The Running Thread - 2016

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: I was real bad at cross-training this year. But I miss yoga which I feel like really did help my middle feel strong, so I want to start that up again. I used to hate sit-ups/crunches because I hated the burning feeling...maybe I need to get over myself and add them back into my life too. Hills are a weakness so I know I could use the help.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Give your thoughts on core strength training. How much gives you most of the benefit? Which exercises should we do (or do you do)? Is it helpful?

I do core a few times a week. I have been doing core work since I started playing football so its just kind of part of my routine.

 

[ZellyB]

If anyone's feeling bored this morning or afternoon, my IMFL race report is finally finished. It's in two parts because I got a little wordy.

Part I - https://jmsenger.blogspot.com/2016/11/imfl-race-report-part-i-pre-race.html
Part II - https://jmsenger.blogspot.com/2016/11/imfl-race-report-part-ii-race-day.html

Great read. Congrats on such a great race!!

 

[Ariel484]

ATTQOTD: I only do what's part of yoga classes - planks, etc. They suck but they are beneficial for my back, and I know having a stable core helps keep form better, and helps prevent injuries.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: Yoga is my most likely source of core strengthening, but sometimes I'll do planks & bicycles alone. Core strength is important in everything we do and while it's important to have a strong core, it's also important to have a flexible one too. Many people have very tight psoas muscles, which can lead to a whole host of problems, so that's why yoga is so amazing for the core because it not only strengthens, but counters by using back bending to keep the muscles of the core flexible.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

I am definitely not perfect at it, but I try to do my own Pilates mat routine 3 times a week. I fell in love with Pilates in college when a lot of my dance teachers recommended and had us practice it. I taught it for a few years too. Now, I just get lazy and don't do it as consistently as I should, but when I am consistent for say 3 or 4 weeks, I'm amazed at how it helps my running!

 

[JulieODC]

QOTD: I do yoga weekly, so get core work there. I should be doing more though - even if just a few sets of ab workouts in the evening before bed. My post-2nd baby core needs some work!

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

Great race report @FFigawi! I am utterly amazed at your body's capabilities! I loved that the spectators were so encouraging and shouting requested college football scores to you! Congratulations on accomplishing such a big feat!

 

[tigger536]

It was a great day for a race! About 52 at start and a little warm for running by the end, but pretty cloudy, so no direct sunlight. Last year was also good weather -- 40-45ish at start. I ran it 10 minutes slower than last year. I think it was because I ran an "almost Dopey" training at the end of last week, culminating with a 23 mile run on Sunday. I knew I was sluggish before I started since I had no taper, so I took it easy. Just a training run with around 7-8000 of my running buddies! Also, for the first time ever, I completed 55 miles in a 7-day period yesterday (have only topped 40 in a week 2-3 times before), and today I am feeling it. Time for a few days off!

Great job! I thought it was a little too humid, but otherwise a pretty good day for a race. I love the triple peach medal! Congrats again!

 

[PrincessV]

Your comment about your times reminded me to offer up a piece of advice for everyone running at Disney or other races with cut off points & sweepers:

Turn off auto pause on your watch! The clock and the balloon ladies don't stop just becaus you do. If your watch stops while you're taking pictures or using a porta-potty, you might end up thinking your pace is faster than it really is. If you're on the 16 min/mile bubble, this could be a problem.

If I could, I'd Like this post ^ x100! I feel like I hear this all the time - people so confused that their Garmin/app/GPS device says they were under the 16:00/mi requirement, but they were pausing at every stop. Doesn't work that way - the race clock keeps running, even when we stop moving!

QOTD: Give your thoughts on core strength training. How much gives you most of the benefit? Which exercises should we do (or do you do)? Is it helpful?

ATTQOTD: I have a pretty gnarly case of scoliosis so core strength is critical, whether I'm running or not. I've been doing Power Yoga, Pliates and ballet for much longer than I've been distance running, so I don't know any different, but my chiropractor has said keeping my core strong is likely the only reason I can run long distance reasonably comfortably (as far as my back/hips are concerned.) I think the biggest misconception is that "core" = abs and sit-ups/crunches are a cure-all. "Core" is so much more than that - it includes the back muscles, glutes, hip flexors, psoas... I really feel that a variety of exercises/motions are needed to keep all of the core elements strong.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

ATTQOTD: I feel like core strength helps shift a lot of burden from the arms and overall allows me to be better balanced overall allowing me to run more efficient. I pretty much just do sit ups and planks.

