Official inaugural Tower of Terror 10 miler thread. September 29, 2012

[JRM393]

DP wants to get decent running shoes. He suggested going to Dick's Sports. I politely chortled and said we'd visit a running store to see what they suggested. I've never been looked over by the pro's there, so we both will see what they have to say.

From what I've been told (since i've started, i've only gone to the running stores) Dicks will just put you in a shoe, they don't put you on a treadmill and look at how you run. Plus the people that usually work there are just hired, usually at a running store they'll have specific training. If you've never been looked at...go. Even if you don't actually buy the shoes there, you'll know what suits you.

For the most part, unless you find a sale or something like that, all shoes are practically the same price, no matter where you go (including online). But my store has a frequent buyers program where you get money off once you spend a certain amount. So it's always something to ask about. Also, once they come out with the new version of the shoes, the old ones usually go on sale online, but not in running stores, so find out when your shoe comes out with their new models, and buy up what you can if you really like your shoe!

 

[pinkxray]

Not much too say really... just need to vent a little I guess.


I am just sooooo tired of the heat and humidity. I just tried to go for a short run of 3 miles and ended up doing .5 miles and just quit and walked home

It is about 80 and the humidity is like 85% but it felt like I was jogging in a sauna with a sweater on.

I know we are supposed to slow down when it's hot but I am getting so discouraged training each week and watching my times/pace get slower or stay the same.

I did a 5k in May and my time was 33:something. I just did another on Sunday and my time was 37something. (It was low 80s with about 95%humidity) I guess I just feel like I have been training all summer and not getting anywhere. This week was my long run of 8 miles and although I decided the Galloway method wasn't for me I needed to do intervals of 2:1 to fight the heat or I couldn't have made it (I had also called out sick the day before and was in bed the whole day with sore throat and 101temp) I finished in 1:47:36 for a pace of 13:27 which isn't too bad, but I was really hoping to stay under 13:00.

I know people say that once it stops being so hot and humid my times will drop, but I am going to guess the temps and humidity I have seen this summer will be what I should expect during the TOT run (minus the blaring sun) right?

Anyway... thanks for listening to me whine. I think I must be having a bad morning. I am still fighting a cold, DD gave me a hard time this morning getting ready for camp and I think I really need a good week of training to get motivated. The past few weeks have been brutal.

I think I am going to head to the gym and use the treadmill for the first time this summer and then head off to buy some new running sneakers thanks to all this talk of shoes


On that note: I went to a running store and tend to overpronate. The owner recommended Asics 2170 which have been great. They aren't too heavy considering the support and come in a few different colors. I'm going to get a second pair to start alternating with the first pair.

 

[PrincessV]

So new question... if one buys a pair of shoes and then runs in them, are stores good about taking them back? And if so does it have to be after one run..two..?

I'd hope they would - but I discovered a store near me that only allows a 7-day return/exchange window and you can't have worn them. What a rotten policy for running shoes!

I'll be honest - I'd sure try retuning them if I were you. You should NOT have to find a bunch of work-arounds to make running shoes work. If they're the right fit for you, they fit right in every way, from lacing to support to space for your toes, etc. I'm now on pair #6 this year, so I know how frustrating the search can be... but I've also found the elusive perfect fit in the past, and I promise it's worth the effort to find that!

On that note...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm afraid to get too excited so soon, but

I tried my new Newton Lady Isaac S last night and, WOW! It felt like the shoes had been custom-made to fit my foot shape, my gait, my striking pattern, everything! I only did one mile in them, per the instructions, but that was one of the most comfortable, fastest miles I've ever run. No joke. When I switched to my usual shoes for the rest of my run, it felt like I had a couple of sand bags on my feet: sluggish, dragging me down instead of propelling me forward, and way too squishy. And my left foot and ankle started cramping within a few minutes in the old (not really "old" - about 100 miles on them) shoes. I know I need to give them more time to know for sure, but I may be a Newton convert...

 

[PrincessV]

DP wants to get decent running shoes. He suggested going to Dick's Sports. I politely chortled and said we'd visit a running store to see what they suggested.

Know what's funny? We just got a Dick's and it somehow managed to hire a solid staff of people who actually know shoes! I already knew what I wanted and was there because they had them on sale, but wound up chatting with a shoes staff member and wound getting some really good advice. You never know! I suspect Dick's was willing to pay more than our local running-specific stores and stole their employees, lol!

