The Running Thread - 2016

[Disney at Heart]

Congratulations @CheapRunnerMike. Way to go!

 

[SueInBoston]

Congratulations CheapRunnerMike. Great job!!!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Congratulations @CheapRunnerMike thinking of all of the Boston runners today definitely helped my motivation to get out there!

 

[Diskidatheart]

Congrats @CheapRunnerMike! Awesome job!

Catching up from the weekend and a day off yesterday. I ran my first of two scheduled half marathons this past weekend. Overall, it went really well. I finished in 1:51:04. My goal was under 1:50. I was right on pace through the first 11 miles. The sun was beating down and the course is a FLAT bike path. I don't think I was prepared for either. The sun (and warm weather) got to me and since all of my training was through hilly Pittsburgh, the flatness got to me as well. Oh well, I just wanted to get a respectable time to submit for Dopey, thus mission accomplished.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

Hi everyone! I'm still in Boston today, just about to set out on our 8+ hour drive back home to Canada and decided to check in here to see how everyone's races went. Great job to all you Dark Side runners!

Thank you thank you thank you for all your support! I am blown away by all of your cheers and encouragement, it is all very humbling. You guys are the best!

Once I get back in town I will put a race recap together, but just know this...it is any amazing race and an experience I will never forget. The weather played a part and the heat certainly got to me, but I am completely satisfied with the effort I put out knowing that I gave everything I had on the day.

Thanks again, you guys are fantastic!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Congrats @CheapRunnerMike! Awesome job!

Catching up from the weekend and a day off yesterday. I ran my first of two scheduled half marathons this past weekend. Overall, it went really well. I finished in 1:51:04. My goal was under 1:50. I was right on pace through the first 11 miles. The sun was beating down and the course is a FLAT bike path. I don't think I was prepared for either. The sun (and warm weather) got to me and since all of my training was through hilly Pittsburgh, the flatness got to me as well. Oh well, I just wanted to get a respectable time to submit for Dopey, thus mission accomplished.

This is definitely a factor. I also train in the hills - no flat ground where I live - at all - none. My races in Florida are a trial because my legs are used to switching muscle groups running up and down hills. You use the exact same muscle groups for every stride on a flat course. Still, you had a great race. Congratulations!

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Scenes that you've seen while running. Could be beautiful, ugly, strange, descriptive, etc.

ATTQOTD: My favorite scenes are watching the sun come up during a morning run. It is just something that is amazing to watch and for a few brief moments, everything seems peaceful and how it should be.

 

[Barca33Runner]

QOTD: Scenes that you've seen while running. Could be beautiful, ugly, strange, descriptive, etc.

I run in relatively plain surroundings so there's not a lot on my usual runs that I consider too special. My favorite scenes happen when I am rounding the World Showcase in the last mile of the WDW Marathon knowing that I am soon going to be finished and seeing all of the CM's, spectator's, and park goers cheering myself and my fellow runners on. It could be the finishing stretch of any race, really, but that one is the most special for me.

 

[opusone]

QOTD: Scenes that you've seen while running. Could be beautiful, ugly, strange, descriptive, etc.

Similar to you @LSUlakes, nothing beats those mornings when everything is peaceful and you look up to see the sunrise or some deer in the forest preserve. I always think to myself when I see something special like this... if I didn't run, I wouldn't have seen this.

 

[ZellyB]

@CheapRunnerMike congrats!! Great job!!! I can't wait to hear all about it.

ATTQOTD: I'm fortunately and have some pretty nice areas to run in. We have a trail that goes through a local nature center. Lots of deer and wild turkey in there. We were running along early one morning and there was a doe probably 2-3 feet off the trail. These deer are very used to people, so as we got near we stopped to look at her. She just stood there looking at us for several seconds before turning and walking off. She was really lovely.

 

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: I'll have to echo Barca33Runner, my favorite scene running ever was when I went around World Showcase in Epcot. It was still pitch dark out and all the flame tower things from Illuminations were on. I'll never forget that.

