RED January to Blue February? No chance...I have a cunning plan...

[TailChaser]

Wow! What a lot of fun and what a learning experience that was! 31 days of running. Wasn't sure my body would let me do it but it has! Apart from 3 days early on I have run at least 5km a day for the past month, and I have smashed my monthly distance by about 28km to 178km for January. So close to 200km but I don't want to get annoyed about missing that goal when I never even set it in the first place! I'll set that goal for next year 😊

It was also so nice to do it together with my fellow VRBs 🤗 We've run through nearly every winter weather condition known and yesterday it even decided to throw it all in one half hour run. It was as if it was going to have one last go at putting us off. But we are made of tougher stuff than that, we have battled through and done this thing! Today's run was done in very calm but chilly weathe, like it had given in. It was an absolute pleasure, even managed a sprint at the end, and even my heart rate behaved itself with hardly a dip into Zone 5 👍

One of the things I have really noticed this last couple of weeks is how my resting heart rate has started to come down. I have become friends with my Garmin once again (we had a severe falling out before Christmas) as it's behaving itself reasonably well. My resting heart rate has come down about 7 bpm and I am sleeping better. Long may that last!

Sooooo....what next? I can't leave it there can I? I don't think I can keep the streak up as I don't know if it would do me any good and also, how could I then do it as a challenge again? Still doing LEJOG but that is a very slow burner. So, I have put into place a 6 week HM training plan, starting tomorrow. Not much rest but I will be reducing the mileage again before it builds up to the Virtual Bath Half on 14th March. Katnap has very kindly offered to take on the Wednesday Joe Wicks workout with the kittens so that my ankles can have a bit of a rest and Tues/Thurs will be non-running days .

So, if you are wondering what challenge to do next whilst we tap our toes waiting for races to come back, I can heartily recommend Running Every Day, no matter how bonkers it sounds 😃

[RunaroundSue Graduate10]

Amazing stuff and excellent report.

Don't just sit there - get on with the next challenge

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to RunaroundSue]

🤣Funnily enough, I'm just going to switch the computer off now and go and do the last Adriene before I cook dinner 😁

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to RunaroundSue]

Well Done TailChaser, 3 VRBs have done it. You are all amazing. Good luck with your next challenge.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to RunaroundSue]

Whoops replied to Sue instead! 🥴

[RunaroundSue Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

😆

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Never mind Dexy 😉we all do it! Thank you 🙏 sad but relieved at the same time! I have heard a few are carrying on 😱

[David_G]

Well done TailChaser, I agree with you totally about RED! It does sound a bit bonkers but it’s so worth it🙂👍 We’ve had some fun doing it, but there have been tough times too. Whichever way, we got through it together and we’re better for it😀 I’m following my own HM plan and aiming to do it at the end of March🏃‍♂️🤞

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to David_G]

It was wasn't it? I thought about it last January and didn't think it was for me but after 3 years running I thought this year I really should give it a go and I'm so glad I did. Thank you for being there every step of the way David 👍I can now start putting my HM plan in my Strava titles as well....a 6 week HM plan sounds slightly bonkers too!

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Yup, sounds bonkers, but well done you. (That’s more miles in a month than I did last year 😮). If you can do it in Jan, despite the weather, I’m sure you can do another streak, and get to 200km. As you say, a goal for another streak. Maybe one in better weather?

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thanks Baddie 😁 Definitely needs to be better weather but then maybe that is part of its charm?? It would be nice to run parts of 200km around a different town too 🤔

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Congratulations on running 178 kilometers as Red January, I am amazed on the number of people on this forum who have ran 100K or more in January, congratulations to you and everyone else on that "ton+"

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

Cheers Al! I think it’s a been a necessity to run more for many of us.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

I was reading the rules for Red January, you can run OR walk if you want to, I added my runs and walks and they came to about 70K, for me 25% runs, 75% walks, some of those walks were with my neighbours dog Holly.

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

I didn’t know there were rules Al. Well done completing it too 👍

[GailXrunning]

Congratulations. RED is too much for this recent c25k grad, but I’m mightily impressed by those of you that have done it. Especially given the weather this past month.

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to GailXrunning]

Welcome to BT10k 😁 Probably best to get a few 10k's under your belt first! 👍😃👍

[GailXrunning in reply to Katnap]

😂 Too right! Working on that one. Slowly. 👍 In meantime, I can watch on with wonder!

