Month of June - WISH Walkers and Runners Training Thread

[jmasgat]

Welcome Mike and Maniac.

Well, new shoes are going back today. Did a 6 mile run on the TM at the gym, and while the width in the toe box was nice, my heels slipped (and therefore rubbed) and my right foot felt oddly numb--something in the midsole was weird. Back to my tired and true Saucony.

I need a nap. Left yesterday's workout til the evening (something I never do) and spent 75 minutes on the bike along with a Vinyassa yoga class. Follow that up with this morning's run and a Hatha yoga class and I am beat!

Maura

 

[MouseDogMom]

Maura - Tried a new one last night. One of the running stores sponsors a group run on Thursday nights. The runners pretty much organize it themselves, apparently. There were only 5 of us last night, and we chose our distance and our route. They kept the car keys for us and a record of who was there so they'd know when everyone returned. 1 really fast guy, 4 females with varying paces. We stayed together for the most part; it turned out that one of the other women is one of my group leaders, and she was actually struggling last night so I ran/walked the last couple of miles with her while the other 2 went ahead. Did 4.2 miles in 90 degree weather and got to meet some new runner friends!
Hope you can find some shoes that work. I've had to start tying the laces a lot looser across the top of the foot - my feet started falling asleep while running, which is really, really obnoxious, not to mention uncomfortable!

DH and I are running the Race for the Cure tomorrow, so we're off to packet pickup. We're going to run a mile or 2 on the way to the start line to warm up, and then we'll have to run back to the car, so we'll end up with around 6 miles for the day.

Jackie

 

[FireDancer]

Felt like I needed to bump up the monthly thread.

Jackie- That bar deal sounds pretty cool. We don't have anything I can think of around here like that but we do have a lot of running activities so I can't really complain. Cleveland gets a pretty bad wrap health wise and in many cases deserves it (we don't do well in the monthly Men's Health report cards) but on most weekends there are at least 5 races within a 20 mile radius and out park system is one of the best in the country. I've been trying to find a race near Point Pleasant, NJ for July 31st and there is only one and it is 30 minutes away. I'd go nuts if there were that few races around here.

Deb- I do have a lot of summer races planned. The Notre Dame run was humid but fun. The last two years I went with a friend who was doing their first ever race so it was nice to try and get someone else to catch the bug. Both plan on doing next year's already. I feel you on finding races when traveling (see above). The people I am traveling with would sooner cut off an arm then do a race but luckily even if I go to the one that is a half hour away it is early enough to do and get back to spend time with everyone on the beach. Luckily it is an afternoon wedding.

Mike and WDWmarathonmanic- Welcome

John- Other then being a smoggy city what is the problem with Houston? I might have missed it in a post. I remember reading an article in either Men's Health or Runner's World that the combination of smog and humidity in Houston makes in the most un-runner friendly city in the US so you probably aren't missing much.

Maura- Some times shoes just don't work out. Luckily I haven't run into that yet but I am going to be trying on a new pair this weekend because I want to get something a little lighter then my Wave Riders for races. Hopefully I fare a little better then you did.

It has been a pretty hot and humid June in NE Ohio so far. I've done some day and some night running and have a lot of races planned this month. Other then letting my mind wander a bit too much on training runs lately (and the dip in time that always results) the running has gone well. I am about to ramp up the weekly mileage a bit to start and get ready for the longer fall races and the January marathon here shortly. The biggest mistake I made for my first marathon last year was not concentrating on my total weekly base and only concentrating on the long runs.

Live an learn I guess. Hope everyone is having a good June.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Hi everyone! Can I join?

I attempted a half marathon last November (Richmond, VA) and while I enjoyed myself I wasn't fully prepared and didn't have the bug like I do this year. I ran an extremely enjoyable 10k in April and have an 8k on July 4th planned at Yorktown Beach here in VA (although the race isn't actually on the beach it's on a scenic tour road) which with how the weather's been around here lately (90's with 100% humidity) I'm not looking terribly forward to it. I'm also doing what I'm considering my first "real" half at Disney in October (Wine and Dine). I need to think about what I'm doing after that though and get it together or I fear I'll come back from Disney with post-race depression.

