The Running Thread - 2016

[BuckeyeBama]

I ran with pace groups in the Army, 30+ years ago. Nothing aside from that. I am a lone wolf runner except at WDW.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD: YES. I have used pace groups for several events and highly recommend!

I try to line up with the pace group that will be closest to my goal time and stick with them as long as possible. Later I can decide to run faster and leave them behind or slow down and let them go ahead if it's not my day.
I ask the pacers at the expo or before the start what their strategy will be and then plan around that.
Some pacers can be inexperienced or do their own thing and I tend to distance myself from them quickly. Learned the hard way that going out too fast doesn't work. Others are experienced and know how to meet target pace.

My favorite pace group experience was at WDW Marathon, I kept the group in sight for a while and then lost them in MK. Caught up again after leaving MK and ran with them until we left AK. Big group, lots of camaraderie, jokes, singing, and encouragement. Each mile was dedicated to something. Lot of fun during a somewhat uneventful stretch of the marathon course....and she even warned us about "the smell" from the treatment facility.

 

[keahgirl8]

This is a great point. I have a natural tendency to want to "get around" or pass groups of people. I'm fine hanging behind one or two people for long stretches but get itchy when I feel "blocked." And I'm not sure I could run with a group without pre-race practice. I never thought about that...but maybe it would drive me crazy? I think one day I'll try it out on a day when I don't care about my final time.

It made me absolutely crazy. It was like being in the worst bottleneck ever. Plus, they were going just fast enough that I couldn't pass them, but not fast enough that I was running comfortable with them. Not doing that again... I'm glad it works for a lot of people though!

I kept training through bad pf last year and ended up with a broken foot.

Yeah...I speak from personal experience. Take it seriously, and absolutely go to a doctor. If they tell you not to run, don't run. I know we aren't always told what we want to hear, but I have never had any good come from ignoring an injury.

 

[camaker]

It made me absolutely crazy. It was like being in the worst bottleneck ever. Plus, they were going just fast enough that I couldn't pass them, but not fast enough that I was running comfortable with them. Not doing that again... I'm glad it works for a lot of people though!



Yeah...I speak from personal experience. Take it seriously, and absolutely go to a doctor. If they tell you not to run, don't run. I know we aren't always told what we want to hear, but I have never had any good come from ignoring an injury.

I don't like having a mass of people in front of me, either, so when I want to use a pace group for reference I line up in front of them in the corral. Then when the race starts I set a comfortable cushion with them behind me and try to maintain that. If they catch you and you have to let them pass they're probably going to open up the gap quickly enough you won't have to worry about the crowding in front. With that method I always know I'm just in front of the pace I want (assuming a competent pacer).

 

[mrsgryphon]

August Totals

Total miles - 103.5
Total time - 19:49:47
Average pace - 11:31


August Goals

Follow my training plan. - Did this.
Run 128 miles! - Fail, due to...
Don't get injured. - Injured my foot.
Volunteer at a race. - Life got complicated and I had to pass on volunteering this month.

Had to cut a run short on 8/25 due to pain in the bottom of my right foot (plantar fasciitis?) and missed 4 runs completely. I was on track for my mileage until then.

 

[CherieFran]

ATTQOTD: I ran with a pace group one time. It was my fourth half marathon, and I really wanted to break 2:00 for the first time. The pacer went out really fast. I hung with the group for 6 or 7 miles before I had to let them go. It was really demoralizing to watch them pull away when I wanted to hit that goal so badly. In the end, I finished in 1:58:30-something, so I made my goal with a good margin. The pace group finished well in front of me. So they were under their target time by several minutes which I think is way too much. If I ever tried to run with a pace group again, I would definitely talk to the pacer in advance to understand their strategy.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

My favorite pace group experience was at WDW Marathon, I kept the group in sight for a while and then lost them in MK. Caught up again after leaving MK and ran with them until we left AK. Big group, lots of camaraderie, jokes, singing, and encouragement. Each mile was dedicated to something. Lot of fun during a somewhat uneventful stretch of the marathon course....and she even warned us about "the smell" from the treatment facility.

Similar experience to me...it was great running with a group through that long stretch between MK and AK. I recommend it just to keep you "distracted" through some of those long, boring miles. Would also apply to the AK to WWOS stretch as well.

 

[Anisum]

ATTQOTD: Have never used a pacer though that seems like a good idea so as to not go out too fast in the beginning. Has anyone been able to successfully stay with a pace group doing run/walk intervals? Do they have Galloway pace groups at Disney races?

The Clif Bar Pace Team comes out to many runDisney events but it's not a guarantee they'll be there because they are only a limited number of people and even if they are there they aren't "official" meaning advertised in the program guide. According to Clif's website for the pace team they generally run the whole way but that run-walkers should reach every mile marker at the same time. I do feel like there are Galloway pace groups sometimes since I know there was a run-walk pacers at Tinkerbell but I can't find anything online to confirm if there are. For races with official Galloway pace groups they usually advertise their pace and the intervals they run at.

 

[FFigawi]

The Clif Bar Pace Team comes out to many runDisney events but it's not a guarantee they'll be there because they are only a limited number of people and even if they are there they aren't "official" meaning advertised in the program guide.

This is not quite true. There's no guarantee they will be there, but when they are, they are official & publicized. For an example of this, please see the Princess page on the runDisney site.

http://www.rundisney.com/princess-half-marathon/runner-info/

 

[ZellyB]

I kept training through bad pf last year and ended up with a broken foot.

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. Right now it's not too bad and the stretching, icing seems to be helping some, but I'm just going to try and be careful of it over the next week or two and see how it does.

