The Running Thread - 2016

[rteetz]

QOTD: What is the most useful running related thing you learned in 2016 and how did it change your running?

Good question. I learn all of my useful running related things from all of you guys on these threads. I learned a lot this year that has affected my running greatly whether it's pace related, training related or anything else. I've improved greatly over this training cycle and learned I can run farther than I thought I could.

 

[michigandergirl]

ATTQOTD: I've learned that sometimes your body NEEDS a break. I've been taking it easy since Thanksgiving, running only a couple days a week, but doing some cross training & yoga instead. At first I was worried about holiday weight gain, but I've actually lost two pounds, and those little aches & pains I had after my Oct marathon are almost gone. Soon I will have to start ramping up again for my Feb half, which reminds me... @LSUlakes I have a race to add:

Feb 4 - michigandergirl - Groundhog half marathon - NG

 

[ebradley23]

Looking for tips/tricks/best practices for pretty bad IT band. Screwed it up on my left side couple weeks back on a 20-mile run. After some reading determined that it was most likely from running on same side of the road (into traffic) with "humped" roads for drainage. We live in an acreage community so this is our roads to a tee. I'm very good about figuring this stuff out too later or after I've tweaked something.

Anyway, last two weeks, longest run on the weekend has been 10....Basically, pain the whole way, leg likes to lock up at knee for an hour or two after. The obvious solution to me is to take 4-6 weeks off. The problem with that is I have a marathon scheduled for Jan. 15. All thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

As someone who just got done running a race with ITBS, this is what you can do beyond the typically rolling/stretch/strengthen to get you through the race:

Go to an ortho. He/she will prescribe stronger anti-inflamatories.

Go to a PT that does Graston. If you can find one who also does laser treatment, that's a bonus.

If you have access to a pool, definitely switch to aqua jogging as much as possible. It will maintain your cardio and strength while keeping the IT band from causing more inflammation.

When you're running on the road: If you start to feel pain, slow down. If the pain continues, stop. Continuing just makes the inflammation worse which is what is causing the pain.

If the all of the above (including the rolling/stretching/strengthening) doesn't work, a cortisone shot will help. You have to pretty much demand it, and mine said she didn't think it would help. She also said it wouldn't hurt though, so she was okay giving it to me. It helped me tremendously (see my post about the 50k), and I'm glad I was persistent with getting it. I had mine done on Thursday morning for a Saturday morning race.

 

[The Expert]

QOTD: What is the most useful running related thing you learned in 2016 and how did it change your running?

Everything I know about running, I learned in 2016, since I just started at the end of February! The most important thing, though, was to SLOW DOWN (figuratively and literally). I had no idea what I was doing and no real plan. I basically did walk/run intervals for half an hour or so a couple of times a week, then started signing up for 5K races and trying to add mileage based on bits and bobs from different training plans that seemed to make sense. I improved quickly for a while, then would have a bad run and just shut down. It got hot and was harder for me, so I'd mentally and physically quit for a week, then try again.

This board and this community (and especially my training plan from @DopeyBadger) have really taught me that I only need to measure my progress and speed against myself. I'm naturally competitive and usually pick things up quickly, so even though I am a beginner , 45 years old (46 next week -ack!) and haven't done any real cardio training for 20 years, I wanted to immediately bust out and be AWESOME at this. I'm learning to instead just enjoy the journey.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

QOTD: What is the most useful running related thing you learned in 2016 and how did it change your running?

Good question. I think I would have to say that I learned that on race day you just have to take what the day brings you and make the most of it. Racing an Ironman in a downpour would have been disastrous for me if I didn't adjust my goals and keep a positive attitude about it. Part of that came from my Boston experience in heat I just wasn't used to/ready for...you just adjust to the conditions, forget about it and move on. Makes for a much more enjoyable day and that has become goal number one for me this past season. I spend too much time training to not have fun racing.

 

[PrincessV]

QOTD: What is the longest and shortest recorded run that you have done? (0 does not count)

Longest was the 2016 WDW Marathon, clocked at 27.38 miles on my GPS. Shortest was maybe the 1/2 mile I ran to pick up my son's prescription when he had the flu.

QOTD: What is the most useful running related thing you learned in 2016 and how did it change your running?

That I absolutely, positively MUST do what I know is best for me and my body during race weekends. It's really hard not to get caught up in the fun and excitement and harder still to say to friends I only see a few times a year, "sorry, I can't..." ride another ride, stay for fireworks, eat at restaurant XYZ, whatever. But if I don't say "no" and take care of myself, only I suffer the consequences. So I'm going into Marathon weekend with a promise to myself to do what I know I need to do, no matter what!

 

[The Expert]

Longest run yet! Did EIGHT miles, met a cat

, ran by a frozen fountain ❄ and DOWN a 15% grade hill

. Unfortunately resting my hip injury for four days didn't make it go away. About 6.5 in the pain came back with a vengeance

. I think I'll be taking the rest of the holidays off from running.

 

[roxymama]

met a cat

This made me smile.

 

[The Expert]

This made me smile.

Me too! He was a sweet cat, and neutered (yay! - I work in animal welfare).

 

[JeffW]

I need to knock out Australia or New Zealand in the next year or two so I can use my spot on the South America/Antarctica trip.

