February Running Challenge

shotgunmcos

crisco10 may have a think about pushing the buggy for this one, although a buggy hardly fits into rule #1 Could be quite useful without E in it :pac:

Challenge #2: Elevation Challenge
Gain the most vertical metres in the time allowed.
Time allowed is your 10k or double your 5k rounded to nearest minute.

The Rules
#1 Outdoors and no gym equipment like treadmills, jacobs ladder etc
#2 Comply with the Lockdown (stay within 5k etc..)
#3 Validated runs will rank above non validated.
#4 Multiple attempts allowed
#5 Dodgy superman/superwomen GPS readings will be judges decision
#6 Elapsed time only. Even 1 second over your allotted time is a DQ. Strava has a tendency to add a second!

Take care and have fun


The following will have 1 bonus point added to their February points, if they complete the challenge
37 Swashbuckler
58 AGYR
42 Murph_D
45 ReeReeG
40 shotgunmcos
37 crisco10
44 Laineyfrecks
45 Omeceron
58 Pheredykes
55 BeginnerRunner
42 mister paul
47 eposhea
34 omicron
35 dna_leri
58 Huzzah!
39 Comic Book Guy
40 OOnegative
37 Dubh Geannain
50 eyrie
36 jamule
40 Kander
34 healy1835
40 fletch
48 En Passant
35 Zico10
36 Lambay Island
45 Wubble Wubble
54 skyblue46
44 Kurt_Godel
37 edinrunna

shotgunmcos

One thing I debated a lot about this challenge was what if you happen to live at the foot of a mountain?

I thought about putting in an additional rule to level the playing field as inclusivity is one of the main goals of this challenge series. In the end I guess its the luck of the draw sometimes. Interested in thoughts on this one?

OOnegative

No 5k limit here so I take it I don’t have to abide by that rule?

shotgunmcos

OOnegative wrote: »

No 5k limit here so I take it I don’t have to abide by that rule?

Correct

BeginnerRunner

Hmmmm... Bray head is about 175m up and takes 15-20 minutes to get to the top. If two climbs (or more) are completed in the allotted time period, does the total count?

shotgunmcos

BeginnerRunner wrote: »

Hmmmm... Bray head is about 175m up and takes 15-20 minutes to get to the top. If two climbs (or more) are completed in the allotted time period, does the total count?

This is exactly the debate I had. Yes it counts! Basically because you have to descend almost as much as you have to climb, its hill repeats.

BeginnerRunner

shotgunmcos wrote: »

This is exactly the debate I had. Yes it counts! Basically because you have to descend almost as much as you have to climb, its hill repeats.

Hmmm there's also a nice little 800m 5% gradient hill on one of my regular routes. I also wonder if there's a shorter steeper part of the head more suitable to multiple quick climbs. I like this one. Lots of strategy.

Kurt_Godel.

I like this one too, at first glance it might favour someone living at the foot of Carrantuohill, but hill repeats on a steep road might work too and would offer some recovery...

Either way, lots to distract think about, should be fun!

Annie get your Run

Whohoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Love it!

shotgunmcos

Kurt_Godel. wrote: »

I like this one too, at first glance it might favour someone living at the foot of Carrantuohill, but hill repeats on a steep road might work too and would offer some recovery...

Either way, lots to distract think about, should be fun!

LOL you probably know best here and you have plenty of terrain to consider too!

Longer continuous climb will burn your quads and have you gasping at a high heart rate for longer. Shorter steeper reps will give you a chance to breathe but also tax the hamstrings Plenty of ways to skin a cat here

Either way... this is not an easy challenge

OOnegative

The lowlands of The Netherlands ain’t helping me on this one!!!!

Murph_D

Looks like Skyblue and I will both be climbing Mount Finglas!

shotgunmcos

Murph_D wrote: »

Looks like Skyblue and I will both be climbing Mount Finglas!

Love it! Hand in hand until the final blood thirsty rep

healy1835

OOnegative wrote: »

The lowlands of The Netherlands ain’t helping me on this one!!!!

Not exactly in the Rockies here myself...:D

crisco10

yeah, top of of Fairycastle is about 400m climb and 30 mins from my door so looks like a strong possibility for me.

But the idea of hill repeats is interesting. Would that be more efficent...I'm digging through my hill rep sessions and seeing what they look like.

Very tempted to a buggy effort and non-buggy effort.

BeginnerRunner

Murph_D wrote: »

Looks like Skyblue and I will both be climbing Mount Finglas!

Up and down the new cabra bridge a few times might be a good shout :cool:

Dubh Geannain

OOnegative wrote: »

The lowlands of The Netherlands ain’t helping me on this one!!!!

I was just going to say that. You can't even wade into the sea to get a decent negative elevation to start with because of Doggerland.

Trim poses it's own problems too. I think the max elevation I found on any of the hills I try is around 10 m or less.

OOnegative

Dubh Geannain wrote: »

I was just going to say that. You can't even wade into the sea to get a decent negative elevation to start with because of Doggerland.

