No one else jumped in on a goal so I'm setting us a new one if you don't mind. If you all don't jump on board I'll asume I was overextending my reach :)

1) One month 100 miles as a group challenge. (We can surpass that if we can)
2) One month individual challenge (who can do the most)

We have new members interested (halfnormal), Dason (thanks for bringing us to our goal) is healed and the Ecologist should be moved in and settled so we should be able to reach it.

[Dason]

Sounds good to me. I was thinking originally we would make a larger long term goal but I like this idea of a shorter (if you can consider 100 miles shorter) goal but over a shorter period of time. That way we can customize the challenges as more people are interested or as some people drop out.

I think trinker picked a perfect time to post that as it's the beginning of the month. I'll go make a TSClub thread.

[Dason]

I'm treating this thread as an overall discussion thread for the other running threads and trying to keep those clear of planning. So...

It doesn't look like we'll meet the goal of 100 miles for August. I know I'm partly to blame for this since I sort of dropped out of running lately but I hope to get back into it again. I don't think I'll be able to contribute as many miles and I would like to. Any ideas for a good goal for September? Should we make the goal quite a bit lower for September and build up from there? I'm thinking either make the goal 50 or 60 miles. What do you all think?

[trinker]

Maybe an exercise thread period. Possibly keep track of aerobic versus strength training? We might get more people involved. It would be interesting to do the stats on things at the end too. Just an idea.

[Dason]

We could make a separate thread for that. I just don't want to have too much being kept track of in a single thread because then it might 2-3 pages back for the last time somebody ran as opposed to push ups or sit-ups or rode their bike. Maybe each month have an activity voted on by the community so maybe next month instead of running we try to reach a sit-up/crunches goal or something like that?

[bryangoodrich]

If you we do sit-ups, I will destroy you people :P

I like the idea of various activities. In training there's a thing called periodization. The basic idea is that you set an overall goal (e.g., compete in a marathon, play a championship game, etc.). To achieve that you make macrocycles (quarters of the year) composed of microcycles (4-6 weeks). Each of those cycles has certain goals that make up the phase. For instance, one phase of the macrocycle might be recover after the tournament while another is technical/skill training and another a competitive training period building up to the event. The microcycles focus on more basic goals made up of mesocycles (a week) with very specific goals (say, 1000 sit ups). I think of periodization because part of setting goals fits that mode of program design. Except for individual periods we're having a community period. We might even set up a "fair goal" for individuals. For instance, say we have a goal of 10,000 sit ups, then for ten participants we would expect 1,000 sit ups contributed. Thus, we have a community goal with individual benchmarks.

Also, when it comes to training, I have plenty of routines for those that are interested. Almost everything I can link to ExRx (http://www.exrx.net/).

[spunky]

it's october, guys! what's the next challenge?

survive this semester
(it's killing me!)

[TheEcologist]

Saturday 2,5 km, today 2,5 km. Building up to start running frequently again - I've not been very active during the summer months. So is this still going on?

[bryangoodrich]

I haven't ran in forever. I'm going to go buy another 24 Hour gym membership (2 yr certificate from Costco with mean 13.33 per month. Great deal!). I really can't workout if I don't have that environment in which to do it. I'll be up for more running challenges. I need to build back in. I'm getting fat!

[TheEcologist]

I'm getting fat!

Yeah, I could lose some weight as well. Although I thought California would be one of the best places on earth to run. Here I'm either running in the rain or freezing my ass off.

[Dason]

freezing? How cold does it get in California?

[TheEcologist]

bryangoodrich lives in California. I'm freezing my ass off in Northern Europe now ;)

[bryangoodrich]

Yeah, it is great climate in California. It's more of a time and energy issue! I'm going to start forcing myself to get up at 0600 from now on. Then I need to get my working out done first thing in the morning. Otherwise, I'm at work and then school, and I don't go running during traffic hours. Though, I should just drive to the river or something. It's not far from me. Routine and discipline. I lack both right now!

[Dason]

trinker mentioned that we should start this up again. I agree! I ran two miles today. Should we start a new thread and set a new goal or should we gauge interest again?

[trinker]

I'm down. Maybe we could do an exercise minutes thread (start a fresh new thread) that way weightlifting and running could both count. You could keep track of your distance too if you wanted. We're still having major winter weather in Buffalo so a run is unlikely unless it's on a treadmill which I hate. Just some ideas. I'm getting fat so what ever people want I'm down with.

[Dason]

I like that idea actually - then we're not confining ourselves to one type of exercise (and hopefully we'll be able to agree on a unit of measurement this time).

[hedgie]

Count me in....I'll be running mostly.

[Jake]

It's finally warming up again so I guess it's time to get back on the running trail.

I am going to smoke you old farts...

[Dason]

Well anybody that wants to kick off the new thread gets to choose the rules. I don't feel like laying those down this time around so I'll giving that up to anybody that wants to start it up.