The Running Thread - 2016

[FFigawi]

Not encouraging you to not use fluids but consider salt tabs as a supplement to the fluids. I got some chewable tablets by Salt Stick yesterday and used them today. Worked well.

Salt tabs (I use Salt Stick too) or similar products are useful all year, not only when it's hot. If capsules aren't your thing, this works really well too. The vials are hard to use on a bike but fit nicely into a pocket when running.

https://www.baseperformance.com/products/base-electrolyte-salt-4-vials

 

[camaker]

Salt tabs (I use Salt Stick too) or similar products are useful all year, not only when it's hot. If capsules aren't your thing, this works really well too. The vials are hard to use on a bike but fit nicely into a pocket when running.

https://www.baseperformance.com/products/base-electrolyte-salt-4-vials

I have seen a number of people state that they use salt tabs or suggest their use. What symptoms would indicate the need for them? I'm always willing to try something new, but I'd like to make sure I'm addressing a need for something like this.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

I'm starting to majorly freak out. I have a half marathon coming up on Saturday, which I am totally undertrained for. Obviously no one to blame but myself for that. But now on top of that, the weather forecast is making me nervous. The high temperature for the day is 88-90 at this point, which I know can change, but it's way above average for this time of year. The race will be starting at 7 am, so I know it won't be at 90 at that point but even the lows are in the upper 60s. If the temperature holds true, I hope it's cloudy or not full on sun, and not humid along with it. I'm probably going to be doing a lot of walking. And the goal of using this as a POT for Wine and Dine in November may be out the window. I'll probably just stick with the 10K time I currently have entered.

Any advice??

 

[Chasing Dopey]

I'm starting to majorly freak out. I have a half marathon coming up on Saturday, which I am totally undertrained for. Obviously no one to blame but myself for that. But now on top of that, the weather forecast is making me nervous. The high temperature for the day is 88-90 at this point, which I know can change, but it's way above average for this time of year. The race will be starting at 7 am, so I know it won't be at 90 at that point but even the lows are in the upper 60s. If the temperature holds true, I hope it's cloudy or not full on sun, and not humid along with it. I'm probably going to be doing a lot of walking. And the goal of using this as a POT for Wine and Dine in November may be out the window. I'll probably just stick with the 10K time I currently have entered.

Any advice??

Yeah, that is a huge bummer that you wanted to up your POT, but I think you're right to back off that plan. I would say use the opportunity to make it a training experience, and take it easy. Focus on avoiding typical race day mistakes, like going out too hard at the start and that kind of thing. Maybe even try out some mental focus techniques (which you'll need in the heat). I'm sure there are plenty of ways to get a lot out of a bad weather race when you can set time aside.

 

[DopeyBadger]

Not really. Just things I might not have thought of. I've run halfs before but never the whole thing.I can expect pretty much the same thing right?
Right now my only thoughts are that I need to run, a lot, to prepare. I haven't considered a training plan.

I'll echo pretty much whats been said here thus far. A marathon is different than a half, in that it isn't just two halfs back-to-back. Physically a lot of things start to happen around 2.5 hours when running for a sustained period of time. For most given the marathon pace and duration, most don't meet the same physical demands of a marathon in a half. With that being said my two biggest pieces of advice I can give you are these:

1) Consistency - Along the same vein as others have said, find a training plan that fits your life. One that you'll complete as much as you possibly can. You'll miss a few days or cut something shorter than it was supposed to be but don't get down on yourself. Don't sabotage the rest of the plan. Just try to be as consistent as possible. If you start with a plan that may be too aggressive with the rest of your life then you might not do as much of it and your training will suffer.

2) Slow down - I do about 80% of my training at 40 seconds slower than marathon pace or slower. For the marathon, and most racing, the train fast to race fast mantra doesn't really work too well. There are a few out there that this method succeeds. But for the large majority of us training slower will almost always give you better results than training faster.

Let me know if you're looking for anything more specific.

I'm starting to majorly freak out. I have a half marathon coming up on Saturday, which I am totally undertrained for. Obviously no one to blame but myself for that. But now on top of that, the weather forecast is making me nervous. The high temperature for the day is 88-90 at this point, which I know can change, but it's way above average for this time of year. The race will be starting at 7 am, so I know it won't be at 90 at that point but even the lows are in the upper 60s. If the temperature holds true, I hope it's cloudy or not full on sun, and not humid along with it. I'm probably going to be doing a lot of walking. And the goal of using this as a POT for Wine and Dine in November may be out the window. I'll probably just stick with the 10K time I currently have entered.

Any advice??