For the most part, unless you find a sale or something like that, all shoes are practically the same price, no matter where you go (including online).

I've found good sales through Zappos, too, once you know which shoe you want.

I know people say that once it stops being so hot and humid my times will drop, but I am going to guess the temps and humidity I have seen this summer will be what I should expect during the TOT run (minus the blaring sun) right?

Hi there - I'll commiserate with you! My last outdoor run was 94 degrees... UGH. I'm finding it really hard, too, to keep reminding myself that what's happening now isn't my "real" pace.

As for the TOT, yes, it will be warm and humid; best plan on that. But, speaking as a Floridian slogging through summer training, I promise - having the sun down will make a HUGE difference! I try to run near sundown and even with it on the horizon, not fully dark, it feels like a 10-degree difference.

 

[JRM393]

Know what's funny? We just got a Dick's and it somehow managed to hire a solid staff of people who actually know shoes! I already knew what I wanted and was there because they had them on sale, but wound up chatting with a shoes staff member and wound getting some really good advice. You never know! I suspect Dick's was willing to pay more than our local running-specific stores and stole their employees, lol!


I've found good sales through Zappos, too, once you know which shoe you want.


Hi there - I'll commiserate with you! My last outdoor run was 94 degrees... UGH. I'm finding it really hard, too, to keep reminding myself that what's happening now isn't my "real" pace.

As for the TOT, yes, it will be warm and humid; best plan on that. But, speaking as a Floridian slogging through summer training, I promise - having the sun down will make a HUGE difference! I try to run near sundown and even with it on the horizon, not fully dark, it feels like a 10-degree difference.

Usually my shoes won't go on sale until the new model comes out. So I run in Brooks Adreneline, and when the 12th generation came out, I was able to pick up the 11th generation ones for about $60, but the 12th generation ones are still like $110. It also doesn't help that I wear a 2E width so when they do go on sale this time i'll probably pick up a few pairs!

That's good to hear about Dick's having good sales associates! Ours here are terrible, they just point you to a shoe and say...yeah this is a good one, a lot of people buy it.

It's been hot this summer, I know it can be tough, but just think of the reward for those runs afterward! Not only do you get to run with a bunch of people who love to run (and most likely Disney) but you get to party with a bnuch of people just as crazy as you for training in this heat! On that note, it's actually going to be pleasant this weekend and I am really looking forward to it. 78 and partyly cloudy. I'll take it!

 

[annmarieda]

I know we are supposed to slow down when it's hot but I am getting so discouraged training each week and watching my times/pace get slower or stay the same.

I have been feeling pretty discouraged lately too. My times have (at best) not gotten better but on several runs were worse as if I hadn't done anything all summer. I keep trying to tell myself that as long as I am out...at least I am keeping a footing in this.. It would be super easy to not go out..but I think then I would see way worse times when I eventually did go back out.

This week was my long run of 8 miles and although I decided the Galloway method wasn't for me I needed to do intervals of 2:1 to fight the heat or I couldn't have made it (I had also called out sick the day before and was in bed the whole day with sore throat and 101temp) I finished in 1:47:36 for a pace of 13:27 which isn't too bad, but I was really hoping to stay under 13:00.

Sounds like you have more a reason that just the heat for your runs not being fun for you. Hope you feel better soon and are at 100%. I bet your run will be that much better once you are...regardless of the heat/humidity (which sucks oh so much in and of itself)

on that note: I went to a running store and tend to overpronate. The owner recommended Asics 2170 which have been great. They aren't too heavy considering the support and come in a few different colors. I'm going to get a second pair to start alternating with the first pair.

Those are the exact pair I got. I read on fb about someone getting a pair too. While it wasn't my favorite shoe I have ran it... I am going to give it another try tomorrow.

I'll be honest - I'd sure try retuning them if I were you. You should NOT have to find a bunch of work-arounds to make running shoes work. If they're the right fit for you, they fit right in every way, from lacing to support to space for your toes, etc. I'm now on pair #6 this year, so I know how frustrating the search can be... but I've also found the elusive perfect fit in the past, and I promise it's worth the effort to find that!

