The Running Thread—2023

[Kerry1957]

I can imagine pushing that shopping cart would get annoying after a few miles…

;-)

The trail runs can be brutal with a cart!

 

[GreatLakes]

How would cadence be related to HR (I assume you mean a heart monitor chest strap)?

I would think that cadence would be quite accurate with almost any exercise device, especially when running. Yes, the accelerometer (that is, the watch) is on your arm, so maybe it's most affected by your arm, but as long as you're swinging your arm naturally with your running, then your arms and legs will have the same cadence.

When running, cadence is often the dominant rhythm just because that's what your whole body is moving for. That's one reason why wrist-measuring HR monitors have the "cadence locking" problem where they fail to measure your HR and instead lock on to the dominant pattern the watch is feeling: your cadence.

Now, if you're running while pushing a stroller or otherwise don't have your arms moving naturally, then I can see where the watch might have some problems. However, you're still thumping up and down in the cadence rhythm due to the running.

I have the HRM-PRO which does more running dynamics than just HR. Since it is on your core instead of wrist it gets more input from both sides of the body. I like the additional information and how it related to cadence, especially when I compare the variables with pace.

 

[PrincessV]

Forgive me if this is obvious, or if fancier devices than mine can sort it out in more detail, but my issue with cadence tracking is that it’s fairly useless if you do run/walk intervals because it just takes an average of the two. I find an easier and more accurate measure to be counting every other step during an interval and multiplying by 2 to get steps per minute. I just do that every once in a while to see where I’m at. But I’m also not big on data collection lol! (Says she who never saves any run on her Garmin, and mostly bought the cheapest one because she needed a waterproof watch with really big display numbers for her aging eyes )

 

[Herding_Cats]

Forgive me if this is obvious, or if fancier devices than mine can sort it out in more detail, but my issue with cadence tracking is that it’s fairly useless if you do run/walk intervals because it just takes an average of the two. I find an easier and more accurate measure to be counting every other step during an interval and multiplying by 2 to get steps per minute. I just do that every once in a while to see where I’m at. But I’m also not big on data collection lol! (Says she who never saves any run on her Garmin, and mostly bought the cheapest one because she needed a waterproof watch with really big display numbers for her aging eyes )

This is why I use my playlists. I'll come back and edit in a chart, but my run cadence section of my interval is pretty much a flat line when I'm using music and not watching a movie. And I've used that tempo of playlist for long enough that it's almost automatic on my easy runs now.
And the random red dots on the very bottom are me checking my watch for pace, notifications, or changing the song.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Forgive me if this is obvious, or if fancier devices than mine can sort it out in more detail, but my issue with cadence tracking is that it’s fairly useless if you do run/walk intervals because it just takes an average of the two. I find an easier and more accurate measure to be counting every other step during an interval and multiplying by 2 to get steps per minute. I just do that every once in a while to see where I’m at. But I’m also not big on data collection lol! (Says she who never saves any run on her Garmin, and mostly bought the cheapest one because she needed a waterproof watch with really big display numbers for her aging eyes )

For run/walk, my daughter and I use the "workout" feature to create a 30/30 workout. We can maximally set up 40 interval sets (or using 30/30 is 40 min), but we could stack a new interval set behind that. So in theory you could design it to be as long as you want. After the run is done, in the output you can then sort the information on Garmin Connect for that individual workout for "run" segments and "recover/walk" segments. You can then see the average cadence for just that type of interval. So not something you could see in the moment (instant cadence), but something you could see post-workout. I do believe many Garmins have instant cadence on them as well (instead of just average cadence) if you wanted to see it it in the moment. Which type do you have?

Walking cadence



Running cadence



I have a Garmin 235, so I don't know whether your Garmin has the same capability.

 

[PrincessV]

Which type do you have?

Um… it’s white… and round… and had a steep discount when I bought it 5 ish years ago?! I have no idea! I don’t even use it for intervals, just keeping time and to have a back up if my iSmoothRun phone app dies mid-run. I don’t even have the Garmin app installed lol!

 

[Blue Caterpillar]

Um… it’s white… and round… and had a steep discount when I bought it 5 ish years ago?! I have no idea! I don’t even use it for intervals, just keeping time and to have a back up if my iSmoothRun phone app dies mid-run. I don’t even have the Garmin app installed lol!

I find it super useful for intervals, especially as I like to do sections of different intervals in the same run. (2:00/:30, 3:00/30 back to 2:00/:30 if keeps me distracted that way for some reason) You can add as many steps per repeat as you want, to get around the 40-repeat limit, or do as @DopeyBadger says and stack them. If you make sure to label each step as run or then recovery for the walk it will also give you your average pace for the run section and walk section separately per repeat if that makes sense. You do have to set up the workouts in the app, but I think you may also be able to do it online as well. I have always wondered why they chose 40 as the limit.

