The Running Thread - 2016

[OldSlowGoofyGuy]

QOTD: 6 days a week. Hanson plan when training for a race, with 3 SOS (Something of Substance) runs and 3 easy runs. I still roughly follow the Hanson plan, even when not training.

I've noticed I am less creaky and less likely to get injured at 6 days/week, rather than less.

 

[PrincessV]

Can you get sudden pain like that from new shoes? I'm thinking it must be them, because it's the only thing I've changed since the race, and the other issue with my foot had been improving fine. Figured I'd ask some people who might know more than me!

Yep, it's happened to me too many times to count. In fact, it just happened recently... same shoe, same model, same everything but color as a pair that I've logged many happy miles in, but the new ones felt narrower, longer, and just plain different. Thought I was being silly, so I ran in them: nope. All sorts of pains I've never had in the other shoe. Returned them and got a different pair that feels much better. And I've definitely had it happen moving from one shoe model/brand to another, too. I suggest taking them back to the store and explaining what's happening, see if you can try something else.

ATTQOTD: I run 4 days a week, cross train 2 days, rest 1. Before I started going for longer distances, I used to run more or less daily, but only for 15-20 mins as an add-on to other exercise. When I started following distance training plans, I ran 3 days a week. That bumped to 4 some weeks when I did a back-to-back challenge plan and I found that 4 days was better for me and it's stuck ever since.

 

[LindseyJo22]

I don't think the new shoes would cause the problem after two miles. It's not impossible, but very unlikely. For it to be the shoes it would have to be a very different type of shoe from what you have been running in, and even then I don't think you would have a issue after only 1 run in them. What's more likely is you have a issue that was already existing. The description you mentioned above is something I experienced as well in the past. Does it also feel like you have rocks inside your shoes? Do you feel like your toes are curling under each other (more so the little toe)? These are the things I had going on along with the top of foot pain / bruised feeling. You can run with it, if your goal race is near, but if nothing big is coming up, I would suggest some time off as I was never able to get it to go away until I took a few weeks off after my goal race that year. I also purchased new shoes with a wider to box and changed they way I laced my shoes to give it some extra room. Doing those two things made it possible to continue to run for the short term. I ended up using the "Shoes Feel To Tight" method as seen below.

Yeah, these are Saucony Guides - I had been using Brooks Ravennas, and the shoe store said they were fairly similar. The sole is a little bit thicker and in general they felt a lot more heavy to me this morning, so I'm kind of leaning toward returning them regardless of the leg pain issue. I don't usually notice any weird feeling in my shoes or toe curling, but I also have not paid a whole lot of attention in the past. The toes on the new shoes did feel pretty tight compared to my last ones, so it's possible that may have aggravated some of the problems. I do need to try the lacing again. I tried it, and couldn't really tell if it was helping, so I redid the laces normally - but it's not really a big deal to lace the shoes differently, and if it's helpful that would definitely be good.

I'm a little reluctant to take the time off, since I've been trying to run at least a mile a day for a while (nothing fast, just to keep the habit). But maybe some time off is a good plan. I've got a 10k at the end of the month, and then not a whole lot until training for Princess gears up, and I know I want to be in good shape for that race! Thanks for the advice and the awesome shoe lacing chart. I'm going to save a copy for future reference.

 

[PrincessV]

My current training plan has me running 5 days per week. However, and I know this will sound strange, based on a hip flexor issue, my coach and I have decided to start running 6 days a week for a little while. This is due to my inability to go more than about 7 miles without starting to feel the hip flexor, so we are reducing daily mileage and increasing # of days to keep the weekly mileage in a similar range.

When I first started running, I was probably about 3 days per week, but that was 25+ years ago.

Had to reply because I battle a chronic hip flexor "thing" and I find that running more often actually helps! I find it gets really tight if I go more than a day between runs.

