The Running Thread - 2016

[BikeFan]

I love that so many of you have mentioned the most important thing you've learned is that you're capable of doing more than you first thought. I was the same way when I started. I never thought I'd be fast enough to qualify for Boston, but I've done it twice now. As Roxymama wrote, once you put fear aside, amazing things can happen. Are any of you familiar with the story of Priscilla Welch (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priscilla_Welch)? She went from being a pack-a-day smoker and couch potato to Olympian and winner of the 1987 NYC Marathon, and she didn't even start competitive running until age 35! OK, none of us are favorites for a World Marathon Major, but still, we are all probably capable of much more than we first believed. You just have to be willing to put the fear and complacency aside and aim a little higher. This is one of my favorite cartoons when it comes to running:

 

[IamTrike]

So I have a weird hopefully not too gross question:

Yesterday when I finished my strength workout the outside of both my middle toes was split along the nail. My feet are two different size so I could see one toes having an issue banging up against the front of the shoe, but not both. It was strange because the issue was in the same spot on both feet. Any ideas what could be going on?

 

[LSUlakes]

So I have a weird hopefully not too gross question:

Yesterday when I finished my strength workout the outside of both my middle toes was split along the nail. My feet are two different size so I could see one toes having an issue banging up against the front of the shoe, but not both. It was strange because the issue was in the same spot on both feet. Any ideas what could be going on?

Maybe your toenails are to long... I am just throwing out the first guess. Did it hurt while getting the workout in? How about now?

 

[ZellyB]

QOTD: What is the single most important thing you have learned from running?

ATTQOTD: Love seeing the answers to this one. I'll echo several others and say for me it's about learning just how much stronger I am (physically and mentally) than I ever gave myself credit for. While training for my first half and full marathon, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. One of the things that upset me beyond the obvious part of the diagnosis was that it would force me to give up on my dream of running my first marathon. Shortly after my diagnosis, I asked my surgeons and oncologist if I could run the marathon after my bi-lateral mastectomy. They were supportive. So, slightly less than 8 weeks after my surgery, I ran my first WDW marathon. The day after I got home from the trip, I started chemo. Running, for me, helped me so much to get through those difficult months of treatment and to assure myself that I was strong enough to survive this. It's a lesson I continue to remind myself of any time I'm faced with a difficult circumstance.

 

[DVCFan1994]

QOTD: What is the single most important thing you have learned from running?

Like many others have said, I would say I have learned that I am capable of far more than I would have given myself credit for. If you had told me even 5 years ago I would enjoy running 1 mile, never mine 13+ I would have laughed in your face. I took up running solely to do a race that I assumed I'd run/walk with my sister. But I found I really enjoyed it and now when I can't run, I feel awful. It has made me wonder what else in my life I have said "I can't" to that I really could have.

 

[roxymama]

I'm really enjoying everyone's answers today. They are very inspirational.

Just checked weather for my race on Sat and we are up to 40 degree high with Sun. So probably less than that for the morning, but still!
BUT it's gonna snow there today and tomorrow. So we shall just see. I'll be weather stalking all week.
It rained here yesterday instead of snow because it was too warm.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: Like many of you, I am capable of far more than I ever thought. I'll never say "I could never do that" again.

"She thought she could, and so she did"

 

[IamTrike]

Maybe your toenails are to long... I am just throwing out the first guess. Did it hurt while getting the workout in? How about now?

I keep them pretty well trimmed so I don't think that's it.

It didn't hurt while I was running (although it was a strength workout so the feeling that my legs and lungs were going to explode could have been a distraction). It's like the toes "popped". The split is on the side of my toe facing out and it runs down the length of my toenail and then a half inch beyond it. Both toes hurt a little bit now.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: What is the single most important thing you have learned from running?

I guess that I am the opposite of most of you. I learned the lessons that most of you describe while in the 10th Mountain Division of the Army, and then carried them over to running.

Running has taught me a few things though - like humility. I am typically an overachiever. I feel like I can outwork anyone, and outperform anyone given enough time to prepare. Running taught me that no matter how much, or how hard, or how efficiently, or how effectively I train, I will never be fast. More importantly, it taught me to accept that and be the best me that I can be. I have learned to set aside that competitive side of myself while running (doesn't help anyway) and learned to just love the sport, and live in the moment. So, in a way, running brought me a kind of peace that I might not have achieved otherwise.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: What is the single most important thing you have learned from running?

It's kind of fun to do the impossible. Although I think someone else may have said that already...

Great question and I'm loving the responses! You guys are all such rock stars, I love this group!

 

[LSUlakes]

ATTQOTD: Love seeing the answers to this one. I'll echo several others and say for me it's about learning just how much stronger I am (physically and mentally) than I ever gave myself credit for. While training for my first half and full marathon, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. One of the things that upset me beyond the obvious part of the diagnosis was that it would force me to give up on my dream of running my first marathon. Shortly after my diagnosis, I asked my surgeons and oncologist if I could run the marathon after my bi-lateral mastectomy. They were supportive. So, slightly less than 8 weeks after my surgery, I ran my first WDW marathon. The day after I got home from the trip, I started chemo. Running, for me, helped me so much to get through those difficult months of treatment and to assure myself that I was strong enough to survive this. It's a lesson I continue to remind myself of any time I'm faced with a difficult circumstance.

That is an amazing story! Cancer sucks!

I'm really enjoying everyone's answers today. They are very inspirational.

