The Running Thread - 2016

[Waiting2goback]

The only way to quit is to stop moving entirely.

YEP! I do run/walk. I have done 2 full marathons and they changed my life. I couldn't care less if I didn't run the whole time. And, prior to my injuries the last 2 years I was getting faster and faster. I was in the low 8:00/mile pace so I don't really care about how I do it, I just care that I do it. But I agree with roxymama, as long as you are moving forward you aren't quitting IMO!!!

ATTQOTD: It depends if I'm running on the treadmill or not. On the treadmill, I'm zoning out on a movie or TV show.

Outside, my mind wanders a LOT. More often than not, it wanders to vacation planning. I'm sure it drives DH crazy when I come home from a run with new plans for far-distant-may-not-happen vacation lol

I do vacation planning too. I'll give a more detailed answer below but it's like an obsession for me really.

I'm shower thinker too! lol

Yep, me too. It gives me a reason to stay in the shower longer, I LOVE my showers.


QOTD: I think about whatever issues I have going on at the time. It often helps me very much. I have been bummed lately, as I have said, but I went for a run today and I felt so much better all day today. I plan to get a couple more in before I am done for 3 months.

I listen to Disunplugged during my runs usually. This is when I do my trip planning. I am always recalculating my finances (so I guess I do math too) to figure out how to get back sooner. I have been doing a lot of math for 2018 Marathon weekend, trying to figure out which hotel I want to stay at, etc...

When I listen to Connecting with Walt, because it is about the history of Disney, which is one of my favorite things, I often let my mind wander and think about how different life would be had Walt lived longer, or if he was still alive today. I know he would be really old but hey, it's my game, I get to make the rules. I just think life would be so different if he lived just a few more years longer.

Overall, I would say 80% of my running time has spent thinking about Disney related things in one way or another.

 

[Waiting2goback]

This seems fitting given the discussion today.

 

[SueInBoston]

@LSUlakes
Can you add a couple past races for me please, this will give me a complete list of my 2016 races

January 2016
16 SueInBoston - Star Wars Light Side 10k (1:30:51 / N/A) Rebel
17 SueInBoston - Star Wars Light Side Half (3:03:22 / N/A) Rebel

February 2016
13 SueInBoston - Cupid Chase 5k (36:08 / N/A)

 

[dmross]

QOTD: What are some signs that your body gives you that lets you know that a URD (Unscheduled Rest Day) may need to be taken?

ATTQOTD: One sign is maybe some unusual aches and pains after a few hard runs, that I know if I stay off my feet for a day will lead to a much better run later on. Another example would be when a very easy run turns into a struggle to just get a few simple miles in. I am at that point now, I set out for a 7 mile easy run last night, and 2 miles in I felt like I had nothing left in me. I pushed to get in another mile, but I was done after that. So today I will have a URD.

I took an URD this week for some of the same reasons y'all listed: on call at work, got to bed at 1 am, needed to put together IKEA bed for daughter, and needed quality time with those in my household. I could've pushed it, but I'm in this for the long haul, so it's ok to take a day. It was an executive decision and I was fine with it. However, if there hadn't been personal priorities that needed attention, I will walk or go slow instead of skipping.

QOTTD: I'm having an unscheduled rest day today. I'm on vacation visiting my parents, got up early to run yesterday, and just couldn't get going. That's usually my sign: lack of energy and motivation. So today I slept in and am leisurely enjoying a second cup of coffee with mom.

Yep, sometimes people take precedence, especially when time with them is limited.

Hopefully this is the right place to ask for advice here.
After ready many recommendations on the Jeff Galloway run walk run strategy, I downloaded the app and gave it a try. I think it took me a while to remove the thought that running could incorporate walking and still be considered running. First try with the program, I loved it! Had been running 32 minute 5ks, and the best I could do at any point was 30. First 5k using the program was 27:45, and it was a breeze. I could also feel I was working my body harder, which I liked.

