Metafilter Runs - Challenge

March 3, 2008 10:33 PM

It's been a while since our last post, so I thought I'd remind folks about the Metafilter RUNNER+ group. Everybody's welcome to join in the challenges, and you don't have to have the Nike+iPod kit anymore. The February Challenge was won by Slarty Bartfast, who racked up more than 150km! I've just launched a new challenge for March/April. Get running!

Of course, this is a little bit self-serving. I've just signed up for my first half-marathon in two months and I'm hoping a little Metafilter competition can keep me motivated through my training...

posted by web-goddess to MetaFilter-related at 10:33 PM (33 comments total)

I'll join up if y'all start the walking challenges again (I only compete with seniors).
posted by dhammond at 10:40 PM on March 3

It's -35C here!

I guess I could get on the treadmill. :)

I'll stick to squash and lifting for now, I think. Remind me again in the spring!
posted by ODiV at 12:26 AM on March 4

Hey, what about walkers? My knees start to complain when I run, but I loooove to walk.
posted by tomble at 1:50 AM on March 4

It's distance-based, and I didn't put in a speed requirement. So if you wanna walk, none of us will know!
posted by web-goddess at 3:16 AM on March 4

Cool! Should be fun!
posted by tomble at 3:47 AM on March 4

Hey, web-goddess, I started a new challenge on Saturday when March started. Several people are already signed up for it. Perhaps you can close yours and get one of the mods to change your link?
posted by OmieWise at 3:50 AM on March 4

We don't need to have the Nike and iPod kit? Do people just post their own estimates of distance and speed, then?
posted by Greg Nog at 5:07 AM on March 4

I've been using gmap-pedometer.com, but some folks have portable GPS units. I also run a lot of certified courses. But, no, I asked the same thing in January. One does not need all the gear.
posted by OmieWise at 5:16 AM on March 4

Can someone talk about the atmosphere of the group? I'm definitely into the social/motivation aspect, but I know there's no way I'm going to pose a threat to the likes of some of you. Not only do I run the shorter distance races, I'm also triathlon training so even at peak I'm not running more than 3x/week. So is this more just for a fun self-challenge, or is it a cutthroat battle of the elites?
posted by Miko at 6:52 AM on March 4

I totally burned myself out last time I participated. It didn't have anything to do with the competition; I was strictly following a training plan I purchased online. My issue was that the plan I purchased was a lot more advanced than what I should have been doing.

Running 112 miles in November didn't do me any good if it made me not run again until March.

Consistency is my biggest challenge.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:01 AM on March 4

I done got injured after my marathon last December, so I haven't even bothered posting my miles to runner+, as right now I'm maxing out at a whopping 2.5 miles per run. Hell, I'm only posting to nike+ because it does it automatically when I sync my iPod. I have gained sooooooo much weight, going from minimum 18 miles a week down to maximum 8. Pants iz stretchun.

I need to get back in the challenge, regardless.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:26 AM on March 4

That's a good question, Miko. I asked about staying out of the January challenge because I realized my mileage was probably higher than the rest of the group, but I got some encouragement to join so I did. I'd be happy to stay out, though.

I'm not at all interested in competition, except with myself. There doesn't seem to be much trash talking or anything in the other Mefi challenges I've looked over. I like seeing the results posted by people I "know", and I checked in on the Feb group a lot just to see how things were going. I'm psyched that web-goddess registered for a half-marathon! Basically, for me, the more the more, and I'm so focussed on running right now that I'm just having a blast with another place to count things.

But, I can more than understand if my mileage puts people off, and I'd be happy to pull out.
posted by OmieWise at 7:31 AM on March 4

I just realized that web-goddess set up a two-month challenge, which is different than the one month one I set up. My apologies.
posted by OmieWise at 7:35 AM on March 4

I've been using gmap-pedometer.com, but some folks have portable GPS units.

Hm. I may look into this, then.

So is this more just for a fun self-challenge, or is it a cutthroat battle of the elites?

Miko, as someone who is in every way Elite, I hereby promise that should I join, I will not at any point attempt to cut the throats of my fellow-mefites.
posted by Greg Nog at 9:11 AM on March 4

I didn't realize there was a February challenge, let along March!
posted by amro at 9:47 AM on March 4

Trying to get back into running now that the weather here in boston is getting a bit better - I've signed up for both challenges.
posted by soplerfo at 9:54 AM on March 4

I'm thinking of getting running again, but I'm probably only going to be running like 10k/week. So if I do and I join this group I'll make the rest of you look good.
posted by loiseau at 9:55 AM on March 4

Sure, Omniwise is putting up big numbers, but you bitches are gonna have to work pretty hard to beat me this month -- I ran 182 miles this weekend, from Wickenburg, AZ to Mesa, AZ.