My advice is to try to turn this into as positive experience for yourself as you can. If it were me, I'd start my watch and then just run. Keep the running really easy. Like you think to yourself like this is "way too easy" easy. Don't worry about the pace, just keep running easy. Then once you reach mile 8 or 9, then start to turn up the pace a little. Ever so slightly increasing the pace until you feel like you're at just below too much. Then just hold there for as long as you can. Keep mentally telling yourself how well you're doing. Keep telling yourself how much fun you're having. Find other things to focus on other than your time. Given the possible high heat, sun, humidity your time will likely not match what you've trained for. But that's ok, as each race is an opportunity to learn something new. Let's learn what you can do when you don't focus on a watch or timing device and you just run. Maybe you'll surprise yourself and do even better. Best of Luck!

 

[croach]

I have seen a number of people state that they use salt tabs or suggest their use. What symptoms would indicate the need for them? I'm always willing to try something new, but I'd like to make sure I'm addressing a need for something like this.

I guess I'd say dehydration or muscle cramps but you don't really need to experience either of those to use salt tabs. It's just another method of getting electrolytes into your body. But if what you're doing is working for you, then they may not be something you need.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

Yeah, that is a huge bummer that you wanted to up your POT, but I think you're right to back off that plan. I would say use the opportunity to make it a training experience, and take it easy. Focus on avoiding typical race day mistakes, like going out too hard at the start and that kind of thing. Maybe even try out some mental focus techniques (which you'll need in the heat). I'm sure there are plenty of ways to get a lot out of a bad weather race when you can set time aside.

Yes, I had already been planning to take it easy due to the being undertrained part, and the forecast of warm weather is just making that decision and plan obvious to me. While I would have loved to improve my POT or have an actual half time to submit over a 10K, at least I've already got something. My goal will have to be to just forget about time (as hard as that is for me) and go out there and do as much as I can to enjoy it. At this point, as long as I finish, I'll be happy. The course for this race is really nice - a majority is right along the Lake Michigan lakefront - so that will be something to focus on.

My advice is to try to turn this into as positive experience for yourself as you can. If it were me, I'd start my watch and then just run. Keep the running really easy. Like you think to yourself like this is "way too easy" easy. Don't worry about the pace, just keep running easy. Then once you reach mile 8 or 9, then start to turn up the pace a little. Ever so slightly increasing the pace until you feel like you're at just below too much. Then just hold there for as long as you can. Keep mentally telling yourself how well you're doing. Keep telling yourself how much fun you're having. Find other things to focus on other than your time. Given the possible high heat, sun, humidity your time will likely not match what you've trained for. But that's ok, as each race is an opportunity to learn something new. Let's learn what you can do when you don't focus on a watch or timing device and you just run. Maybe you'll surprise yourself and do even better. Best of Luck!

This is great advice - thanks so much. I really want to enjoy this experience (especially since I loved this race last year when I did the quarter marathon and have really been looking forward to going for the half) so I know I've got to set the time factor aside. I will definitely try to find something else to focus on over the time - the course (along the lakefront), the entertainment, the spectators, etc. After all, as they say, whether it's a 16-minute mile or a 7-minute mile, it's still a mile.

 

[Miranda]

The rain did not hold off for Covered Bridges this weekend. It started pouring about 45 minutes before the race started (we had to bus to the start line so we had to stand around for a long time before starting, I was there over 1:15 ahead of the start). I finished in 2:50:58, which was short of my goal of 2:45, but that would have been a PR, and given the conditions and my training, I'm happy with that time. It is my second best time, though. I was doing pretty well until about the last 5 miles when my legs just kind of had it. My feet were soaked the entire race, and by this point in the race, there were a lot of standing puddles that just made things hard.

The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, though, and I hope to be able to get in next year. The race sold out (2300) in 8 minutes for this year. It was the most well run, nicest race I have done, including Disney. The pre-race pasta supper was held at the ski lodge at the start, put on by the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. All local restaurants provided pasta, salad, bread, drinks indoors, and then outdoors was a folk band of some sort and coffee and brownies/cookies. Lots of families outside sitting in the grass. The weather on Saturday was actually beautiful, so we enjoyed the pasta supper a lot. We brought our dog with us, and we were thinking she would need to wait in the car for us to eat (I'd asked on their FB if it was indoors or outdoors, thinking we could sit on the outskirts with her) and they said no, but when we got our food indoors and sat down we could see there was a dog or two out in the grass outdoors, so after we ate we went out there to just listen to the music and hang out with the dog and enjoy the sunshine that we knew would not be around today.

The course was like running through the Shire or something in Middle Earth, so green, lots of flowers and horses and cows and beautiful old New England houses, and running through Woodstock was so fun. The town looks like Star's Hollow from The Gilmore Girls come to life. So many locals came out to cheer even in the pouring rain, and the volunteers were great. Yummy post-race goodies as well... I didn't go into the big food tent where I think they had the standard post race fare like bananas and stuff like that, but I did get my free ice cream from a local ice cream place and Cabot was giving out grilled cheese.