Now though, even on the maintenance runs, I am struggling to recover in time for the next run. I am constantly stretching and rolling trying to loosen back up. So my question is this: I had to guess at what intervals I wanted. I chose 5 minutes of running to 30 seconds of walking. I am very comfortable with it while running, but I really do not know what I am doing and get the feeling I may be off track in one way or another. What are you guys thoughts on these intervals? I wasnt sure if I should adjust the running and walking times.. .and I dont even know which direction I should move them. Any advice or thoughts would be great!

I'll echo other responses. I've been very successful with Jeff Galloway's ideas. The flexibility of using the walking intervals kept me running when I otherwise might have quit.

ATTQOTD: I really have two answers to this, depending on the run:

1. Training run - I focus on what's happening in the audiobook I am listening to. It's akin to when your parents told you to read a book in the car and it will make the trip go faster. I can let my mind get lost in the story and let my body take care of the run. Sometimes my mind will wander onto random topics from work and life, but I try to put them away and get back to the book.

2. Race - I run races without headphones so it's just me and the five other voices in my head to have a conversation with. I'm typically focusing on making sure I'm on my goal pace and constantly evaluating the way my legs are feeling. I'm paranoid about them since my hamstring injury so I monitor them constantly at race pace for signs of impending doom. Occasionally, topics from outside the race will work their way in, but I try to keep that to a minimum as the emotions that they evoke can negatively impact my pacing (both high and low).

Math, philosophy, zombies... all you have mentioned. But here is something I've noticed: when I think about a problem at work that upsets me, I'll slow down. When I think about some great idea, I speed up. THinking about a negative problem while going up a hill is horrendous.

 

[keahgirl8]

Yep, me too. It gives me a reason to stay in the shower longer, I LOVE my showers.

Me too! The drought was rough!

View attachment 183234

This seems fitting given the discussion today.

If I never did races and I just ran in random clothes and shoes, I would agree! Now I'm not so sure!

I'll echo other responses. I've been very successful with Jeff Galloway's ideas. The flexibility of using the walking intervals kept me running when I otherwise might have quit.

I absolutely would have quit. I was doing C25K and was at 5 minutes running/1 minute walking. I was not liking the idea of running 100%.

 

[scottwvu]

So last night I switched to the 3 minute interval from the 5 minute interval just to get a gauge for how it works. First mile results are starting to spout out into my headphones and I am thinking... I walked twice in the first mile, this may be ugly. Then I hear 8 minutes 20 seconds, which is a personal record mile for me, and I wasnt overly pushing myself. All I could do was laugh and shake my head... but totally feel great!

I really struggled to figure out what speed I should be running. Its hard to jump back from running 60 minutes non-stop, to 5 minutes, to 3. I guess this will just take some practice. I was definitely running too fast as I was struggling later in the run and wishing I was doing the 2.5 minute intervals. Finished the 5k distance and got a new record for that as well by 20 seconds, which shocked me. I wanted to thank everyone on here the advice yesterday. I think I am going to try 2.5 minute intervals next, then 2 minute( which is what that Galloway link you guys provided said I should be at). Then I will have to experiment with this and the longer weekend runs on the program.

 

[Miranda]

I did my first run this morning with my HRM and trying to run easy. I was certainly slower! I also tried out 60/30 intervals.

Well, my HRM indicated that I spent 34% of my run in Z2 and 62% of it in Z3. So much for easy? I don't even know how much of the Z2 time came from my walk intervals either. I was definitely running less hard than I usually do and I didn't feel too out of breath most of it. It was really humid though and warm, so maybe that contributed, too.

 

[Slogger]

Playing catch up with answers to recent QOTD.....great responses everyone. Zombies?!!!

QOTD:URD.....I was guilty of taking them liberally until I had a running intervention with myself this Spring and decided I needed to improve my physical and mental game. Now that I have a real running training plan, I live in utter fear of missing a running day and how that will affect my mileage for the week, month, etc. So far so good, no runs missed.

QOTD: Running Intervals. I started out with the Galloway method and most likely did the wrong intervals. Right now I am focused on running at a certain pace or maintaining the pace for a set distance and not doing run/walk intervals at all.