The other most memorable scene was running on the lakefront trail in Chicago and the waves from Lake Michigan were splashing up spray taller than me. Felt like something out of the Little Mermaid. Watching everyone's reactions (from freaking out, to taking selfies, to trying to get wet, to shrieking and running away) was comical.

And finally, passing through a dozen+ men in full red kilts during the shamrock shuffle this year. It took me a little bit to get through them so for a moment I felt like I had a scottish army around me.

 

[LSUlakes]

Yes, it is difficult. You need to be interviewed and show that you can actually run and finish the marathon, in addition to being able to raise the $5000.




I second that. I hope you have a great race and a great experience. I hope you give us a detailed report from the expo to the finish. I am dying to hear what you think of it and if it is worth all the work.


I just wanted to say congratulations to everyone on their races this weekend and the great results people are posting. It just goes to show what happens when you put in the hard work to prepare for these races. Running is not easy. Running some of these distances is very challenging. Some people may think its a joke and not take it seriously but those of us that do will reap the benefits.

Here is my story as to why I want to run Boston, since it is tomorrow it seems fitting. My son was born 7 years ago this June. When he was born the doctor was holding him in front of me and something didn't look right. Then they put him on the table to clean him up and something was not right for sure. He had something sticking out of his stomach. It turns out it was his bladder. Not only was it sticking out, it wasn't formed. He was born with a condition called Bladder Exstrophy. The OBGYN didn't know what it was. The on call pediatrician never saw it before. By about 8 pm (things were crazy at this point so I was never clear on times) he was taken away in an ambulance to Children's Hospital in Boston. It happens to be one of the best children's hospitals in the world so we were lucky. Only about 400 kids in the world are born with this each year.

The next day my wife checked out of the hospital and we headed to Boston. At this point we had no idea what was wrong still, we didn't find out until we got there. On day #2 of life he had a 10 hour surgery to form his bladder and do other stuff related to his condition. He spent 3 weeks in the hospital and the care he received while he was there was exceptional. The care he has received since then has been exceptional. He has had 4 total surgeries so far for THIS condition and any time we called with a question, regardless of time, his doctor calls us back within 10 minutes. This world famous surgeon, not his residents or assistants, him. We don't receive that level of care at our pediatrician.

As if that wasn't enough we also learned he has another rare condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. We learned this when he was about 18 months old and had been eating table food for about 6 months or so. He would choke on everything, including water. We used to have to thicken his water to be able to drink it. Basically if he eats something he is allergic to his throat closes to the point he can't get liquid down without choking. Over the years he has had to have roughly 10 endoscopies to try and figure out what he can actually eat.

He has some other less severe stuff going on but in total he has 5 specialists at Children's Hospital. Roughly 3 years ago when my wife told me when didn't want to be married to me anymore, because I was fat and lazy, I told myself I would like to run Boston one year and raise money for the people who take such good care of my son (at the point I thought it I didn't really believe I could do it). I know there are kids with much worse problems then my son and each family deserves to have the best possible resources to help their kids. So, if I can raise $5000 to do my part then I know I have to try. I still hope to qualify one day but I need to give back.

I hope I didn't bore anyone, I tried to keep it short.

Thanks for sharing your story. You have definitely dealt with some challenging times, and I am glad you have found the sport of running. Just an FYI, if you happen to get a BQ and still want to raise money for the charity of your choosing, they are far more willing to accept you at that point. The reason is, you already have a bib and you are offering to bring them additional funds. The last time I looked a charity runner with a BQ is required to raise $1,000. I know your goal is for more, but its a lot less stressful to pull of than 5k. Whichever route you go, I will make a donation to your cause when you choose to run Boston. Good luck!

View attachment 162911

Terrible pic but he doesn't like to hold still.

I have a beagle, and have to say they are hard headed animals. Love that dog to death, but if she gets out from the yard she taking you for a journey. That nose picks up a scent and everything surrounding her doesn't matter and shes off. At least now, the running after her isn't as bad as it was before I started running. Good luck with the dog and bless you for taking care of it.