I am having a terrible time finding local shorter races. Northern VA/D.C. is 2 hours away and they do have quite a few more races than around here but traffic on the weekends to and from there isn't fun. I would like to find an 8 or 10k at the end of August.

I guess one good thing about sweating to death during all of these runs lately is that I've lost 4 lbs. this month (down to 128!) and that I have never really, truly appreciated air conditioning as much as I do now .

Maura - I'm having the worst luck with shoes. My last two pairs haven't been that great (first ones I had severe pain in my knees/hips after running, second pair are great support wise but my feet slide around and hit the front of the shoes [I've lost 3 toenails running in them but at least they grow back; it's just not very attractive with flip flops for awhile ]) so I'm headed to a running store tomorrow after work. Although I did see these on a local news show :

Thanks for letting me join in! I love hearing how others are doing and any advice/tips.

 

[jmasgat]

Kimberly Welcome. I actually saw someone run the WDW 1/2 in them this year. They certainly do invite a lot of commentary & in some quarters, heated discussion! Hope you find some local races that keep you going. I don't race nearly as often as others on this board, but I do know that I have ti have some goal race to make the training worthwhile.

Frank I hear you about the mileage. My goal now is to try and make it up toand then through the marathon plan I have for the (possible) October marathon. I somehow believe I need more miles under my belt in order to have a good run (That plus keep the pesky feet happy!)

Off to swim (if I can get into the pool.....)

Maura

 

[MouseDogMom]

Frank - DH bought a new pair of shoes last weekend that were lighter weight. He tried on several of the new "minimalist" ones (not quite the Vibram Five Fingers), but decided against them. He ended up with an Asics model that's several ounces lighter than either the Nike Zoom Elite or Wave Riders that he's currently wearing. The guy at the store recommended that he use them for speedwork for now and then maybe they'll be his race shoe.

Kimberly - I ran the full in Richmond last year and really enjoyed it. There aren't as many races during the summer months - for some reason we southerners just prefer not to race when it's this hot and humid! Up until May the race schedule is really heavy around here, then it dwindles to almost nothing until September except for July 4th. I really need to do the RnR Virginia Beach just to keep me on track for my October marathon, but the hotels are way too expensive.

Maura - I'm trying to up the mileage too, but my body is rebelling. Every time I get a good streak going, something starts hurting and I have to scale back. This week it's the hip/IT band.

I actually DNS'd the Race for the Cure on Saturday. Tried to run from the car to the start, and my hip hurt too bad to run. Decided it was stupid to risk injury for a 5K, and walked around all the vendor exhibits and collected free stuff while DH ran. I've taken the week off - tried to run last night and had the same reaction as Saturday, but am going to try again tonight since it's the group run from the store that I really enjoyed last week. I've been stretching and taking ibuprofen, so maybe...

Jackie

 

[FFigawi]

John- Other then being a smoggy city what is the problem with Houston? I might have missed it in a post. I remember reading an article in either Men's Health or Runner's World that the combination of smog and humidity in Houston makes in the most un-runner friendly city in the US so you probably aren't missing much.

Actually, Houston itself is a really good city to run in. There are lots of parks, trails, and bayous to run along so you don't have to be on the road the whole time. The heat and humidity can be a bit unbearable in the summer, but the winters make up for it. The complaining about Houston running right now is over the Houston Marathon. They decided to go to a lottery system for entries and split the lottery between 11,000 for the half and 11,000 for the full. They also jacked the entry fees for both races up too. Given that Chicago, San Antonio, and other large cities with marathons larger than the 22,000 in Houston can run theirs efficiently without a lottery, a lot of people are upset over this and are making plans to run elsewhere. Even though I'm a coach for a training group that traditionally focuses on the Houston race, I'm skipping it this year and going to Austin instead, as are many of our runners.

 

[FireDancer]

John- Ok, makes sense.

Kim- I can't do the 5 finger shoes. I tried them but they are just too uncomfortable for me. As for post race depression, I almost always have something down the road in the works. After the Wine & Dine it will be the January full. After that it will be some spring half (most likely Flying Pig or Pittsburgh). Even if you aren't signed up look at some and start planning. It is like starting to plan your next Disney trip when you get home from the last one to make it feel like you know you are going back.