QOTD: Thoughts during a run? I do the math exercises too. What percent am I done, how long until I get there, what is my projected finish time, how many miles have I done this week, this month, this year, how many miles left in the training plan, etc. Sometimes I get distracted by work issues, sometimes I get lost in music or recently podcasts (thanks for the suggestion of How did this Get Made!), but my mind is always racing ahead at Olympic level speeds.

 

[keahgirl8]

So last night I switched to the 3 minute interval from the 5 minute interval just to get a gauge for how it works. First mile results are starting to spout out into my headphones and I am thinking... I walked twice in the first mile, this may be ugly. Then I hear 8 minutes 20 seconds, which is a personal record mile for me, and I wasnt overly pushing myself. All I could do was laugh and shake my head... but totally feel great!

I really struggled to figure out what speed I should be running. Its hard to jump back from running 60 minutes non-stop, to 5 minutes, to 3. I guess this will just take some practice. I was definitely running too fast as I was struggling later in the run and wishing I was doing the 2.5 minute intervals. Finished the 5k distance and got a new record for that as well by 20 seconds, which shocked me. I wanted to thank everyone on here the advice yesterday. I think I am going to try 2.5 minute intervals next, then 2 minute( which is what that Galloway link you guys provided said I should be at). Then I will have to experiment with this and the longer weekend runs on the program.

Excellent! I remember thinking there was no way I'd be faster running less, but I am!

 

[The Expert]

I'm mostly a lurker on this thread, but had a running epiphany this week. I've been training since coming home from PHM 5K (my first race ever) at the end of February. I've always though I hated running and never gave it a shot, so I picked up the Galloway method and have been doing intervals. I was pretty solidly doing :60/:30 but felt like I was plateauing. I read an article over the weekend about training to run 30 minutes straight in 4 weeks, and it was essentially doing longer intervals (3 and 5 minute runs to 1 minute walks) for a few weeks, then flat out running. I thought - I wonder if I could?

I had pushed my long run to Monday morning, hoping for cooler weather, but ended up on the treadmill for my 4.5 miles. Ugh. I figured why not try playing with the intervals just to keep from being bored? So I started out doing 3/1 for about a mile. That felt good, so I switched up to 5/1 for another mile. Then I decided to stop watching the time and just see how long I could go. Well, I went PAST my 4.5 mile goal and felt good, so I kept on going to 5 miles and ended up running the last 1.5 miles without stopping! I could NOT believe it! I hoped it wasn't a fluke, but then I was able to repeat it on my short run on Wednesday: one 3/1 interval, then a 4/1, then a 5/1, then ran flat out for the last half. I'm seriously STUNNED that I have it in me, and the timing is perfect with my first 10K coming up Monday morning!

I just feel like something finally clicked and my body gets it now. I still plan to use intervals and need to figure out my ideal pace for different runs and such, but I'm just so excited that I finally feel like a runner. It has NOTHING to do with using intervals or not, but how my body feels now when I'm running. Rather than struggling through that 60 seconds, I feel like I could just GO and it's amazing.

So, I plan to check in here more often and here's my race schedule for update purposes!

2016
July
25 - The Expert - Deseret News Classic 10K, Salt Lake City - (NG/ N/A)

October
8 - The Expert - Park City Half Marathon - (NG /N/A)

2017
February
24 - The Expert - Disney Princess 5K - (NG /N/A)
25 - The Expert -Disney Princess 10K - (NG /N/A) GSC
26 - The Expert -Disney Princess Half - (NG /N/A) GSC

May
13 - The Expert -Tinkerbell 10K - (NG /N/A) PDC
14 - The Expert -Tinkerbell Half - (NG /N/A) PDC

 

[croach]

I'm mostly a lurker on this thread, but had a running epiphany this week. I've been training since coming home from PHM 5K (my first race ever) at the end of February. I've always though I hated running and never gave it a shot, so I picked up the Galloway method and have been doing intervals. I was pretty solidly doing :60/:30 but felt like I was plateauing. I read an article over the weekend about training to run 30 minutes straight in 4 weeks, and it was essentially doing longer intervals (3 and 5 minute runs to 1 minute walks) for a few weeks, then flat out running. I thought - I wonder if I could?