 

[FFigawi]

ATTQOTD: I'll have to echo Barca33Runner, my favorite scene running ever was when I went around World Showcase in Epcot. It was still pitch dark out and all the flame tower things from Illuminations were on. I'll never forget that.

Ah, yes, the marathon course before they went and took some of the beauty out of it. I really wish they'd go back to that course again. As for what I've seen while running, I think I've seen just about everything including bears, dead bodies, and bikini girls. The saddest thing I've ever seen is people getting physically blocked from the finish line because they were one second over the time limit. That was heartbreaking.

 

[Diskidatheart]

QOTD: Scenes that you've seen while running. Could be beautiful, ugly, strange, descriptive, etc.

My favorite place to run is in Kauai...early morning when the sun is just coming up over the ocean. There is nothing more beautiful than running on a path along the ocean while the sun is greeting you with a beautiful Aloha!

 

[LSUlakes]

I just updated the OP, let me know if I accidently missed your post with your finish time. Anyone else that raced this past weekend want to let us know how it went? Great job again to all the races this weekend!

 

[Diskidatheart]

This is definitely a factor. I also train in the hills - no flat ground where I live - at all - none. My races in Florida are a trial because my legs are used to switching muscle groups running up and down hills. You use the exact same muscle groups for every stride on a flat course. Still, you had a great race. Congratulations!

Thanks! It was pretty funny when I ran my first marathon in Disney. Many people were complaining about the on-ramps being so difficult and steep. I was so happy to see them just so I had a break from the flatness of the course.

 

[ZellyB]

Ah, yes, the marathon course before they went and took some of the beauty out of it. I really wish they'd go back to that course again. As for what I've seen while running, I think I've seen just about everything including bears, dead bodies, and bikini girls. The saddest thing I've ever seen is people getting physically blocked from the finish line because they were one second over the time limit. That was heartbreaking.

Seriously? Man, that's coldhearted.

 

[ebradley23]

ATTQOTD: For most of my runs, there is no scenery. I run at night, so it's pitch black when I start and finish. I only see the colors my flashing vest puts off. I'm pretty partial to the scenery along the route for our Richmond Marathon and Half Marathon. We run next to the river and we cross it a couple of time in the full. The races run through historic neighborhoods and past monuments. In particular, there's this one section that both races go through which is stunning. It's toward the end when you round a corner into a neighborhood that is lined with trees. The race is in the fall, and those trees are the most brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange. The people in the houses are great and come out with their own food and water to give out. It's awesome. Here is one of my half pictures with the trees behind me.

 

[girliea]

ATTQOTD: I'll have to echo Barca33Runner, my favorite scene running ever was when I went around World Showcase in Epcot. It was still pitch dark out and all the flame tower things from Illuminations were on. I'll never forget that.

The other most memorable scene was running on the lakefront trail in Chicago and the waves from Lake Michigan were splashing up spray taller than me. Felt like something out of the Little Mermaid. Watching everyone's reactions (from freaking out, to taking selfies, to trying to get wet, to shrieking and running away) was comical.

And finally, passing through a dozen+ men in full red kilts during the shamrock shuffle this year. It took me a little bit to get through them so for a moment I felt like I had a scottish army around me.

You have the best sense of humor-I love reading your posts!

Ah, yes, the marathon course before they went and took some of the beauty out of it. I really wish they'd go back to that course again. As for what I've seen while running, I think I've seen just about everything including bears, dead bodies, and bikini girls. The saddest thing I've ever seen is people getting physically blocked from the finish line because they were one second over the time limit. That was heartbreaking.

Uh---dead bodies?!?
It would NOT be cool to be blocked from a finish line being one second over the time limit!

 

[SueInBoston]

ATTQOTD: For my long runs, I run along the Charles River and across the Mass Ave Bridge. The view of Boston skyline takes my breath away every time.