The Running Thread - 2016

[Chaitali]

The get there early and do your miles in advance thing was what I was going to suggest. I've done that before and it's worked well. I treat it like a warm up and go at a slow, east pace. Then my legs are usually fine for the race distance at a faster pace. I've tried the running after the race thing but it doesn't seem to work as well. My body seems to feel done after a race. But you could maybe do 5-6 beforehand and 1-2 afterward as a cool down if that would help with the timing.

 

[camaker]

I am still not sure what to do about my long run this weekend. I am supposed to do 10 miles. I am 2 weeks out from my half and my plan calls for 10 miles this week and next for my longest long runs. I have a 5K race on Sunday, though. I don't think I'll really be able to do the 5K race if I do 10 miles tomorrow. I mean, I could finish it probably, but I don't think I'd be able to run much of it. I could try and tack on 7 miles in an unfamiliar-ish location after the race, but there's always a big food spread and a big raffle and stuff after this race, and I'd like to partake of that stuff.

Maybe I should just try and do 6-7 tomorrow and then the race on Sunday? Or suck it up and try to do 10 tomorrow and the race on Sunday? I don't want to injure myself, though. I don't ever run back-to-back days, and I'm a heavier pretty slow runner, so a 10 miler is a pretty big time on my feet investment at 2+ hours. I guess another option is to show up WAY early for the race (the race starts at 10, so it would not be like 3am early), try to do 6-7 before the race starts, and then plod my way through the race after my legs have stiffened up a little. Not that my final miles are ever very fast to begin with.

Any suggestions which would be the best option? I'm guessing if I want the real benefit of a long run, it should be the "get there early and run a bunch before the race" option.

I think it comes down to prioritization. Which of these races is most important to you? If it's the half marathon, I'd suggest running the 10 miles as scheduled on Saturday and then taking it easy, even walking through the 5k on Sunday. If the 5k is more of a priority, then I'd suggest the 6-7 on Saturday followed by the race on Sunday. One of the things I do when putting together training plans is have an ultimate goal race in mind that the training is focused on. If there's another race available during the training, I either work it into the training plan from the beginning, altering running days and mileage to accommodate, if necessary, or in some cases skip it altogether if it can't be worked in. Whichever you decide to do, good luck!

 

[Slogger]

Good luck everyone with your running events, training, or Hurricane evasion.

I am taking my daughter to look at colleges this weekend.

@LSUlakes.....Going against the wishes of Mrs. Slogger and my doctor, I have another event to add......Petersburg Halloween Half Marathon on 10/23. This is strictly a training and injury recovery day for me so no PR goals or anything like that.....2:24 seems realistic if my knee will hold up. Cue the training montage music!!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I am still not sure what to do about my long run this weekend. I am supposed to do 10 miles. I am 2 weeks out from my half and my plan calls for 10 miles this week and next for my longest long runs. I have a 5K race on Sunday, though. I don't think I'll really be able to do the 5K race if I do 10 miles tomorrow. I mean, I could finish it probably, but I don't think I'd be able to run much of it. I could try and tack on 7 miles in an unfamiliar-ish location after the race, but there's always a big food spread and a big raffle and stuff after this race, and I'd like to partake of that stuff.

Maybe I should just try and do 6-7 tomorrow and then the race on Sunday? Or suck it up and try to do 10 tomorrow and the race on Sunday? I don't want to injure myself, though. I don't ever run back-to-back days, and I'm a heavier pretty slow runner, so a 10 miler is a pretty big time on my feet investment at 2+ hours. I guess another option is to show up WAY early for the race (the race starts at 10, so it would not be like 3am early), try to do 6-7 before the race starts, and then plod my way through the race after my legs have stiffened up a little. Not that my final miles are ever very fast to begin with.

Any suggestions which would be the best option? I'm guessing if I want the real benefit of a long run, it should be the "get there early and run a bunch before the race" option.

Running 7 miles one day and 3 the next does not equal a 10 mile long run. It equals a 7 mile long run. If I were you, I would run the 10, get plenty of rest, and then have fun during the 5k.

 

[run.minnie.miles]

I am still not sure what to do about my long run this weekend. I am supposed to do 10 miles. I am 2 weeks out from my half and my plan calls for 10 miles this week and next for my longest long runs. I have a 5K race on Sunday, though. I don't think I'll really be able to do the 5K race if I do 10 miles tomorrow. I mean, I could finish it probably, but I don't think I'd be able to run much of it. I could try and tack on 7 miles in an unfamiliar-ish location after the race, but there's always a big food spread and a big raffle and stuff after this race, and I'd like to partake of that stuff.

Maybe I should just try and do 6-7 tomorrow and then the race on Sunday? Or suck it up and try to do 10 tomorrow and the race on Sunday? I don't want to injure myself, though. I don't ever run back-to-back days, and I'm a heavier pretty slow runner, so a 10 miler is a pretty big time on my feet investment at 2+ hours. I guess another option is to show up WAY early for the race (the race starts at 10, so it would not be like 3am early), try to do 6-7 before the race starts, and then plod my way through the race after my legs have stiffened up a little. Not that my final miles are ever very fast to begin with.