 

[LindseyJo22]

Yep, it's happened to me too many times to count. In fact, it just happened recently... same shoe, same model, same everything but color as a pair that I've logged many happy miles in, but the new ones felt narrower, longer, and just plain different. Thought I was being silly, so I ran in them: nope. All sorts of pains I've never had in the other shoe. Returned them and got a different pair that feels much better. And I've definitely had it happen moving from one shoe model/brand to another, too. I suggest taking them back to the store and explaining what's happening, see if you can try something else.

ATTQOTD: I run 4 days a week, cross train 2 days, rest 1. Before I started going for longer distances, I used to run more or less daily, but only for 15-20 mins as an add-on to other exercise. When I started following distance training plans, I ran 3 days a week. That bumped to 4 some weeks when I did a back-to-back challenge plan and I found that 4 days was better for me and it's stuck ever since.

Okay, good to see that it could also be the shoes. I loved my Ravennas, so I'm thinking I may just exchange them if possible and pay whatever difference there is in the price. I really wish they would put those on sale, but so far the sales don't line up with when I actually need or can buy shoes

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: I typically only run 3 days per week. When training for Goofy, we up that to 4 on some days to get in some back to backs.

 

[FFigawi]

QOTD: How many days a week do you run? Does that vary during training cycles? How about when you first started running?

ATTQOTD: I am currently running 6 days a week. This is the first time ever doing so, and I do find it to be a bit challenging, but also very rewarding. The recovery runs are nearly as important as the LR and hard runs to make it work. When not training for a marathon I usually stick with 5 days of running. When I first started running I did Couch to 5k, so how ever many days that was (maybe 4 days?) I have been at 5 until then. Although there are times when things don't exactly work out as you all know, life happens. It's funny to think how far I have come over the years to thinking running 20 MPW seemed so far in the early stages. Compared to this training cycle where I will stay between 45 to 55 on average. It's amazing what you can train your body to do over time. For those guys who run 70+ MPW, I would have to stop working to get that kind of mileage in.

Kind of rambling on here...

Right now, I'm running 4 days a week. A tempo run, a long run, and two runs off my bike workouts. When I'm training for a marathon or an ultra, I'm usually running 5 or 6 days a week with weekly mileage averaging 50 per week with a month or two of 65-75 mile weeks when getting ready for Comrades.

 

[cavepig]

I run 6 days a week, every now & then 5 depending on my schedule, or I feel I need 2 rest days or if there's a blizzard. I have always done 6 days starting back in HS cross country. Doesn't matter if I'm training for anything specific, still 6 days, but length and type of run will vary.

 

[preciouspups]

ATQotD: I only run three days a week. Last year I was only running two because of tendonitis in my feet (both of them!). And I can't do back to back without severe calf cramps.

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: Usually I run 3 days, cross train 2 days (spin), and do yoga 1-2 days, but that really has not been working out that well for me this year. I'm pretty sure like February or March was the last time I managed to do ALL of those. I got out of the habit of yoga back in the spring for a couple weeks (lots of races, new puppy) and then because my studio is in a college town, I went to go back and the schedule was drastically reduced from about May to September. And I got out of the habit of going to spin around Labor Day due to some other work/travel obligations, plus the gym schedule due to the holiday.

I need a big old reset button. I'm also struggling with about 10-12 lbs of weight gain (on top of the rest of the weight I still need to lose!) that I can't claim is just holiday/winter/"life is tough, we had to put the dog to sleep" weight gain anymore since it's almost the NEXT holiday season.

After my fall races are over, I really need to just figure out a routine again and get into a groove. I have a HM on 10/23, a 5K on 10/29, and a HM on 11/13. I definitely want to get back to yoga. I can fit that in, I just need to get myself there. The thing I struggle the most with is getting to the gym for my spin class, as it is at 9-10am, which gets me a late start to my work day by the time I get home and make breakfast. I like the instructor for this class, but I find it very easy to just bail on it with the excuse that "I need to get to work" as soon as work gets busy, even though my boss has no problem with me going to the class (I work from home).

