September challenges?

[Ian5K]

A new month tomorrow. Does anyone bother with Strava monthly set challenges? I’m sure the other runners’ apps do them too.

I’ve challenged myself to run 100k between 1st and 30th Sept. It’s doable but no certainty it’s in the bag for me (the definition of challenge, I suppose). 25k per week, which means a parkrun and two runs averaging 10k minimum. As I want to increase my longer distance too, there’s a bit more maths and planning to do.

What have I done?!!!! 😬

It’s something else to keep me keen.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Well done on your 100k challenge, it’s a fantastic distance to aim for. I did my 1st 100k month in February 2020 - hard work, then came lockdown and it got really easy. By summer 2020 it was just normal running doing between 100 and 140k a month. In May this year I ran every day for charity 220km then it went downhill as I turned to cycling due to the heat😂. But if I can do all those months of 100+km then you can too, don’t overthink it, run what you feel like as every km and part km counts. Happy running 🤗

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Wow, you put me to shame. Excellent work!At the moment, I feel I could run every day but I don’t think I could actually run everyday, if you know what I mean. My keenness is up; there was a time when two runs per week felt plenty. Since beginning parkruns and wishing to get up to a 10 miler target as well, I’ve been going out three times a week. I love September outdoors, providing the weather is typical. I have high hopes about it. 🙂

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

You’re going to smash it, particularly as you’re aiming for 10miles at the same time, those longer runs make it really easy🤗

[Mumpark Graduate10]

Yep I do I do the 5K and 10K every month and have started to do the 100 K a month challenge every month as well another motivation and badges on your profile I’ve been doing them since last June I think it was

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Mumpark]

Ah, I’ll be running with you on the 100k then. I think I’ll not finish it until the very last day of the month though!

[Mumpark Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

You will be surprised I’ve upped my distances this year because I am doing Lejog I have changed over to miles now as well to help with the daily logging I’m also trying to reach my goal of doing half marathon distance soon. Only for myself not an actual race.

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Mumpark]

Lejog - is that a Strava one?

[Mumpark Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

No that is End2end you get a year to do it 874 miles

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

Oh yes, I love a "sticker" as I call them. Join, Join, join at the start of the month; 5k,10k,HM, 100k, 200k, run climbing, I'm still annoyed they stopped the marathon one! They can be great motivators, just be careful they don't become too much pressure 👍🏻😁

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

That’s true. I had to give up on a challenge in July, things came up and I couldn’t complete it. Not a big deal. 🙂

[nowster Graduate10]

I join most of the running challenges.

The exceptions are 200km and 300km which are out of my reach, as is the run climbing one.

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

Yes, I don't join the 300, I've managed it once but I pushed myself really hard to complete it so don't want that pressure again (unless I know I've got lots of extra time/ runs waiting). My area is hilly so the RC one isn't usually much of a "challenge" 🙈🤣

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

I love hills but though it is quite hilly, not enough elevation gain per km, I think, to win the challenge.

Is it basically all hill where you are, or are there flat segments?

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

It's pretty much all undulating. The runs I class as "flattish" still have 600 ft or so of climbing. I would have to drive to a canal or a nearby town to find a totally flat run. I did do that to get an under 2hr HM for the virtual HU HM but it was a very boring route...

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

That’s impressive! 😎

I’m always dividing the challenge by 30, then doubling it, and see if it’s a reasonable number for each run with a day off in between. I may get there eventually.

[GailXrunning]

I’m relatively new to all things running and running apps and what have you, but I’ve already found I just love ‘community challenges’ where you’re part of a bigger whole. Love seeing my small contributions adding up — both in themselves but most of all for the larger collective effort.

I absolutely adored participating in our community’s Cape of Good Hope earlier this year. I’ve recently joined NRC’s Hackney Moves Community Challenge to lever £10k for Badu Sports, a local social enterprise supporting young people (and it looks like we’ll smash this challenge *way* ahead of the deadline!!) I’m already using NRC’s guided runs as its HM Training Plan (aiming just as far as 16k for the moment) so I’m doing the runs anyway… but that these kms can also count for more than me is the extra special bit.🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️😊

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to GailXrunning]

I might look into some of these others, thanks. 16km is my goal for distance now; I’ve been too used to, and for too long, running at 5k and just improving my times. Running a lot further is relatively new for me too. I’ve only got up to 13.5k, learning to slow down. Little by little.

[Thommo23 Graduate10]

I love a virtual badge and always sign up for the 5, 10, 100k, along with some manufacturer challenges - I find it helps keep me motivated each month.

The 100Km is a challenging one - I find little and often helps - if you run every other day is only about 6km a time.

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Thommo23]

Exactly, Thommo - it helps motivation. And they say if you publicise it, you feel more inclined to finish it, which helps me.

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Thommo23]

I wouldn’t have entered the 100km before now, but the maths make it just doable at the distances I now do. 3x per week.

(Though I have to say I’ve been entering the 50km Strava walking challenges for the past four months because I love just walking shhh! I also love cycling too but I have to be reasonable. Strava could be the death of me - literally)

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

I've been upping my weekly mileage recently. I've been exceeding 40km of running per week the last couple of weeks. Eek!

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

That’s a lot of running!

Btw, I just finished Haruki Murakami’s book, “What I think about when I think about running”. He’s the famous Japanese novelist - “Norwegian Wood” probably his most famous work, if you don’t know the name.

He did this race in Japan which is 62.5 miles - in one day! Apparently, if your pace is considered too slow at any point, they simply disqualify you there and then. But it’s a race where you’re permitted to take a shower and have a change of clothes halfway; even a sit down meal if you’re quick.

Fancy it? 😁

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

I only know the Beatles track of the same name.

If I compare that with my recent 10 mile time, that would mean about 11-12 hours of continuous running. I think I'll pass.

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to nowster]

The Beatles song was the inspiration for the story, though I haven’t read that one of his.

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

Oh you've just remind me. I'm waiting for that book to arrive. I must chase it up. I've been meaning to read it for years as I love his writing. I thought now I'm running I have to read it.

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to DylanTheRabbit]

Really excellent first chapter explaining why he runs, I thought. Interesting chapter on the big 62 mile run in Japan. The rest is okay though not mind blowing. If you like his writing, you’ll like this book, I reckon.

[Thommo23 Graduate10]

If you like walking too - check out the ‘200km favourite way’ it’s 200km in any format - last month I only ran 85k but walked 130k so I earned that badge 😊

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Thommo23]

I did that one, Thommo! I was falling short towards the end so boosted it with a bit of cycling. Just crept in with a total of 201km.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Thommo23]

I missed out on that by 9km. I was planning to do a 10km run on Tuesday morning but other stuff happened.

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Oh I love a bit of Strava bling!

I don’t allow myself to get too worked up about it though…always go for 5 and 10k…but didn’t run a 10k in august as the one I did on the 31st July set off my knee niggles again, so went a little low my for august. I do a lot of walking too. Basically I’ll do any challenge that seems doable 😂

[Tabbles Graduate10]

Hi I have joined the Cancer research 60 miles in September chellange, 5k under your 100k target. This will be an additional 10 miles from last month.

[Ian5K Graduate10 in reply to Tabbles]

Yay!I think someone else here is doing that too. 2 miles a day?

Good cause. 🙂