If I am being honest... I wonder how much of my displeasure in my shoes and the run in them yesterday had more to do with my attitude (like I wouldn't like any shoe cause I wanted my minimalist style shoes to work) and how much was actual problems. I am going to try another run in them and see. They were not cheap in my books.. so I really don't want to just be buying shoe after shoe. (2 new pairs of shoes in the last 30 days is a bit hard on the pocket book)

I'm afraid to get too excited so soon, but

I tried my new Newton Lady Isaac S last night and, WOW! It felt like the shoes had been custom-made to fit my foot shape, my gait, my striking pattern, everything! I only did one mile in them, per the instructions, but that was one of the most comfortable, fastest miles I've ever run. No joke. When I switched to my usual shoes for the rest of my run, it felt like I had a couple of sand bags on my feet: sluggish, dragging me down instead of propelling me forward, and way too squishy. And my left foot and ankle started cramping within a few minutes in the old (not really "old" - about 100 miles on them) shoes. I know I need to give them more time to know for sure, but I may be a Newton convert...

How exciting! I am pretty new to running... but it seems to me that each time I have found something that has worked well. (be it sock to bra) it makes the run that much more fun. (well, I am still very new to running, so maybe FUN isn't the right word. )

 

[poohbear8]

Hi guys! I went MIA, due to illness. I haven't run since my 10k race sadly. I'm heading to the beach tomorrow where I hope to make time for a few runs and get caught up on this thread.

I sent my time in for the race and got an email they updated my corral placement. I'm happy with the 13 min/mile. It makes the LONG and HOT 10k race worth it. I'm so glad I did it.

 

[sumlee]

Hi guys! I went MIA, due to illness. I haven't run since my 10k race sadly. I'm heading to the beach tomorrow where I hope to make time for a few runs and get caught up on this thread.

I sent my time in for the race and got an email they updated my corral placement. I'm happy with the 13 min/mile. It makes the LONG and HOT 10k race worth it. I'm so glad I did it.

Yay!!! Congrats!

 

[sumlee]

Happy Saturday, everyone! Just checking in from Utah with my 8 mile run (I had a 10k race last Saturday, so I am a week late with my 8 miles). It went pretty well actually. I was starting to feel overheated going into mile 6, so I took a couple short walk breaks in miles 6 and 7, which really seemed to help! Mile 8 was my fastest mile of the run! Finished in 1:31:22. Afterward, I didn't have a headache and only a mild stomach ache. The walk breaks were really the only thing I did differently, so maybe they were what made the difference in how I felt post-run. I'm thinking maybe I should work a couple into my race plan. Maybe I'll walk at the aid stations while I'm drinking my water...

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

[AnotherPrincess]

So I have a problem that I need help with. After several 5ks this year, I have come to the realization that I have major race anxiety. This is a problem because I am so tense that my muscles are tense too. This makes me slower in races than I know I can be and makes me more sore than even my fastest training runs. I do everything I can to make myself relax but it's the same thing over and over. I have to get over this before Disney as it will likely be the difference between finishing and getting swept. Anybody else have this problem? Help!

 

[mickeysgal]

So I have a problem that I need help with. After several 5ks this year, I have come to the realization that I have major race anxiety. This is a problem because I am so tense that my muscles are tense too. This makes me slower in races than I know I can be and makes me more sore than even my fastest training runs. I do everything I can to make myself relax but it's the same thing over and over. I have to get over this before Disney as it will likely be the difference between finishing and getting swept. Anybody else have this problem? Help!

When we were at the race expo at WDW this past January, I stopped to listen to Jeff Galloway speak at one of his lectures. He was talking about pain and he said that many times pain is stress/anxiety race related. At first, I didn't believe him, but I've come to understand that he's right.

Now that I have one 1/2 under my belt, I'm way more relaxed (not smug, just relaxed) going into this race and the Disneyland 1/2. About mile 10 at the WDW 1/2, I started to have major knee pain. Don't know why. Ended up walking most of the race at that point. And I still made it within the sweeper time. So if I can walk virtually the last three miles through that kind of pain, I know that I can finish these next two races. That alone has taken a lot of my race anxiety away.

FYI...The knee is now healed and I loved the ice tent at the end!

So, relax, know that you can stop and walk (fast) if need be. You'll be fine. The excitement of the race will carry you through. Promise.

Don't fear the sweepers!