I have been thinking maybe I should try switching it to 4 days of running and 1 of spinning, since I want to get better at RUNNING. I am really disappointed with myself and my commitment to my running in 2016. I started it out great, PR'ing in my New Year's Day 10K, even though my training had been pretty crappy (only 1-2 days of running a week) pretty much from W&D until then, and then it was all downhill from there.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: I run 4 days a week. That doesn't change when training for a race. I started out running 3 days a week, and when life gets in the way, my 4 days sometimes drops to 3 again, but I try not to sweat it too much - that's just how it goes being a busy, working mom of three busy kiddos. One of my goals for 2017 is to try to bump up to 5 days a week to prep for Dopey training.

 

[Anisum]

QOTD: How many days a week do you run? Does that vary during training cycles? How about when you first started running?

I have run as many as 5 or 6 days a week when training seriously for a race. Normally though, I do 3-4 (I aim for every other day) a week. When I started it was strictly 3.

 

[JulieODC]

I've been doing 3 days/week -- 2 shorter runs, one of which may be a tempo run, and then a longer run on the weekend. I'd love to add one more day, but 3 is about all my schedule can handle these days working full time, 2 little ones, and a husband that travels!

 

[Chaitali]

I run 3 days per week, strength train 2 days per week, and 2 rest days per week. I've been trying to do yoga on one of my rest days but don't always get that in.

 

[Tasmen]

QOTD: How many days a week do you run? Does that vary during training cycles? How about when you first started running?

I try to run 3 days at week but don't always make that thanks to variable work schedules and child care. 2 days is my minimum. With the rainy season here, though, we'll see. I've already been bad this week and not gone at all.

 

[Flossbolna]

ATTQOTD:
I aim for three days, but when I restarted running after my injury and ran three times a week, my foot started to complain again immediately. So, currently I am running twice a week. I am intending to keep this schedule up for a month and then introduce a short 3rd run and slowly build up from that. I decided to rather go slow with extending my training than getting back to square one with my foot. But at least this has motivated me to add in some cross training (jumping around to fitness DVDs and some easy yoga).

 

[keahgirl8]

QOTD: How many days a week do you run? Does that vary during training cycles? How about when you first started running?

ATTQOTD: I am currently running 6 days a week. This is the first time ever doing so, and I do find it to be a bit challenging, but also very rewarding. The recovery runs are nearly as important as the LR and hard runs to make it work. When not training for a marathon I usually stick with 5 days of running. When I first started running I did Couch to 5k, so how ever many days that was (maybe 4 days?) I have been at 5 until then. Although there are times when things don't exactly work out as you all know, life happens. It's funny to think how far I have come over the years to thinking running 20 MPW seemed so far in the early stages. Compared to this training cycle where I will stay between 45 to 55 on average. It's amazing what you can train your body to do over time. For those guys who run 70+ MPW, I would have to stop working to get that kind of mileage in.

Kind of rambling on here...

I run 3 days a week unless I'm training for the Glass Slipper. Then I increase it to 4.

That's when I'm actually running, anyway.

 

[Baloo in MI]

QOTD: How many days a week do you run? Does that vary during training cycles? How about when you first started running?

ATTQOTD: When I first started running I did not keep track of milage at all, I just went out and ran between two and three days a week. I got more serious when I signed up for Goofy and followed the Jeff Galloway plan. For the last few years I have been running during maintenance periods about 30 miles a week and train up to about 45-50 miles on really big weeks. Running between 4-5 days a week. The big thing for me now is that I can tell I really need to incorporate cross-training. I have really failed there and my knees and hip have made it clear I need to address this. I share that only because when I was doing less milage I think I was able to get away with no cross training. I think, IMHO, that with the increased milage I am courting injury a lot more.

 

[The Expert]

ATTQOTD: Right now, three times a week. But looking at the nifty plan @DopeyBadger just created for me (THANK YOU!) that's about to go up!

 

[run.minnie.miles]

ATTQOTD: I'm currently running 3-4 times per week- I'm using Higdon's 10K training plan + sometimes running an extra day. After my 10K, I'll pick up on a HM training plan (can't decide if I should use a JG or HH plan). I did a 100 day run streak this summer which was fun, but I found that I got into a rut of doing the minimum 1 mile each day... not beneficial!