MeFi RunnerPlus Challenge September 2010

September 1, 2010 6:55 AM

Sept. 2010 distance challenge now up for the MetaFilter group at Runner+. Please join in!

It seems it's been a while since one of these has been posted to the Grey. It'd be nice to see a good-sized group of people join in since that's definitely motivating! All you have to do is sign up for Runner+ (if you haven't already) to take this challenge.

(Past reading reveals that "a 9 minute kilometer [is] the point where walking turns into running".)

posted by flex to MetaFilter-Related at 6:55 AM (39 comments total)

Fabulous. I'll sign up. I've been doing some miles lately, and started using Runner+ again a few months ago.
posted by OmieWise at 7:00 AM on September 1, 2010

Yeah I'm doing this! When I signed up the captcha I got was "gr8T," which bodes well.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:07 AM on September 1, 2010

I'm in, just entered this morning's run, and for this brief moment, I'm winning.
posted by padraigin at 7:29 AM on September 1, 2010

alrighty then.
posted by gaspode at 7:31 AM on September 1, 2010

Is there an android app that uploads run data to runnerplus? My ipod was stolen awhile ago and I haven't been tracking anything recently.
posted by achmorrison at 7:42 AM on September 1, 2010

Nice try, padraigin, I've got you beat today! Since I'll be spending a week or two of the month taking it easy after a half, and then immediately going to Germany for vacation, I have a sneaky suspicion this won't last long.
posted by teragram at 9:38 AM on September 1, 2010

Curse you, teragram! I have a personal goal of a hundred miles this month, after taking most of the summer off from formal exercise, so this will be a fun way to stay accountable, and I don't care if my victory only lasted a couple hours :)
posted by padraigin at 9:55 AM on September 1, 2010

This looks awesome, but is it mandatory to have the Nike+ kit to use the site?
posted by zennish at 9:57 AM on September 1, 2010

I'm in if there's some way to upload via my Droid. Though I am not a high mileage person.
posted by bearwife at 10:04 AM on September 1, 2010

Nope. I just log my runs by using Google Maps to plot my running path - it gives me my distance - and I keep track of my time.
posted by flex at 10:05 AM on September 1, 2010

Oh, that "nope" above is for zennish. You don't need the Nike+ kit to use the site. I don't know anything about uploading, but hopefully someone else does.
posted by flex at 10:07 AM on September 1, 2010

Oh, awesome. Count me in - not a distance runner by any means, but this looks fun!
posted by zennish at 10:09 AM on September 1, 2010

No. I don't have it, and I enter things manually.
posted by OmieWise at 10:10 AM on September 1, 2010

Oops, too late.

I find Gmap-pedometer easier to use than Google Maps on its own.
posted by OmieWise at 10:12 AM on September 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

I entered my run manually, because I forgot to use my Nike+ this morning (but I ran a known route).
posted by padraigin at 10:17 AM on September 1, 2010

That's really useful, OmieWise, I will start using that instead. Thanks!
posted by flex at 10:23 AM on September 1, 2010

Ooh yes. I had drifted away to MapMyRun but I'll start updating on Runner+ also.

FWIW, I had the hardest time finding how to enter a run manually when I started using Runner+. So if anyone else has the same "dang it, where is it?" reaction: Control Panel tab, then Run Manager.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 11:10 AM on September 1, 2010 [2 favorites]

(Past reading reveals that "a 9 minute kilometer [is] the point where walking turns into running".)

So are there separate challenges for walkers and runners? I do both nightly, can I enter both? But that would split my mileage?
posted by I am the Walrus at 11:41 AM on September 1, 2010

So are there separate challenges for walkers and runners? I do both nightly, can I enter both? But that would split my mileage?

I'm a walker too, but I always just enter the running challenge. Shhh, don't tell anyone.
posted by donajo at 12:24 PM on September 1, 2010

Hey, I'll give it a shot too! I've been running with the students in my school's xcountry team, so while we do some good miles, I'm the first to admit that I'm a slow runner. I've been wanting to see how many miles we do in a week/month.
posted by dealing away at 1:25 PM on September 1, 2010

So, I signed up. If I am not using a Nike+ or Garmin then I can't enter my data manually?
posted by I am the Walrus at 1:45 PM on September 1, 2010

I start running again next week. I need to be able to run 8Km each time I go out, in four weeks. This is the perfect motivation, thanks!
posted by Megami at 1:49 PM on September 1, 2010

I think they used to do both a walking and a running challenge? You can make a challenge just for walking if you like! I'm focused on running so I was only thinking about that, and I didn't know how many people would be interested, since it hadn't been posted for a while.

I am the Walrus: you can enter your data manually, I do. WHADK explained how up here.
posted by flex at 2:17 PM on September 1, 2010

Ok. According to my training plan, I am to run 107 miles this month. I usually hit those pretty square on the head. Anyway, I'm game.
posted by Kwine at 2:20 PM on September 1, 2010

thanks flex, I missed that
posted by I am the Walrus at 2:25 PM on September 1, 2010

I think the last walking challenge had maybe two participants (but I'm too lazy to look it up). We can set one up if there are other walkers interested, but I'm content to just be a slow mover in the running challenge. It's all about mileage anyway. It's also easier this way for people who do run/walk intervals.
posted by donajo at 2:39 PM on September 1, 2010

I'm in. I am very slow. If I push myself, I can do 4 miles in an hour so I'll be one of the walker/runner people. Hopefully I'll get down to 14:30 soon. (Unless my math is wrong.)
posted by artychoke at 3:26 PM on September 1, 2010

In! I will be at the end of the pack on both speed and distance, likely, but am hoping this will spur me to get moving with some degree of consistency.
posted by Kat Allison at 3:29 PM on September 1, 2010

I would suggest that there's no reason to separate walking and running.
posted by OmieWise at 3:29 PM on September 1, 2010 [2 favorites]

Hey, I'm in too.
posted by Miss Otis' Egrets at 3:58 PM on September 1, 2010

Yeah, it might be kind of fun to have walking and running within the same challenge. As donajo says, it's all about mileage.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:07 PM on September 1, 2010

Cool! I'm in. You convinced me to go for a run after work today.
posted by teg at 4:32 PM on September 1, 2010

Sure, make it a running or walking challenge, I don't care if no one else does.
posted by flex at 5:57 PM on September 1, 2010

I joined. Although I kinda wish it could be a challenge against ourselves as opposed to who has the most miles...
posted by smalls at 6:43 PM on September 1, 2010

Isn't all running ultimately a challenge against oneself?
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 6:48 PM on September 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

Just out of curiosity.. Does this kind of thing belong in IRL now? It is a virtual challenge, and there isn't likely any actual real life seeing or meeting of anybody, so that suggests MeTa is okay, but it just seems a lot more real than the rest of what we do here..

I'm confused.
posted by Chuckles at 7:21 PM on September 1, 2010

For all Droid (and other various smartphone users with GPS access), check out endomondo.com or in the Android Market. It's a great little run tracker, you'll still need to add your runs manually to Runner+ but it should make tracking distance/pace/time easier. It also maps your run as you go. Pretty nifty.
posted by Loto at 8:59 AM on September 2, 2010

Wow, 34 members signed up! Great turnout, and great start to the month so far!
posted by flex at 4:38 PM on September 3, 2010

I think I've finally gotten past my IT Band Syndrome. I ran 5k three times last week, a 5k race up and down a mountain on Saturday, and then 4 miles this morning. I've got a ways to go to get back to a good pace, but now that I can run without knee pain, it's just a matter of time. MeFi Running really helped me a lot last year.

I'm back, baby!
posted by Plutor at 7:39 AM on September 21, 2010