Trim poses it's own problems too. I think the max elevation I found on any of the hills I try is around 10 m or less.

Off to the Hill of Tara with ya!!

Dubh Geannain

OOnegative wrote: »

Off to the Hill of Tara with ya!!

That's well outside 5 km.

I've been travelling a bit for work lately and grabbing some runs on my lunch break or just before hitting the road for home. It's not quite within the guidelines to do that but I'd argue it's safer for me as staying awake on long drive roundtrips is tough enough. But the runs can give me a good lift. I won't include any of those efforts here though and will respect the 5 km limit for this challenge.

OOnegative

Dubh Geannain wrote: »

That's well outside 5 km.

I've been travelling a bit for work lately and grabbing some runs on my lunch break or just before hitting the road for home. It's not quite within the guidelines to do that but I'd argue it's safer for me as staying awake on long drive roundtrips is tough enough. But the runs can give me a good lift. I won't include any of those efforts here though and will respect the 5 km limit for this challenge.

Ah forgot about the 5k issue!

mister paul

OOnegative wrote: »

The lowlands of The Netherlands ain’t helping me on this one!!!!

Didn't you race (and place) in a 5k that seemed to be mostly climbing steps? Might be an option.

Dubh Geannain

crisco10 wrote: »

But the idea of hill repeats is interesting. Would that be more efficent...I'm digging through my hill rep sessions and seeing what they look like.

Surely one continuous climb while maybe not as efficient will trump a 50/50 split between up and down. The average paces/distance covered will tell the story I suppose.

OOnegative

mister paul wrote: »

Didn't you race (and place) in a 5k that seemed to be mostly climbing steps? Might be an option.

All gone P, they were deemed to dangerous so they’re closed to public now.

BeginnerRunner

Dubh Geannain wrote: »

Surely one continuous climb while maybe not as efficient will trump a 50/50 split between up and down. The average paces/distance covered will tell the story I suppose.

Yah unless your pace almost doubles as the time progresses then you'd have to say one long continuous climb, or close to it, is best.

skyblue46

Murph_D wrote: »

Looks like Skyblue and I will both be climbing Mount Finglas!

Pyramid Church to the Met Office on repeat...:pac:

crisco10

Dubh Geannain wrote: »

Surely one continuous climb while maybe not as efficient will trump a 50/50 split between up and down. The average paces/distance covered will tell the story I suppose.

While I suspect you are correct, I'm still going to waste time figuring it out.

skyblue46

crisco10 wrote: »

While I suspect you are correct, I'm still going to waste time figuring it out.

If the short one is more than double the gradient of the long one its the best option. If its less then the long one probably wins out. This is dependent on equal pace of course...

eposhea

Oh Jesus - my legs are killing me at the thought of this challenge!

We'll all have stronger legs come March 1st. :pac:

Dubh Geannain

skyblue46 wrote: »

If the short one is more than double the gradient of the long one its the best option. If its less then the long one probably wins out. This is dependent on equal pace of course...

Didn't think of that. Very good point.

Kander

Simple, effective & painful :eek:

Howth head is within my 5 KM just about.

What do you think might be a good plan...Short and sharp with a lot of repeats on a steep area or a longer less steep continuous path?

crisco10

Kander wrote: »

Simple, effective & painful :eek:

Howth head is within my 5 KM just about.

What do you think might be a good plan...Short and sharp with a lot of repeats on a steep area or a longer less steep continuous path?

Depending on the terrain available, I'm leaning toward the latter as more efficient and do able.

Just doing some back of the envelope sums and the hill reps session required to match a continuous (more gradual) ascent seem quite horrendous - for me anyway.

AuldManKing

Totally missed the 1st challenge!!


I'm currently in 90min 10k shape. Do I use that?

skyblue46

Kander wrote: »

Simple, effective & painful :eek:

Howth head is within my 5 KM just about.

What do you think might be a good plan...Short and sharp with a lot of repeats on a steep area or a longer less steep continuous path?

Mathematically a steep one if its twice as steep as the gradual. Realistically though who would be able to walk for a week after doing the duration they are allowed of steep hill repeats? A long gradual one would be completed well within time bearing in mind the 5k rule so you'd then have to do repeats on the last section of that hill....

shotgunmcos

AuldManKing wrote: »

Totally missed the 1st challenge!!


I'm currently in 90min 10k shape. Do I use that?

Fortunately for you, you have spilled your guts out on this forum, reshared your successes and logs so many times that it would be quite appropriate to estimate your target at 35 If you wear thick pink socks lest agree on 36

skyblue46

The optimal strategy is probably a rollercoaster route that takes you from the lowest point in your 5k to the highest whilst accumulating elevation on the humps between hollows on the way up...

Annie get your Run

The most challenging thing about this challenge for me is the #mathematics , I have a fair few hills around me, just need to calculate which ones will get me the highest overall gradient within the time allowed.