Any suggestions which would be the best option? I'm guessing if I want the real benefit of a long run, it should be the "get there early and run a bunch before the race" option.

How about a few mile "warm up" before the race, the 5K, then the remaining miles after? I'm still a newbie... just my 2 cents.

 

[keahgirl8]

I know you were quoting someone else, but I thought I would add my two cents. I have one of the smaller bottles for my flip belt. It is easy to get in and out and doesn't bounce when I run. The only downfall for me is that my body heat warms up the water very quickly since the bottle is basically directly in contact with my body.

In the future, I may freeze an ounce of water in it the night before and see if it makes a difference.

That sounds like a good idea. I bet it would feel good too!

 

[jele30]

QOTD: Have you ever have a race cancelled for any reason at all? If so, why was it cancelled and did you get a refund from the race? What did you end up doing with the open weekend?

ATTQOTD: I have had a 5k cancelled (may have been delayed) just as my husband and I were finishing the race. It was a 5k foam run with inflatables and had multiple waves throughout the day. We had arrived super early as we travelled to the area just to do the run, so we decided to hop into an earlier wave since we were there and ready (it was a fun run so not timed so the wave didn't matter). Was glad that we did that as we were the last two they let go down the super tall slide inflatable as it had started to get really windy and was getting ready to thunderstorm. They were trying to pack everything up the finish line, but luckily we were able to get the finishers t-shirt and medal before they had moved it to the dry area so we could go. We were already muddy and wet from the foam so it was no big deal that it started to pour as soon as we hit the car. It was when I realized that we didn't bring towels that it made for an interesting drive home. Thankfully we had leather seats in that car, so was an easy clean up.

 

[Dis5150]

3 cancelled and 1 shortened due to lightning?! Could you please post a list of your upcoming races so that we know what not to register for?

Lol and those were all since last December!

 

[roxymama]

How about a few mile "warm up" before the race, the 5K, then the remaining miles after? I'm still a newbie... just my 2 cents.

How far do you live from the race? If it is local, is it feasible to run home from the race or run to the race or both? Depending on who will be with you to offer car support if needed?
Just be careful to avoid the lure of going faster than you wanted to while in the 5k. I had to fight the urge to "race" a lady that was passing me at the end last week when I was on purpose doing my slower long run pace. I had to just let her go (like Elsa.)

 

[Miranda]

The race is not near home. I can make a pretty good ~5 mile loop, so I'm thinking get there early, run 5 miles, run the 5K, then do ~2 miles after I finish and they're doing the kid's races. Hopefully that should give me time to finish up and not miss out on post-race food. I haven't broken 35:00 yet this year in a 5K, and after 5 miles it won't be any speedier. But I think the kid's races start at 10:45 and take a little bit.

The half is my real goal, although it's actually the half that is 3 weeks later on 11/13 that is my real goal, although with the heat this summer and humidity, I don't know if my training has been going well enough to make my goals of 2:39:59. In fact, I'm pretty sure that it hasn't, based on how much of a struggle my long runs have felt, but I still want to do my best and maybe at least get near my PR of 2:45:08.

 

[Baloo in MI]

Good luck to everyone who is racing this weekend!

 

[Keels]

I did my first "run" today!

OK, it wasn't really a true run - it was a mile on an "underwater" treadmill, but I'll count that as a training run! It was the first sustained 20-minute portion of active movement I've done in ... holy crap, 5 weeks!

It felt great to be able to do SOMETHING. This is a sad week for me - one, my baseball team is absolutely choking away everything they worked so hard for this season - but mostly because I should be in Chicago to run the Chicago Marathon with my BFF. We had grand plans for a fun mother-daughter trip for the four of us, and I'm stuck at home when the only place on the planet I'd rather be right now, this weekend, is watching her crush the Chicago Marathon - or, even better, finishing the Marathon myself. But I'm not, and I can't - but the one thing I CAN do is do whatever it takes to get myself healthy again so I can be ready for Dopey.

I know it's not running the Chicago Marathon, but it felt like a big victory for me today. Mostly because it was a confidence boost. I've been pretty down in the dumps for the past few weeks, so today gives me hope that I really AM just a couple of weeks away from true training and picking up where I left off before my hip started hurting me and everything else happened.

I'm sorry if this comes off as a sad post, because I don't mean it to. I'm very excited. I'm just ready to get back to training.

 

[Ariel484]

@Keels congrats on your run. Truly something to celebrate!

 

[Keels]

@Keels congrats on your run. Truly something to celebrate!

Thanks, @Ariel484! 88 Days!!

 

[Ariel484]

Thanks, @Ariel484! 88 Days!!

