The Running Thread - 2016

[FFigawi]

Exactly. They may break 2:00 for 26.2, but there's a difference between that and running a marathon under 2:00, if you get my meaning. Think about it... If someone ran an actual race under 2:00, there would be no pacers. They would have to be in front for at least half of it, I would think.

Not entirely true. For someone to go under 2 in a race like Berlin, they'd need pacers who were capable of running sub-1 for a half who would hold on as long as possible before the last guy pushes through the end on his own. The trick is finding enough people who can run that fast to be pacers. There aren't very many of them in the base case.

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD: I need start by saying for me "Jogger" does not equate "slow runner". At best I am a middle of the middle pack runner and I do not run for anyone but myself. I know that I will be faster than some and slower than a lot of others. But I hate being called a jogger; I am a runner. I know this relates to a high school track coach who would say "you can't jog if you put your heart into it; you are a runner". So for me it is about heart not speed. Anyone who gets out there and runs, trying to better themselves is showing heart and is so much more than a jogger. IMO.

BATTQOTD: I have been lucky to have some pretty great coaches over the years. I don't remember any real bad comments - at least ones I did not deserve/need to be challenged. But I had a football coach who had some great quotes that to this day I do not get, like: "gentlemen, we are hell bent for leather" and "son the life you live may be your own"? Very important man in my life though.

 

[rteetz]

BATTQOTD: I have been lucky to have some pretty great coaches over the years. I don't remember any real bad comments - at least ones I did not deserve/need to be challenged. But I had a football coach who had some great quotes that to this day I do not get, like: "gentlemen, we are hell bent for leather" and "son the life you live may be your own"? Very important man in my life though.

I have had some very quotable coaches throughout my life as well. Some of my grandfather's were "get off your gluteus", "ya knob", and "Aw, Shaving Cream!". My grandpa didn't like to swear. My varsity coach said things like "son of a motherless goat".

 

[whaler8]

Did anyone else immediately think about the line from Anchorman about jogging when they read the question? Maybe just me! I don't think I have ever been called a jogger but I don't think it would bother me.

@baxter24 I thought the same thing when reading this as I was catching up today! Here is the quote from Anchorman….

"Oop... I almost forgot. I won't be able to make it fellas. Veronica and I trying this new fad called uh, jogging. I believe it's jogging or yogging, it might be a soft J, I'm not sure but apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild."

That's pretty much what we all do, run for an extended period of time and it can be wild!

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: Do you track steps? If so what do you do with that information? Do you have a goal?

ATTQOTD: Since my current watch does I keep a eye on the number but rarely go out of my way to meet the suggested goal. I do pay more attention to it days leading up to a race to make sure I'm not on my feet more than usual though. So it does serve a purpose.

 

[rteetz]

QOTD: Do you track steps? If so what do you do with that information? Do you have a goal?

I used to have a Fitbit in which I loved to track my steps and sort of compete with other people who have them in my family. Well my Fitbit broke, and I already had an Apple Watch at that point so I didn't want another Fitbit. I do still track my steps because my watch does it but I'm not as into it anymore. With Fitbit they usually set your goal at 10,000 steps so if I hit that it's a decent day.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: Do you track steps? If so what do you do with that information? Do you have a goal?

I'm like you Jerry, my watch tracks it and I guess that means I'm aware of it but that's about it. Garmin adjusts my goal on a daily basis and I usually end up meeting whatever the goal is, usually in the neighbourhood of 15,000. I don't really pay much attention to it though, it's just "there".

 

[PrincessV]

ATTQOTD: No, and no.

 

[Chaitali]

I have a fitbit and try to hit my goal of 10,000 steps most days. I do little competitions with fitbit friends so that adds some motivation as well.

 

[Miranda]

ATTQOTD: I had a Fitbit a few years ago and I wore it probably for a month before I got tired of it and quit. At the time, I was not back to running again and I was doing a lot of gym classes that I would get zero credit for... I had a once a week session with a personal trainer, a small group pilates reformer class, and then I was taking step aerobics 2x a week and BodyPump 2x a week. It would register basically nothing for all of that and I completely lost interest. My Garmin is an older one (220) and doesn't do steps, plus I don't wear it all day anyway or any other kind of watch.

The only time in recent years that I have tracked steps is sometimes when we are at Disney, I use it to see how much walking we did in the parks from the data in my phone.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

ATTQOTD: I'm a big fitbit fan! DH and I have had them since January 2014, and I have worn mine most days since. On my non-running days, it motivates me to take a little walk or park at the far end of a parking lot to hit my step goal. I also love the daily and weekend competitions with family and friends to motivate me further.

 

[RunDisneyDad]

ATTQOTD: No fitbit or step tracker for me, although I would have loved to have seen my steps the day of the WDW Marathon. Marathon in the morning, park in the afternoon.