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to GailXrunning]

Thanks Gail, yes I can understand that, I would never have dreamed of doing this a few years back. I started C25k in Jan 2018 and it’s the first time I’ve successfully done RED (I tried in May but my body didn’t want to play). You’ll know when you’re ready, all the best on your journey👍

[Windoze Graduate10]

Nice work Tails ! 🤗🤗 Good luck on the HM plan. Keep us posted on that one too! 😎😎

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Windoze]

Thanks Windoze. Looking forward to it. I can’t knock them out like you can but the mileage is coming on so maybe one day...😉🤗

[SueKen Graduate10]

And I was feeling smug that I at least got out to walk (mostly) or run every day. The weather has been a bit uncooperative this year! But we are all winners for doing something - good luck with the next chsllenge😊

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to SueKen]

Well done SueKen

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to SueKen]

Definitely SueKen. I was quite prepared to walk it if I had to, whatever the weather and whatever works. Thank you 🙏😊

[Week7 Graduate10]

I am really impressed. Is this the first time you have done a RED month.How many months/years of running did you do before attempting this .It sounds like an interesting challenge and I'm thinking that February is a nice short month but I currently only run 3 times a week and have avoided injury so far and would like it to stay that way but can't help thinking a short daily run commitment would be good for my "head space "

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to Week7]

I was doing 3 or 4 runs a week before I did RED in March 2020 (that was fun during lockdown 1.0). The guide minimum is 1 mile running (1.61km). Keep your pace slow and really make sure you stretch asap after your runs. Good luck!

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Week7 Graduate10 in reply to Katnap]

Thanks I think I'll give it a go... but with my normal runs 3 days a week and short ones 2k- ish runs on the other days .Sounds like a plan.Thanks to you both, Tailchaser for the inspirational post and Katnap for the advice

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Week7]

Thanks Week7 🙏😊 I graduated in May 2018 and yes, I gave it a go in May last year but it didn’t work out. I had some advice from a physio friend and adjusted my mileage expectations this time. I did too many longer runs last time and this time I slowly increased them. I also tweaked my diet as highly processed wheat doesn’t seem to agree with me. I’ve also done Adriene’s 30 days of yoga alongside which I can heartily recommend either before or after a run. Both the running and yoga are great for your headspace 👍

Katnap gives some excellent advice below and as he says, good luck 👍👏👏

[Week7 Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'll take a look at the yoga too.

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Week7]

There’s lots in the Strength & Flex forum Week7, CBDB has been doing a sterling job with the weekly chats. 👍

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

Wow, what an amazing distance you covered TC! And your times are crazy fast too. Huge kudos!👊🏃‍♀️😀

I was able to get Bath to let me defer my virtual HM to coincide with the HUHM one at the end of March. No way do I want to run 13.1 miles twice in 2 weeks, and I emailed them with a sob story (a true one!) about my training being curtailed by running on wet muddy trails. Are you running Bath and HUHM? I’m sure you could! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thanks cheeky, we’ve all done brilliantly with this 👍👍👍 I think a big motivation was to get to Scotland on LEJOG for Burns Night 🤣

I can’t see me doing both the HMs but I won’t say that I won’t! I don’t blame you for deferring, your trails have been looking evil.

[Katnap Graduate10]

Last year Run Every Day dramatically improved my VO2 max (according to Garmin) and that in turn, I believe, helped to push all the continuous achievements I had in 2020. So if anyone else is thinking about doing RED, maybe February would be a choice month to give it a go! 😃

🐱 Katnap 🐱

[Runningroni Graduate10]

My husband suggested dry Feb. I think not but a RED Feb has an appeal. Let's see how I feel in the morning. I wont be stacking up your mileage though. Good running TC.

[Katnap Graduate10 in reply to Runningroni]

🤣. TailChaser removed wheat from the diet and this has resulted in improved health all round! Might even be the missing piece of the puzzle as to why the previous attempt failed...

We've had a 'ahem' wet January so maybe a RED February might work for you Runningroni

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Runningroni]

Thanks Roni. I think any dry month is a step too far at the moment! RED Feb sounds a good idea, just a mile a day is all you need to do. That’s what I was going to do but I got carried away 😁

[Runningroni Graduate10 in reply to TailChaser]

So I ran this morning. Just a couple of km. Already planning for tomorrow. Let's see how it goes. I promise if I can get away with just a mile some days I certainly will.

[RunBrianRun Graduate10]

That’s a Fabulous achievement tailchaser! 👏👏👏 Well done to you and every other RED January runner. My hat’s off to you all🎩 Bravo 👏👏👏

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thanks very much Brian, much appreciated 🙏🤗🙏

[acountrycabbage 60minGraduate]

Amazing work, well done! 🤩👏🏼

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to acountrycabbage]

Thank you 🙏🤗😊

[Shake-and-run Graduate10]

What a star you are. You are such an inspiration. Looking forward to runs and coffee with you again soon.

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Shake-and-run]

Thanks Shakes, I get all funny when people call me that 😳🤗 Very much looking forward to runs & coffee soon (please?!) too!

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

You are such a dynamo, brilliant. Respect for going straight into HM training. I think I’m going to try to get back to sub 30 5k, as this month seems to have made the runs easier, but I haven’t tried to go any faster. Then, who knows, maybe I could finally get to that sub 60 10k by London

[TailChaser Graduate10 in reply to Sandie1961]

Good idea Sandie. It has made it easier hasn’t it? That’s the reason I want to go straight into the HM, grab it before it disappears. You can do sub 30 again, it’s just harder without anyone to race with. Come end of May we can nail that sub 60 together, it’s a nice flat course 💪