... ok... as part of a relay team. With 12 other runners. Still, I lay claim to all running! (As a side note, those relay races are friggin' awesome. If you get a chance to do one, take it!)


Anyway, I'll be curious to try this thing out. I haven't really ever been serious about logging miles, so I'll give it a shot for the month.
posted by ph00dz at 10:03 AM on March 4

But, I can more than understand if my mileage puts people off, and I'd be happy to pull out

Oh, heck no, I wouldn't want anybody to stay out. I think having a place to log workouts would be a lot of fun, even if I'm not seriously trying to "win." I just don't want to clutter up the page for people if it is a serious competition. As long as it's a pretty casual thing with no particular expectations for distance, I would enjoy taking part - rooting for the high-mileage folks while toddling along at my own pace.
posted by Miko at 10:07 AM on March 4

Ack! Sorry about the doubling up, OmieWise. I didn't see yours anywhere. How the heck did people find out about it? I didn't see a forum post, and it wasn't listed on our group home page. (I actually posted in the support forums about the fact that new challenges don't seem to be listed anywhere.) That's why I made it a two-month challenge, because I thought we'd already lost a couple days at the beginning of the month and I wasn't sure if I could "back-date" a challenge.

Anyway, there are already a couple people in it so I'll leave it up, I guess. I see that tomble's signed up for the two-monther, so maybe we can differentiate them by saying the walkers should join the two-month challenge? Maybe I can make a note on it somehow...
posted by web-goddess at 12:48 PM on March 4

Done! I've edited the two-month challenge to be Run/Walk.
posted by web-goddess at 12:49 PM on March 4

It was undoubtedly my fault. I just made a challenge any old way, I'd never done it before.
posted by OmieWise at 1:29 PM on March 4

Ok I'm in!

I'm trying to do 5K about 3 or 4 times a week at the moment so this will help the motivation. The weather here is going from snow yesterday to sunshine today but the runnings good! Just back in from my first this week so that's me on the graph!
posted by brautigan at 2:32 PM on March 4

I'm planning on walking my butt off (almost literally, as part of a weight loss effort). So, I'm walking some big distances. This makes me even more keen to do some serious walks. Pity the site doesn't seem to interface with Garmin GPS files.
posted by tomble at 5:20 PM on March 4

Is there a running with the Devil challenge?
posted by Tube at 5:48 PM on March 4

I was so excited when I went to my profile and I already had one "friend"... then I saw that it was the Myspace Tom of Runners+. Sigh.
posted by loiseau at 6:01 PM on March 4

Okay. I have decided I am including walk distances in my thingy. I hope that's alright.
posted by loiseau at 6:06 PM on March 4

I'm tri training but it's going to be an exclusively indoor sport until at least April. Hit the ice tonight -- elbow, wrist, and back. Not doing that again anytime soon!

Come spring, though, I'm definitely in.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 9:07 PM on March 4

There- I just joined the group and the challenge. My plan is to clutter up the page with my low mileage. Shout out to louiseau.
posted by The Loch Ness Monster at 5:01 AM on March 5

I joined! I'm training for a 10k (March 30th).

I love keeping track of my mileage. I don't have a nike+ but I log my miles over at runningahead so I'll jump over to this challenge and add my data as well.

I had my longest run of my life on Sunday, 5 miles.

Game on.
posted by collocation at 6:25 AM on March 5

I had a really great run Monday (only 3+ miles, but I finally felt kinda powerful doing it, vice schlubby), which inspired me to check out this thread and treat myself to a refurb Nano and Nike+ as an early 30th birthday self-prezzie. So I think I will be joining.

Between this and krav maga, there is a faint (but nevertheless real) possibility that I might become one of those people for whom vigorous physical activity is naturally -- and willingly -- a daily occurrence. Squee.
posted by somanyamys at 8:56 AM on March 5

Sorry, that's "loiseau"
posted by The Loch Ness Monster at 2:54 PM on March 5

That's bad ass, guys. Yay for running!

I just wanna say here, for the record... I'm not gonna make the case that the kind of mileage that omiewise and I are putting in is a good idea. This summer, we're both doing monumentally stupid events -- in my case, the Tahoe Rim Trail 100, while Omie is throwing down at the grandaddy of all ridiculous trail races, the Western States 100. Like anything else, it's something you... uhhh... work up to.

Really, you've just gotta prepare. That means lots of 50-60 mile weeks. This is the first time I've ever really tried to log my miles in a formal way, but I guess I should take this seriously. We're talking 24 hours of nonstop (pretty slow) running. I expect total brutality.

... but don't get the wrong idea. I don't think either one of us are snobs about this at all... If anyone has any questions or anything, don't hesitate to drop either one of us an email or whatever...
posted by ph00dz at 8:31 PM on March 5