I did have a race casualty, my Jaybird wireless earbuds. I think the earbuds still work... I hope, but by about mile 4.5 I had too much water going into my ears that I just took them out to stuff into the waistband of my SparkleSkirt, and when I did the silicone tip and the ear flange on one side of them popped off. I thought I'd made sure everything was inside the pocket before closing it up and I figured I'd deal with it when I got home, but I opened it up and no silicone tip to be found. Oh well, I'll just have to order another set. (of tips, not earbuds)

 

[Miranda]

Oh and since DopeyBadger asked on Strava, my shirt fears were unfounded... the sizes were printed on the bibs, no one got to poach shirt sizes and mine was waiting for me.

 

[croach]

Ran the Conquer the Cove 25k trail race this morning. Last race of a trail series run by a great group here locally. Humid morning and it had rained the night before so some slick spots and puddles/small streams to cross. Like @Miranda i ended up with some wet shoes. Tough course with lots of elevation gains but the good news is lots of downhill too.



Felt pretty good until that last climb at mile 13ish. Sneaky long climb that just wiped me out. Broke a rule they everyone knows of using something new on race day. I use Fluid drink mix on long runs but unfortunately it was well passed its expiration date. No one in town sells it so I tried Skratch drink mix. No ill effects from it and it tastes pretty good. Nice mix of carbs and electrolytes so I'll stick with it. Finished in 2:20:44, good for 8th place and 3rd in my age group(40-44). Considering I sprained my ankle in this race last year and I was out of running for a couple months, I was just happy to finish healthy. Fun day!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Last night on Netflix I came across a movie called "Walt Before Mickey". Is it worth a watch?

Just watched it and really liked it. A totally different perspective on the man and his early struggles.

 

[Waiting2goback]

Hello! I just registered for the Walt Disney World Marathon! It will be my first marathon but not my first run Disney event. I did the Princess in 2011 and the Wine and Dine in 2012. I've been wanting to do the coast to coast challenge and even signed up for the Tinker Bell half for last year but couldn't get into the Wine and Dine so i didn't go to the Tinker Bell Any way next year I decided I will get that coast to coast medal (so that would be my bucket list item!) I'm doing the marathon and Tinker Bell. Since this is my first marathon I was wondering if any one has any tips (I tried looking through the pages but there are so many). Thanks!

I'll add in my 2 cents. I will confirm the fact that a full is way different than running 2 half marathons. I would say to not only find a training plan but to make sure you put in the hours and do the plan, like dopeybadger said. Try to be as consistent as possible. I wouldn't wait to start either. Most training plans are like 18 weeks I think, which puts you in September probably. I would start now. Work on increasing your weekly mileage so when the official training plan begins it won't be a huge issue if you miss a day here and there. Most importantly, ENJOY it. It's an awesome race, have fun. This is why the training is so important because you will be able to enjoy the whole experience more if you put in the miles. And, if you stick with us for the long haul there will be tips and tricks about eating the days leading up to the race, transportation, etc... But for now, just get in the miles.

Thanks, everyone!! I guess the take away message is that I should be slowing wayyyy down. I'm up to 10 min run/1 min walk intervals but haven't paid much attention to pace up until now, it usually averages somewhere between 9:30 and 10:00 min/mi with my warmup/cooldown. I run the same way every time, I'm gathering that's a mistake! I also haven't paid attention to heart rate because while I'm physically fit, my heart rate while exercising is always super high. I'm dreading incorporating fluids into the run as I cramp easily, I try to stop eating/drinking right at 2 hours before I plan to run and I'm usually cramp-free. I'll work on bringing my intervals back down or just running slower in general as you've suggested. I appreciate your encouragement, I felt so frustrated yesterday!

I would get a heart rate monitor and just slow things down. The majority of your training should be slow with some speed and hill work mixed in.

I'm starting to majorly freak out. I have a half marathon coming up on Saturday, which I am totally undertrained for. Obviously no one to blame but myself for that. But now on top of that, the weather forecast is making me nervous. The high temperature for the day is 88-90 at this point, which I know can change, but it's way above average for this time of year. The race will be starting at 7 am, so I know it won't be at 90 at that point but even the lows are in the upper 60s. If the temperature holds true, I hope it's cloudy or not full on sun, and not humid along with it. I'm probably going to be doing a lot of walking. And the goal of using this as a POT for Wine and Dine in November may be out the window. I'll probably just stick with the 10K time I currently have entered.

Any advice??

When is the cutoff for submitting a POT for Wine and Dine. Isn't it August? I would run this upcoming race for fun and then find a 10K and try to kill that race for a POT. You're picking a 1/2 marathon for a POT race when all you need is a 10K anyway.