Just checked weather for my race on Sat and we are up to 40 degree high with Sun. So probably less than that for the morning, but still!
BUT it's gonna snow there today and tomorrow. So we shall just see. I'll be weather stalking all week.
It rained here yesterday instead of snow because it was too warm.

Isn't stalking the weather half the fun...

It's kind of fun to do the impossible. Although I think someone else may have said that already...

Great question and I'm loving the responses! You guys are all such rock stars, I love this group!

The thread is getting a lot more responses than I thought it would at this point. I like where it is headed and the potential it has. Thanks for reading and participating everyone!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

The thread is getting a lot more responses than I thought it would at this point. I like where it is headed and the potential it has. Thanks for reading and participating everyone!

Thanks for keeping the thread moving along Jerry...your QOTD's and gathering of all our upcoming races is great and you deserve our thanks! You are doing a great job and it is very much appreciated.

 

[ZellyB]

Thanks for keeping the thread moving along Jerry...your QOTD's and gathering of all our upcoming races is great and you deserve our thanks! You are doing a great job and it is very much appreciated.

Absolutely!!

 

[Diskidatheart]

QOTD: What is the single most important thing you have learned from running?

I am in agreement with everyone else in that running has taught me that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. It wasn't until I crossed that finish line of the WDW marathon and completing the 4th segment of the Dopey Challenge that I realized this, but I certainly do now.

I also learned that things don't go as planned and you can't control everything, so you just need to go with the flow. Last year, I trained hard for the Pittsburgh Marathon in hopes of running a 3:40 marathon. I got through 17 miles with no issues and then the heat kicked up and the leg cramps started. I was so down on myself as I ended up walking a significant portion of the last 9 miles. I ended up with a 4:07 time and felt like I failed. Mother nature threw us a curve ball and after training for 4 months in bitter cold temps, she decided to raise the temps up to 75 that day. After a few weeks of sulking, I realized that I gave it my all and I had no control over the weather and I should just be happy that I was able to finish upright (so many people I knew ended up in the hospital that day). Heck, there are so many people that would have killed for a 4:07 marathon and here I was complaining about it. I'm not saying that I'm not going to run for time anymore, but this lesson has taught me to start enjoying the races and embrace them. 26 miles is 26 miles regardless of whether it takes 3 hours or 7 hours.

 

[BikeFan]

Thanks for keeping the thread moving along Jerry...your QOTD's and gathering of all our upcoming races is great and you deserve our thanks! You are doing a great job and it is very much appreciated.

I completely forgot there was a list of upcoming races at the beginning of this tread! I'm doing my first "time" race this weekend. By "time", I mean it's an 8 hour race - go as far as you want/can in 8 hours. I'm hoping to hit 40 miles, which would be a new distance PR. Also doing Rock n Roll DC in March.

Feb 06 - BikeFan- Icy-8 8-Hour race (40 miles / N/A)
Mar 12- BikeFan - Rock n Roll DC Marathon (3:30 / N/A)

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I feel better when I run regularly. I never thought that would be the case.

I agree completely.

On Monday, I saw my doctor for a repetition motion injury from running. When she told me I have to stop running, forever, I almost burst into tears! -- Suzanne

 

[LSUlakes]

I completely forgot there was a list of upcoming races at the beginning of this tread! I'm doing my first "time" race this weekend. By "time", I mean it's an 8 hour race - go as far as you want/can in 8 hours. I'm hoping to hit 40 miles, which would be a new distance PR. Also doing Rock n Roll DC in March.

Feb 06 - BikeFan- Icy-8 8-Hour race (40 miles / N/A)
Mar 12- BikeFan - Rock n Roll DC Marathon (3:30 / N/A)

Don't forget about the first page, soon everyone's hard work will show up as results and who knows what else will be added there. I am starting to get bored so I may create a new list of sorts in the coming days. I will add your races to the Op soon, but I wanted to comment on a 8 hour race. I know pace is slowed for something like that, but I think walking for 8 hours straight would a hard day. Good luck!

I agree completely.

On Monday, I saw my doctor for a repetition motion injury from running. When she told me I have to stop running, forever, I almost burst into tears! -- Suzanne

I am very sorry to hear that. Any chance you get a second opinion?

 

[Baloo in MI]

QOTD: What is the single most important thing you have learned from running?

Running is a privledge and about oneself. It can be for fun, for health or for competition but in the end it comes down to what do you want to achieve and are you willing to put in the effort - that is why I love it. Oh yeah, and the shoes are way too expensive!

 

[alexce]

ATTQOD: I've come to realize how much I need to work on positive self-talk. Like many others, I can see how far I've come in the 18 months since I started running and it does amaze me sometimes. But man, can I submarine my hard work - especially on long runs. I get so mad at myself when I'm not constantly improving, and then get mad because I got mad.

Working on it...seeing it in other places. So that's a gift.

 

[opusone]

QOTD: What is the single most important thing you have learned from running?

Running is my oasis… no work, no home life issues, no iPhone, no distractions. It clears my mind. I feel all is right with the world when I'm out running.

And yet… I still find it hard to motivate myself sometimes. Whether it's a tempo run, an interval session, or a long run, I still have to force myself to start the run on certain days. Which is odd, because after almost 30 years (off and on) of running and triathlons, I've never finished a run and said "I really shouldn't have done that." I always feel awesome at the end, even if it was difficult.

So, I guess this is a very long-winded way of saying that running has taught me to do things even if I don't always feel like doing them. Just do it (I hope Nike's patent has expired) because it's the right thing to do.