ReeReeG

I have a probably stupid question - do you have to get home / back to the starting point again within the time? i.e. can I stop at x minutes then start a separate run on my watch to get back?

skyblue46

Annie get your Run wrote: »

The most challenging thing about this challenge for me is the #mathematics , I have a fair few hills around me, just need to calculate which ones will get me the highest overall gradient within the time allowed.

I'm tempted to disagree...I think the theoretical best way of doing it would be beyond most of our abilities. Its one thing to work it out on paper but I have a hunch we wouldn't be able to do it after all that :pac::pac:

Huzzah!

For the first time ever, I am sorry I no longer live in Stepaside

shotgunmcos

ReeReeG wrote: »

I have a probably stupid question - do you have to get home / back to the starting point again within the time? i.e. can I stop at x minutes then start a separate run on my watch to get back?

Rule #6 - Elapsed time only

Edit: to explain a little. You will have to likely break your run into 3 runs. Your warm up to your chosen hill, bridge, steps etc.. (Unless you intend to not warm up for this :eek:). Start another run and ensure you stop it before your time runs out. It would really really suck to put this effort in to forget to stop it or stop it too late or remember that Strava adds a second! Consider also how fuzzy your brain will be towards the end of your time..

So, unless you have a long continuous climb that will keep you going for the duration, you will have to return to base/start, within the allowable time.

Murph_D

BeginnerRunner wrote: »

Up and down the new cabra bridge a few times might be a good shout :cool:

Yes, a possibility alright. Was over it recently, quite a drag. All about finding the right mix of grade/length I guess.

crisco10

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Rule #6 - Elapsed time only

Edit: to explain a little. You will have to likely break your run into 3 runs. Your warm up to your chosen hill, bridge, steps etc.. (Unless you intend to not warm up for this :eek:). Start another run and ensure you stop it before your time runs out. It would really really suck to put this effort in to forget to stop it or stop it too late or remember that Strava adds a second! Consider also how fuzzy your brain will be towards the end of your time..

So, unless you have a long continuous climb that will keep you going for the duration, you will have to return to base/start, within the allowable time.

This is absolutely made for a workout on the watch set for x:59 where x is (target time - 1).

Lambay island

Huzzah! wrote: »

For the first time ever, I am sorry I no longer live in Stepaside

Ha, yes its almost feels like cheating if I do this with my location.

shotgunmcos

crisco10 wrote: »

This is absolutely made for a workout on the watch set for x:59 where x is (target time - 1).

To be fair, that would be a high risk of DQ! Garmins by design keep the clock running beyond a workout until you manually press stop. Given the effort this challenge will take, I would not leave it in the hands of tech!

Rule#6 is set in stone.

OOnegative

What if you come in a few seconds under your allotted time?

shotgunmcos

OOnegative wrote: »

What if you come in a few seconds under your allotted time?

Anything under is fine. Anything over is DQ.

Lambay island

shotgunmcos wrote: »

To be fair, that would be a high risk of DQ! Garmins by design keep the clock running beyond a workout until you manually press stop. Given the effort this challenge will take, I would not leave it in the hands of tech!

Rule#6 is set in stone.

So my time is 36. Am I allowed go to 36.59 or 35.59?

shotgunmcos

Lambay island wrote: »

Ha, yes its almost feels like cheating if I do this with my location.

I honestly I debated putting in a rule that there would have to be at least 1 return to your base/start from your highest point. That would have made it more interesting for those with a mountain on their doorstep to decide at what point doe one turn back and peg to to the bottom!

I figured it would be too subjective and too complex to explain :cool::rolleyes:

crisco10

shotgunmcos wrote: »

To be fair, that would be a high risk of DQ! Garmins by design keep the clock running beyond a workout until you manually press stop. Given the effort this challenge will take, I would not leave it in the hands of tech!

Rule#6 is set in stone.

That's good to know! I had assumed it was like the TT workout where you could set a 5km interval and the watch stopped automatically at 5.00000.

But who am I kidding, if I do this "right" I'm going to be running with my left wrist in the air in front of my face for the last 5 minutes.

Lambay island wrote: »

Ha, yes its almost feels like cheating if I do this with my location.

Just think of those TT threads where you couldn't find a flat course for love nor money. #yourtimetoshine

shotgunmcos wrote: »

I honestly I debated putting in a rule that there would have to be at least 1 return to your base/start from your highest point. That would have made it more interesting for those with a mountain on their doorstep to decide at what point doe one turn back and peg to to the bottom!

I figured it would be too subjective and too complex to explain :cool::rolleyes:

That would be serious craic. But would no doubt require multiple attempts.

shotgunmcos

Lambay island wrote: »

So my time is 36. Am I allowed go to 36.59 or 35.59?

elapsed time no greater than 36:00. If Strava records your elapsed time as 36:01, thats a DQ. Up to you to risk how close you want to cut it.

shotgunmcos

crisco10 wrote: »

......
But who am I kidding, if I do this "right" I'm going to be running with my left wrist in the air in front of my face for the last 5 minutes.

.

LMAO In my line of work, this is called a residual risk