 

[DVCFan1994]

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. Right now it's not too bad and the stretching, icing seems to be helping some, but I'm just going to try and be careful of it over the next week or two and see how it does.

I was told I could run through it, but smartly. Meaning warm-up, cooldown, stretch and roll, both before and after. But, not to run if I had pain during the run. Also there is a good KT taping video for PF if you google it. Podiatrists and/or ortho docs can be tough to get onto, l might call and make an appt and then cancel it if it resolves. I was already being seen by an ortho doc when mine started. And, believe it or not, I've been advised by multiple docs that core instability can be at the root of this. You start to stabilize with your lower leg as you fatigue as opposed to your core, over working those tendons and ligaments. So a bit of extra core work might be worth a shot.

 

[ZellyB]

I was told I could run through it, but smartly. Meaning warm-up, cooldown, stretch and roll, both before and after. But, not to run if I had pain during the run. Also there is a good KT taping video for PF if you google it. Podiatrists and/or ortho docs can be tough to get onto, l might call and make an appt and then cancel it if it resolves. I was already being seen by an ortho doc when mine started. And, believe it or not, I've been advised by multiple docs that core instability can be at the root of this. You start to stabilize with your lower leg as you fatigue as opposed to your core, over working those tendons and ligaments. So a bit of extra core work might be worth a shot.

I'd read something similar about core strength - and that's definitely something that I'm lacking and need to improve upon. A weak core like I have can lead to a lot of other problems, so I know strengthening that would help me in many regards!

 

[Anisum]

This is not quite true. There's no guarantee they will be there, but when they are, they are official & publicized. For an example of this, please see the Princess page on the runDisney site.

http://www.rundisney.com/princess-half-marathon/runner-info/

I guess it's a case by case basis thing then because I was going based off of the DL Half where they are going to be this weekend but aren't publicized on the website or in the event guide that I could find. It seems weird that they would publicize them for some and not others especially given that they are on the sponsors list for DL Half.

http://www.rundisney.com/disneyland-half-marathon/runner-info/

 

[DVCFan1994]

I guess it's a case by case basis thing then because I was going based off of the DL Half where they are going to be this weekend but aren't publicized on the website or in the event guide that I could find. It seems weird that they would publicize them for some and not others especially given that they are on the sponsors list for DL Half.

http://www.rundisney.com/disneyland-half-marathon/runner-info/

I went and looked at my Princess Programs for 2015 and 2016, can't find 2014. I don't see anything about the Pace teams in the Event Guides, though admittedly I scanned pages quickly. Yet I remember that they were there each time because in 2015 and 16 I considered starting with them, but never did. I do recall that same page @FFigawi referred to has been there each year on the event page, so the information was always on the website but not in the guides that I see. Not sure why the inconsistency, except that inconsistency seems to be what rD does best in my experience lately. I still love them, but when it comes to website updates and getting info out, I know that I can't always count on them. I am also about 80% certain I saw them at the Avengers Expo, but do not recall seeing anything on the website for them or in the guide.

 

[Anisum]

Not sure why the inconsistency, except that inconsistency seems to be what rD does best in my experience lately.

This pretty much explains everything.

In summary Clif Pace Team is at many (but not all) rD races and may or may not be publicized depending on whether or not the stars are aligned. They seem to be "official" though (as seen by the quotes on the rD website).

 

[opusone]

I guess it's a case by case basis thing then because I was going based off of the DL Half where they are going to be this weekend but aren't publicized on the website or in the event guide that I could find. It seems weird that they would publicize them for some and not others especially given that they are on the sponsors list for DL Half.

http://www.rundisney.com/disneyland-half-marathon/runner-info/

I went and looked at my Princes Programs for 2015 and 2016, can't find 2014. I don't see anything about the Pace teams in the Event Guides, though admittedly I scanned pages quickly. Yet I remember that they were there each time because in 2015 and 16 I considered starting with them, but never did. I do recall that same page @FFigawi referred to has been there each year on the event page, so the information was always on the website but not in the guides that I see. Not sure why the inconsistency, except that inconsistency seems to be what rD does best in my experience lately. I still love them, but when it comes to website updates and getting info out, I know that I can't always count on them. I am also about 80% certain I saw them at the Avengers Expo, but do not recall seeing anything on the website for them or in the guide.

This pretty much explains everything.

In summary Clif Pace Team is at many (but not all) rD races and may or may not be publicized depending on whether or not the stars are aligned. They seem to be "official" though (as seen by the quotes on the rD website).

They do publicize on their own website:
http://www.clifbar.com/pace-team

 

[jele30]

August total: 30.3 miles
Getting back into running, so goal is to add more miles for Sept.
Time/Pace: Average 10:00 - 11:00, using mapmyrun

Finished C25K in August, so that was exciting!

Goal for September is to run 3X a week. Need to continue to add miles/base.

 

[asheleycs]

QOTD: Its the end of the month and time to post your monthly mileage. Earlier this month I asked what was your goals for the month. How did your actual compare to your goal?

August: 44.8 miles!

That sounds lame compared to some of you, but is a nice bump from 32 in July. I can definitely feel progress!

ETA September goals:

Finish my first 10k, preferably not in 2 hours!

Don't get bitten by a dog again.

 

[keahgirl8]

I'd read something similar about core strength - and that's definitely something that I'm lacking and need to improve upon. A weak core like I have can lead to a lot of other problems, so I know strengthening that would help me in many regards!

My PT believes that a week core and back is what caused my hip injuries, so yes, I believe a strong core is worth a lot.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

So, I have an alarm set to wake up early to do a run tomorrow morning. Let's see if I make it happen.