 

[asheleycs]

So, my hip problem is a "stress reaction", which I guess is not quite a stress fracture. I'm not sure what that means, and I don't see ortho until Thursday. Dr. Google tells me I might be able to get back on track, especially since I'm at 2 weeks off and not currently in pain. We'll see what doc says Thursday. Not quite ready to give up on GSC yet--will decide once I have a better idea of treatment.

 

[cburnett11]

ATTQOTD: I was hoping a lot of people would say they don't do any core strength training. I don't do any, and now I feel like it's something I should probably be doing.

 

[ZellyB]

ATTQOTD: I was hoping a lot of people would say they don't do any core strength training. I don't do any, and now I feel like it's something I should probably be doing.

I don't do any, but I do know I should be doing it.

 

[camaker]

ATTQOTD: I was hoping a lot of people would say they don't do any core strength training. I don't do any, and now I feel like it's something I should probably be doing.

I'm in the same boat. I've got a couple of exercises from my PT, but I'm not very good about actually doing them. Heck, I even bought a medicine ball for the 15 minute core workout @DopeyBadger likes, but I haven't been able to get into it.

 

[ebradley23]

ATTQOTD: I decided this year was going to be the year of cross training for me. I started going to a bunch of the classes at my Y. That lasted until about half way through marathon training when my mileage got to the point it was all I could manage. I'll start again when I'm done with the 50k.

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: I try to remember to do a set of exercises for my IT band issue, which consists of a bunch of hip exercises. If I remember to do them, when I'm done I also do squats and planks for my core. I am pretty lazy about remembering though so maybe do them 3-4 times a week? I used to do "Hip Hop Abs", a DVD workout (love ShaunT, lol) which gave a pretty adequate abs, glutes, core workout. I probably should start doing it again. I also have a Bob Harper weight loss yoga DVD that I could do... My laptop died this weekend so I have lost the ability to workout in my bedroom. The only other place with a DVD player is the living room and it is rarely vacant for me to use to workout. And it's hard to workout to youtube or online videos on my iphone lol! I need to figure something out.

 

[tigger536]

View attachment 207688

I'm back!!!

After over two months off, I ran my first race on Thanksgiving - the 10K as part of our local race weekend.

This race is my current 10K PR, and while I didn't beat that this time around - I was actually three minutes slower - I DID get my first Top-10 finish in my age group (thanks, incredibly small 10K field!!).

It was REALLY cold, at least for where I live in Texas for this part of the year. 41 with a strong wind at 8 a.m. that made it feel like 34. I'd been wearing a fleece zip-up that I planned to have on the whole race, but about five minutes before race start the overcast skies burnt away and the sun came out in full force. I made the mad dash back to my SUV for sunglasses (and had to run in my metal-rimmed aviators, which were the only polarized sunglasses I had in my truck -- I would advise against for anyone thinking that those would ever be appropriate running eyewear) and made the decision to ditch my fleece and run in my short-sleeved tee.

After the first mile, I was most definitely warm and happy (I love being warm, and do not mind running in the heat), however ... the cold had already gotten to me - despite constantly drinking water, my throat was dry and "sore" from breathing in the cold air. Around Mile 5.5, I was done. I felt like I had sticker burrs in the back of my throat that wouldn't go away, no matter how much fluid I drank or how much I swallowed. I've only experienced this feeling one other time - at the Hot Chocolate 15K in February when it was 29 degrees ... I had a hoodie then that I could pull up to cover my mouth and still breathe through and things got better. But on Thanksgiving? That woulda been overkill.

Cold really just is my kryptonite.

So, anyway. A 1:09 10K for me. I would've liked to have been closer to 1:06, since I'm hoping for a 1:02 or better at Dopey. So, a little disappointing on that front, but nothing to be super upset about.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Yay to being back! Great job! I hate running in the cold too. Love the medal!!! Next 10K will be the PR at Dopey!!! Woo hoo!

 

[cavepig]

Core work - well I do light weights, pushups, planks, maybe throw in some other stuff here and there, but I'm not perfect at it, but get stuff in 2-3 times a week after running (my abs are far from abs of steal that's for sure). Does it help, I really don't know but I continue to do it because I like to I suppose. I have to be careful on any twisting of my waist, like if I over twist I create sciatic/lower back issues, so it's a fine line on helping or hurting sometimes.

 

[CherieFran]

ATTQOTD: I definitely don't do as much as I should. For a while I was doing planks, but haven't done that much lately. I do have a light free weight routine that I do pretty much every day. That involves some shoulders and back, semi-core?