I had pushed my long run to Monday morning, hoping for cooler weather, but ended up on the treadmill for my 4.5 miles. Ugh. I figured why not try playing with the intervals just to keep from being bored? So I started out doing 3/1 for about a mile. That felt good, so I switched up to 5/1 for another mile. Then I decided to stop watching the time and just see how long I could go. Well, I went PAST my 4.5 mile goal and felt good, so I kept on going to 5 miles and ended up running the last 1.5 miles without stopping! I could NOT believe it! I hoped it wasn't a fluke, but then I was able to repeat it on my short run on Wednesday: one 3/1 interval, then a 4/1, then a 5/1, then ran flat out for the last half. I'm seriously STUNNED that I have it in me, and the timing is perfect with my first 10K coming up Monday morning!

I just feel like something finally clicked and my body gets it now. I still plan to use intervals and need to figure out my ideal pace for different runs and such, but I'm just so excited that I finally feel like a runner. It has NOTHING to do with using intervals or not, but how my body feels now when I'm running. Rather than struggling through that 60 seconds, I feel like I could just GO and it's amazing.

So, I plan to check in here more often and here's my race schedule for update purposes!

2016
July
25 - The Expert - Deseret News Classic 10K, Salt Lake City - (NG/ N/A)

October
8 - The Expert - Park City Half Marathon - (NG /N/A)

2017
February
24 - The Expert - Disney Princess 5K - (NG /N/A)
25 - The Expert -Disney Princess 10K - (NG /N/A) GSC
26 - The Expert -Disney Princess Half - (NG /N/A) GSC

May
13 - The Expert -Tinkerbell 10K - (NG /N/A) PDC
14 - The Expert -Tinkerbell Half - (NG /N/A) PDC

Welcome! It's always nice when something clicks for you. Good luck on your 10k!

 

[roxymama]

I'm mostly a lurker on this thread, but had a running epiphany this week. I've been training since coming home from PHM 5K (my first race ever) at the end of February. I've always though I hated running and never gave it a shot, so I picked up the Galloway method and have been doing intervals. I was pretty solidly doing :60/:30 but felt like I was plateauing. I read an article over the weekend about training to run 30 minutes straight in 4 weeks, and it was essentially doing longer intervals (3 and 5 minute runs to 1 minute walks) for a few weeks, then flat out running. I thought - I wonder if I could?

I had pushed my long run to Monday morning, hoping for cooler weather, but ended up on the treadmill for my 4.5 miles. Ugh. I figured why not try playing with the intervals just to keep from being bored? So I started out doing 3/1 for about a mile. That felt good, so I switched up to 5/1 for another mile. Then I decided to stop watching the time and just see how long I could go. Well, I went PAST my 4.5 mile goal and felt good, so I kept on going to 5 miles and ended up running the last 1.5 miles without stopping! I could NOT believe it! I hoped it wasn't a fluke, but then I was able to repeat it on my short run on Wednesday: one 3/1 interval, then a 4/1, then a 5/1, then ran flat out for the last half. I'm seriously STUNNED that I have it in me, and the timing is perfect with my first 10K coming up Monday morning!

I just feel like something finally clicked and my body gets it now. I still plan to use intervals and need to figure out my ideal pace for different runs and such, but I'm just so excited that I finally feel like a runner. It has NOTHING to do with using intervals or not, but how my body feels now when I'm running. Rather than struggling through that 60 seconds, I feel like I could just GO and it's amazing.

So, I plan to check in here more often and here's my race schedule for update purposes!