 

[Ariel484]

QOTD: Do you track steps? If so what do you do with that information? Do you have a goal?

Yes, only because my health insurance is cheaper if I do. Currently I need 100,000 steps per month but it's going up to 150,000 per month in 2017. Very easy to achieve for a runner.

EDIT: I use the built-in step tracking on my iPhone (via the Health app) and that dumps my steps into the FitBit app, which syncs with my employee health website...whew!

 

[Dis5150]

ATTQOTD: My Garmin tracks it but I don't try to meet the goals. I mostly ignore it when it buzzes at me, although sometimes I yell at it. Like when I have just finished a 10-15 mile run and it buzzes at me to get up and walk later in the day? I yell at it, "seriously"?

 

[camaker]

QOTD: Do you track steps? If so what do you do with that information? Do you have a goal?

I've got the Fitbit One. I like that it clips onto whatever I'm wearing, usually a pocket. The last thing I need is another wearable for my wrist. I use it to gauge how active I've been during the day and generally try to exceed the 10,000 steps/day mark. My workplace also uses them for fitness challenges that get us discounts on health insurance if we meet step goals during different parts of the year. Not really a problem to meet when training for a marathon, though.

 

[Dis5150]

Yes, only because my health insurance is cheaper if I do. Currently I need 100,000 steps per month but it's going up to 150,000 per month in 2017. Very easy to achieve for a runner.

I wish my employer gave discounts for that! They do let us enter our daily activity workout time, servings of veggies and fruit, and non-tobacco use days into a website to earn points. We can cash in the points for various items or time off. I always save mine up and use it for the best option (IMHO) 3 extra days off with pay a year. I am able to extend my Disney vacations every year because of it.

 

[Ariel484]

I wish my employer gave discounts for that! They do let us enter our daily activity workout time, servings of veggies and fruit, and non-tobacco use days into a website to earn points. We can cash in the points for various items or time off. I always save mine up and use it for the best option (IMHO) 3 extra days off with pay a year. I am able to extend my Disney vacations every year because of it.

It used to be a cash thing - if we went to the employee rec center a certain number of times per month, we'd get $100. Since then they have expanded it and have different tiers of discounts on the health insurance premium depending on how well you participate in the "employee wellness" activities. My husband is on my insurance, so he tracks his steps as well and both of us doing it makes the discount even better. 3 extra days of PTO per year is pretty awesome though!

 

[roxymama]

ATTQOTD: No, I worry that because I literally spend my entire day moving my arms up and down (typing and moving papers all over the place) that it would think I was walking when I was just sitting there.

My internal fitbit is my back. If my back starts feeling stiff...I probably need to get up and take a lap.

 

[JulieODC]

QOTD: Yes, I wear a fitbit daily. I do keep track and aim for 10,000 -- but have fallen off the wagon now that it's cold out (when its warmer, I walk to drop-off and pick-up my girls at school, get activity in the yard, etc). I sit at a desk all day, so tracking my steps does help me avoid being too sedentary on non-running days.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I could use some post-Dopey training input, please...

7 weeks after Dopey, I have a 15K race. I am currently without a PoT for future races, so I'd love to be able to nail this one. I know I want some time off running entirely immediately post-Dopey, so I'm planning to take 2 weeks of no running - I'll continue to do yoga, Pilates, Ballet and strength training and if I start getting antsy, I'll throw in some non-power walking. So figure 5 weeks to prepare for the 15K. Any thoughts on strategy? I typically do a 2-week training cycle with alternating long run/cut-back runs on Saturdays, 4 days running week 1, 3 days running week 2.

I use a modified version of Pfitz's plan as I have another marathon in March, but also a half that I typically run 4 weeks after marathon weekend that has always been my best half times because of the fitness from the marathon training. Might be able to modify something like this to meet your needs.

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Agree with @WhereInFlorida. Focus on recovery from Dopey, easy mileage post-recovery, and some goal paced work/long run/easy run weeks. With such a short timeframe of 7 weeks (and 5 after two weeks off) there is little time to build new fitness in time for the race. So, a systematic approach working on any single aspect of running (LT, Running Economy, Speed, Form, etc.) will likely not be fulfilled in time to reap the benefits of said training. Thus, most of what you'll have on 15K race day will be the fitness gains from Dopey. So focus on recovery, easy running, and putting in some miles and you'll likely hit the POT you're looking for if it comes close to a reasonable fitness estimate.

ATTQOTD:
1) I prefer runner. But like many it comes with the tone of delivery.
2) My football coach told me to gain weight. That moment had lasting ramifications on my life for the next 10 years. Looking back, it would have been better to receive more guidance on the suggestion rather than a simple sentence. Alas, these moments and many like them have helped shape the person I am today (figuratively and literally).
3) I wear a Garmin 235 which tracks steps, but I don't actively try and do anything with them. Although, my wife likes to compare our stats. She always beats me on Wednesdays.