Wait...only 88 days?! Holy $&@#!!!

 

[mrsgryphon]

This week we have the following folks with races coming up:

08 - @mrsgryphon - Hartford Half Marathon (2:12:09 / N/A)
08 - @whaler8 - Hartford Half Marathon (2:15:00 / N/A)

Good luck to everyone over the weekend. Hope you have a great race! If you would like to revise you goal for your race, just let me know.

I'll revise my time to 2:15:00.

How close to each other will @whaler8 and I finish? It's a big race, but I'll be wearing the purple tank in my avatar and purple calf sleeves (no hat tomorrow). Say hi if you see me!

I never got back here to share the results of my last race. At the Gulf Beach Half on 9/17 I finished in 2:15:35 - a PR by 5:43! Thanks to @DopeyBadger for the training plan that got me there!

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

I did my first "run" today!

OK, it wasn't really a true run - it was a mile on an "underwater" treadmill, but I'll count that as a training run! It was the first sustained 20-minute portion of active movement I've done in ... holy crap, 5 weeks!

It felt great to be able to do SOMETHING. This is a sad week for me - one, my baseball team is absolutely choking away everything they worked so hard for this season - but mostly because I should be in Chicago to run the Chicago Marathon with my BFF. We had grand plans for a fun mother-daughter trip for the four of us, and I'm stuck at home when the only place on the planet I'd rather be right now, this weekend, is watching her crush the Chicago Marathon - or, even better, finishing the Marathon myself. But I'm not, and I can't - but the one thing I CAN do is do whatever it takes to get myself healthy again so I can be ready for Dopey.

I know it's not running the Chicago Marathon, but it felt like a big victory for me today. Mostly because it was a confidence boost. I've been pretty down in the dumps for the past few weeks, so today gives me hope that I really AM just a couple of weeks away from true training and picking up where I left off before my hip started hurting me and everything else happened.

I'm sorry if this comes off as a sad post, because I don't mean it to. I'm very excited. I'm just ready to get back to training.

Not a sad post at all...an EXCITING post!

 

[CherieFran]

QOTD: Have you ever have a race cancelled for any reason at all? If so, why was it cancelled and did you get a refund from the race? What did you end up doing with the open weekend?

My half marathon last fall was cancelled because they predicated Hurricane Joaquin was going to hit the DC area hard (it missed). There was not a refund but they did offer a discount code for some other races. I can't remember what I did instead - probably slept.

I also had a February 10K cancelled a few years ago. I can't remember if there was winter precipitation. I think it may have just been super extreme cold.

 

[jhorstma]

ATTQOTD: I've

I am still not sure what to do about my long run this weekend. I am supposed to do 10 miles. I am 2 weeks out from my half and my plan calls for 10 miles this week and next for my longest long runs. I have a 5K race on Sunday, though. I don't think I'll really be able to do the 5K race if I do 10 miles tomorrow. I mean, I could finish it probably, but I don't think I'd be able to run much of it. I could try and tack on 7 miles in an unfamiliar-ish location after the race, but there's always a big food spread and a big raffle and stuff after this race, and I'd like to partake of that stuff.

Maybe I should just try and do 6-7 tomorrow and then the race on Sunday? Or suck it up and try to do 10 tomorrow and the race on Sunday? I don't want to injure myself, though. I don't ever run back-to-back days, and I'm a heavier pretty slow runner, so a 10 miler is a pretty big time on my feet investment at 2+ hours. I guess another option is to show up WAY early for the race (the race starts at 10, so it would not be like 3am early), try to do 6-7 before the race starts, and then plod my way through the race after my legs have stiffened up a little. Not that my final miles are ever very fast to begin with.

Any suggestions which would be the best option? I'm guessing if I want the real benefit of a long run, it should be the "get there early and run a bunch before the race" option.

Sounds like the 10 mile run is more trouble than it's worth from a training perspective. Enjoy the 5K and the after-party. You'll do fine in the half in 2 weeks.

 

[preciouspups]

I know you were quoting someone else, but I thought I would add my two cents. I have one of the smaller bottles for my flip belt. It is easy to get in and out and doesn't bounce when I run. The only downfall for me is that my body heat warms up the water very quickly since the bottle is basically directly in contact with my body.

In the future, I may freeze an ounce of water in it the night before and see if it makes a difference.

I have the same issue with my Nathan bottle in the pocket of my sparkle skirt. Getting a swig of warm water when you are not expecting that is pretty miserable!

Attqtd: I had a 5k cancel last year when a tropical storm was rolling in. Since it was for a charity they gave us the option of donating the fee and having our shirts mailed or getting a refund. I let them keep the fee since it was for helping veterans.

I bailed on a race last winter that should have been cancelled. We were a. I think out from princess, I was getting a cold and they were calling for freezing rain. My husband told me to stay in bed. The course ended up being messed up and they had all sorts of issues that day.