 

[Dopey 2020]

Forgive me if this is obvious, or if fancier devices than mine can sort it out in more detail, but my issue with cadence tracking is that it’s fairly useless if you do run/walk intervals because it just takes an average of the two. I find an easier and more accurate measure to be counting every other step during an interval and multiplying by 2 to get steps per minute. I just do that every once in a while to see where I’m at. But I’m also not big on data collection lol! (Says she who never saves any run on her Garmin, and mostly bought the cheapest one because she needed a waterproof watch with really big display numbers for her aging eyes )

This was my problem prior to Apple updating their activity app. Now it has intervals built in instead of third party and breaks down the details of cadence while walking and running for each individual interval. Happier now especially since I only use intervals about 10 percent of the time training and on long ‘A’ races. I’m sure Garmin or others do something better but I really like my Apple bubble.



Looks like this and lets me compare running pace to what my Watch said while I was using it, helps me figure out the delay that is one thing I dislike about Apples current pace metric. Also let’s me know if I’m being consistent (usually not so much)

 

[GreatLakes]

Forgive me if this is obvious, or if fancier devices than mine can sort it out in more detail, but my issue with cadence tracking is that it’s fairly useless if you do run/walk intervals because it just takes an average of the two. I find an easier and more accurate measure to be counting every other step during an interval and multiplying by 2 to get steps per minute. I just do that every once in a while to see where I’m at. But I’m also not big on data collection lol! (Says she who never saves any run on her Garmin, and mostly bought the cheapest one because she needed a waterproof watch with really big display numbers for her aging eyes )

You can see your cadence as a graph over time or distance in Garmin Connect so you can analyze yours for run and walk separately:



You can also overly pace if you'd like:

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

Forgive me if this is obvious, or if fancier devices than mine can sort it out in more detail, but my issue with cadence tracking is that it’s fairly useless if you do run/walk intervals because it just takes an average of the two. I find an easier and more accurate measure to be counting every other step during an interval and multiplying by 2 to get steps per minute. I just do that every once in a while to see where I’m at. But I’m also not big on data collection lol! (Says she who never saves any run on her Garmin, and mostly bought the cheapest one because she needed a waterproof watch with really big display numbers for her aging eyes )

Golf clap from me on your answer.

My cadence: 2 steps per breath in, 2 steps per breath out.
As for intervals, for races where I worry about water stops (races >10K unless it is a 10K in the heat of July 4th), they usually have water every 1 to 1.5 miles. That is where I do my walking steps. Grab my cup(s) of water and walk while drinking them and then resume running. At least until the marathon, where that's what I do until my lard butt has to do some extended walking after AK.....
YMMV

 

[Dopey 2020]

Tomorrow is a rest day so end of the month for me. Very happy with a week off after Dopey, followed by a week with no long run, then back to usual. Hoping to maintain 30 miles a week until I get something on the calendar.

 

[SheHulk]

Tomorrow is a rest day for me too!

January Running:
Total Distance: 70.3 miles
Average Pace: 11:04/mi

I wasn't on a training plan, and still getting over covid a little, and took a vacation in Mexico, so it was on the low side for mileage. Luckily, today I started a new training plan from Billy (DopeyBadger) for the Broad Street 10 miler at the end of April, hoping I get in through the lottery. Should get more on track (no pun intended) with a plan in front of me. It's kind of nice to just run what you want, when you want, but I think I need a plan or else I'm a little lost.
I got some friends to join a Run the Year Team with me and need to bring my miles up for that as well! Nothing like having your friends see your miles to motivate you.

 

[KevM]

I’m also planning on making tomorrow a rest day. So January running:

Miles: 103.4
Avg pace: 11:31.

Considering I barley ran at all the second half of last year I am good with these numbers for picking it back up.

 

[azrivest]

January 2023 totals
Distance: 157.67 km/98.0 miles
Duration: 19h02
Cross training, including yoga: 7h28

Barely 2k more than last month. Blame Canada.

 

[Novatrix]

January Running
Total Distance: 90.76 miles
Avg Pace: 11:41 min/mile

Not bad for taking a week off after Dopey. Was finally getting back into the swing of training, but came down with Covid on Saturday, so who knows how long it will be before I'm running again. Fingers crossed it's not too long since I have 3 races in the March/April timeframe.

 

[striker1064]

January Running:

Total Distance: 140.7mi
Total Time: 23h 11min

An evening group run last night and a rest day today to cap a productive (thanks to the weirdly warm weather) January.

 

[FFigawi]

January Totals:
Swim - 12 miles
Bike - 181 miles
Run - 73 miles

A lower volume month before beginning the build up to races this spring, whatever those races may be. The Dubai 70.3 does not appear to be happening, so my training partners and I are looking at options in Europe in April or May. We have it narrowed down to one of three choices: Venice, Montpellier, or Nice

 

[azrivest]

We have it narrowed down to one of three choices: Venice, Montpellier, or Nice

Nice cities! (see what I did there? )

 

[WillRunForPizza]

January 2023
Running distance: 106.2 miles
Running time: 18h 51m
Average pace: 10:39 per mile
Strength training: 2h 12m
Core: 28m
Total training time: 23h 23m

I did manage to get over 100 miles for the month, but marathon recovery is very slow...

 

[NYC_MW]

January running:
Miles: 89.2
Time: 16:42:40

more than half of which was from the 4 MW races; have not been keeping up with PW training