Jackie- I am thinking about getting a pair of really light shoes (Brooks T6 Racers) but would only use them for shorter races. The shoe I was thinking about for training and maybe the longer races were the Wave Precision. They have pretty close specs to the Wave Riders but are a bit lighter. I'll have to try them on and see. I'd still use the Wave Riders for the bulk of the training but having a lighter option for races would be nice.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Thanks for the welcomes!

Maura - I can imagine that they aren't widely accepted! I think that's what the news story was about. They don't look very comfortable but to each their own! I found an 8k at the end of August but it's in a state park close to VA Beach and all of the trails are in the sand and it's an entire sand run. I don't think I'm ready for that or want to risk injury before the half.

Jackie - It's so true! It is pretty miserable around here. I am taking a long weekend to the mountains at the beginning of August so I might see if there's something around there I can do. I wanted to do the RnR half but I don't know if it's too close to do the W&D too? Hotels are insane but drop off after Labor Day weekend. It's about a 30 minute drive for me to VA Beach when it's not tourist season and about an hour and a half when it is so I think that's deterring me from signing up as well. It's so frustrating being injured (but yay for free stuff! ). I had a run the other night that I felt great and was ready to have a long run and I started feeling a sharp pain in my ankle after the second mile so it was disappointing not being able to do what I wanted. Hopefully your IT band/hip will start feeling better!

Frank - They look uncomfortable! My toes are super short and squished together so I don't even think I could separate them enough to try the shoe on. I am really thinking about what I want to do after the W&D. I've narrowed it down to the half in WDW in January, the Princess half in February (both would be very short 3 day weekend trips), or the Shamrock half in March in VA Beach and I'd like to attempt my first full sometime next year. I can't imagine how many race shirts you must have!

 

[geaux_half]

John - I'm skipping Houston this year as well. I'll be running 1/2's in San Antonio in November and Austin in February instead.

This is the only time of year that I work in a couple of treadmill workouts a week into my running schedule. Reverse treadmill training from you northern folks.

 

[FFigawi]

Kimberly - There is a half marathon in Richmond over Labor Day weekend if you don't feel like going to VA Beach. They have a really great marathon training team program there and offer a half for those who don't want to or can't run the RnR. I'm not sure of the details, but I'm sure the team can help you out.

 

[wtpclc]

Jackie - Hope that hips doing better!

Maura - Did you get new shoes that you like?

Kimberly - Welcome! If Wine and Dine is only your 2nd half, I would not recommend a September half. I tend to err on teh cautious side, though. Hope you can fine a way to keep trianing in teh heat without many races.

Been so happy with my swim adn bike lately, but my legs have rebelled form running. Need to quit skipping my runs.

 

[FireDancer]

Frank - I can't imagine how many race shirts you must have!

A LOT. If I think about it later I'll post a picture but it is kind of ridiculous. I keep putting it off but I am going to have one of those t-shirt quilts made. There is a company down in Columbus, OH that does it as a way to raise funds for a deaf charity. They employ all hearing-impaired people and also train them to do other kinds of jobs. They are a little more then the places in the back of the running magazines but it is for a good cause.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

It's been a while since I've popped in and said hi, but I love reading what everyone has been up to!

Frank: That's such a great idea to have the shirts made into a quilt! I feel like I have hundreds of them hanging around in every nook and cranny of my closet, and I've just started wearing them as throw away layers or painting clothes.

Carrie: That's why I'm terrified to start doing tri's! I can't imagine having to be GOOD at THREE sports at the SAME TIME.

Jackie: How has the hip been feeling?

I'm down to one week until the Rock n Roll Seattle half... and I feel like I'm just holding myself together with duct tape. My goals for this race, in order of importance:
1) Not go into labor.
2) Finish.
3) Keep both of my knees within their knee joints.
4) Not set a new course Porta-Potty record.

Why am I doing this, again?

I'm also running the Furry 5K on Sunday, but that should just be fun. It's a fundraiser for the Seattle Animal Shelter and there are normally more dogs on the course than people. I'm going to be running with my 6 year old German Shepherd with a recurring knee injury (my DH gets the non-broken dog, this time!) so it should be just my pace.