 

[Waiting2goback]

 

[Anisum]

Cool swag for my Navy 10NM race tomorrow! And got some Navy merchandise at the expo cuz my son is Navy. AND hotel gave us free upgrade to a suite.

Love the swag! I hope you did wonderfully! This is definitely a race I'll be considering for next year.

 

[Diskidatheart]

It is our first. He arrived at 1:02pm central today, and is currently sleeping soundly. He weighed 7lbs 8oz and was 20.5 inches long. Mom had a rough go of it, but is slowly getting better. Before long it will be time to start his training for the diaper dash in January. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes.

Congrats!!! That is awesome. Sorry for the late well wishes, but better late than never.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Ran 10 miles again yesterday - same distance and route as my terrible run the week before. Same heart rate as the week before, but 23 seconds per mile faster and I felt much better at the end of the run. So, improvement - not a lot, but I'll take it.

 

[Diskidatheart]

After taking three weeks off of running due to a Soleus muscle injury, I'm going to try and start back up today. Three weeks ago, my running was going great and then I was really getting into it when I got about .75 miles into a Saturday 8 mile run and felt my Soleus pull. I ended up walking home and it took about 10 days to really start feeling better, so I tried to run again on a flat surface and felt it starting to pull again, so I ended that run after about 1.5 miles. Very frustrating. I really feel no pain at all today, so I'm going to try and run at a much slower pace today and only go about 2-3 miles. If all goes well, I'm going to do the same tomorrow and then take a day off on Wednesday and run a short distance again on Thursday morning. Crossing my fingers that all goes well this week and I continue to run 3-4 days per week going forward.

 

[FFigawi]

I have seen a number of people state that they use salt tabs or suggest their use. What symptoms would indicate the need for them? I'm always willing to try something new, but I'd like to make sure I'm addressing a need for something like this.

As @croach said, you don't necessarily need to have any symptoms to use salt tabs. They are useful in replenishing your electrolytes in ways and quantities you might not always be able to get or want from sports drinks. I find them to be more effective than Powerade, though I still drink that too in order to keep from dehydrating. If you really are looking for symptoms, check yourself during and after a run. If you've got dried salt on your face or coloring your black shorts white, you ought to give some thought to taking in salt tabs during your run.

 

[Miranda]

If you've got dried salt on your face

Hrm, that's me. I always have salt crust all over my face. Maybe I should look into tabs.

 

[LSUlakes]

Ran the Navy 10 Nautical Miler Sunday. It was a little warmer than the original forecast, but there is a decent amount of shaded areas on the course so it wasn't bad. The race also starts at 6:00AM, which helped. I did not hit my goal, but I am pleased with my effort and a 6 minute 18 second PR. Finish time was 1:30:14 with a average pace of 7:48/mi.

It is our first. He arrived at 1:02pm central today, and is currently sleeping soundly. He weighed 7lbs 8oz and was 20.5 inches long. Mom had a rough go of it, but is slowly getting better. Before long it will be time to start his training for the diaper dash in January. Thanks to everyone for the well wishes.

CONGRATS!

Hello! I just registered for the Walt Disney World Marathon! It will be my first marathon but not my first run Disney event. I did the Princess in 2011 and the Wine and Dine in 2012. I've been wanting to do the coast to coast challenge and even signed up for the Tinker Bell half for last year but couldn't get into the Wine and Dine so i didn't go to the Tinker Bell Any way next year I decided I will get that coast to coast medal (so that would be my bucket list item!) I'm doing the marathon and Tinker Bell. Since this is my first marathon I was wondering if any one has any tips (I tried looking through the pages but there are so many). Thanks!

Welcome to the thread and congrats on making the decision for your first full. Biggest piece of advice is not to slack on the training. The WDW marathon is a great choice for your first marathon and is well put together. Beside the marathon, do you have any other races you would like added to the OP?

No official time yet but garmin had 29:58 for my zoo 5k. I only need to shave one minute to get back to my normal race pace! So excited about this post injury...longest I've run in a month.

Congrats on the race.

The rain did not hold off for Covered Bridges this weekend. It started pouring about 45 minutes before the race started (we had to bus to the start line so we had to stand around for a long time before starting, I was there over 1:15 ahead of the start). I finished in 2:50:58, which was short of my goal of 2:45, but that would have been a PR, and given the conditions and my training, I'm happy with that time. It is my second best time, though. I was doing pretty well until about the last 5 miles when my legs just kind of had it. My feet were soaked the entire race, and by this point in the race, there were a lot of standing puddles that just made things hard.

Sorry to hear about the rain. Sounds like a nice race.

Finished in 2:20:44, good for 8th place and 3rd in my age group(40-44). Considering I sprained my ankle in this race last year and I was out of running for a couple months, I was just happy to finish healthy. Fun day!

Congrats on AG award!