 

[JRM393]

So I have a problem that I need help with. After several 5ks this year, I have come to the realization that I have major race anxiety. This is a problem because I am so tense that my muscles are tense too. This makes me slower in races than I know I can be and makes me more sore than even my fastest training runs. I do everything I can to make myself relax but it's the same thing over and over. I have to get over this before Disney as it will likely be the difference between finishing and getting swept. Anybody else have this problem? Help!

I used to have the same problem when I started road races. I'd get very anxious and really for no reason. I did get over it, and so can you, I promise. There are a few ways to try and get yourself over it. The first, practice. Keep entering those races! It's similar to public speaking. The more you do it the less anxious you'll become. But, I'd also say if you aren't a little nervous you'd probably suffer the same end result. So turn your anxiousness into adrenaline and keep pounding the pavement!

If you don't have the time (or money for that matter) to keep doing races try to focus on what's causing you to be anxious? Is it the fear of failure? Fear of success? Fear of the unknown? And talk about them whether you have a running group or even on these message boards, someone is always willing to listen and give advice.

 

[Danhockey04]

It's almost here and I still don't have an outfit for this race set. I did 14.5 miles today and look to get ready for mickey in January. Just a couple weeks till we get our bib numbers!

 

[TiggerAllie]

Got through 12 miles today-- we're leaving for a cruise on Monday, and the Disneyland 1/2 is in a few weeks! I forgot to bring any kind of sugar (I usually use fruit snacks), so it was a bit rough at the end, but I made it! I'll be excited to get to stop at 10 mi for this race!

 

[annmarieda]

Just thought I would share that I stopped in the store that I bought my shoes. Today's run wasn't much better, in fact.. time was again worse. Knee hurt again....

They were super nice and made some suggestions.. but said it would be no trouble to exchange. She agreed it sounds like these are a bit too much stability for me..and to go to a neutral shoe might be better.

So I will fit in an "extra" short run of maybe 3 miles tomorrow with the shoes... minus the insert that I purchased to go along with them. That will give me 2 runs left before my 10k next sat. I really had hoped to have 2 weeks to get accustom to the new shoes, but I guess if I do switch... 2 runs is better than nothing.


I do feel so much better knowing they are willing to work with me... I have NEVER paid this much for shoes...so I really want them to work.

 

[pinkxray]

I was just on the RunDisney page and browsed the FAQ. I just noticed that those not staying at Host resorts will have to park at WWOS and then get shuttled to DHS.

Just curious.. does Disney give out more detailed directions at the expo or is what you see on the website it?

Also, for those not staying at host resorts how do you plan on getting the run? I'm staying at SSR and DD&DH will join me later. We will have a car but it seems like it might be easier to get a cab or something?

 

[Terapin]

So I have a problem that I need help with. After several 5ks this year, I have come to the realization that I have major race anxiety. This is a problem because I am so tense that my muscles are tense too. This makes me slower in races than I know I can be and makes me more sore than even my fastest training runs. I do everything I can to make myself relax but it's the same thing over and over. I have to get over this before Disney as it will likely be the difference between finishing and getting swept. Anybody else have this problem? Help!

I have this too. I bought, and used, Rescue Remedy. It is a flower essence remedy that I bought from a health food store and have used for years. I firmly believe that it works (and I'm not someone who believes in a lot of alternative products). It is a small bottle and you take a dropper full for anxiety. I have used it for labour, and races. My friend uses it for full-out anxiety attacks during flying. Small thing to try, with no loss if it doesn't work for you. I figure whether it does work, or placebo, seeing as my anxiety calms right down, who cares the mode of action?

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Heading out for my 10 miler today got me thinking
Any meets planned?

I'm thinking a bling brunch or drink around the world celebration

 

[mickeysgal]

I was just on the RunDisney page and browsed the FAQ. I just noticed that those not staying at Host resorts will have to park at WWOS and then get shuttled to DHS.

Just curious.. does Disney give out more detailed directions at the expo or is what you see on the website it?

Also, for those not staying at host resorts how do you plan on getting the run? I'm staying at SSR and DD&DH will join me later. We will have a car but it seems like it might be easier to get a cab or something?

The host resorts in case anyone was wondering:

Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
Disney's All-Star Music Resort
Disney's All-Star Sports Resort

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside

Disney's Beach Club Resort
Disney's BoardWalk Resort
Disney's Yacht Club Resort

 

[Lynn57]

Heading out for my 10 miler today got me thinking
Any meets planned?

I'm thinking a bling brunch or drink around the world celebration

I'm in!