2016
July
25 - The Expert - Deseret News Classic 10K, Salt Lake City - (NG/ N/A)

October
8 - The Expert - Park City Half Marathon - (NG /N/A)

2017
February
24 - The Expert - Disney Princess 5K - (NG /N/A)
25 - The Expert -Disney Princess 10K - (NG /N/A) GSC
26 - The Expert -Disney Princess Half - (NG /N/A) GSC

May
13 - The Expert -Tinkerbell 10K - (NG /N/A) PDC
14 - The Expert -Tinkerbell Half - (NG /N/A) PDC

Welcome! It's always a good feeling to know that you are capable of doing a certain distance before race day comes up. Good confidence boost. Best of luck on Monday!

Hey, and I see you will get a pink Coast to Coast medal next year so I'm officially very jealous of you

 

[DopeyBadger]

I'm mostly a lurker on this thread, but had a running epiphany this week. I've been training since coming home from PHM 5K (my first race ever) at the end of February. I've always though I hated running and never gave it a shot, so I picked up the Galloway method and have been doing intervals. I was pretty solidly doing :60/:30 but felt like I was plateauing. I read an article over the weekend about training to run 30 minutes straight in 4 weeks, and it was essentially doing longer intervals (3 and 5 minute runs to 1 minute walks) for a few weeks, then flat out running. I thought - I wonder if I could?

I had pushed my long run to Monday morning, hoping for cooler weather, but ended up on the treadmill for my 4.5 miles. Ugh. I figured why not try playing with the intervals just to keep from being bored? So I started out doing 3/1 for about a mile. That felt good, so I switched up to 5/1 for another mile. Then I decided to stop watching the time and just see how long I could go. Well, I went PAST my 4.5 mile goal and felt good, so I kept on going to 5 miles and ended up running the last 1.5 miles without stopping! I could NOT believe it! I hoped it wasn't a fluke, but then I was able to repeat it on my short run on Wednesday: one 3/1 interval, then a 4/1, then a 5/1, then ran flat out for the last half. I'm seriously STUNNED that I have it in me, and the timing is perfect with my first 10K coming up Monday morning!

I just feel like something finally clicked and my body gets it now. I still plan to use intervals and need to figure out my ideal pace for different runs and such, but I'm just so excited that I finally feel like a runner. It has NOTHING to do with using intervals or not, but how my body feels now when I'm running. Rather than struggling through that 60 seconds, I feel like I could just GO and it's amazing.

So, I plan to check in here more often and here's my race schedule for update purposes!

2016
July
25 - The Expert - Deseret News Classic 10K, Salt Lake City - (NG/ N/A)

October
8 - The Expert - Park City Half Marathon - (NG /N/A)

2017
February
24 - The Expert - Disney Princess 5K - (NG /N/A)
25 - The Expert -Disney Princess 10K - (NG /N/A) GSC
26 - The Expert -Disney Princess Half - (NG /N/A) GSC

May
13 - The Expert -Tinkerbell 10K - (NG /N/A) PDC
14 - The Expert -Tinkerbell Half - (NG /N/A) PDC

Congrats on your running "click" moment! Hope to see you stick around!

 

[Miranda]

So after all that discussion about not doing other activities in running shoes that haven't been retired, I forgot to take mine off after running this morning and didn't realize it until I was out the door on my way to volunteer at the animal shelter. So, my running sneakers got an unscheduled 1.5 miles of walking.

 

[dmross]

Playing catch up with answers to recent QOTD.....great responses everyone. Zombies?!!!

QOTD:URD.....I was guilty of taking them liberally until I had a running intervention with myself this Spring and decided I needed to improve my physical and mental game. Now that I have a real running training plan, I live in utter fear of missing a running day and how that will affect my mileage for the week, month, etc. So far so good, no runs missed.

QOTD: Running Intervals. I started out with the Galloway method and most likely did the wrong intervals. Right now I am focused on running at a certain pace or maintaining the pace for a set distance and not doing intervals at all.

QOTD: Thoughts during a run? I do the math exercises too. What percent am I done, how long until I get there, what is my projected finish time, how many miles have I done this week, this month, this year, how many miles left in the training plan, etc. Sometimes I get distracted by work issues, sometimes I get lost in music or recently podcasts (thanks for the suggestion of How did this Get Made!), but my mind is always racing ahead at Olympic level speeds.