Hope everyone is having a great Friday!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

John - I didn't know about the one in Richmond! I was thinking if nothing else I could do one (VA Beach or Richmond) and just run an easy 10-11 miles of it and walk the rest. Use it as one of my long runs. I have off for four days over Labor Day so I guess waking up early one of those days wouldn't be so bad . Thanks for the link too!

Carrie - I agree. I definitely don't want to do too much too soon. I have actually found quite a few races searching other websites. I had been only looking at runningusa.com and found active.com to be a lot better website so I've been able to locate several races I'll be able to do! I think I train a lot better when I have races to keep me in check. I don't know how you do it! I can't imagine trying to keep up with all three.

Frank - I didn't even know they did that! What a great thing to do with race shirts and even better, finding a charity group to do it . I'll have to remember that when I accumulate more shirts. Right now I could have a washcloth made .

Sarah - I love your race goals! I'm sure the other people at the course hope #1 doesn't happen as well! That's so cute that they have 5k's with dogs.

I've decided to do the January half or full marathon at WDW. Everytime I think about challenging myself to prepare for the full my stomach starts doing flips. Does that mean I should or shouldn't do it? I was thinking about doing the Princess in February but I want to do a duathlon in mid-March so I'd rather train for that after the half/full in January.

 

[FireDancer]

If anyone is interested this is the site for that company in Columbus that does the quilts.

 

[MouseDogMom]

Sarah - Good luck in Seattle. Your goals are great! I love the "non-broken dog" reference - bet the dog doesn't even know he's broken!

Carrie - I keep LOOKING at the bike. I don't remember the last time it was ridden. We're talking years, not months. I have been on the stationary bike a few times. And the city was nice enough to enclose the pool a mile from my house, and I still haven't been there. You'd think...

John - I was really impressed with Richmond's marathon training team. They were so supportive of everyone on the course, not just their people. One of their coaches truly saved my race that day by giving me treats at mile 19. I will never, ever forget her!

I ran 4 miles last night. Maybe not the smartest thing I've ever done, but the run itself didn't hurt. My hip still hurts, but as long as I stretch every hour or so during the day I can keep moving. I figured as long as it didn't hurt any more to run, I might as well get the miles in. Probably stupid runner logic, but hey, it got me through. We won't even try to figure in the migraine that I came home from work with and the drugs I took for that before I started out!

Jackie

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Nevermind

 

[jmasgat]

Carrie I ended up sticking with my Saucony Rides--which won't fix the toe blisters, but are at least a known quantity. I may try to buy a different shoe and see if they will work--just rotate them.

Kimberly You will get as many opinions on whether to do the full or half as there are WISHers! My approach was to do the half (my first) in 2009 and the full (my first) in2010. It's really a mental challenge as much or more than the physical challenge. I had to get to the point where I had even the slightest belief that I could do it. When that happened, I registered, took a deep breath and started training. Hope you decide on the one that works for you. Your advantage this year is that the reaces are filling sorta slowly, so that gives you time. When I did the half, I had to register in March--even before I had done any kind of distance race!

Sarah Well, that's a first for a race goal that I've seen! (Not going into labor). Hope your race goes well. As for tris....this is definitely more of a mental game than a physical one. If you think you can do one, you can.

Jackie Hope the migraine and hip issue disappears....pronto!

Did 7 miles today while watching the US squeak out their tie with Slovenia. Boy, refs at today's games have really been bad. The Germany game was a bit of a farce with all the yellow cards given out.

Have a great weekend, all. Tomorrow I go to a swim clinic. Should be "interesting" (my favorite word in the English Language)

Maura

 

[FFigawi]

I've decided to do the January half or full marathon at WDW. Everytime I think about challenging myself to prepare for the full my stomach starts doing flips. Does that mean I should or shouldn't do it? I was thinking about doing the Princess in February but I want to do a duathlon in mid-March so I'd rather train for that after the half/full in January.

Go for the full! It's a very laid back marathon compared to most of them, and all the excitement, characters, and general Disney magic makes the miles go by quickly. If you start this summer and work up to it slowly, you'll be just fine.