By all accounts, when I was researching, the Auckland marathon is a fantastic race. Unfortunately it was a few weeks off from my travel plans, so I ran the Great Barrier Reef "Adventure" marathon in Port Douglas. That race was hard (beach, road, trail, mountain, jungle...) but a lot of fun.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

I love your running route @The Expert! The Avenues in Salt Lake is one of my favorite neighborhoods

 

[The Expert]

I love your running route @The Expert! The Avenues in Salt Lake is one of my favorite neighborhoods

Mine too now! I used to live up there, but now I'm on the west side of downtown, so to go up there usually means a big climb. I've been sticking to Marmalade, or sometimes would have my husband drop me up at the capital and run down from there (Bonneville, Aves or City Creek Canyon). But now that I'm into longer routes, I've had to branch out. I never even thought to just truck up 2nd from North Temple and keep going until it popped up in a suggested route on MapMyRun. I did that out-and-back once and liked it, so decided to combine it with one of my other favorite routes - up toward the capital and down Center Street for that long, slow downhill stretch. It worked great and has just enough challenge and hill training to keep things interesting.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

By all accounts, when I was researching, the Auckland marathon is a fantastic race. Unfortunately it was a few weeks off from my travel plans, so I ran the Great Barrier Reef "Adventure" marathon in Port Douglas. That race was hard (beach, road, trail, mountain, jungle...) but a lot of fun.

One of the moms at swimming is a Kiwi and she was just trying to sell me on the Auckland Marathon this morning...it looks awesome

 

[CP3uhoh]

As someone who just got done running a race with ITBS, this is what you can do beyond the typically rolling/stretch/strengthen to get you through the race:

Go to an ortho. He/she will prescribe stronger anti-inflamatories.

Go to a PT that does Graston. If you can find one who also does laser treatment, that's a bonus.

If you have access to a pool, definitely switch to aqua jogging as much as possible. It will maintain your cardio and strength while keeping the IT band from causing more inflammation.

When you're running on the road: If you start to feel pain, slow down. If the pain continues, stop. Continuing just makes the inflammation worse which is what is causing the pain.

If the all of the above (including the rolling/stretching/strengthening) doesn't work, a cortisone shot will help. You have to pretty much demand it, and mine said she didn't think it would help. She also said it wouldn't hurt though, so she was okay giving it to me. It helped me tremendously (see my post about the 50k), and I'm glad I was persistent with getting it. I had mine done on Thursday morning for a Saturday morning race.

Great ideas, thanks, would like to avoid the stronger drugs if possible but good info, apreaciate it.

 

[Waiting2goback]

QOTD: What is the most useful running related thing you learned in 2016 and how did it change your running?

Todays question is a suggestion from a fellow poster on this forum. Thanks for the suggestion!

I have been given a hot project to work on this morning at work, so I will come back later to answer the QOTD.

I learned two things:

1. I learned a lot more about heart rate training and I am hoping all of these miles I'm doing in Zone 2 will pay off when I finally get to run a race again.
2. I learned to appreciate this "hobby" that is still relatively new to me. I knew I liked it but being without it for 5 months has shown me just how much. It's going to hurt in 2 weeks when I can start running again but I am itching to get started.

Oh, I also learned to ask the doctor more questions before a surgery so I am not surprised afterwards.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I am running another guess my time prediction contest using my Dopey 2017 race times. Stop on by my journal for a free chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card. All rules and data points are contained within that post there. Please make the predictions in my journal if you wish to participate to reduce the clutter in other threads. This is just for fun among us friends, so keep it nice!

DopeyBadger's 2017 Dopey Challenge Prediction Contest

 

[Baloo in MI]

ATTQOTD: In 2016 I learned multiple things around running but the one that has really stuck out for me is how much more I enjoy trail running. Moving forward I hope to find more trail races to run as opposed to road races. I will still do some, but I hope that the majority of my races will be in the hills and trails. The natural environment, the closeness and supportive nature of the trail community, the challenge all a a real pull for me.

 

[CheapRunnerMike]

I learned two things:

1. I learned a lot more about heart rate training and I am hoping all of these miles I'm doing in Zone 2 will pay off when I finally get to run a race again.
2. I learned to appreciate this "hobby" that is still relatively new to me. I knew I liked it but being without it for 5 months has shown me just how much. It's going to hurt in 2 weeks when I can start running again but I am itching to get started.

Oh, I also learned to ask the doctor more questions before a surgery so I am not surprised afterwards.

That first run is going to hurt so good Scott! You're almost there bud

ATTQOTD: In 2016 I learned multiple things around running but the one that has really stuck out for me is how much more I enjoy trail running. Moving forward I hope to find more trail races to run as opposed to road races. I will still do some, but I hope that the majority of my races will be in the hills and trails. The natural environment, the closeness and supportive nature of the trail community, the challenge all a a real pull for me.

I'll second that...trail races are great and such a completely different atmosphere than road races. Plus the food at a trail race is always amazing...road races give you a banana, trail races give you a buffet. Just sayin'.

 

[LSUlakes]

QOTD: With Christmas this weekend and the new year the following weekend, what do you plan to do to get your runs in during this busy time of year?

ATTQOTD: Well, I had a plan to make sure I would get them in, but since I am still dealing with this cold that continues to get worse I'm just hoping to run again soon. I have been coughing all night long and did not get a good night of sleep. The plan was to do my long runs on Fridays and then a recovery run on Saturday, with Sunday being a normal rest day. However, running with this cold just isn't going to happen. I think I am admitting defeat on my January marathon.

ATTQOTDY: I've learned that no how much I plan and try to remain healthy, some things are unavoidable. The only other option is to live in a bubble... Remaining healthy (colds / injury) is the most important part of staying on track.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

QOTD: With Christmas this weekend and the new year the following weekend, what do you plan to do to get your runs in during this busy time of year?

I have 12 miles scheduled for Christmas Eve and 15 on Christmas. We will have a house full of guests for both, so I will get out very early and be done about the time that everyone starts to stir. No small children, so no Christmas morning craziness. But I need to be back for Christmas morning breakfast. That meal is always special.