LOL! You know, even the CDC has a contingency plan for zombies.

I forget who recommended several podcasts, but I listened to WEDWAY NOW, Let's run Disney, and Backside of Magic, and all three were great! I bet under "Preposterous Ponderings" they could discuss best places at WDW to defend during a zombie apocalypse. Mostly I'm thinking things like: if I HAD to, I could run to another city to take messages if the cell towers went out. Then I pause and go over the cities that are within 26.2 miles from me. Then I wonder if I did conservative run walk intervals could I make it farther... it all comes together: the scenarios, the math, the podcasts.

 

[Grendalynn]

View attachment 183234

This seems fitting given the discussion today.

OMG!! I am such a B when I don't run!! I never realized how therapeutic running can be. FYI: Attachment that's not visual says "running is cheaper than therapy". True Story!

Question for fellow runners: Often times when I run - my right shoulder hurts - up near my clavicle where my humerus attaches... I used to run with my iphone in my right hand, but picked up a arm band/Roosport pouch to help with the issue. Any ideas? Could it be linked to my sciatica?

 

[jhorstma]

LOL! You know, even the CDC has a contingency plan for zombies.

I forget who recommended several podcasts, but I listened to WEDWAY NOW, Let's run Disney, and Backside of Magic, and all three were great! I bet under "Preposterous Ponderings" they could discuss best places at WDW to defend during a zombie apocalypse. Mostly I'm thinking things like: if I HAD to, I could run to another city to take messages if the cell towers went out. Then I pause and go over the cities that are within 26.2 miles from me. Then I wonder if I did conservative run walk intervals could I make it farther... it all comes together: the scenarios, the math, the podcasts.

I'm going with Ft. Langhorn on Tom Sawyers Island - if the gators in the moat (Rivers of America) don't stop 'em, we can hold 'em off with the shootin' irons in the fort before racing to safety thru the escape tunnel...

 

[r2d2_runner]

I have another newbie runner question! When I was out running the other day I noticed that other runners were moving their legs at about the same rate as me, yet they were going faster. So, clearly they were taking longer strides. It had not occurred to me before that there are essentially two ways to speed up (or slow down): move your feet faster, or take longer strides. I think I tend to change the speed at which my feet move rather than the length of my stride. Is one method generally considered more efficient than the other? Or am I just over thinking this? The reason I am wondering is because when I do my tempo or fast runs I want to make sure I am putting my effort into the things that will benefit me the most. (Also, for background, although I have long legs I think I tend to take short strides because I have very tight hamstrings ... when I tried lengthening my stride the other day I definitely felt some resistance in my hamstring ... but if a longer stride is a better technique then perhaps I will work some more on my hamstrings to be able to take longer strides more easily). TIA

 

[ZellyB]

I have another newbie runner question! When I was out running the other day I noticed that other runners were moving their legs at about the same rate as me, yet they were going faster. So, clearly they were taking longer strides. It had not occurred to me before that there are essentially two ways to speed up (or slow down): move your feet faster, or take longer strides. I think I tend to change the speed at which my feet move rather than the length of my stride. Is one method generally considered more efficient than the other? Or am I just over thinking this? The reason I am wondering is because when I do my tempo or fast runs I want to make sure I am putting my effort into the things that will benefit me the most. (Also, for background, although I have long legs I think I tend to take short strides because I have very tight hamstrings ... when I tried lengthening my stride the other day I definitely felt some resistance in my hamstring ... but if a longer stride is a better technique then perhaps I will work some more on my hamstrings to be able to take longer strides more easily). TIA

Better to increase your turnover/cadence. Lengthening your stride beyond that which is natural for you could result in an injury. Many trainers suggest cadence drills (where you count the number of steps you take in a minute and try to increase it) for improving speed.

 

[The Expert]

Hey, and I see you will get a pink Coast to Coast medal next year so I'm officially very jealous of you

YES! That's my goal for 2017. Then Kessel Run in 2018!